Continual narrowing of environmental borders is one indication of cult mentality. The application of more and more restraints is designed to keep the membership submissive and, above all, obedient to the whims of the hierarchy. This needs to be done, as it were, in small deliberate steps so that the mark never realizes that is is happening or has happened. Due to the principle of response repertory the repeated action wants to keep being repeated by the ongoing input of stimulus. This borders narrowing can only be done if the mark voluntarily,at least in the beginning, submits. When we speak of border narrowing we must understand that control is the ultimate aim of the cult. So how can they go about narrowing environmental borders. What is this environment that we speak of? Environment is the immediate surroundings both, physical and mental, in which a human being finds themself. Let us suppose that you are in an environment in which there is a free exchange of ideas. You may discuss religion, politics, athletics, more and morals etc. freely and although there may be disagreements, the discussions remain open. Within this environment there is an openness. There is singing, dancing, literature, various occupations and projects. Then one day the people who have taken power suddenly say we will no longer allow any music to be performed unless we first approve it. The right to choose, that is to exercise agency, of this issue has been taken away and the environmental border of the society has been narrowed. This is demeaning to the member and truly a “sit still, shut up, and obey” issue by the hierarchy. This type of narrowing of the borders is indicative of a cult power move.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2019 01:56PM by thedesertrat1.
An analogy could be made to a cattle stockade. You fill up the stockade and then start bringing in the fences.
And eventually, you get a steer here and there jumping the fence, and then pretty soon more and more steers start escaping, and eventually, a big hole is knocked (quit-mormon[dot]org) in the fencing and besides letting many escape, there is suddenly more room for those that remain, and their testimonies grow about how wonderful the stockade it.
Not bad. I see simillar t hings happening throughout organized religion. With the exceptions of where ther is a state religion and you either belong or get executed.
Plus, as the fences move in, the bull shiz starts getting higher and higher, and the cattle don't like stepping in all those bull chips. It gets really messy, stinky, and intolerable. Another impetus for the cattle to jump out of the chorale.
"Let us suppose that you are in an environment in which there is a free exchange of ideas. You may discuss religion, politics, athletics, more and morals etc. freely and although there may be disagreements, the discussions remain open. Within this environment there is an openness. There is singing, dancing, literature, various occupations and projects."
Where men and women of goodwill don't preach and don't judge, while looking in the mirror.
Any place else, we build up and tear down, based on our likes and dislikes, because we are human beings. But we are capable of building communities when enough characteristics match.