Cult Deprogrammer Breaks Down Cults In Movies & TV | Vanity Fair

[@generalkenobi5533]

Since 1982, jeez. You've gotta have a special level of faith in the resilience of humanity to not go completely insane after four decades of dealing with stuff like this.

[@francookie9353]

I think he views humans as essentially fragile to their needs of social acceptance as opposed to "evil" or something. I'm pretty sure he's motivated by his want to help others who fall prey to cultist tactics. It probably drives him that he knows there'll always be more cults and more people wanting to belong. He might be exhausted that it never ends, but not likely go insane. Now, FBI agents that go undercover and live with white supremacists for 12 years ... there I'll believe a breakdown of initial values and sanity.

[@jerry-ic8id]

@@francookie9353 well said

[@YoureRightIThink]

He probably also feels great after deprogramming someone who was very deep on it or a really hard case, imagine doing such help

[@Soulbishop]

Have you ever seen a wounded animal or one stuck in a situation beyond their capabilities to correct or free themselves? That urge to help it take that feeling and compassion and put it towards another human being who can actually speak and communicate with you. Who you can relate to just by virtue of being human. I imagine that plays a big part in why he does what he does

[@bubsyfinnigan4462]

How do you know he isn't completely bonkers inside?

[@gracegreen1828]

I was born into a cult and was a member until I was 22 when I left with my husband 6 years ago. Let me tell you that every word this guy said is scary accurate. We were taught to hate and fear deprogammers like him and that made it feel really strange to watch this and agree with him. If you think it can't happen to you... it can. Please beware

[@mehere8038]

You have my respect for managing to break free!

[@julesoxana3630]

Cant imqgine what thats like hope ur in a better place now

[@Degan1000]

What cult were you with? What finally made you leave?

[@TheRamsberg]

Good for you and your husband escaping. I really mean that, that's huge.

[@joshuagrahl5351]

I was warned about him when I first joined the cult I was in. They’d had members go through deprogramming with him. Of course they framed him as a quack. It took awhile to realize that he was the one making sense.

[@6thgraderfriends]

These professional jobs are getting weirder and weirder and I'm loving every video that comes out.

[@marlonthomas8042]

I’ve read his books he’s very knowledgeable about cults and the damage they do

[@chumlee2114]

“Professional wombat exterminator reacts to wombat scenes in tv shows and movies.”

[@KasumiRINA]

@@chumlee2114 professional wombat deprogrammer stuntman reviews stunts in wombat cult films.

[@blazingapparition2687]

@@chumlee2114 Sounds like a job someone would have on an episode of house hunters

[@OneEyedJack1970]

I've known about cult deprogrammers since I was a kid in the '70s. Maybe it was all the hype after the Manson family murders, I dunno. Anyway, a deprogrammer is basically like a P.I. with some very specialized psychological training.

[@Collsy100]

This was a great explanation for the Midsommar crying scene. It's like they're faking empathy so they can keep her emotional spiraling contained. They can also make sure that she'll only be directing her anger at her boyfriend when she calms down. They aren't taking her seriously- they're manipulating her on the fly since she wasn't supposed to see what was going on in there. Talk about good crisis management skills.

[@寿司食べたいな]

I've done that to my daughter when she cried, hehehe it did not end well.

[@Overseer2579]

That’s exactly what I’ve always though about that scene! The fact that some people (and critics) actually thought this was them being welcoming and encouraging of her emotions, and showing sympathy for her, just proves to me how susceptible they’d be to getting inducted into a cult. I mean, it also speaks to Ari Aster’s skill as a writer/director in terms of how well he portrayed what a cult does, but it’s nevertheless super unsettling

[@danaei3545]

I think her seeing that scene was done on purpose, a way to definitely cut her relationship with her boyfriend and leaving her vulnerable and alone

[@Overseer2579]

@@danaei3545 oh absolutely. Notice how the one lady doesn’t even try very hard to stop her at all

[@andreaprochowski4717]

I remember Florence Pugh actually talked about how intense filming that scene was for her personally and how connected she really felt to those women because of that scene even though they were only on set briefly. I can't imagine how that could effect someone psychologically if that were to genuinely happen to them.

[@billyalarie929]

i've always found it intensely ironic that Elizabeth Moss, a scientologist, is the lead in The Handmaid's Tale.

[@tamhuy10]

seriusly ?

[@CoRLex-jh5vx]

Didn't she leave it recently? Obviously that doesn't change that she was for most of the filming, or that it takes a long time to get out of that way of thinking, but still

[@billyalarie929]

@@CoRLex-jh5vx i didn't know that. i'll look into it, thanks. :)

[@breannadeal8610]

@@tamhuy10 yes she was born into it.

[@kaemincha]

@@CoRLex-jh5vx Where did you see that she left? Not doubting, just wanted to read more about it.

[@kd8663]

This is great. I was a child in a cult and my family left in 2002. There's a lot of misinformation and Hollywood tropes around cults, which I think gets in the way of people realizing when they're in one. They may see their situation and think 'well it's not Satan worship or overt abuse, so it's not a cult.' Is good for the public to be educated on it.

[@zkme2734]

What are the most annoying cult tropes for you?

[@lucifericious5846]

Well nice to meet ya can't say I've met a lot of cult members. Open minded thinkers gotta consider what it must be like to either be a cult leader or just in the cult.

[@user-K8T]

I think that it having been stated to me as a system of control really reframed how I see cults. It's not a bunch of people in a compound, it's people who are under a lot of control and can't really leave.

[@masterofallgoons]

@jose tapia Also similar to a lot of 'legitimate' religious organizations. When a person's entire personal life and their social relationships will be destroyed if they stop being part of their group, that's very much the mentality of cult, but it's also very much the reality of many religious programs.

[@mattropolis99]

@jose tapia You are right on. We have several cult-like extremist left groups here in Portland. The Blac Block and various anarchist groups here operate JUST like the video describes. They indoctrinate vulnerable people just as he describes with coded lingo, shun and demonize outsiders, and organize behind shadowy leaders that demand absolute and unquestioning adherence to their idealism. I've met several people that got out of the group when they realized how toxic and culty it was. They have nothing good to say about them.

[@JaspersCampfire]

It seems like a cult is like an abusive relationship where there isn't just one victim, but a whole community.

[@snoozyq9576]

So accurate. They use shaming a lot. You should say this, you shouldn't think that. You should be more obsessed with the thing we are all obsessed with.

[@lacrishakaufman]

Amen to that! I recognize the same manipulation tactics my ex used on me, a cult of one. Glad I escaped!

[@benjamintaylor3934]

Kind of like federal government...

[@arthurbelljames]

@@snoozyq9576 kind of like everything else on media haha

[@Good.Morning.Petty.Potatoes]

​@@benjamintaylor3934Also Trump Fanatics with January 6th. Can't forget that insanity! And if you don't see it... you're probably in a cult 🤷🏼‍♀️ sorry.

[@Celestein]

MLM companies use similar tactics as cult recruiters; preying on vulnerable unemployed, stressed or lonely people with promises of building an amazing life with money and rewards. Years ago, I got tricked into a 'group interview' for Cutco and to this day it remains one of the most surreal, creepy social experiences I've ever had. They had us literally chanting and doing weird psychological tests over selling kitchen knife kits.

[@wishingonthemoon1]

I reluctantly joined an MLM, because going to the online group meetings was sooo joyful and felt like a high. They were so hooked on life, or so it seemed. The “friends” who recruited me ghosted me said when i wasn’t happy selling face wash. It was kind of a mini-trauma, to be honest.

[@MewMewPumpkinPie]

NXIVM was both

[@EScoglio]

There was an owner of a MLM named JR Ridinger and he looked so much like Jim Jones, it was genuinely disturbing.

[@ericarutter7770]

Absolutely! Amway, LuLa Roe, etc. It’s sad.

[@austincde]

I actually own some cutco knives cuz we bought them at the mall , but I also did a group interview years before, now that you mention it the guy was pretty creepy 😂 I like the part where they bring in the "top seller" so they try to neg you and make you feel bad for not selling enough knives lol

[@1981cvalentine]

I finally escaped the cult I was raised in, and it was a horrifying experience to go through alone without anybody. I’m glad there are people like him to help people like me at their most vulnerable

[@belkyhernandez8281]

Good luck to you.

[@TheLuckyBubu]

Best of luck and this internet stranger is proud of you!

999 likes? I'm doin' it.

[@cuttingbored4195]

This really shows the insidious danger of cults - that it's not only 'stupid' or 'irrational' people that fall prey to them. Cults prey on our humanity - our need for belonging, our capacity for cognitive dissonance, our love of patterns, our devotion to the greater good. The cult leader isn't a psychological genius, but seems to be able to manipulate these basic human needs and emotions.

[@aw04tn58]

Every time I look into cults, I feel relieved that I was never unfortunate enough to come across one. At the right time in my life, no doubt I would have been sucked in.

[@NueThunderKing]

You could say they are empaths gone wrong.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

I would hazard that the Cult Leader DOES NOT have to be a psychological genius to be able to manipulate these basic human needs and emotions (need for belonging and capacity for dissonance and all)... It's all basic stuff you find in a high school level Psych' class, back when you're looking at the red and yellow flag so you can close your eyes and see the full red, white, and blue pattern... It doesn't take any kind of particular training or genius to get that much, and narcissists have been abusing people without training for centuries... much the same way cult leaders "industrialized" the process (also likely centuries ago)... ;o)

[@richsackett3423]

@@aw04tn58 Never came across one?! You been in a cave the last five years?

[@josephoyek6574]

Weebs: _Pfft-!_ Need for belonging...

[@Andre-uu5xv]

“I help people escape cults” All I needed to hear to know this guy is a hero

[@thedepthsofrepair]

Unless he's creating a blank slate for the next programming. Dun dun dun...

