Apr
14
2009
Ok, making the symbolism easy, Pat Bowlen and Josh McDaniels represent the shallow, narcissistic leaders in our world who have been exposed as the “emperors without clothes!”
I have really enjoyed this story. Just as McDaniels and Bowlen have been trying to manipulate Jay Cutler, treating him slightly less than a piece of property,
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Mar
01
2009
Scholars and researchers studying LDATs suggest that each of the programs, large or some of their smaller cousins follow three basic strategies to enlist their participants in the pyramid process of creating more followers, believers, adherents, or whatever words they use to describe their paying customers:
- Creating an altered sense of reality to help people let go of their sense of self and prepare them to accept the new definitions of themselves influenced by the larger group
- Encourage “catharsis” or the release of deeply held emotional memories through “confessions” and disclosures
- Rebirthing or the rebuilding of the person’s identity through positive reinforcements
- and recruitment of others to join the LGAT
Of course, we can look at almost any larger group activity, even political parties and find these steps in the life of an individual within these groups.
Jul
07
2008
Cults…I talk a lot about the YFZ Ranch and the FLDS, but what are some of the characteristics of a cult?
- mind control…use of bizarre religious or secular ideas to enforce the obedience of followers
- emotional disclosure…participants are encouraged to disclose private, emotionally important information…while the leaders do not share emotional information with the larger group
- recruitment…participants are encouraged/expected to go out and recruit others to join the cult organization using deceptive and manipulative tactics
- restriction from all outside ideas and influences ( no radio, television, computer/internet, newspapers)
- Claims that the outside world is evil and will lead to the death or damnation of anyone who betrays the cult
- Participants are manipulated to believe that they can not survive without all the cult offers them
- leaders are a few men who directly benefit from the cult by abuse, manipulation, threat of harm, sexual control of women and intricate financial arrangements
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