How to Know if You Joined a Cult

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Cults by definition are actually very common - a culture and culturing of people- but not all of them are unsafe. Here'due south a way to both larn virtually cults and recognize if a dangerous 1 is nearly y'all.

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1. 1

   Learn the organization's foundations. Cults tend to take very unproblematic and similar foundations and common factors having all or some of the post-obit:^[1]

   • A charismatic founder, leader or leadership.
   • Have a structured central bureaucracy.
   • Simplified goal or aim construction, such as to salvage something or introduce something to everyone.
   • A social club history, most new initiates are invariably required to larn and respect the founding figures.
   • There is a degree of intellectual limitation, then outside ideas or interaction with non members are not encouraged
   • In that location is also a system of repercussions, such as shunning, "time out" or isolating or demotion.
   • There is a organization of development, and then a person may exist groomed or encouraged to go towards certain roles, or aid in various means.
   • There is a tithe, membership dues or other system of getting money from members, rather than earning it externally.

2. 2

   Retrieve about how mutual this is. Yous might notice that most political parties, social clubs, sporting and health clubs, credit and banking systems, most religions and nationalities actually have these features and these are not what would be classified equally unsafe.^[two]

   • Near political parties have founding members, political history, ideology and identity and discourages interaction with "non members" or those with a different ways of looking at things. In upshot at that place is an entrenched discouragement to change ideas, while having a trained loyalty organisation. There is also a degree of reverence for political leaders in the past, but if they were of that item party, only members who cross the floor are deemed traitors.

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3. 3

   Avoid condign paranoid. Because the system used is so mainstream, you probably will be seeing it everywhere but that does not make every society or group dangerous. It but gives them the potential to exist one.^[3]

4. four

   Decide if there is an element of exploitation either fiscal or personal. This ultimately is where groups cross the line into a dangerous organisation.^[4]

5. 5

   Look for the key danger signals for medium level risks: Information technology may be OK to have some clan with them, but stay on baby-sit.

   • Members are encouraged to practise certain practices, methods and techniques and only those. There is no exploration, modification or comparing with other similar or different systems.
   • The screening of new potential members is quite large as they filter looking for suitable like minded, or easily mold-able people. The society can accept and wear the coin costs involved in having a very high grassroots turnover to go a few potentially ultra-loyal members, agreeing or easily manipulated members.
   • There is a noticeable degree of repetition, so central figures such equally the founder and their stories are frequently repeated to railroad train people to think the aforementioned style.
   • At that place is a medium caste of personal image aggrandizement to make certain figures announced greater than they really were and that association with them is a great or noble thing.
   • Members are all very similar and have minimal contact with the outside world, or the existent world.
   • There is a substantial amount of fourth dimension, money, thought and encouragement invested in promotion, lobbying and marketing.
   • Tax free status a major aspiration, or take already attained that.
   • Funds or proceeds do non stay in the state or country they were earned in.

6. 6

   Investigate farther. Such groups may still not be a danger to society, either in design or effect, only could ane day be run by someone who volition take information technology that management very easily.

7. 7

   Look for loftier hazard signs: These are ordinarily signs that information technology has crossed the line into a unsafe or potentially dangerous organization.^[5]

   • Manipulation of initiates is obvious to outsiders.
   • It is very difficult, if not impossible to leave their gild. The aim is to make the new person addicted to or so familiar with the cult that the person loses the power to be contained, or their fears of repercussions are as well high.
   • That members are required to function with large amount of funds or assets.
   • There is a loftier degree of mental stagnation, and then that there is a focusing on key principles or myths and general day to twenty-four hour period knowledge is encouraged to exist forgotten.
   • There is a degree of mentally stressful or intensive practices. These perhaps long meditation retreats with piddling sleep or food, high intensive workouts or other things. They may be branded with an element of mystique and privilege.
   • That information technology is incommunicable for an ordinary member to accept the same skills or status equally the founder or leadership. So the founder may be a dubbed an avatar, primary, guru, Bodhisattva, genius or other highly attained person, but the initiate will never be on the same level, peculiarly if some "powers" are non possible to develop normally or fifty-fifty be. Members may or may not ever be aware of this. Leaders and adjacent generation leaders are planned with no involvement or selection from the existing members.
   • All actions committed by members are justified or will be praised. Martyrdom may be encouraged.
   • There is a very effective propaganda organization every bit well as intensive (just covert) political lobbying.
   • In that location is not e'er a vast leadership structure, but there can be. The more manipulative cult leadership prefers a broad gap betwixt their condition and others and so may practise a more than flat working hierarchy. This can create "succession" issues, only usually its known who the adjacent in accuse will be in advance.
   • There is a definite separation from club.