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

One of my aunts has been a member of a cult, deep in the woods of Northern California, longer than I’ve been alive. I’ve only met her twice in my life-once at my grandpa’s funeral and then at my grandma’s funeral. Because they were the only occasions she was granted permission to leave the compound for. Even then, she and her husband still had two “handlers” with them at all times and they had to leave almost immediately after the ceremony. She had 2 kids that she left behind with my grandparents when she joined-and she never got permission to attend any of their weddings, baby showers, or the birth of their children (however, she now has kids/grandkids within the compound that nobody in the family will ever get to meet). We’re Mexican, so to us (like many/most cultures) family is everything -and knowing there are family members that we will never get to see, or experience life’s celebrations and struggles with…is a lifelong wound to the family psyche that will likely never heal (particularly for the 2 cousins that were left behind all those decades ago). Just like any other controlling/abusive relationship-cults are a terribly insidious darkness in the world, and my heart breaks for everyone who has ever lost loved ones to it.

[@abigailsmith6977]

That is so sad. So sorry for your family!

[@TheWorld_2099]

This is a stunning story, especially that it’s happening in northern California. I live in California, and I’m truly shocked to hear such a thing happening in our midst. Do you know the name of this group, or where they are located, more specifically? This is worth researching and doing a documentary/exposé.

[@sillyun275]

Does your state do search and rescues of cults? I know some states do

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

@@sillyun275 I honestly don’t know… I never knew that was a thing-I’ll have to look into it!❤️ But she’s in California, which is a different state than me, so I don’t know if they can/will cross state lines. 😬

[@basicallyno1722]

@TheWorld not surprising it’s in Northern California. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s near Humboldt. Lots of shady stuff around that area

[@jennanand1188]

I feel like this applies not only to people who are being groomed to enter cults, but also those who find themselves in abusive domestic situations. Sometimes, your own family, especially if they pressure you to keep quiet about the abuse that you endure, may seem akin to a cult! It’s always so vital to think for yourself and to question everything. Always rely on your own information.

[@zebonzebon4906]

Yes! thank you for your posting. I recently rejected participating in a family drama .My abusive father who came looking for my mother. I told my other sisters that I would not participate in the insanity of this drama. The sad part is that my sisters haven’t clearly figured out that our covert narcissistic mother who plays the victim created this visit by our abuser. Good thing I’m now an adult and live on my own.

[@pisceananarchyvortex7223]

The whole world is made up with micro and macro examples of cults

[@camilascatonebedin3002]

I thought the same thing when watching the video. It reminded me of abusive relationships and gaslighting.

[@elsagreen1476]

You're absolutely right! Some of the same patterns are involved: gaslighting, trauma bonding, dependency, isolation, grooming...

[@marysmith861]

I was thinking the same thing. I was married to an abuser.

[@PaperParade]

As someone who was formerly in a cult, I really appreciate the explanations you give on what people are thinking and experiencing when they become trapped in a cult. I would personally really like to see the topic de-mystified, because I think the way people look at it actually makes it harder for people to notice the real red flags. The cult I was in, at least at the time I was there, wasn’t particularly dangerous, but the emotional turmoil I went through nearly drove me to suicide, more than once. I was so overcome with fear all the time. It’s no way to live. And I struggled with those same feelings as I was going through the process of moving away and finally cutting ties with them. I felt like I was being ripped apart on the inside. Emotional and spiritual manipulation and abuse can be just as destructive as any other kind.

[@slevinchannel7589]

I wanna share with this comment-section great Cult-Coverage, so i will just comment-multiple-times, cause why not. Seriously: Why not? Try Emma Thorne, Telltale Atheist, Some More News and Prophet of Zod. Oh, and GMS.

[@therealopaartist]

Which cult? Was it a big named one or a more localized one?

[@rcreative1]

VJ, I think you demonstrated the essence of what a cult does to our thinking. You say the cult "wasn't particularly dangerous," and immediately follow that it "nearly drove me to suicide." Given that sharp shift, I don't see how you are to blame for any of these feelings.

[@snoozyq9576]

I'm glad you said that. I was always having so much dread too. I didn't sleep anymore. I was losing grip on reality.

[@justkiddin84]

I wish you peace and real happiness in this extremely difficult world. You are very strong and brave!

[@grandmalovesmebest]

I worked w a lady whose daughter was lost to a cult. she couldn't get her daughter out so she dedicated her life to trying to keep other young ppl out.

[@EatTheRich848]

That’s so sad :/

[@EmilyS-gk3st]

What group was it?

[@julesoxana]

So heartbreaking💔 Praying her daughter is safe and will get out asap✝️🙏❤️

[@magicscoolbus3834]

“The leaders names change but the game doesn’t” Man knows to look for the signs.

[@marcush4741]

I really cant get over the fact that the lead actress in Handmaidens tale is literally, unironically, in a cult.

[@churblesfurbles]

Why, she's working for a much larger cult of sterility, 50 shades of breed me for the cat lady should be the clue. The casts fertility is proof itself, near extinction, what's ironic is people watching this video thinking its exposing a cult, when it serves the one in control.

[@whitewolf262]

@@churblesfurbles this is a buzzword salad if I've ever seen one is this a bot post?

[@Liloldliz]

@@churblesfurbles are you okay?

[@GeneralG1810]

I find it comical that society hates scientology so much, it's no different to any other religion, they're ALL ridiculous and have nonsensical stories in them. Yet for some reason Christianity, Islam, Catholicism etc are all seen as perfectly fine to worship

[@caarlosss_-8836]

@@GeneralG1810 average redditor

[@MsArri81]

I was Raised as Jehovah's Witness. If you leave be it on your own accord (because you questioned the beliefs) or disfellowshiped (excommunicated) you will be shunned by everyone you knew, including family. They say it's a form of love to make you go back into the fold but it's abusive and emotional blackmail. If their teachings can't hold up to scrutiny and you question they will kick you out. They are very much a cult.

[@GG-kn2se]

Doesn’t really sound like a cult

[@shraddyful]

If their teachings can't hold up to scrutiny and you question they will kick you out.- Great sentence. If you cant give me evidence, or a rational explanation, why should I believe you.

[@sucyshi]

@@GG-kn2se then you have no idea what a cult is. If you legitimately want to know about cults and not just troll, I highly recommend looking into the BITE model

[@lisalisa-fb4zz]

They’re definitely a cult. It’s actually illegal in Russia now because kids died and former members reported that they were under extreme control. The same is with Scientology. It’s also illegal here now. Sharing their materials will end you up in jail for up to 10 years

[@jypsych3556]

@@sucyshi actually JW doesn’t actually qualify as a cult since they don’t have strict rules that you are required to follow and they don’t have a leader instead they have the people run the meetings

[@kellharris2491]

The first few minutes made me think of Army basic training. How they break you down to get you working as a group. How they mold and shape you. Yeah there are some definite mind games durring that.

[@kaemincha]

The military is certainly a form of programming.

[@ghostbuster_winchester]

Army basic was insane 😅 They find any reason to destroy your psyche so that they can "rebuild" you as a person.

[@jasonalen7459]

@@ghostbuster_winchester Like rebuilding someone the same as before, or..?

[@theouthousepoet]

@@ghostbuster_winchester rebuild you as a puppet*

[@Tigershark_3082]

@@theouthousepoet *rebuild you as a puppet of the US government, payed to invade other countries and kill innocent civilians. They don't even have the decency to deprogram former soldiers, so they get stuck with PTSD, and other things.

[@genesisduz]

The "empathy" scene in Midsommar always reminds me of the scene in The Silence of the Lambs when the girl in the well screams and Buffalo Bill mocks her screaming along with her.

[@beemayhemful]

It's almost the inverse honestly, because emotional mirroring is a very real tactic that abusers use to bond targets closer to them

[@pdruiz2005]

Oddly enough, the other example I can think of emotional mirroring in the movies was in “Frozen.” When Anna, alone and yearning for love, meets manipulative, evil Hans, he mirrors her emotions almost immediately. He says the things Anna says, word for word. In that cutesy song where they meet each other, Hans mirrors her feelings, he mirrors her language. He’s manipulating Anna into falling in love with him, which is a masterful narcissist move. It’s a creepy song, once you realize what is going on.

[@MoonShadowWolfe]

​@pdruiz2005 I'm pointing at you emphatically while yelling YES YES YES! When he said the end of his sentence was going to be 'sandwiches', that was what tipped me off and I started noticing how he was telling all kinds of little lies to be soothing company for this deprived girl.

[@kwesmichalak9742]

Yes!!

[@shayni99]

This is a man who has met and knows Charles Manson. And the fact he managed to deprogram 2 Branch Davidians is seriously impressive.

[@heresakissmuah]

How do you know he met Charles Manson?

[@shayni99]

@@heresakissmuah He keeps calling him 'Charlie'. He's met him and thinks of him as a someone he personally knows, not 'Charles Manson' the infamous historic figure. Calling him 'Charlie' when referring to him is personal and casual - more than a passing acquaintance, he's spent time with him.

[@heresakissmuah]

@@shayni99 oh ok, is there a video of him talking with him? I would love to watch it

[@edsnotgod]

Oh my Allah a person who met Chuck and didn't fall under his spell is a god let's all respect and adore this man let's buy his books and attack those loser downvoters lol

[@edsnotgod]

@@heresakissmuah yeah cuz reel to reel video wristwatches were as popular as cell phones back then

[@BoldFollower]

if ANYONE EVER SUGGESTIONS YOU ARE PART OF A CULT-- TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! We were stuck in a cult for about 5 years and ignored all the warning signs and people trying to help us. We were too prideful to admit we were part of something that unhealthy and damaging.

