Seeking Easy Answers to Hard Questions
UnreasonableFaith.com posted an interesting video on cult mentality by a woman who was both an ex-Moonie and an ex-deprogrammer.
While I don't agree with all of her points (including visually comparing celebrating Moonies with the Hitler Youth), I did particularly like her bit on potential cult-members seeking easy answers to hard questions: cult leaders often have direct connection with God, God is good ergo the leader is good, and leader can provide me with all the answers and solutions I need.
Quite frankly, however, I don't see this as a specifically cult mentality. There's a lot of members of more accepted religions who really approach religion the same way. I can't count the number of times a theological discussion has been stymied by a participant who can't say anything more than "because the Bible says so," and then can't actually say where the Bible says it because they haven't actually read the darn thing, they're just parroting their pastor, a website (because, you know, the Internet is always right), some guy on Christian Radio, or whatever.
Likewise I've dealt with numerous Wiccans all in a panic because they're trying to do a ritual but don't have access to a certain object such as an athame, sage, or a bell. "Why do you feel you need this object?" I ask. "Well, because the book I'm reading says so." Great. Wicca has no scriptures, so this isn't like someone is falling back on the words of a god: they're referencing what one Wiccan wrote as a possible ritual. Most often these sorts of readers don't even understand why the athame, sage or bell was even incorporated into said ritual. It's easier to just presume someone else has all the answers than to engage in critical religious thought.
Comments
The eagerness to surrender one’s thinking to an authority figure is not confined to the sphere of religion. There’s a wackload of people out there whose reaction to any new development in political or social affairs is to tune in to their favourite commentator, or read their favourite newspaper columnist, so that they’ll know what to think about it. Sad but true.
Good point. Focusing so much on my subject, I do get a bit myopic on occasion, especially here.
We’re becoming a society of sheeple.
Programming is just another name for brainwashing and this term has been dismissed as rubbish decades ago. Even the APA says there is no such thing as brainwashing or programming. It is disappointing that TED gave this woman the time of day. You may be interested in this essay that reviews the history of brainwashing and its relationship to cults.
http://www.cesnur.org/testi/melton.htm
JLC,
Looks like an interesting read (although that background makes it an eyesore!). Thanks for the link!
Cults do in engage in behaviors that break down their members mental and physical resistance. It may not be true brainwashing, but it will affect the members ability to think logically and independently.
They will limit or interfere with sleep. They will restrict diet in the amounts and types of foods. They will cut off contact with non-members, especially those who have left the cult. These are the same types of behaviors often used by abusers to control their spouses or children. Adding religion to this mess makes it even more difficult for the member to reject the cult and walk away.
In addition, people tend to follow along with other people. If they’re in a group, they will often just do what everyone else in the group does, no matter how illogical or wrong it seems.
I think the past 30 years of American politics back up Makarios.
So, Brenda, have all the Jews and Muslims who observe religiously-based dietary restrictions been “broken down” mentally and physically? Can you name some cults that deprive their members of sleep? Have you examined critically the sources of such information? Or do you simply believe and parrot everything negative you hear about “cults”? Good girl. Heel; here’s your biscuit.