There once was a group and then the new guy took over, and then it got weird.  And is getting weirder.  So, just a word to the wise from this site: http://www.rickross.com/warningsigns.html (More information IS there, too, including a list of qualities of a properly run group that is not going the cult route.)

Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.

1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.(like blowing off the next level of organization AND tradition?  Like that?)
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.(Verbally sandblasts questioners or criticism)
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.(Paranoid about who knows what and who is where, and when—always texting or calling members)
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.(If you aren’t with them, you are against HIM??  Sound familiar?)
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.(Deleted blogs or message forum data?)
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.

And from another site:(Please go to link to read the full descriptions – http://www.factnet.org/headlines/destructive_cult_warning_signs.html)

1. A destructive cult tends to be totalitarian in its control of its members’ behavior.

2. A destructive cult tends to have an ethical double standard.

3. A destructive cult has only two basic purposes: recruiting new members and fund-raising.

4. A destructive cult appears to be innovative and exclusive.(Like calling traditional things “old fashioned” or medieval and ignoring them?)
   

5. A destructive cult is authoritarian in its power structure. (Like secret meetings held by the favored few.)
   

6. A destructive cult’s leader is a self-appointed messianic person claiming to have a special mission in life.

7. A destructive cult’s leader centers the veneration of members upon himself or herself.(Lots of pictures of the Fearless Leader, and few of other members?)
   

8. A destructive cult’s leader tends to be determined, domineering, and charismatic.

Comments are closed.