[@BoldFollower]

@@marioferreira7605 thank you for your concern. can you tell me what cult practices I am involved in currently or what people are doing to me that is cult related? Also, remember, simply being passionate and vocal about God doesn’t mean someone is in a cult. But I’m open to your thoughts.

[@mariapilarme]

I am glad you’re out. It’s not about inteligente It’s a sense of belonging, or emotional attachment. Thanks for sharing

[@DJHastingsFeverPitch]

​@@BoldFollower To anyone examining an organization they belong to or the beliefs that they hold, and wondering about anything related to cults, I always recommend checking out Robert Jay Lifton's 8 Criteria for Thought Reform. This is a model that is great for identifying any ideology or ideological group where undue influence may be taking place. I like it because it talks more about practices and beliefs than it does about organizational structure.

[@lijohnyoutube101]

@@BoldFollower could not disagree more. ALL religion IS a cult. Its a belief in brainwashed content.

[@Esco87]

What was the moment that made you realize you were in a cult?

[@user-onyoutube868]

Every school should show this. It is vital that young people know this could happen to them. Even kids who are raised by loving parents can be vulnerable.

[@pisceananarchyvortex7223]

The schools are basically a cult at this point, where I live. All the kids have to believe and say the same things, they turn on their parents with the help of the staff... this is what is happening in all the public schools in the cities in blue states.

[@kmariamv]

Yes many young people are becoming radicalized online

[@daelen.cclark]

Like in a sociology or Social Studies class?

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

Schools are engaging in cult behavior these days.

[@leampunkt3678]

This man is a hero. Cults are so dangerous. They have no limits, when it comes to people trying to expose them or leave them. Hope he always stays safe.

[@jwhippet8313]

My wife joined a cult 10 years ago. You'd be amazed how little you can do when a family member joins a cult.

I'm so sorry to hear that, hope you got her back...

[@jwhippet8313]

@ , thanks man. It's really crazy. It took two years, but a week after I wrote the above, she went crazy again.

[@infinity_spirit]

What cult did she join

[@lasseel3724]

I think my mom is in a cult too under a religion.

[@lasseel3724]

Born again Christian church...they control your life basically, you can't have a lover if they don't approve and will judge you when you befriend someone they don't like.

[@mpschmidtlein]

Conveniently put a discussion of the creator of scientology right before a performance by a star who is a scientologist. Editing at its finest.

[@kate1618]

this. I still cannot fully understand how she can act in this series while being part of that.

[@expatstef]

Whoa, I didn’t know that… Now I have so many questions! Number one, HOW?!?! Crazy.

[@tttiara]

are you talking about Elizabeth Moss?

[@laurendeland7403]

@@kate1618 She was raised in it, so she's basically trapped. Scientology collects dirt on famous people through "auditing" so that they can blackmail them (Lawrence Wright's Going Clear gives a thorough accounting of this). Even if they have no real ammunition to use against a given person, anyone who was raised in Scientology who leaves will lose their entire family, because defectors are treated like they're dead, or worse. Most would-be apostates can't bring themselves to leave, even if they want to, because they lose everything.

[@aenorist2431]

Which is obviously brain-bent thinking, considering they don't have anything in the cult, thats the point of a cult. They only have ways up (beside maybe suicide, which is debatable).

[@CB-dy1he]

Every abuse and grooming victim in the world deserves a person like this man in their lives.

[@neonshadow5005]

I've never met someone who was in a cult but I've met someone who was involved in a pyramid scheme and some of the behaviors are similar. He was totally convinced of something that was obviously false -- when I questioned it, the group reinforced him and tried to make ME seem like I was the crazy one. Totally ineffective on me.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Which is exactly how cryptocurrency/NFT groups act…

[@natasha1918]

Pyramid schemes are cults imo 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@Stopthisrightnow560]

They are cults. The only difference is they worship money not a deity.

[@miller-joel]

You've never met a covidiot? That's hard to believe.

[@SnailHatan]

w0w you must have big brain. such impressive

[@pacrat190]

With the midsommar clip, them sharing her grief is to parallel how in the beginning her boyfriend is silent and shushes her while she cries about her families deaths. So in turn they were sharing in her grief to show her they are a “community” and make her feel comforted

[@dinospumoni5611]

Precisely, I think he got it backwards.

[@redopz4462]

@@dinospumoni5611 I think it is more likely he was correct, and that the makers of the movie took a real thing they heard about and tweaked it into a theatrical device they could use to tell a specific story.

[@michaelcoutts9470]

There are a lot of connections he makes that I think miss the mark.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

They're lovebombing her. They want her to believe what you said. In short, it's a TRAP. One you fell completely through, might I add.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

@@dinospumoni5611 Nope, the cult is exactly doing that.

[@irrationalmoon]

It's so interesting how the same methods cult leaders use are *used by politicians*. Especially the deflecting of questions that would hold them accountable using distracting misdirection. I guess it just depends on what level of control and what they demand to figure out if it's a cult or not.

[@Tamara-ju3lh]

Haha yeah I took one critical thinking class in college and ever since then can't listen to even 5 minutes of any political speech, no matter the political party.

[@carlosdrfx]

Most people don’t understand the similarities between propaganda, church and cults. The establishment of a commonality with other members, the dehumanisation of the others and the hierarchy of loyalty are all hallmarks of a cult.

[@chiaraimpeduglia1308]

@@carlosdrfx I do understand it. And it terrifies me. Especially now that this kind of things are getting stronger all over the world. I believe that i will remain alone forever, and i live for the moment where i will have menopause. It will be less risky for me then. I mean, at least the religon that is prevalent in my country does not mandate pregancies. But one may never know.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

Anyone who's trying to hide the truth will likely use deflection. The only difference is that some people use it spontaneously i.e. get asked a surprise question while under suspicion. Others use it deliberately. The end result is the same....avoiding telling the truth and/or avoid admitting to an accusation.

[@Piecesoftheshadow]

Politics is a cult. Religion is a cult. Nationalism is a cult. Military is a cult.

[@hiropf]

Me when invited by friend going to a seminar: "is this an MLM?" "Why you're asking this is an MLM?"

[@Bacopa68]

Avon is NOT an MLM because you actually make money by distributing product. Mary Kay is an MLM because you make money by getting new people to invest in Mary Kay. If you got a side hustle like Avon the last thing you'd want is to bring others into the side hustle.

[@hongo9111]

@@Bacopa68 Why you being so defensive of an MLM?

[@elainelouve]

@@Bacopa68 so you're saying Avon is strictly direct sales and reps don't recruit anyone? Because if you as a rep recruit, it's litterally an MLM (that's what multi level marketing stands for). In a normal company only the owner/boss recruits new employees when needed.

[@darthkeyara]

I had to remember that not everyone is lgbt+ and was like "since when is men loving men a cult?".

[@rimut230]

@@darthkeyara LMAO SAME

[@hallowcross6720]

My ex was in a religious cult, I just recently realized that he formed a trauma bond with me and tried to manipulate me into joining him in said cult so we could be together. Because his cult doesn’t allow its members to be with non-members. Its just watching this, made me realize if my morals weren’t strong and I wasn’t mentally strong, I could have wounded up being in a cult because that ex was someone I love alot - he was someone I used to refer to as “the love of my life”

[@dougclark9921]

Amuses me that the lead for the Handmaids tale is a Scientologist.

[@iamelle86]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@cthomas025]

@@jennifermarlow. Talk about a lack of self-awareness.

[@embracethenight1383]

One day we're going to start treating generational scientologists ad the victims they are

[@christan6956]

She's level 4 method.

[@TrulyMadlyShallowly]

Born into it, isn't she? I imagine that's quite different.

[@perfectallycromulent]

one person's charismatic man is another's greasy-looking creep that makes your brain scream "run away"

[@Miss_Distress]

True dat. Isn’t it funny?

[@ComfyCatNya]

Yep and that’s exactly why they isolate you 😱 so no one can point it out

[@bbgunrulz]

Yo the cult leader I met was actually a well dressed, average looking dude. So weird seeing and thinking he’s obviously the leader and everyone else denying it voluntarily

[@anykayorke5068]

Totally agree with that. Default distrust for these charmers.

[@chrisjenkins9978]

😂🤣😂🤣😂😅

[@micheller3251]

I'd be very interested in hearing this man's take on narcissistic family systems which are often compared to cults

[@mind_palace]

Exactly, it's so similar.

[@Blinky.Catttt]

In his book, there is a section about cults comprising of a single family--such as the Manson family, Marcus Wesson, Winnifred Everett Wright. These are extreme cases where the narcissistic person at the center has outright psychopathic qualities, but a narcissistic family system would probably fit, albeit lower, on the exact same spectrum of behaviors

[@EBelisha2]

Sounds like an interesting topic.

[@JanCarol11]

A cult of 2 (or 3). Yep. Same strategies - for the perp, and for the recipient in order to survive the setting.

[@carolyntalbot947]

They are cults, with a charismatic sociopathic leader propped-up by the rest of the family with at least one scapegoat. This black sheep figure suffers and serves as a cautionary tale for any family member who might threaten the image and narrative constructed by the leader (a matriarch or patriarch.) Cults are almost always modeled after and referred to as "families." They are just larger versions of a very common phenomenon, as prevalent as the cycle of abuse because that's what they perpetuate. If you are familiar with NPD based on personal experience, you are not alone.

[@rejuvenator8966]

The whole "comforting" and "empathy" thing is an act in midsommar and it blows my mind how many people actually believe it was empathetic. Tells how bad radar people have for empathy and why cults are so dangerous cause they can tap into that. In midsommar it is just mimicking and mirroring, not empathetic. They do the same mimicking when the dude is burning inside the bear skin, you tell me if that is empathy? Imagine people outside Auschwitz gas chambers doing such a mimicking act while people inside are gassed to death. You would think they are the coldest, sickest, most effed up people to ever walk the planet. Yet here many people think they are empathetic. Blows my mind how bad people are at recognizing empathy (and the obvious lack of empathy, as in this movie).

