This is from a discussion about Large Group Awareness Trainings. But
it applies to many other exploitative groups and leaders as well.
[
forum.culteducation.com]
Quote
Kdag you're absolutely spot on- it's recognized as one of their tactics to be introduced by someone you trust. That person has already been coerced into their way of thinking so they will swear up and down how much it has changed their lives for the better. This is why they won't advertise- they don't want people knowing about the program without it being from someone who is a zealot for their organization. If they advertise- people research.
The best recruiters are people you already trust. And the best recruiters
are not pushy - enthusiastic.
They are
sincerely enthusiastic.
And this sincerity is attractive and appealing.
But sincerity does not in itself prove anything. It is
like sweet tasting substances.
We are wired to seek out the taste of sweetness.
But...sweetness can mask the taste of poison.
Those you trust who are sincerely, may without their knowledge have had
their sincerity co-opted by indoctrination experts (calling themselves
gurus, teachers, leaders, masters) to serve an agenda of deceit.
These trusted friends, coworkers, a teacher at your children's school, lovers, relatives, even in some
cases, yoga teachers or therapists -- they will be unaware that
their newfound feeling of salvation and transformation has been produced
a set of stimuli deployed by a dishonest group or guru, who are adept at manipulating the neurochemistry of trustful persons.
Those persons you trust do not feel exploited, even though
they are being exploited without being aware of it.
You are therefore unlikely to research this leader and group your
sincere, radient friend is involved with.
Even if you do learn alarming information about this group, you
may feel afraid to compromise a valued relationship by taking this
seriously. You may persuade yourself that this is obsolete
information, the alarming stuff you're reading online happened in the past,
not the present. Or that it is written by a few malcontents or competitors.
Or that the harm reports describe a
different sect from the one your
friend is in.
Your friend is glowing. She or he from all appearances looks better off than
in years. How could anything harmful have had such a good effect on your friend?
You become an enabler for your friend by making these excuses to yourself.
Unless you have unusual background knowledge, you will not know that
well organized cults make sure that their recruiters are excited new recruits
who are totally unaware of the long trail of damaged lives that group has left behind. You will be unaware that those who are burdened and overworked in teh cult are kept away from happy new converts. You and your excited happy recruiter do not know that a world of background information is knowingly concealed and that your pal was *never* in a position to give informed consent.
In short, the most effective recruiters for a cult do not know that they and their
sincerity are being pimped by their group.
Pimped to to recruit for their guru or group
via their existing relationship networks.That is why, contrary to stereotype, the best functioning gurus and cults do not go after maladjusted people. They go after people who are social, sociable,
people who, far from being losers, have a lot to offer.
People who make that group look good. People who have lots of friends and co-workers and social connections.
Without knowing it, your compromised friend or relative may through their radiant enthusiasm recommend that you consult a yoga teacher, body worker or life coach
who is, without your pal knowing it, a higher level member of the group who
may through the client provider relationship, bring the recruitment to a
more sophisticated level.
Someone with a client practice who is slave to a guru
can learn confidential information about you and tattle it to their handler
higher up in the group who can then decide if you yourself are worth targeting for long term cultivation.
You will feel as though you are making free choices. But if the rules of engagement for your friendship have changed to serve the exploitative
agenda of a dishonest group or leader -- you and your buddy
are not making free choices.
Because freedom of choice is possible ONLY if you are fully informed of the
role this group and leader are playing in influencing your friend and her
recommendations to you.
When a subject is newly recruited, he or she has been given the
sunny side of the group. He or she is excited, happy. He or she has
not been in the group long enough to notice patterns of favoritism, has
not been exposed to features and doctrine that the cult hides from
the public -- and hides to the joyous new recruits.be privy to burdensome secrets.
You do not know it, but once your loved one or mentor has become
indoctrinated, the rules of engagement you once shared with
this person
are no longer shared.
This subject is not yet aware that he or she has become incapable of
genuine friendship, for there's now a hidden, dictatorial third party -
the guru or group-- by which all other relationships and beliefs
are evaluated, and then deemed threatening or supportive.
Remember that your friend will feel saved, transformed, redeemed, illumined.
Your friend is unaware that deceit combined with ordinary
manipulation techniques have created all this.
You are now either a potential ally/recruit or a potential threat.
You are a person from whom secrets must be kept.
And your friend, feeling saved from death, whether spiritual or social,
will be convinced that it is worthy to lie to you, so long as
you either join the group and become saved or at least remain
supportive of your friend's cult identity.
Anything that might cause you to get a skeptical facial expression,
--your indoctrinated buddy will keep it from you, or soft-pedal it.
Meanwhile, you love and trust your friend, so you will likely
consider it unthinkable to research whatever or whoever has
made your friend seem happy and fulfilled.
So, yes indeed. We are less likely to run due diligence Google searches
on anything a loved one. friend or mentor is involved with.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2017 12:33AM by corboy.