Characteristics of Authoritarian/Abusive/Cult Organizations/Churches.

This article was contributed by
Steve Morris and others
and has been edited for even further clarification by those who care.

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Characteristics of
Authoritarian/Abusive/Cult Organizations/Churches.

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1. The people are really there to meet the needs of the leaders, rather
than the leaders for the people. This can be in the form of ego, finances,
power and position.
True shepherds will help, guard, protect,
and build the flock so the flock can walk in its own strength. The shepherds
don't own the flock. A true shepherd points people to dependance upon Jesus and
to God as your Source.
2. The leaders continually remind members
of their own authority—because it isn't based on genuine Godly character, their
message or their lifestyle.
The most distinctive characteristic of a
spiritually abusive religious system, or leader, is the over-emphasis on
authority. Because a group claims to have been established by God Himself [with
special endowments] the leaders in this system claim the right to command their
followers.
3. If you mention a problem, then you
become the problem. You are accused of causing them, not simply exposing them.
The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the leader.
The Word is not the final authority, the
leader is.
4. Loyalty is demanded by the leader
and/or his organization, instead of to Christ. Often fear of bad repercussions
will threatened if you leave or do not follow the agenda.
5. Secrecy, surprises and suspense are
utilized to continue to cause chaos and confusion. They are "the only ones
who know," you have no access to the "truths" they receive.
People hide what is inappropriate, not what is appropriate.
6. Unbalanced doctrines are taught, i.e.,
prophecy, biblical law or esoteric methods of biblical interpretation and
spiritual methods, to the exclusion of the whole counsel of God. This validates
the group's claim of special status.


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Techniques used for control

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1. Excess flattery. We all want to think we're special, and respond readily
to a "special" group of people who are considered to be
"insiders." We all want to be a part of the "elite" group,
but Jesus died for everyone to have full, equal and adequate access to the
Father. The veil was rent that all may see.
2. A promise to bring you into an
authoritarian cause, as a leader. There is a follow up on the flattery by
urging you to use your "unique personal talents" to guide and teach
others. Instead of being a servant to others, you are now a lord to others and
your greatness is in your position.
3. A position of great authority over you
is assumed. They will contact you again and again to try to get you to attend
some sort of meeting, party or other special event and use other socially
manipulative tactics in an effort to recruit you into the group—all for your
own good, of course.
4. You will be lead to respond to
questions with the answers they most want you to give by affirming their
authority. This can often be a group psychology. They continue to flatter you,
while leading you though a hidden agenda and making it appear as though the
answers you gave meant that you strongly supported their point of view of your
own free will.
5. The former flattery will be used
against you. Now disappointed, in contrast with wild praise, the perceived loss
of esteem such a response entails can serve as a powerful force motivating
dissenters to "get with the program."
They will let you know in so many words
that you "owe" them for your blessings. God does not work that way.
We don't like to disappoint those who initially claim to be impressed with us,
especially when they assume a position of authority over us and claim to have "selected"
us for membership in some supposed special group.
Cult leaders and other authoritarian
figures typically use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage. The
underside of flattery is manipulation.
6. The rules of the game will be changed
early on, with no warning, and proceed as though nothing unusual had happened.
Such "bait and switch" tactics are typical of those who attempt to
recruit others into authoritarian movements. When we find ourselves giving in
to such strategies, and feeling reluctant to question those who are setting
themselves up as knowing what is best for us, we can slowly begin to
internalize their point of view and make the act of repressing any doubts we
may have into a fundamental component of our own thought processes. Your mind is
not your own anymore.
7. They will contradict themselves many
times in the course of your relationship with them. They will cover their
tracks by repeatedly verbalizing their stated objections toward the very
tactics they used to manipulate you from the start. In other words, they are
accusing you of what they are guilty of!
They believe your view of yourself as an
independent, free-thinking person would most likely make it difficult for you
to recognize fully the many ways in which they were controlling the underlying
agenda from the start.
8. The desire to avoid feelings of
disillusionment and isolation may be one of the most powerful factors
motivating those who choose to remain members of various cult groups and other
authoritarian movements, even after it appears obvious that the extraordinary
hopes and desires they had when they first joined a particular group are never
likely to be fulfilled.
This can occur because of the hopes for
relationships and significance were considered part of the prize. If your
foundation is really on Jesus, then everything built upon that will ultimately
stand, in spite of the winds of adversity.

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IF YOU ARE NOT AS FREE TO LEAVE AS YOU
WERE TO COME IN, YOU ARE IN A CULT! IF CONDEMNATION (RATHER THAN A HEALTHY
DISAPPOINTMENT TO SEE YOU LEAVE) AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATIONS ARE SEEKING TO
CONTROL YOU, BE GLAD THAT YOU LEFT! IT WILL NEVER GET BETTER.
WE ARE CALLED TO BE PART OF THE BODY OF
CHRIST--WHICH IS WORLD WIDE AND BASED ON SCRIPTURE AND THE LIBERATING SPIRIT OF
GOD--NOT THE DOCTRINES OF MAN. IN CHRIST, YOU ARE FREE! FREE TO SERVE, FREE TO
LIVE AND FREE TO DO RIGHT.
THE STRONGER THE CONTROL, THE MORE LIKELY
YOU ARE TO FACE VERY UNPLEASANT AND UNHEALTHY CONSEQUENCES. THERE ARE MANY
CHURCHES, MANY OF WHICH ARE VERY GOOD. PLEASE KEEP LOOKING UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT
GIVES YOU GOOD MENTAL HEALTH AND TREATS OTHER PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.