[@lucyandecember2843]

o.o

[@manja4634]

that just shows how easily some people can be manipulated/how well the cult was manipulating the girl. if viewers of a CULT movie act as though the CULT has empathy for the VICTIM, the director must've done a great job of getting the message across.

[@urrrccckostan]

Great point! I absolutely hated that movie. The director not only hates his characters, but absolutely DESPISES the audience.

[@zoras9371]

100% agree....like someone causes you pain and you naturally react, and then they copy the pain you're displaying. What the heck!

[@backintimealwyn5736]

empahty does'nt mean compassion, you conflating two concepts. Empathy can be negative. Sadistic people have negative empathy.

[@amicaaranearum]

I'd love to see an episode where he discusses some of the techniques he uses to deprogram people.

[@abigailsmith6977]

I was thinking the same thing. It seems like a really hard job!

[@melissacallia4230]

There’s a book called Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan. I read it in college for a paper. Really good

[@KDrop84]

I would watch a entire series about that

[@annameaf4017]

I wonder if he is worried if he vocalizes those on the internet that cults will play with it and use it in such a way to trick more victims.

[@shewho333]

I actually tried to find this guy in 1988 when I was 17 to help me fix my brain. I saw him on some tv show and I was desperate. He was untouchable. Took me 12 years to realize the cult wasn’t actually going to come find me and kill me for leaving. I feel sad for the kids who got caught up with that cult after me. Let me tell you that no therapists, no cops, no doctor in 1988 was equipped to handle the damage a cult can do. (Still aren’t) I’m lucky the cult didn’t take me out and I’m probably lucky I got out with a tiny bit of sanity left intact.

[@pathos7527]

I’m sorry to hear you had to deal with that, I hope you’re okay now

[@mmclaurin8035]

no therapists, no cops, no doctor in 1988 was equipped to handle the damage a cult can do. (Still aren’t) Still aren't? Well that's not true.

[@annameaf4017]

I am sorry you had to go through that and wish you could have found him. Maybe he had to be in hiding at the time

[@kimberwicke7697]

Honestly to some extent there still aren't a lot of ppl that know what to do with that because it's such a singular experience and the effects of it are different than what most are dealing with on a more regular basis. You have to be SUPER careful with finding people actually qualified/certified to attempt deprogramming and the type of therapy that comes after (i was stuck in one too)

[@lumiere2598]

When he talked about the "social feedback" of cults, I feel like we are actually partially experiencing what cult victims go through everyday: When we are peer pressured into doing something just to fit in, when we blindly follow someone just because they look like they have it all together, when we feel guilty for not feeling the same things and wanting the same things as everyone else, etc. It's just that the content is not as horrible as those cults, but the methods are the same. So I don't think being recruited into a cult is that hard to believe.

[@woodwalker6025]

Watch this video and think about the cult of covid. What have you been brainwashed to believe?

[@factcheckingyourmum]

When u get your jabby

[@Ryan_Thompson]

Sure, there's overlap, but only because cult leaders use every social manipulation trick in the book to gain their followers' devotion. The real defining features of a cult: the deliberate isolation, devotion to a central figure, loss of self, etc., are things you hopefully do not have anyone do to you. Simply following social norms and trying to fit in is normal. I get what you're saying, though. Everybody thinks they wouldn't fall for a cult, or that they're not currently in a cult, and before you know it, the ATF is burning your compound down with you in it.

[@Ryan_Thompson]

​@@woodwalker6025 "The cult of covid"? Are you worshipping a virus? I'm devoted to eradicating it, but maybe I'm in a weird 80% fringe group.

[@jazminrod6]

@@Ryan_Thompson he means people blindly follow what the government (cult leaders) tell them about it and follow all the ridiculous absurd mandates without allowing free thought or choice.

[@DoneyDTV]

I grew up in a cult for 15 years (this comment is actually the first time i have spoken out publicly using my own name) we were actively told about Rick Alan Ross and to not believe him and that he had no credibility. It is amazing that 2 years on since leaving I am now recommended this video and relate to everything he said.

[@bobsburgers8497]

Which cult were you part of?

[@Evitaschannel]

I hope you're doing better now. And know that almost four million people watched this video and got education on the topic!

[@iranoutofpuns]

You're such a hero for leaving. I hope you know it ❤

[@Slackbot]

Interestingly, Elizabeth Moss is a Scientologist, and Scientology manipulates and controls its innermost members in some of the same ways she describes in the show. However, celebrities are a special class within Scientology, coddled and cherished, so she has no idea how painfully ironic her casting is.

[@beeARTcanada]

Cult members do not realize or believe they are in a cult. My 2 sisters were in a cult. One left when it was discovered that the "spiritual leader" was a pedophile. The other stayed and is still one of his biggest supporters. The one that left with half the group, started group therapy. First day she was given a book to read on cults. First page had like 30 traits, behaviors, or characteristics of cults. She did not believe any of the pointers. After one year of therapy she clicked off each pointer as being TOTALLY TRUE.

[@fiveweenies4533]

Pls explain how it's ironic??

[@imsadlol4528]

@@fiveweenies4533 because on the handmaids tale she plays a victim of a cult.

[@foxibot]

Yeah I heard she walked out when Leah Remini won an award because Leah thanked and joked with her mother about being in Scientology, “ I forgive you for putting us in a cult,” when she accepted the award. It is beyond ironic she is on a show about a horrible cult and she is in a horrible cult that does horrible things to people.

[@katrinastevenson352]

@@foxibot is it worse than Christianity?

[@skullslace2426]

Sports, especially team sports tend to share some of the techniques used by cults to strengthen team spirit and prepare for or at competitions. Goes to show you why cult recruitment works so well.

[@nanamiharuka3269]

same with the military

[@kebbesan]

It’s tribalism. It’s being used by brands (on a lesser extent) and politics. Xbox vs Playstation or Trumpers (closed facebook groups/communities, identification signs, bans, a common enemy, an idole, etc…)

[@KasumiRINA]

@@kebbesan XBox vs PlayStation always surprised me. Since I am mostly a PC gamer, I don't see why people are arguing about essentially same consoles, the difference are a few exclusives that lock down, i.e. before recent Gran Turismo and Tekken were on PS, and Halo with Dead or Alive were on Xbox, but now almost everything gets ported so it's moot unless you're really about some specific exclusives (i.e. obscure Japanese mecha games). But even then the console wars people are not arguing about GAMES on this or that platform but about things like power, or target demographics (this console is for KIDS/nerds/whatever)... and there's PC elitists who hold back tears when saying a PC with 2000$ graphics card can have same FPS as a $400 console. Unfortunately, with PC gamers same cultism can be felt with Steam fans, who not only refuse to play on Epic or Origin on principle, but also try to actively campaign to rid Valve of competition, which is literally bad for consumers when monopolist doesn't have incentive to get better.

[@leadpaintchips9461]

@@KasumiRINA I know initially it was the _type_ of games that were released that attracted people to it, while people trying to rationalize dropping the money on it. The famous add of "We do what Nintendon't" is a perfect example of what it used to be. It morphed into measuring performance in the later generations. There was the 'this console is for kids', but that was because Nintendo flat out censored the games on their system. As a PC player now, most of the people that I know aren't cultish when it comes to the storefronts. Most people that I talked to were excited about Epic's storefront, but then the lack of features and scummy business practices pushed away people with morals. Origin wasn't that big of an upgrade to Steam since it has a much smaller selection of games than Steam does by design. I saw more people using GoG than any other competitor, but that's because it provides nearly the same functionality while also having a feature that Steam does not (no DRM). I would also take a lot for people to give up potentially thousands of dollars worth of games to migrate to another platform. I do agree that the system wars and the PC Master Race used unironically all feel very cult like. I can't agree with the storefronts though.

[@churblesfurbles]

​@@backrooms3907 Elon's mother now has 11 grand children, his father even more, Elizabeth Moss and co have none, the advancement isn't what people imagine, and the religious and tribal instinct never ends, group selection is at play, and those who don't play will end. The globalist/universalist types are tribalistic just the same, but not in a functional way, their genes will end. Its notable @Skulls Lace leaves out the most obvious cult today, the university system, the official priesthood training centers of the todays dysfunctional religious system.

[@sueblack5794]

Midsommer is perfect, brilliant film why? It actually tricks the audience into believing Dany joining the cult was a happy ending. The cult even lured in the audience to root against the "friends" & especially the godawful boyfriend. A breakup movie wrapped up as a cult movie Ari Aster is maybe the best director out there right now..

[@heldotir]

Honestly I think the ending is actually meant to be scary/tragic. Anyone who thinks that’s a happy ending doesn’t understand the film at all. It’s extremely artistic and metaphorical, but unfortunately “witchy” instagrammers who never even heard of Ásatrú go in already rooting for the boyfriend to burn. Such a shame an amazing story goes over their heads

[@tamararichards6655]

I didn’t feel like the end was happy but by the end, I realized that they found a way to convince all of us that the friends were evil and she would be better with the cult. It was scary

[@atomiccritter6492]

godawful boyfriend - a bit harsh - imho the boyfriend did what many many people would do when he was obviously in a relationship with a person he didnt particularly care about much...that is to struggle to end the relationship. I thought the dramatic arc of Midsommar was messed up with the most visceral and shocking scene being the suicides. Overall a pretty decent horror but more weird than scary

[@amylovemyart]

Perfect demonstration that anyone can be manipulated into a victim of a cult.