8. 8

   If you see these signs, it is best to do one or all of the following. ^[6]

   • Learn your rights.
   • If you lot are not prepared to leave the town, stay calm and simply don't get involved or take risks. Proceed a polite distance so you lot are non made into an "enemy" of their group, which tin be potentially unsafe in tight knit communities or remote towns. They won't harm y'all until you lot are a threat to them.
   • Proceed your thoughts and feelings to but those you trust.
   • Encourage dialogue and exchanges between other groups. This prevents minorities or dissenters being silenced and the cult taking over the town. This does accept confrontation risks if that was the plan all forth, however.
   • Motility if information technology becomes intolerable or unsafe. No one is keeping you there only yourself.
   • Notify a police force enforcement agency if there is a clear sign of the law being cleaved. Legally they demand a "smoking gun" to act on.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How tin can I identify a cult member?

  

  You oft tin't, simply sometimes they will wear something to represent the cult, such as a ring, pendant, or necklace. They might besides try to convert you to the cult.

• Question

  What can I do near a dangerous cult?

  

  If yous believe the people involved are potentially committing crimes, notify constabulary enforcement. Otherwise, just stay away and encourage others to do likewise.

• Question

  How can I discover a criminal cult?

  

  Notice the people you suspect to be in a criminal cult, but be careful non to provoke them. If it is a criminal cult, members may show signs of abuse, such equally odd scars and scratches in concentrated places, testify of possible blood sacrifices or abuse to the members. If you suspect something like this is going on, it'south best to contact the police.

• Question

  What is cult slang?

  

  Certain terms that a cult uses that are usually incomprehensible to outsiders.

• Question

  If a religion feels like a cult, does that hateful information technology is one?

  

  If it feels controlling, quite simply, aye. Cults are almost control. They want to brand your decisions for you near your coin, and what you do with your time. Wait up the Seize with teeth model, it explains how cults try to control people en masse with lies and conditioning.

• Question

  If a religion makes information technology seem like I'k supposed to have a special mission in life, could that be a sign of a cult?

  

  A vague life mission is a common theme in religion. If the mission involves violence, common immorality, belittlement of non-believers, separation from social club, unwilling marriage, or self-harm or suicide, it's likely a cult.

• Question

  What do I exercise to stop being a member of a cult?

  

  Research forms of hypnosis and mind control. Read what has been written by ex-members and other researchers. Cults use fear to go along the members from leaving and convince them of something terrible that volition happen if they leave. Undo the "curse" kickoff and and then proceed with what- ever method volition work to undo the particulars of the cult you take been involved with.

• Question

  If a religion claims to know everything, is this a sign that information technology is a cult?

  

  No, this is not plenty to determine a cult. Religions that claim this include the Islam, Buddhism and many more. You will demand boosted signs.

• Question

  Would anti-vaxx count equally a cult?

  

  Though they are wrong in trying to convince people that their (possibly deadly) beliefs are correct, they are not a cult. An anti-vaxxer can believe in vaccines anytime he/she wants to, and lots of anti-vaxxers don't know who other anti-vaxxers are.

• Question

  Is it likely a cult will turn dangerous?

  

  Anna Dayton

  Community Answer

  All cults are dangerous. Dangerous does not mean it has to end in violence against outsiders, simply damage is done to the psyches of people within so they exercise not experience they can be responsible for their own lives and choices.

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• The most manipulative ones tend to be the well-nigh mundane to await at because they are designed to avoid existence the focus of attention.

• As mentioned before, be safe and avoid taking risks. They won't identify much interest in yous until you are a risk to them, or yous are a good "fish" to take hold of.

• Paranoia is really your biggest enemy, dangerous cults practise exist only they actually aren't very common or have much to do with the exterior world.

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