Rick Ross
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.
- Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
- No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
- No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
- Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
- There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
- Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
- There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
- Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
- The group/leader is always right.
- The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.
- Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
- Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
- Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
- Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
- Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
- Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
- A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
- Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
- Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
- Former followers are at best considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Mt 11: 28-30)
When someone once warned me - I replied "They called Jesus a cult leader too." Please forgive me Lord!
Right on the mark. I commend your courage in speaking out about this. As a teenager, I got involved with UBM (well, more as an observer than a passive participant, but that was enough). It wasn't all bad. I took away some good from it but I still suffer repercussions years later when I encounter triggers that induce anxiety episodes that last days, at least. used to get physically ill, too.
ReplyDeleteRecently, after years having passed since I started fighting for my mind and for sanity, I'm trying to make peace with my religious past and with Christianity (I'm no longer religious. Many bad experiences including because of my sexual orientation which I know you don't want to hear about but I've found tremendous peace in standing up for the rights of an oppressed minority).
Anyway, it got to the point I prayed to die since I would never be good enough and I was sick of my monastic living and the emptiness and hypocrisy of my puritanism.
Criticizing UBM takes courage for one who has been there because of fear of blaspheming a man who may be a prophet operating by the Holy Spirit. It seems incredibly stupid to think this way from a secular stand point, but I've been there so I know.
Hi HR,
DeleteI'm sorry about what you went through.
I can relate to being at that place of despair...never feeling good enough...
Jesus Christ called it putting heavy burdens on people and not lifting a finger to carry them. The real deal is so much different- "Righteousness, JOY, and PEACE."
I deeply regret the pain my own legalism, self-righteousness and pride caused my loved ones. I can tell you that the real Jesus is kind, gentle, and does a work of healing in the deepest places of the heart.
Not only did I go through an experience with this group, harsh legalism and cult involvement has been a feature of my parents' lives, and their parents....it runs deep...I have had to repent of many areas of sexual sin in my life of all types and this has been part of my healing journey.
Thanks for the comment. Many blessings.