[@NAConen]

@@atomiccritter6492 Nah he was godawful.

[@patilabhishek150]

Martha Marcy is truly one of the scariest movies. That last shot of her the car still haunts me

[@karikling8812]

I'd like to hear his thoughts on the Amish. I know they're peaceful and generally not thought of as a cult, but the fact they can't leave their religion without being completely shunned by the community is cult-like.

[@JimmyKlef]

I live among the amish. Honestly I have to defend them a little bit. It really comes down to “one mans religion is another mans cult”. The fact that there isn’t really systemic abuse (pretty much) and they can and do leave… yes of course there is cultish stuff going on. Their fear of witchcraft feels weird, their distancing of the “english” or normal people seems quite culty… but they are people who have choices and their own thoughts and at least some level of individuality. But they are only allowed certain clothes, certain haircuts, to speak certain words… it all absolutely feels like a cult but it’s really just people who (mostly) choose to follow a religion extremely strictly. It’s basically a cult, but in that respect so is almost any religion or culture. There will always be different people living up to different standards set by some almighty or another. That’s really all they are doing. I do believe it is or can be quite unhealthy especially for the women in the amish, and shunning if they leave is definitely a tactic to make them stay, as when you go forward in life you need a safety net because you don’t always succeed right away… that’s definitely a manipulative tactic… but them being able to leave is huge and the fact that they can mingle among anyone and see things for themselves and read books outside of their “holy book” and generally have the ability to openly gain an insight beyond their religion helps it be a little bit more of a choice to be amish than most cults. But otherwise, yes it is and seems a bit culty, but really… every religion does especially the more strictly followed… to any outsider. So it’s tough.

[@richardsilva5110]

@@JimmyKlef you seem to be like "they look and sould like a cult but i don't wanna acknowledge it"

[@JimmyKlef]

Richard Silva what I am saying is more nuanced than that. Sure, there is cultish things about them, but then again, there is cultish things about catholics and muslims. I neither said they weren’t a cult, nor did i say they were. Why anyone would assume i am, what, scared of making the outright claim about them being a cult is beyond me. I don’t believe they quite fit the description, though it’s close. And i merely showcased how “close” might not cut it… considering billions of people are within groups that are “close” to being cults.

[@cyagami90]

@@JimmyKlef all religions are cults

[@aenorist2431]

The point being that the amish are a less harmful cult, and we have limited ressources to eradicate cults. So we focus (rightfully so) on scientology, JW and other really abhorrent cults instead of the amish. If those didn't exist, the amish of course would need to be taken apart.

[@SirHenryMaximo]

I felt I was in a room full of cultists when a girl I knew invited me to a job interview, and it was in fact a MLM meeting at her place. Actually, since I had studied the topic a little, I was quite certain.

[@AKayfabe]

Was it Luluroe?

[@SirHenryMaximo]

@@AKayfabe It was not. It was Polishop, a big one here in Brazil.

[@FlagCutie]

MLMs can certainly get culty!

[@Bones97000]

Same. I have a personal vendetta against MLMs for that exact reason..

[@gravy5796]

Men love men meeting

[@DeeMetria]

Honestly, in a way, the hyper intelligent people are actually in more danger of getting super deep into cults once they've been exposed and are interested because of things like "Well, this can't be a cult. People like me don't get into cults. I'm too smart to be involved in a cult. Therefore, this thing I'm in cannot be a cult." That's honestly part of how I ended up in an abusive relationship for as long as I did. Because my dad ran a blog about domestic violence and abuse which had a checklist of "you might have an abuse problem if..." for both sides. Abuser and abused. I grew up with that checklist. I referenced the blog and sent it/the checklist to people I knew all the time. I knew the signs. I knew what it was, what it looked like. So it couldn't be abuse because I know better than to let that happen to me. And yet... We are at the most risk when we think that we're too smart for certain things to happen to us.

[@churblesfurbles]

This is why universities are filled with cultists, in fact they are in dominant control of society today. Universities were originally religious institutions for a reason. Now we sterilize women by educational merit, and the very "smart" people think this is a good idea, in fact their entire belief system revolves around forms of sterility, the difference between cult and religion is cults do not last for exactly these reasons.

[@americanbookdragon]

@@churblesfurbles What on earth are you babbling on about? I know a lot of women with kids going through universities.

[@dxq3647]

Hyper intelligent people are also looking for solace. They know the world is probably not a great place and they probably usually do recognize cults, until they meet the one that suits them perfectly. And after decades of being alone, why not give it a try.

[@Bruh-ok1rq]

@@churblesfurbles this man is sterile

[@emptythoughts3060]

Same with narcissistic abuse. If you think you’re too smart to be manipulated. At your lowest, loneliest time there will come a charmer who doesnt have any good intentions but appears as if the kindest person around. All of these horrible people know how to read others and easily manipulate even the smartest of all.

[@VashtiPerry]

One of my pastors tried to form a cult by accident. Thankfully a few of us “loyal leaders” were relentless about questioning his authority. People eventually left the church he made and he went back to working for a church were he had to chill out with all his loyalty speeches and stuff… It’s easier than you think to get involved with things like that when you are friends with the charismatic leader and they are “helping you” when you are down and out.

[@ricklocket2812]

Hope you manage to get out of this cult. It seems that currently you are not aware or even actively denying, that christianity is just the most succesfulls because most corrupt cult ever.

[@isaacgleeth3609]

Hank Hill: "Excuse me, are y'all with the cult?" Female cult member: "We're not a cult. We're an organization that promotes love and--" Hank Hill: "Yeah, this is it."

[@djpeterg4531]

female cult member? you mean jane?

[@missmoxie9188]

Nice

[@jammods8309]

@@djpeterg4531 You mean Jonh

[@FurryMeatloaf]

You have an independent streak that makes it very difficult for us to love you

[@therealopaartist]

@@djpeterg4531 no I think he means Jane!

[@rosequartz4102]

This is really interesting. I'm newly widowed and a mom of a toddler. I'm very wary of all the people I meet, not just because of cults but overall, because I know I'm in a very vulnerable position and it's scary. Especially the part where he said we rely on the people around us to know what's real and what's not because my life seems very surreal and extremely unhappy, like I'm just drifting.

[@becp488]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Give yourself time, that lost feeling is awful. You’re right about being vulnerable right now, I hope you have some good supportive people in your life.

[@rosequartz4102]

@@becp488 thank you so much for saying that, I really appreciate your kind words. I'm lucky to have family close and a couple close friends.

[@loveinthematrix]

Hope things are getting better now x

[@kaytan8409]

What’s interesting about that mimicking scene in Midsommar is that I was taught mirroring as a useful tool in grief support training 😂. But now seeing it described that way with that extreme example makes me question if mirroring really does validate or manipulate…

[@laurel9629]

It’s probably dependent on how it’s used and the individuals involved. When someone comes to you for grief support, that interaction is mediated by laws and contracts under governmental oversight. If that interaction is abused, the abused person has recourse. There is no such oversight in a cult interaction, except by the leader who wants such abuse to continue.

[@sunshinelizard1]

Mirroring in grief therapy provides 2 things: 1. The person in grief feels heard. 2. The person doing the mirroring can validate with the griever that they are hearing their emotions correctly. The mirroring used by cults is intended to invalidate the person's feelings and get them into the group-think, to control them at an emotional level. Yeah, the similarities are concerning but they are very distinct.

[@amemabastet9055]

The scene is clearly an extreme example, but we do have mirror neurons that makes us mimic each other. If a friend has a problem and comes to me crying, I cannot create rapport and engage in them if I do not to some extent copy their emotional state. Doing something totally different, like laughing in their face, is probably not a good idea on how to handle the situation. The insidiousness about cults could be that they take ordinary human traits and run them to the extreme. If not, we wouldn't fall as easily for their trick, would we? To juxtapose this, what would make a group healthy and not a cult? Our society seems to be a cult at the moment, too. "Take the vaccine, otherwise you will not have the right to eat and meet people." Even though our constitutions state that the government can't make decisions like that. So where should we draw the line of cultish behaviour? And to which hills do we run when society at large seems to have become the cult?

[@joez6235]

It could do both. Like doing a favour for someone can be a way to manipulate them into doing something for you... or it could just be a nice gesture with no alterior motive.

[@claralima1967]

@@amemabastet9055 You were doing good, until you used the vaccines as an example of cult indoctrination. Calm down, that's different than someone empathizing or pretending to empathize to someone else's feelings for whatever good or bad reason.

[@snoozyq9576]

I got a bit swept away in a cult briefly as an adult. It was all very typical, and the scariest part to me is how they all talked exactly the same

[@artmadebyRed]

I love that scene in Midsommer. As someone who feels as utterly lonely and isolated as Dani, suddenly being with a group who (seemingly) care about her emotions and don't leave her during her breakdown but stay and actually (somewhat) cry with her, must've been so powerful.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

That scene Is lovebombing, and It is a cult tactic.

[@sueblack5794]

The movie/director tricks the audience into even joining the cult and falsely believing it was good for Danni . Brilliant honestly.

[@brennag7962]

I agree with you. Yes, I know it's portraying a cult and that all the sympathetic crying here is more ritual/manipulation than actual sympathy. But to those of us who have been deprived of real love/acceptance/empathy (and taught to internalize self-hatred at our "repellant" characteristics such as emotion or weakness and the inability to hide them), the idea of having even a clearly counterfeit mockery of love and belonging can be all too sweet a fantasy.

[@joroc]

Even tho the group created the situation that made her cry and destroyed the last pieces of her in the end💕

[@anasdomain9994]

Eh I’m isolated and neglected too and I think that’s just weird as heck…like if a mob of people are rushing to me while I’m crying and start mimicking me I’d immediately stop and be like nah y’all tweakin🤨

[@cassandraralph5906]

This is why my father taught me very seriously not to respect authorities just because they were authorities. I am so very grateful for that. I may be a Christian, but I still have my own opinion, and way of thinking.

