This is a very useful way of assessing the group.
quote="cultmalleus"]
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Expert view
Dr. Robert Jay Lifton -- author, psychiatrist and professor at the City University of New York -- testified during the Patricia Hearst bank-robbery trial as an expert on ''coercive persuasion.'' This is his ''model of thought reform'':
Environment control: Communication with those outside the group is limited.
Time with the JC's is spent almost 100% with other JC's. Visits to family etc are at least with one other JC
Private conversations with friends or family members are discouraged. Letters sent to individual JC's are read by leaders and responses often collective.
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Mystical manipulation: Prophetic words help the target person become convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group.
Revelations from listening times, modified according to the predilections of Mr Mckay, guide the groups new activities and goals. New major projects come from David alone
Dreams are recounted and interpreted by leader/ group therby manipulating perceptions. [/color:a6006df6f6]
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Demand for purity: A goal of the group is to bring about change on a global, social or personal level: ''Perfection is possible if the person stays with the group.''
self explanatory
Despite public declarations to the contrary, Dave believes that his group is the only group that have the truth. JC's are discouraged from leaving and beoming renegrades. Many have an instilled fear of 'cultbusters'.
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Cult of confession: The group encourages self-disclosure to members, including admitting sins and imperfections.
there was a practice of keeping a minute by minute diary of thoughts and actions that was required to be submitted to the leader, with fasting and prayer if "sin" was commited
JC's can be 'hotseated' when they are considered to be slipping or rebelling. It is much easier to accept the criticisms quickly because failure to so can result in some extremely high pressured and damaging experiences.
JC's sodeclare their commitment to the virgin army as a percentage on a regular basis.[/color:a6006df6f6]
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Sacred science: The group says its perspective is absolutely true and explains everything.
Jesus and David's "sincerity" are the twin cornerstones
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Loaded language: Loaded terms and cliches prejudice thinking.
People are classified as :vipers, pigs, snakes, pharisees, empire builders, time bandits, systemites, goats or sheep
McKay is very wary of any 'critical thinking and does not allow individuality. He teaches the grou to 'mark those who cause division'. In effect , if a member raises questions after speaking to relatives/ outsiders, they will be encouraged to cut all contact in order to bring about cohesion and fear of outside influences.[/color:a6006df6f6]
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Doctrine over person: The group's doctrine overrules individual experience.
If it's tracts we are to do, we all must do it. If it's standing in the sewer, we all must do it.
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Dispensing of existence: Salvation is presented as possible only within the group.
Recruits 'forsake all' including family , friends, occupation, possessions, study, photos, letters. JC's follow orders, targets, quotas. Food is obtained from bin raiding at supermarkets. When food has gone off, it is sometimes washed in a diluted bleach solution before it is cooked UGH!![/color:a6006df6f6]
The remnant of the faithful. Lip service to the idea that one need not be in the group to be saved, but no suggestions as to other valid groups to join other than the JC's. If one was in development work, you would see someone in the Red Cross suggest someone work with Oxfam if they had an interest in water, or with World Vision if they wanted to do sustainable small scale agriculture in villages. There is no alternative presented to the JC's[/quote]