The death of Charles Manson has caused many to re-visit the psychology of cults and how a charismatic figure could have persuaded people to do things they never thought they would do.
The following list fits a variety of cults which prey on the young, the lost and the vulnerable in particular. Are there similarities between these characteristics and today’s brand of liberalism? You be the judge.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN CULTS AND LIBERALISM
- Demonizes those who dare to disagree or disapprove with cult ideology.
- Isolates, mocks and bullies it’s enemies. Enemies are defined as anyone who could pose a threat or expose the organization.
- Entices you with promises of security, freedom from want and the perfect way to heal or fix the world.
- The cult offers members an opportunity to be part of something “bigger than themselves” and a sense of belonging.
- The cult is self-perpetuating and cannot afford to attain the goals it claims it exists to address.
- Requires secrecy to hide its true goals and beliefs. New recruits are never told the true agenda.
- Has intense interest in all potential recruits’ personal information, foibles, and weaknesses to be used at a later date to keep them tied to the cult.
- Uses blackmail and fear to scare followers and even non-followers into keeping quiet.
- Systematically bullies you into submission, especially after it has taken a great deal of your income.
- Has “Messianic” leaders, who are continually enriched by the system, never have to live by the same rules they require of others, and are worshipped as Gods or super-human.
- Wants to separate you from those you love and make you suspicious of them. Sees independent, personal relationships and the “nuclear family” as a threat.
- Preys and thrives on the most gullible and lost among us.
- The cult is vindictive and retaliatory toward outsiders and anyone who dares to criticize.
- Targets children and devotes enormous resources to indoctrinating them as early as possible.
- Causes poverty financially and spiritually.
- Willing to lie outlandishly to further its goals.
- Worships celebrity and treats certain people as more special than others. Celebrities are used to perpetuate the cult to the masses.
- Blatant contradictions and hypocrisy are simply ignored. If exposed they simply deny, deny, deny.
- Seeks to control every aspect of life to perpetuate itself and to maintain control over its followers.
- The deeper adherents become involved in the cult, the more they are willing to abandon and contradict every principle that attracted them to the cult in the first place.
- The final result of their involvement leads to a complete loss of self and ultimately, slavery.
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