Westboro Baptist Church of
child abuse, broken dreams,
and broken people.Cult members
believe that they are privy to
special truths and insights
not known to the general
community, and that it is
their mission to spread this
knowledge to others.Cults
create a custom vocabulary for
their members. New words are
invented, existi
more

Westboro Baptist Church of
child abuse, broken dreams,
and broken people.Cult members
believe that they are privy to
special truths and insights
not known to the general
community, and that it is
their mission to spread this
knowledge to others.Cults
create a custom vocabulary for
their members. New words are
invented, existing words are
redefined, and a jargon of
trite and pat cliches is
developed.A cult provides a
surrogate family for its
members, who feel somehow
separated and at odds with
mainstream society.Central to
almost all cults is the
founding member, a figure who
through the strength of their
own conviction is able to
attract others to their
cause.Cults often craft
alternative interpretations of
world events, both present and
historical, that serve to
reinforce their belief
system.Cults tend to have a
very limited life. The hype
and fervor can only sustain
the devotion of the members
for so long, and eventually
they will look to other
sources for inspiration -
those leaving a cult are
frequently drawn into another
within a short
time.'Characteristics of a
Cult'PopularManipulativeContro
lling and authoritative: This
message is from God; I am a
prophet... You must follow
these
rules...Fear-inducingLegalisti
cCondemningConformityExclusivi
tyFinancial
involvementIsolation from
outside.Lack of
privacyLove-bombingCritical
thinking discouraged; can't
question.IndoctrinationCorpora
te identification with goals
of groupDemands Total
Committment and unquestioning
submissionValue rejection:
encouraged to denounce values
and beliefs of former
life.Deviates from orthodox
teachings of historic
Christian faithDenies and
distorts fundamental orthodox
Christian doctrines, ie.,
Trinity, deity of Christ,
salvation by grace through
faith alone.Threats about
leaving and
consequences'Symptoms of cult
followers' * Fear *
Loyalty * Brain-washing
* Emotional vulnerability
* Neurosis * Guilt *
Identity confusion *
Paranoia * Loss of free
will * Intellectual
sterility * Diminished
capacity of judgment *
Psychosis * Suicidal
tendenciesResources: Christian
Research Institute and
Larson's New book of Cults by
Bob Larson

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