Common Properties of Potentially Destructive and Dangerous Cults
The cult's leaders tend to be charismatic, determined, and
domineering.
The cult's leaders are self-appointed, messianic persons who claim to have a special mission in life.
The cult tends to have a double set of ethics. Members are urged to be open and honest within the group, and confess all to the leaders. On the other hand, they are encouraged to deceive and manipulate outsiders or nonmembers. Established religions teach members to be honest and truthful to all, and to abide by one set of ethics.
The cult has basically only two purposes, recruiting new members and fund-raising. Established religions and altruistic movements may also recruit and raise funds. However, their sole purpose is not to grow larger; such groups have the goals to better the lives of their members
and mankind in general. The cults may claim to make social
contributions, but in actuality these remain mere claims, or gestures. Their focus is always dominated by recruiting new members and fund-raising.
The cult appears to be innovative and exclusive. The leader claims to be breaking with tradition, offering something novel, and instituting the only viable system for change that will solve life's problems or the world's ills. While claiming this, the cult then surreptitiously uses systems of psychological coercion on its members to inhibit their
ability to examine the actual validity of the claims of the leader and the cult
Maybe a bit of a stretch to look at other ranchers as cult members, but have you ever seen R-Calf members respond to any reasonable argument? Leo seems to be self-appointed and elected for life. They freely use half truths and lies to further their cause. Their members show utter devotion and endorse whatever course the leadership takes, even if it looks like it may end in economic suicide.Cults are proven experts at using the court systems to attack thier enemies.
The cult's leaders tend to be charismatic, determined, and
domineering.
The cult's leaders are self-appointed, messianic persons who claim to have a special mission in life.
The cult tends to have a double set of ethics. Members are urged to be open and honest within the group, and confess all to the leaders. On the other hand, they are encouraged to deceive and manipulate outsiders or nonmembers. Established religions teach members to be honest and truthful to all, and to abide by one set of ethics.
The cult has basically only two purposes, recruiting new members and fund-raising. Established religions and altruistic movements may also recruit and raise funds. However, their sole purpose is not to grow larger; such groups have the goals to better the lives of their members
and mankind in general. The cults may claim to make social
contributions, but in actuality these remain mere claims, or gestures. Their focus is always dominated by recruiting new members and fund-raising.
The cult appears to be innovative and exclusive. The leader claims to be breaking with tradition, offering something novel, and instituting the only viable system for change that will solve life's problems or the world's ills. While claiming this, the cult then surreptitiously uses systems of psychological coercion on its members to inhibit their
ability to examine the actual validity of the claims of the leader and the cult
Maybe a bit of a stretch to look at other ranchers as cult members, but have you ever seen R-Calf members respond to any reasonable argument? Leo seems to be self-appointed and elected for life. They freely use half truths and lies to further their cause. Their members show utter devotion and endorse whatever course the leadership takes, even if it looks like it may end in economic suicide.Cults are proven experts at using the court systems to attack thier enemies.
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