Leader Resource 1: What Do Cults and Religions Do
Part of Building Bridges
Recreate the image of the poster on newsprint. Cut the phrases into slips of paper.
Make everybody eat together |
Pressure people to give their houses, cars, money, etc. to the group |
Track down and/or kill people who leave the group |
Punish people for criticizing the group or the leadership |
Pressure people to give a set portion of their income to the group |
Excommunicate or shun people for very bad offenses |
Require doing unhealthy tasks, such as going without sleep, to prove loyalty |
Require specific behavior to demonstrate one's faith |
Discourage contact with family or friends outside the group |
Declare that opponents or enemies should be tricked, sued, lied to, or destroyed |
Make members feel guilty about making life choices for themselves |
Encourage or require all members to live together or in the same area |
Insult members, diminish their sense of self-worth |
Require that children attend schools run by the group |
Publicly punish or humiliate members, both adults and children |
Strongly encourage parents to send children to group-run schools |
Assure members the group will always be there for them |
Assure members the group will always completely take care of them |
Encourage members to be somewhat dependent on the group |
Encourage members to be independent thinkers |
Encourage members to be totally dependent on the group |
Want children to grow up to be members of the group |
Require that children become fully indoctrinated members for life |
Require children to be taught group doctrine, but allow them to leave |
Rely on the gratitude and generosity of members to perpetuate itself |
Specify certain texts as the only acceptable sources of ultimate truth |
Interpret the world for members, who must accept this interpretation |
Create a mindset of "us versus them" |
Perpetuate themselves by playing on members' insecurities and fears |
Offer members reassurance that they matter and others care about them |
Maintain that its teachings are the only path to eternal salvation |
Punish misbehavior in social, unofficial ways |
Require members' attendance at group events to be in good standing |
Require a financial contribution to be a member in good standing |
Require a large financial contribution to be a member in good standing |
Require occasional proof of loyalty |
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