Friday, January 03, 2003  Characteristics of a Destructive Cult
Characteristics of a Destructive Cult by ReFocus (reprinted by
permission)  1. Authoritarian pyramid structure with authority
at the top  2. Charismatic or messianic leader(s)
(Messianic meaning they either say they are God OR that they
alone can interpret the scriptures the way God intended . . .
the leaders are self-appointed.)  3. Deception in recruitment
and/or fund raising  4. Isolation from society -- not
necessarily physical isolation like on some compound in Waco,
but this can be psychological isolation -- the rest of the world
is not saved, not Christian, not transformed (whatever) -- the
only valid source of feedback and information is the group  5.
Use of mind control techniques (we use Dr. Robert Jay Lifton's
criteria from chapter 22 of his book " Thought Reform and the
Psychology of Totalism" to compare whether the eight
psychological and social methods he lists are present in the
group at question)     Mileu Control: Control of the