‘In the centre sits the Leader, separated by an inner circle who spread around him an aura of impenetrable mystery’

https://aeon.co/essays/how-cult-leaders-brainwash-followers-for-total-control

"Not all leaders want to get rich, gain sexual favours, or grab political power. But all want utter control over others. Money, sex, free labour or loyal combatants are all fringe benefits, and certainly most leaders take advantage of these, some in a big way. But absolute control over their relationships is the key.



These leaders rule over isolating, steeply hierarchical and closed structures, some with front groups serving as transmission belts to the outside world. This isolating structure is the second characteristic of a totalist group. As the organisation grows, it develops concentric, onion-like layers with the leader in the centre providing the driving movement. There might be several layers – from the leader, to the lieutenants, to the elite inner circle, to other varying levels of membership, down to mere fellow-travellers or sympathisers.

Arendt describes the innermost part of the structure in powerful terms: ‘In the centre of the movement, as the motor that swings it into motion, sits the Leader. He is separated from the elite formation by an inner circle of the initiated who spread around him an aura of impenetrable mystery.’ This mystery adds to the feeling that the leader is everywhere and sees everything. Meanwhile, the leader keeps the inner circle off-balance by sowing distrust, and promoting and demoting personnel seemingly at random."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2018 12:10AM by anybody.

I'd kill myself first, just to make sure it felt okay, THEN I'd kill my family and burn down the house and chase the cat and give her a perm.

I got it all planned out!

I thought I already told you, NO PERM for the CAT.. she told me

she doesn't like them any way.

saucie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought I already told you, NO PERM for the
> CAT.. she told me
>
> she doesn't like them any way.


LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! Poor kitteh!

Just try giving the cat a bath. It's a suicide mission.

Easier than discussing real church history with a TBM.

If there really was a Prophet who said that, I'd kill him and

then go on with my day singing la la la la la..

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/heavens-gate-20-years-later-10-things-you-didnt-know-114563/


Do's "Final Exit" Tape
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdGXDQ_8bSA

Not too different from Mormonism... :/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2018 10:47PM by anybody.

People told me I'd been left behind.

This "left behind" blather is nonsense! Stuff and nonsense!!

What about the right behind?

It takes both a left behind and a right behind to get to heaven!!

Dad's favorite Bible story was that of Abraham and Isaac's father son barbecue.

This is crazy talk.

I wouldn't do anything a profit told me to do, especially as heinous as murdering my family. Not good at following orders.

Lethbridge Reprobate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wouldn't do anything a profit told me to do,
> especially as heinous as murdering my family. Not
> good at following orders.


Yeah, that was always my thought too. When I was still LDS and belonged to LDS-related chat rooms, this question would sometimes come up. I'd think, "No way. Not in a New York minute. I'd think the guy had lost his mind and that he needed to removed from the Presidency."

It always shocked me how many people said, "Of course I would." What?!

http://theconversation.com/how-cult-leader-charles-manson-was-able-to-manipulate-his-family-to-commit-murder-70961


The key to Manson’s control, as with all cult leaders, was to ensure that followers not only saw him as an all-powerful, messiah-like figure, but that followers see themselves as members of a superior elite that has the answer to the world’s problems – even if that means killing the rest of the world along the way. Manson persuaded his followers to commit murders to trigger “Helter Skelter” where there would be a “race war” which would elevate him to world leadership. He espoused a rambling, incoherent apocalyptic world view that was nevertheless completing captivating for his followers.


Over time the Manson-type cult leader becomes a dominant part of the follower’s identity and their self-esteem. The whole reason for their existence and survival is completely tied up with the leader and the cult. Manson became the core and central part of his followers’ lives – he provided a “family” and fulflled their basic needs. His “family members” acted to further that critical part of themselves that was bound up with him – and with terrible results.

Normal critical thinking and morals go out of the window. This explains why cult followers themselves can do terrible things or witness barbaric acts and do nothing to stop them. If you act against Manson you are acting against yourself and all that you’ve invested in him. After all there’s no going back, is there? This means there is no limit in practice – even if that means murder as in the case of some of the Manson cult members.

These terrible crimes were the ultimate act of loyalty and reinforcement of the cult identity for the followers – like suicide bombers this probably felt like the best thing they could have possibly done at the time. But the Manson followers were living in an altered state of consciousness and existence – aided also by drugs – and where the normal rules of society just didn’t apply in the cosy “family” that Manson had constructed.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2018 11:20PM by anybody.

No, I would kill the prophet, any prophet.

Sounds like the legacy from Moses.

1. Hear voices.
2. Assume they are from God.
3. Prepare to kill whatever the voices said.
4. Hope the voices stop you just in time.
5. Convince yourself your righteousness was being tested.

Or
6. Kill and expect a reward in an afterlife for being obedient.

hell I could ever kill my family. It was bad enough what I did go along with.

I definitely wouldn't kill myself.

As far as killing my family...I couldn't do that. But I might be able to find someone else and pay them to do it for me.

The subject reminds me of two things.

1. Jim Jones
2. Masada