Definition of a Cult

Generally, we think of a cult as a religious that brainwashes its members, and makes its members leave their families and start acting very differently from their usual behavior and personality. There are about 3,000 cults in the USA today, and some are very different from others. In order to be able to tell if a particular group, like the SSPX, is indeed a cult, we need to understand what it is that makes an organization a cult. We will start by getting a definition of a cult.

Webster's Dictionary is a good place to start to look for a definition. It says a cult is:

"1. a formal religious veneration 2. a system of religious beliefs and rituals also its body of adherents; 3. a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious: also its body of adherents; 4. a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator; 5. a) a great devotion to a person, idea, thing; esp: such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad, b) a usually small circle of persons united by devotion or allegiance to an artistic or intellectual movement or figure."

As noted cult expert Rick Ross says about Webster's definition, "This definition could include everything from Barbie collectors to 'Deadheads' and Elvis fans." We will look at other cult experts for something more precise.

Cult expert Carol Giambalvo quotes from psychologists West & Langone, who give the following definition:

"A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, Information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it, etc.) designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community." (West & Langone. 1986).

Understand Cults by Looking at Behavior

The above definition is very precise, but is hard to use in looking at a particular group. When cult experts look at a group, they look at group behavior. This is the only sure way to know if a group is a cult or not, because other aspects of cults, such as what they believe, are so different.

Cult expert Rick Ross defines a cult more in terms of its behavior. He quotes Margaret Singer, a noted clinical psychologist and emeritus adjunct professor at the University of California, Berkeley. According to Mr. Ross, Ms Singer has counseled and interviewed more than 3,000 cult members. She defines cults in her book Cults in our Midst.

Ms Singer says that cults groups can generally be defined by three factors:

1. The origin of the group and role of the leader.
2. The power structure, or relationship between the leader (or leaders) and the followers.
3. The use of a coordinated program of persuasion (which is called thought reform, or more commonly, 'brainwashing').

Regarding cult leadership and structure, Ms Singer says: "In most cases, there is one person, typically the founder at the top.., decision making centers in him or her." To give an image, Ms Singer says "imagine an inverted T. The leader is alone at the top and the followers are all at the bottom... the overriding philosophy... is that the ends justify the means, a view that allows [such groups] to establish their own brand of morality, outside normal society bounds."

Why do People Join Cults?

There seem to be dominant characteristics of people who join religious cults:

1. They are "searching." Someone who is looking for meaning in life, looking for authentic values that they can call their own, and which they can use as a guide to give their life a direction. People are most vulnerable in their teenage and young adult years, the years of the so-called "mid-life crisis" between age 40-50, and any time after the death of a loved one, a divorce, loss of a job, or any major move.
2. They don't think for themselves, but they allow others to think for them. People like this are vulnerable to anyone who will give them "answers."

In the table below we can see how cult followers and cult leaders fit so well together:
 

Cults are very successful at recruiting for two reasons:

1. Secrecy. Someone will join a cult, not knowing it is a cult, because cults do not give away their in-most secrets to non-members, and sometimes not even to members.
2. Community. People usually join a cult on the advice of someone else who is already a cult member, because cult members seem to "have it all together" and those who are "searching" don't. Those who are "searching" are looking for "answers" and cults provide easy answers, acceptance, and a sense of belonging to a "higher purpose."

Thus cults exploit people's greatest vulnerabilities:

1. The need for answers. By providing answers and keeping secrets.
2. The need to belong. By providing new friends and cutting members off from outside friends and family.

How do Cults Keep their Members from Leaving?

Cults use several techniques to keep their members from leaving:

• Thought Control
• Control information available to cult members.
• Tell cult members that "outsiders" can't be trusted.
• Emotional Control
• Provide cult members with all the "love" they need from other cult members.
• Tell cult members that former friends and family members are "bad" because they are not cult members.
• Make sure that the cult is a closed society unto itself.

The longer that people are members of a cult, the less they can act independently, and the harder it is for them to leave.

Who fights Cults?

Most often, those who fight cults are former cult members, or they know someone who was involved with a cult. There are both lone cult-fighters, sometimes called de-programmers or exit counsellors, and there are also groups and associations who provide information and referrals to psychologists, clergy, and individual cult experts, depending on the case.

Why are Cults a Problem?

God has given everyone a free will. Cults by their manipulative techniques, weaken a person's will.

• Cults are a danger to their members because:
• Cults create a dependency that gets harder to break the longer one is associated with the cult. Proof of this is that once someone has been removed from the cult, and has been told how dangerous it is, they will fight to return to the cult, because they feel "safe" there.
• Cult members can be asked to do anything to themselves, and will even commit suicide to please the cult leader.
• Cults are a danger to people outside the cult because:
• Cult members can be asked to do anything to others, and will commit any crime, including murder and robbery, to please the cult leader.

Thus cults are a menace to everyone, even those who are not cult members.

Advice from a Cult Expert

Cult expert Rick Ross gives the following advice to those who are thinking about joining a group:

"You can protect yourself from unsafe groups and leaders by developing a good BS detector. Check things out, know the facts and examine the evidence. A safe group will be patient with your decision making process. If a group or leader grows angry and anxious just because you want to make an informed and careful decision before joining; beware."

The above advice can be summarized: "Think for yourself, and don't allow others to think for you." This is something that NO cult leader wants you do do.