[@skittlekitty7264]

Off topic but the painting in your pic is awesome!

[@AD-dg3zz]

You know what? That's pretty enlightened of him. My own parents wouldn't have had the stones to teach me that without at least making themselves the exception.

[@MaynardsSpaceship]

Think for yourself. Question authority. Question everything.

[@Bacopa68]

Keep the faith and understand Peter in Acts 10. I am not a Christian but every Christian who understands the open arms of Acts 10 is a brother.

[@jonathanthethird52]

Being a Christian and knowing that God and no one else has final authority on your soul, security, status etc. enables that kind of thought I think.

[@Carolina-wz2qo]

my parents were in a cult until just a little before I was born, they left after my mom was diagnosed with cancer and her mother wasn't allowed to see her in the hospital. They're very casual about it, I didn't even realize it was a cult until a few years ago when they talked about it in more detail. A lot of our family is still a part of that group - it's crazy how normal it can sound until you get a detailed inside perspective on what's going on. If my parents hadn't told me about what they do in there I would never have known

[@RosieMe5]

If you don't mind sharing, what was it called?

[@puchulera16]

Same! I was born into a cult, but my parents left to other countey because of the crisis, 20 years later I found out by a family membet that "The school" (thats how they call it) was a cult, and my parents still dont see it

[@Carolina-wz2qo]

@@RosieMe5 i thought i replied to this already a few months ago but its not here? its called cateco menato, which is a common name for catholic communities in latin america, but obviously it’s a bit more intense than usual.

[@charlottemackinnon4241]

@@Carolina-wz2qo Is it part of the Neocatechumenate aka "The Way"?

[@Carolina-wz2qo]

@@charlottemackinnon4241 i dont think so, it's rly quite small

[@freebird2008]

That whole last section where he spoke about the last film was an EYE opener for me. I wish I could put into words just how revolutionary that felt to me. I feel like I just gained hidden knowledge that I didn’t know I needed until this very second

[@laforce36]

The first few minutes brought flashbacks to my time with AmWay. They literally do this with seminars.

[@Bacopa68]

If Amway worked there would be Amway storefronts and there would be Amway distribution centers moving soap into stores. If Amway worked, Amway brands would be sold at Kroger, Walmart, and Dollar General by now.

[@zerjiozerjio]

My brother tried to get me to join, and I said no, and he said “He told me even the smartest people in my life would be skeptical.” Thank God he was able to leave

[@yuyutubee8435]

Yes, many (maybe most?) multi-level marketing (MLM) companies meet the definition of a non-religious cult! They encourage blind and zealous commitment to the company/your upline, squash dissent and have very strict hierarchies.

[@laneythelame]

Who?

[@AP-yt4oo]

@@yuyutubee8435 even Amway often carry religious undertones, preying on the faithful

[@PersephoneSelene]

I love how people pride themselves in saying “I could never be convinced to be in a cult” and I’ve always humbly said I’d be the perfect target 😂 I’d eat all that stuff up 😭

[@thundercookie3214]

Same, to be perfectly honest. I think I'd be ridiculously easy to indoctrinate.

[@leslie6938]

Everybody is different. Some people enjoy being part of a group while others naturally question authority. Some highly value harmony with others and dislike conflict. Others prefer independence and aren't bothered by disagreeing with another person or even a large majority. Some easily go along with group consensus, others are oppositional out of habit or personality. Some people will be compliant in certain circumstances but not in others based on their level of knowledge, experience, or interest. Some are very perceptive, others not. So yes, some people will immediately recognize cult tactics and resist indoctrination, others will not. Cults, like criminals, will prey on people with certain characteristics and avoid people who lack those traits.

[@Stopthisrightnow560]

I'd be thoroughly fascinated for the first few months and then I'd get sick of people telling me what to do and I'd be kicked out. Probably be given a lifetime ban. 😂😂

[@PersephoneSelene]

@@Stopthisrightnow560 I’d be all for it until they ask for my money lol

[@jang2386]

I would notice it, but i will be in the cult already lol

[@eliza6971]

Tbh a lot of this is eerily similar to an abusive relationship my friend was in as well as a group “workshop” I was sent to as a kid. As a society, I think we need to think about cults as the extreme end of a spectrum of emotional engineering that we should all be more aware of.

[@joyinthezone]

So True! I felt really uncomfortable whenever i was invited and forced to engage in those kinds of workshops

[@danni3804]

I agree they are like abusive relationships

[@kaemincha]

Definitely agree about the spectrum part. People like to argue about the semantics of what is a cult and what is not, but it's clear that a lot of these experiences have similarities like indoctrination and manipulation.

[@cosmicmuffin322]

Abusive families are cults. And they are often centred around a narcissist who has a massive amount of power especially over children. The similarities are massive.

[@UnDefinedLegacy]

I left an abusive relationship. And the only stuff that helped me to help with my cognitive dissonance was cult deprogramming items. They prey on the same manipulations.

[@Rivershines]

I was in a mediation cult for 6 years called Natural Way of Living, or Open Heart Meditation lead by Irman Effendi, an Indonesian Business man who takes advantage of people around the world. Rick Ross is one of the best communicators around these high demand groups and the manipulation techniques they use to gain our time, loyalty and money. Please be VERY careful of anyone who posits them self as an expert, or a teacher! Those of us who joined into the meditation practices didn't know about his existence for quite some time, it was only after we were already "hooked" we were introduction to the teacher.

[@gelatinpowder1137]

Can you tell what makes you realize that he has a personality of a cult leader, if you don’t mind? Because there’s no coverage on why it is a cult.

[@mariaislington]

This video was really well edited and the man is really well spoken

[@curiousworld7912]

"Martha Marcy May Marlene" is a fantastic film and one, I imagine, that well-depicts how difficult escaping a cult must be. John Hawkes is brilliant, and Elizabeth Olsen is amazing as well. A terrific novel on how one is lured into a cult, is Emma Cline's "The Girls", which depicts a young girl's introduction to the Manson family.

[@princesssprinklesthecat4192]

No shes not. She is a scientology

[@seppyq3672]

Such a good movie

[@kellyalves756]

This is an incredible film. And Olsen kills it. Highly recommended.

[@kellyalves756]

@@princesssprinklesthecat4192 First, I think you’re thinking of Elizabeth Moss. Second- Tom Cruise might be a tiny little megalomaniac, but he is also quite a fine actor. Scientology has nothing to do with how much talent he has. I mean I’m sure they tell him it does, but it doesn’t.

[@chaosdestructionlove]

@Jonathan Randell Smith on you calling it a mini cult, I watched a video recently by another cult expert that said you only need 2 people to be a cult, a manipulator and their victim. I'm so sorry you went through this.

[@aspacecocoon]

You know it never even occurred to me that there would be people specialized to help those who had come out of cults......kinda a terrifying job but a really noble one

[@jenking5306]

What's interesting is this is the same experience you receive in a relationship with a Narcissist. You lose your sense of self, feel the need to stay and commit to the Narcissist and have to go through deprogramming.

[@sonofhibbs4425]

And that makes sense since most cults were formed by narcissists. I only say “most” because in the beginning stages of a group, it might have been run by a well-meaning person but a narc craved the power and took over.

[@larsnelson7998]

This guy give people their lives back! Just amazing

[@Howitchewstofeel5gum]

Props to this guy for doing what he does. Doing the right thing even though you know it's going to put you in danger, that's bravery.

[@Oniphire]

I'm so glad he talked about Martha Marcy May Marlene. Elizabeth Olsen is amazing in that movie. The move itself is disturbing to watch but definitely deserves to be called the gold standard.

[@saltandlight2379]

The “invisible” trauma apostates struggle with is something that needs to be spoken about more. Anyone can fall into a cult, especially if they were raised that way.

[@ludmilamaiolini6811]

I think I stumbled into a cult recently. Thankfully I wasn’t dragged into the thing, partly due to having a gut feeling about it, and partly because my mom had scheduled a family trip the day I was supposed to take part in a ceremony. I was curious about the use of psychedelics in psychiatric treatment, because I had heard promising things about it in a conference, and I thought I would be using the group in order to get access to the substance. Weeks later I’m realizing I was going to put myself in a very vulnerable position. So thanks mom, for ruining my plans for that weekend :D

[@slevinchannel7589]

I wanna share with this comment-section great Cult-Coverage, so i will just comment-multiple-times, cause why not. Seriously: Why not? Try Emma Thorne, Telltale Atheist, Some More News and Prophet of Zod. Oh, and GMS.

[@snoozyq9576]

I'm lucky my regular life kept interfering with my brief cult adventure too. It seemed annoying at the time but looking back wow thank God.

[@pho3nix-]

Ayahuasca ceremonies have nothing to do with cults

[@ludmilamaiolini6811]

@@pho3nix- almost anything can be turned into a cult. I’m still interested in psychedelics, I have nothing against ayuhasca. But many groups that use it, at least where I live, develop cult like dynamics…

[@masonasher9689]

Ok so the fact you mentioned psychedelics and then a "gut feeling" instantly made me so happy for you not going because that cult could have done nearly irreversible damage (aka Midsommar) You could have lost your entire self and everything you do/say is against your will and you probably wouldn't have realized it, I'm glad you are still sane and yourself.

[@sammeettelang6267]

I would like for Vanity Fair to bring an Advertising expert to review movies and tv shows on advertising.

[@marzigeisha]

Do you mean product placement etc? edit: which I get and agree is problematic btw

[@sammeettelang6267]

@@marzigeisha No, I thought they should do it because I want an ad expert to review Mad Men.

