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Myths About Cults
by Rafael Martinez, Co-Director, Spiritwatch Ministries
Myth #1 – People in cults are mindless fanatics.
Untrue. Virtually every member of every cultic group existing on in our world today began their entry into the group as generally balanced, thinking people who have great potential, skills and giftings they want to offer to a cause "larger than themselves." Cult members are both CEO's and dishwashers, white-collar and blue-collar, scientists as well as grade-school dropouts. While it is undeniably true that some of them have plunged into extremist forms of behavior, and that all labor under some form of cultic mind control that compels them onward into an apparently zealous activism or passion, all of them retain the capacity for critical thought (their ability to responsibly function in society proves this), but have been taught to suspend their faculties of independent and objective thought when focusing on their involvement with the group.
Myth #2 – People join cults because they really want to.
No one deliberately sets out to join a cult – this needs to be shouted from the rooftops of pundits and skeptics of all shapes when snorting in derision over why an apparently intelligent and promising person joins Cult X or Z. People don't consciously seek to join a cult: they become involved with what they think are sound churches, research groups, personal development courses, Bible studies, etc. People seek to fulfill very legitimate needs such as the search for meaning, a place in an apparently caring community, an exploration of ultimate life purposes and the meeting of felt needs, not because they really want spiritual deception.
Myth #3 – Cults live communally, wear robes and live secretively.
Another straw man that reality torches into ashes. While some groups do dress, congregate and live in an unorthodox manner, this is far from the norm. Most cultists are fully integrated in society, hold responsible positions in civic affairs and are virtually indistinguishable from other people. Their interactions with others around them rarely raise the kinds of visible red flags such as those we've just mentioned. Apart from their efforts to share their own faith, and their observance of moral imperatives sacred to them that are unique to the group teaching they follow, they often appear quite moral, upright and culture-savvy. Cult members pay taxes, are soccer-moms and watch television just like anyone else. They are your neighbors, family and friends next door or in the next cubicle over.
Click here to read the complete article http://www.spiritwatch.org/cultmyths.htm
by Rafael Martinez, Co-Director, Spiritwatch Ministries
Myth #1 – People in cults are mindless fanatics.
Untrue. Virtually every member of every cultic group existing on in our world today began their entry into the group as generally balanced, thinking people who have great potential, skills and giftings they want to offer to a cause "larger than themselves." Cult members are both CEO's and dishwashers, white-collar and blue-collar, scientists as well as grade-school dropouts. While it is undeniably true that some of them have plunged into extremist forms of behavior, and that all labor under some form of cultic mind control that compels them onward into an apparently zealous activism or passion, all of them retain the capacity for critical thought (their ability to responsibly function in society proves this), but have been taught to suspend their faculties of independent and objective thought when focusing on their involvement with the group.
Myth #2 – People join cults because they really want to.
No one deliberately sets out to join a cult – this needs to be shouted from the rooftops of pundits and skeptics of all shapes when snorting in derision over why an apparently intelligent and promising person joins Cult X or Z. People don't consciously seek to join a cult: they become involved with what they think are sound churches, research groups, personal development courses, Bible studies, etc. People seek to fulfill very legitimate needs such as the search for meaning, a place in an apparently caring community, an exploration of ultimate life purposes and the meeting of felt needs, not because they really want spiritual deception.
Myth #3 – Cults live communally, wear robes and live secretively.
Another straw man that reality torches into ashes. While some groups do dress, congregate and live in an unorthodox manner, this is far from the norm. Most cultists are fully integrated in society, hold responsible positions in civic affairs and are virtually indistinguishable from other people. Their interactions with others around them rarely raise the kinds of visible red flags such as those we've just mentioned. Apart from their efforts to share their own faith, and their observance of moral imperatives sacred to them that are unique to the group teaching they follow, they often appear quite moral, upright and culture-savvy. Cult members pay taxes, are soccer-moms and watch television just like anyone else. They are your neighbors, family and friends next door or in the next cubicle over.
Click here to read the complete article http://www.spiritwatch.org/cultmyths.htm