Being vulnerable does not mean a person is stupid,
and being vulnerable does not mean you have failed.
Only a robot is invulnerable.
"Potentially unsafe groups or leaders "come off very nice at first, they go for vulnerable people who are looking for answers, lonely, what you'd call 'normal people.' They're very good at what they do and can get people to believe anything. You might think you'd never get taken in, but don't bet on it. "
-- Margaret Singer, Ph.D
[
www.culteducation.com]
These may not be apparent when you attend an introductory meeting
or lecture.
Often, the first and earliest warning signs are reports given online.
Quoted from belowQuote
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
Quote
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
(Corboy note:This may be hidden not only from visitors, but in some cases, lower ranking
members are not yet fully indoctrinated and do not yet know or share
the fears of more thoroughly indoctrinated upper level members.)
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.
1. Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
Ten signs of a safe group/leader.
1. A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
2. A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
3. A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
4. A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
5. A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
6. A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
7. A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
8. A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
9. A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
10. A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.
The most intelligent and best educated of us can be thrown
off balance and into grief by the death of a parent,
by a pre-existing illness that wears us down.
And, these days, anything to do with meditation tends to
sell well. Very few imagine that meditation in and of itself
could be harmful.
Thing to remember, is if meditation is effective enough to
bring stress relief, it can have the potential to rub other
people the wrong way.
Even aspirin has side effects listed on
the side of each package, and a list of signs that you should stop
taking the aspirin and call your doctor.
One sign of an unsafe group is either to claim meditation ios
perfect for everyone.
Another sign of an unsafe group is to claim or hint that anyone
who leaves, who refuses to participate, or who had a bad reaction to
meditation has somehow been a failure, had some sort of bad karma
that kept them from benefitting. As the list above states,
an unsafe group will never admit there's a valid reason to leave
or disagree.
Corboy notes:
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
(Corboy note: In some cases, lower ranking members who have not yet
been fully indoctrinated may be the ones who meet and greet and give
orientation to newcomers. If so, these members may have a newbie enthusiasm,
and not know themselves how fear ridden the higher ranking members are. Thus
the new members may in their own ignorance of the group, be quite sincere
because they themselves do not know the true nature of the group
they're involved with.)
If a group arranges things in this manner, even the new members who
do the meet and greet and introductory teachings may, themselves
be quite unaware of the actual role of the leader and the amount of
submission demanded by the leader.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2015 10:50PM by corboy.