New cults and leaders (part 1)

Bahaismiran: The book “new cults and leaders” has been written by Omid, Shahbaz Nejad and published in 1390 by Mo’jezeh publication of Mashhad city. The book has been compiled in 3 chapters: chapter 1” The causes of people’s tendency towards the cults. It includes the following debates: people’s vulnerability, the contents presenting to people by cult, the techniques of admitting members, the methods of proselytizing and investigating the adolescents ‘characters involved in Satanism. Chapter 2 deals with the characteristics of the cult leaders on their influence on loosening the rudiments of the family. Chapter 3 investigates the cults and names and samples. At the end of chapter 2 the author has summarized the first and second chapter in two parts.

Summery:

The leader of a cult is a person who obliges other people to be dependent on him/her completely or somehow completely in nearly all their important life decisions. They induce the theological followers that the leaders include talent, ingenuity or special knowledge. According to Marx Weber, the leaders of cults are charismatic and decisive people.

The role of leaders in establishing cults:

1) The leaders designs the theological system which has been inspired by an extraordinary source according to his/her claim. If the members believe in this theological system, they will be prosperous.

2) The suitable answers for the people’s parts of life-which aren’t controllable by them and make them anxious- are presented.

3) The leader is constantly looking for members for the cult.

4) Controlling the members through the techniques for controlling minds.

The characteristics of cult leaders:

The recognition of the characteristics of cult leaders are of the most influential methods of the structure and thought governing the cult.

First: The leader is always right

The leaders of cult are infallible, according to the cult members, and their speeches are always right. According to this belief- that the private life of the leader and his temperaments if forbidden. Each doubt regarding him/her shows that the member isn’t merited. The more vague is the leader’ action, the more valuable and respectful it will be.

In order to achieve their aims easily, the cults mock, belittle and criticize the humane greatness of the members to make them dependent. This specification is done by presenting them as kids.

The members of the cult are dais: “You aren’t merited to judge about the leader.”

The fixed rule of the cults:

“Having negative feeling towards the cult or the leader is a fault and you should remove it.”

There are constantly some issues for which the members criticize themselves and confess due to all their errors and sins. Because:

- The members have been trained not to trust their own minders judges.

- The members have been trained no to trust their own motivations.

- The members have been trained no tot trust their own feelings.

Steven Hassan states: “The cult doctrine always needs a person no to trust him/herself; thus, the members never feel be pure. Whenever the cult member wants to stand up, he/she should be thrown down. This leader policy leads the members not to leave the cult.

Third) the leader asks for the perfect faith

According the cult leader’s beliefs is the main condition to enter and stay in group. The members should be ready to accept an opinion or a new principle enthusiastically whenever the leader offers a new doctrine.

Sometimes, the members possess experiences and values in advance which are in contract with the behavior and ideas of the cult. To remove these contradictions, the members are told:

- The leaders has a superior reality which isn’t observable for them.

- Suspecting the leaders or his trainings is a definite sign in moral contravening of the person.

- Instead of believing in God’s words, the cult members must pay attention to the interpretation of God’s words by the leader.

If the belief isn’t perfect and definite, the member will be accused of having deficiency and impurity and this is the sign of Satan or insulting to the leader and he/she is merited to be punished.

Unexceptionability:

These who criticize the leader or the cult teachings are being attacked

- They are being attributed with hideous titles

- They are being accused

- They are being accused of having evil motivations

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Some reasons for preventing them of criticism and independent thought:

· You thought will hurt other members of the cult.

· You prevent the others to go to heaven and you weaken their faith.

· You make them tempted and make them drop and change into lost spirits

The reason for such anti open-mindedness is simple. The critical and analytic thought threats the cult rules. The non-intellectual principles of the cult can’t bear to resist against the intellectual investigation. Consequently, intelligence and reasoning encounter insult. These insult are used to prevent critical investigation of the members.

Criticism is the red line of cults. The cult member can’t usually stand a person who criticizes the deficiencies and faults of their group or leader. In this way, they react angrily. Specially when they can’t answer the criticisms suitably

5) Making Money is the Main aim of the cult leader

Increasing investment is the main aim of the cult. The cult increases it fund by the members or the people out of the cult.

Most of the time, the cult spends much time bargaining for the cult or collecting financial aid. Unfortunately, the cult function regarding gaining money is too decisive.

6) Being faithful towards the leader

The new members are expected to their mind, spirit, life, credit card, check book and house document under the care of group.

The cult issues new orders instead of God. The cult will decide what God says and what God’s will is?

7) The religious leader is ultra-special

In cults, the leaders are gods and according to the cult members beliefs the leaders are people who just know the reality are merited to have the most money, the most attractive ladies and the highest joy. In cults leaders aren’t applauded. They are being worshiped.

8) The leader and the definition of moral norms of the cult:

The moral standards of the cult is determined by the leader. Performing immoral actions by the members isn’t matter as long as these actions help the leaders achieve their aims.

Leaders’ reasoning:

· Doing this action is true became the group had confirmed its rightness.

· I did it having divine intention.

· Doing this action was aimed being better more.

· The aim justifies the means.

9) Deceit

The members of the cult including the leader make other people guilty for their sins….

It is continued