Do you think it's possible that someone else could control your mind? Manipulate what you believe? Or persuade you to cut ties with everyone you love? It's happening - to an increasing number of people, just like you, who never thought they would be controlled by a cult.
Murder, mayhem, suicide, starvation...
People recruited into cults probably never anticipated this could be the outcome.
Jane, former cult member
"A lot do not realize what they're involved in. You can be in a cult and have no idea."
Jane started questioning the group she was raised in, when a relative had kidney failure. His only chance for survival was a transplant, which the group said was cannibalism.
Jane
"That treatment was refused, and he died. At that point in time, I knew there was something wrong."
Michael, left the cult he was raised in, at 35.
Michael, former cult member
"I saw a lot of bad things go on in there that were criminal. Covering up of rapes and sexual abuse, things that we were told never to go to the outside authorities about, that they would be handled within the congregation. One day I basically had a breakdown."
Steven Hassan has been helping people to leave destructive cults for the past 26 years. Hassan is a former cult member. He understands recruitment tactics, because he used them himself.
Steven Hassan, cult expert
"When people are undergoing a tremendous amount of stress and strain. If they've broken up in a relationship, lost a job, that's going to make them much more susceptible."
Or, if they put all their faith in the beliefs of one person. An example, is the group in Attleboro...
Steven Hassan
"I think it's a destructive cult, because it's a pyramid structure, authoritarian group that controls every aspect of members lives."
Hassan believes cult activity is on the rise since September 11th, with cults actively recruiting vulnerable people. So, how can you spot a destructive cult?
Michael
"It's called "love-bombing". Everyone is happy to see you, they are so glad and once you get in there, they limit your environment."
That's when things start to change.
Manson follower, squeaky fromme, could not have said it better...
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme
"My concern is Manson, air, water and earth."
The group takes over your life, limiting your access to other's points of view.
For Jane, this meant stricter rules.
Jane
"No celebrating holidays, no celebrating birthdays, no voting, you don't get involved with the military, you stay away from other people, because everyone outside of the organization is of the devil."
For Michael, it meant no college.
Michael
"They used to tell us that the end was so near that getting a college education would be like going to a store with a going out of business sign and looking for a job."
Many cult members also feel guilty about leaving. They're afraid of being shunned, or disloyal to their leaders or their god. Many will everything they have to the group...
Michael
"They will tell you how you can actually leave stock certificates, they will actually tell you how you can leave land, leave your will trust funds and everything to that organization."
With independent thinking discouraged, and unity and conformity the norm, walking away from a destructive group, especially one you were born into, can be difficult...
Jane
"Once you're inside, the doors slam shut, and you cannot get out of it honorably."
As you work long hours for no pay and recruit others, they lie to you about the benefits you will reap.
Jane
"It's sad to spend your whole life working for an organization and then realize that you've been deceived."
But still they say, "We're not a cult..."
Michael
"Everyone in there said no we're not a cult. When I left, everyone I bumped into said, ‘Boy, that's a cult. Didn't you know that was a cult?'"
Michael didn't, and thousands of others continue to be deceived every year.
For more information:
If you fear you may be in a destructive group and want help getting out, or if you've lost family members or friends to a cult and are looking for support, call or e-mail refocus: 617-353-5269 or ncrosby@gntrains.com
For more information or to contact cult expert Steve Hassan, e-mail the freedom of mind resource center http://www.freedomofmind.com an educational organization dedicated to upholding human rights, promoting consumer awareness and exposing abuses of destructive cult groups. You can also call the center at (617) 628-9918 or email: center@freedomofmind.com
To reach Meadow Haven, a non-profit ministry, under the oversight of the New England Institute of Religious Research e-mail: http://www.meadowhaven.org or call (508) 947-9571.
Support help line: 1-800-949-1914