[@Blernster]

I think both of your ideas would be awesome

[@YoureRightIThink]

Or a propaganda expert to review action movies, marvel movies, maybe even war movies.

[@jumpinjohnnyruss]

They'd lose a lot of ad revenue for that.

[@robinisok]

The way that the evangelical christian youth retreats I was forced to attend as a teenager match so many of these points...

[@darthbek]

I was just thinking as I watched this, "Man, this sounds like YoungLife"

[@jesusmunera2855]

That’s right they do this si well that you don’t see it until is late.

[@shadowscall7758]

Well, to be fair almost everything uses some of these points. Sports teams, military, families, gangs, video games, conventions. Just because they match a couple things means nothing, it's when they match almost all of them or certain ones.

[@MsLilly200]

I mean, the only reason mainstream christianity isn't a cult is cause so many people follow it. And also the cult leader's been dead for like 2000 years.

[@petitesayo4542]

@@lindenpeters2601 And there is is, folks, the "Who hurt you" argument.

[@profprofanity2308]

Was always curious to ask a deprogrammer what exactly happens to the people who were programmed into a cult. I mean some cults commit horrific acts and sometimes the people being deprogrammed were either involved passively or actively. Getting out and talking about it might mean admitting to criminal offences and I don't think brainwashing holds up in court.

[@nemopersonne9868]

Being under influence certainly is something a court will pay attention to. Going in some deprograming process is not a danger to the individual, it's away to get your life back. It's a danger to the cult leaders, and the reason why they threaten people like him.

[@vandergrad]

So much good information here!!! As a former cult-member (19 years in, 21 years out now) he hits so many important points. I wish everyone could watch and be taught about this stuff. It's so important.

[@vidoexperience8112]

I was involved in an online cult, as weird as that may be. At first, it felt nice and loving, and I felt it really helped me. Then, as the leaders were starting to show themselves as narcissistic, I felt a feeling of doom and started to question it. They were pulling the typical cult leader things such as saying they were the next coming of Christ, and if you didn't follow their way of dealing with things, bad things were going to happen to you and you'd never find your One True Love (aka Twin Flame). People who questioned their beliefs were ostracized and called out. After I watched this video, I realized they had some phrases and sayings that other cult leaders did. Their one main thing they did was "The Mirror Exercise" and the scene with the Manson Family really brought to my attention how culty they really were. Be careful out there!

[@quarkmolotov1049]

Vaguely reminds me of obey the walrus

[@annabourbon]

😮 you just made me realize I blocked the "asking for money" and other stuff. Maybe I was in a baby cult, online as well. It definitely had several things that are similar to the video. And made me feel terrible.

[@loveinthematrix]

Spiritual & communal narcissists are attracted to this kinda stuff like nobody’s business. None of them compare to the Most High though - they cannot understand the power He holds. The desire for that power is why Satan was cast out of Heaven.

[@mxsteria.wisteria-ns6pw]

@@loveinthematrix the irony here is ASTOUNDING

[@pilotmanpaul]

What's scary is that these Cults has some pretty impressive people in their groups. Doctors, Scientists, CEOs and Lawyers. The ones you'd think would never fall for this.

[@atomiccritter6492]

some but Im guessing the large proportion of cult followers are average or below educated

[@dashiellgillingham4579]

Most cults specifically target powerful people in order to gain power themselves.

[@claralima1967]

Smart people are really good at rationalizing what they're doing, and tend to be the desired targets since they'll be able to provide for the cult, either provide money or fame or credibility

[@ramdom_assortment]

CEOs are surrounded by yes man and are not necessarily smart people.

[@187btokes]

@@claralima1967 all people are "really good" at rationalizing what they doing. A certain level of intelligence is not a requirement for someone to rationalize what their doing.

[@NATESOR]

Maybe something is broken or weird in me, but throughout my life Ive only ever felt a horrible sense of dread, anxiety and revulsion during "group" events. The few times I've been to church, I've been respectful but felt horribly uncomfortable during the group song or prayers. Highschool pep rallies were like living through a horror movie. And even playing team sports made me feel very uncomfortable. Anyways. The appeal of a cult is something that seems pretty lost on me. Could be I just have social anxiety... But I guess that's the upside of it. Has kept me firmly out of cult situations haha

[@aidenarmin]

Yeah I kind of know what you mean. Even as a young teenager I was always very uncomfertable with the whole group thing and still am to this day 3 decades later. There is a dynamic with us humans if it involves more people. It can start out very good and optimistic even but then when time goes by it will almost always spiral out of the original intent there was at the beginning.

[@katymcdonald5481]

Not all cults are large groups and quite often the recruitment process they use is very one on one, they can actually be really good at weaponising your feelings of social anxiety to isolate you and give you validation for why you’ve never felt like you fit in before. A lot of cults are much more about the leaders individual and personal relationships with the members rather than group activities or ceremonies. Quite often a cult can feel like a group of friends when a person is in it, no ceremonies or rituals you’re just spending a lot of time with them and then you might all “decide” to get a place together. It’s a gradual process and cults are all different, different leaders exploit peoples vulnerabilities in different ways the Manson Family is very different to a spiritual cult like the Moonies for example.

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

All of those activities you describe have cult like qualities.

[@MirrorOfEmotions]

Have similar feelings and it is also super strange. I don't know why but if enter a church I get an extremely uncomfortable feeling. Like, as if something tries to either push me away or to try to creep in my mind and try to influence me. The first one appears if I am near a church and the latter happens if I enter such a building. It's a pretty weird feeling. It's like as if the belief of the people try to get me. I'm sorry, I don't know how to describe it better. I have also a similar reaction to emotional speeches. Because of this, I try to avoid such places where people get manipulated. It's just uncomfortable.

[@austincde]

Yeah this need to "belong" is a very powerful motivator, but social anxiety will negate that for me too 😂 like I want to socialize and belong buuut I'm also kind of a weirdo

[@TheDevler23]

2:20 thats exactly what evangelical christian church camps were like. the exhaustion, the junk food, the worship, the jargon, the team building, the shame and salvation. People think i'm crazy when I call evangelicalism a cult. But now that I'm free of it, I can see that's EXACTLY what it is.

[@rahpet3576]

same, as a child i was really religious but now i can see how manipulated I was with fear and guilt that I to this day cant shake off

[@jawstrock2215]

well, every religions are at their core, cults so.. not surprising.

[@mehere8038]

I would agree Evangelists are a cult, but interestingly even stuff like Tony Robbins do the same stuff you speak of, with sleep deprivation etc, along with fire walking to really push up the emotions & sense of the cult being something that gives success & an ability to do anything in life

[@TheDevler23]

@SkyCop Wife retired oh please. I've heard that stupid line my entire life. As if Christianity is the only religion to claim a relationship with their gods. I spent 25 years of my life in that religion. Steeped in it. Church multiple times a week, mission trips, private christian school, private christian college, spiritual life leader in my school, I was DEVOUT. I understand the perspective you have because I had it, too. Once you take a step back and realize that all of your beliefs are just twisted versions of previous religions, you can't unsee it. Christianity isn't unique. it isn't even an original creation. It's a mashup of other religions in the area at the time. I didn't miss the relationship part of Christianity. I believed I had that relationship. until I finally realized I was talking to myself when I prayed, not some unseeable unknowable sentient invisible being. I'll leave you to your imaginary friend. But don't come at me like I didn't understand the religion that WAS my LIFE for a quarter of a century.

[@mehere8038]

@SkyCop Wife retired I know what an evangelist is, I don't think you know what an imaginary friend is

[@KiriBunn]

people always belief that cults are about sacrificing some animal or human being when in reality its just giving up your sense of self, specifically when they "ask" you to wear certain things, eat on certain times, go to bed at a certain time, etc. to unify you with the rest

[@snoozyq9576]

There are plenty thst sacrifice animals too

[@pisceananarchyvortex7223]

Some people do sacrifice their children

[@XYZ-sq7ki]

I want to hear the stories about the doctors escaping cults

[@TheSimplyCooking]

Scientology has programs for doctors and business owners where they offer help for praxis management etc. while hiding that they are actually Scientology.

[@pamjones7426]

A lot of followers of Shoko Asahara were highly intelligent and accomplished people like doctors and scientists. Makes you realise people who are so well-educated and intelligent can be sucked in, because that alone does not satiate you. You could be very successful but still feel very empty. When someone comes along and promises fulfillment, you will go with them to fill the void.

[@gohawks3571]

@@pamjones7426 I guess thinking about it, people that are so high level are working so hard, between education, trying to establish yourself, and trying to keep up. It is really hard to live in this world, being so overwhelmed by life & not having many people, or anyone, who truely understands you & can help you destress. So I can totally see this😞

[@brokenglassshimmerlikestar3407]

@@pamjones7426 Yeah, a lot of accomplished people are also the anxious type. They feel the need to be successful otherwise they don't feel they deserve to be loved. Often they weren't loved enough as children. Maybe their parents were always comparing them to their peers and saying why can't you be more like so and so. Cults can give them a sense of acceptance and love they never had.

[@Mor2gain_760]

@@TheSimplyCooking They are already preprogrammed through their education to be attracted to such "privileged knowledge" higher education, higher power, higher understanding, ect... If you peek at my other comment it's more detailed...

[@studentchen87]

I would pay for a movie about this guy's career life

[@letiziamargo9601]

Cults are so fascinating, I'm really interested in what they do to deprogram them.

[@noslemon]

Historically... sometimes torture, repeated questioning and suggestion to make them think they're in a dangerous cult. Tbh most cults aren't dangerous, we only hear about the dangerous ones because of the media - if it bleeds it leads is the motto they follow. You'll never hear a story about a peaceful new religious movement that just minds its own business. Cult deprogrammers make their money on convincing society that cults are dangerous. Obviously there are examples of dangerous cults, but there are far more that simply practice their beliefs in a safe, respectful way, like any other religion.

[@Serai3]

One movie that gets forgotten is _Ticket to Heaven._ About a shiftless young guy who breaks up with his girlfriend and gets sucked into the Moonies. Chilling and facinating at the same time, it's the most accurate portrayal of the process of indoctrination _and_ deprogramming that I've seen.

[@laurallewien2165]

That is a great movie to be sure!

[@NJGuy1973]

I saw that in high school. After seeing it, I practically wanted to be a hermit.

[@lynnw9819]

v interesting... i left a cult about 10 years ago, but not before it got so bad i attempted suicide. it was really oppressive. it's still wild to me, that i fell in with that group... and also wild that they are still checking up on me 10 years no contact. they find my social media and try to follow me, they text my phone or call me, and before i moved out of the state 3 years ago, they were still showing up outside my apartment, like in the tennis courts (they didn't live there) i haven't responded or spoke with anyone except a couple of ppl that also left the cult after me.

[@belot217]

Glad you got out!

[@lynnw9819]

@@belot217 me too!!

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Very desperate to get you back...that's very scary and please be safe. Take pictures or video to document these instances so you can build a case if you need to go to the police (I honestly would've gone to the police the moment I could. If they can help break up the group, maybe others could be saved).

[@NueThunderKing]

Be always wary of them, you managed to get out and you should do everything in your power to keep it that way.

[@lynnw9819]

@@NueThunderKing i left the state, but they still find my social media occasionally. Blocking usually works. I have no idea why they even bother anymore i left 10 years ago!! They tried to follow my insta last week!

[@nickmedley4749]

Those vulnerable that are manipulated into cults deserve compassion and real empathy.

[@EmmaDuncan8740]

Was in a cult for two years, hard to get out of bc I didn't even realize it was a cult for like the first year. Then something didn't feel right and once I started asking questions and not getting answers that made any kind of sense that's when I knew something wasn't right. I left and the people who I thought were going to be there for me the rest of my life shunned me in public and never spoke to me again 😬 crazy stuff

[@jazzherself]

This was my exact experience with Herbalife 😂😮

[@micjaywol]

Not only is his job awesome and he’s super knowledgeable, he’s also such a nice guy ??

[@OrigamiMarie]

I feel like you would have to be, for that job. He has to convince people that they're better off if they change, and someone unpleasant would have a hard time doing that.

[@Styxintheriver]

Someone who's helped as many people as he has must be

[@kaytan8409]

One other thing I’d really like him to explore is just what CAUSES a man or woman to develop such a high sense of self, that they can so confidently control entire groups of people? What conjures up in their psyche that makes them determine, with absolute certainty, that “I can be a master over others and I know they will follow me”?

[@churblesfurbles]

Evolutionary group function, some lead some follow as it works for group selection. There is natural hierarchy. Furthermore religion coevolved to enhance this effect, we were made for it, and it doesn't end. That the new lot still demand endless confession while worshipping new saints and fixating on apocalyptic prophecy should be the clue, but they do not bear the hallmarks of functional religion being that their values all revolve around sterility. 50 shades of breed me for the cat lady simply underlines their inversion based fears.

[@SableAradia1]

So, I used to own a metaphysical store. Every now and then we would have brushes with groups that seemed very cult-like to me. In all cases, the person leading the cult was someone who, if you peeled back the layers long enough, was in the helpless control of others for a long time. An abused child, the survivor of an abusive relationship, a person who was bullied as a kid. I don't think they (usually) get the idea that "yes, I can be a master over others and I know they will follow me," I think it's more, "I'm in control in this relationship, and if I keep all my relationships in a place where I have the power, I'll be safe." Most of them seem to need to be needed, and feel like perhaps they are worthless if they aren't. So they become the producers and the pushers of the drug of belonging. Sometimes people like this can even be *helpful*; they might encourage others to find their own power, and give them the strength to overcome traumas and other issues in their lives. When it becomes a cult is when the leader is so afraid of not being needed anymore that they sabotage any attempts by their followers to fly on their own wings; or, when they ask for things that no reasonable person would ask for. It is not reasonable to ask anyone to sacrifice their worldly possessions, their bodily autonomy, their agency, or their self-respect. Now, there is an exception to this, and that is a malignant sociopath. Sociopaths, like anyone else, choose to be ethical people or not, but when you lack normal emotions or attachments, it's very easy to become convinced of one's own specialness. Because they have had to learn how to mimic "normal" behaviour (because they don't have natural empathy to guide them, and therefore learn this as a survival skill,) they become good at manipulating that normal behaviour. They also tend to be really intelligent, and can decode human behaviour like a math problem. People like that become the Charles Mansons of the world. Again, just being a sociopath does not mean that people will act like this, so don't make that assumption. Many sociopaths lead perfectly normal lives, with genuine love and hard-earned attachments to others. And some learn all these skills, but use their powers for good. Religion can be very helpful to people, and if a religious leader genuinely cares, they will have developed these skills, but only in order to raise people up and give them hope. Therapists do the same thing. The key to recognizing a cult leader is that the end goal of someone who is raising people up should be to make themselves redundant or obsolete, not build and reinforce dependency.

[@maryschumacher7118]

Narcissism

[@marmackk]

Cult experts say that cult leaders have narissitic personality disorder

[@cindys9491]

@@maryschumacher7118 right, and no self questioning or self doubt, maybe

[@alyssa_trulytree]

What you believe and/or who you follow has a direct impact on your life. Cults are such a terrifying example of this.

[@MsLhuntMartinez79]

Was in a cult for 10yrs (15-25). I always told people that prisoners have halfway houses, the military have a reintegration process, but we're just thrown back in. Sink or swim style

[@snoozyq9576]

A lot of military and priosners unfortunately have to sink or swim too. This is part of why they have such high rates of homelessness and substance abuse

[@cbryce9243]

@@snoozyq9576 so true.

[@varun_vidya]

When someone starts their intro with "i've been helping people..since.." you know they earn all respects.

[@jplb96]

@Keith Thank you for your service.

[@misterminutes4504]

@Keith I salute your service

[@oiuhoindds924]

@Keith national treasure

[@varun_vidya]

@Keith wow 👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@nobodyneverknows]

@Keith thank you, thank you... ( tears in eyes)

[@sazji]

What he says about inability to function outside the group is true about many traditional societies with little outside contact. The ability of human beings to unite in a mindset against any and all “others” is a basic part of our evolution. The line between culture and cult is sometimes a fine one; the active cultivation of fear and hate for thoughts and people deemed “outside” might be a good measure, but it’s still a basic part of many religious groups especially.

[@merlana3479]

Never been in a cult so I can't relate but listening to some of these guys just gave me the creeps instantly. I remember my mom telling me about some of the chruchs that acted like cults grandma and them went to. They left right away so they didn't get caught up in it but she told me the signs to wacth out for.

[@guerney2000]

11:08 "I've never been to the Pyramids, have you?" "Yes, last summer" "... well, I didn't expect that answer"

[@roxyoursox524]

He would just say something else, like the stone hedge or that you know gravity is a thing but you cannot see it, only it's force

[@YourLittlePhoenix]

I could listen to this man for hours, it's so fascinating

[@hughsonj]

I grew up in an ultra-right wing cult. I didn't know I was in a cult until I decided to join the Army. When I got out into the real world, I realized that I was the strange one. The programming was so insidious that I had normalized it.

[@pyraffin]

I'm glad you found a way out, kind of surprising the army didn't reinforce those ideas

[@pisceananarchyvortex7223]

The programing all over the USA is the same at this point. Almost the entire country is under mass hypnosis.

[@belkyhernandez8281]

What made you think you were in a cult? Was it that things outside the group were different than what you were told? Or was it something else?

[@orangenostril]

@@pisceananarchyvortex7223 It's important to specify what people should be looking out for, because the blanket "everyone else is delusional" sentiment is probably the number one way far right groups will try to indoctrinate people. For everyone reading this, some of the best things you can do for any claim is 1) Think about who and especially _how many_ people exactly would have to be working to cover up the truth as it's impossible for millions of people to seamlessly keep a secret, and 2) look at places like Google Scholar and see what the data and science show on the matter.

[@sadiyasaleh233]

I think this is the only situation where social anxiety could be of benefit. I could never ever imagined myself in any of the scenarios in these clips in a million years.

[@PaigeTheFatFeministWitch]

Lol same! Telling me I’m part of a family of group just makes me want to run in the opposite direction

[@byronic-heroine]

Same for me. Cult member: Would you like to come to our meeti- Me: NO THANK YOU

[@Shirumoon]

@@PaigeTheFatFeministWitch Interesting. My social anxiety has caused me to be so incredibly lonely that I have fallen for many toxic people in the past. I would literally pay to be around people who really care about me. But of course I'm smart enough to know that cults just lovebomb and never truly mean it.

[@NJGuy1973]

​@@Shirumoon Anyone who really cares about you, they wouldn't need to be paid to be around you. They'd be around you for free.

[@SangTheCryptek]

Cult deprogramming is fascinating. I'd love to hear the stories this dude has.

[@stillhuntre55]

Really interesting! My former landlady was a youth at The Ranch run by the Bhagwan Sri Rajneesh. All those years later, she would still speak fondly of how powerful it was to sit in the same room with him, and how the authorities had just never understood him.

[@user_2793]

Please don't call that prick 'Bhagwan', that means god.

[@sofigag]

No way?! Wow😮 what happened to Bhagwan??

[@stillhuntre55]

@@user_2793 I am a Sikh, so I understand it's meaning. That was what he was known by.

[@stillhuntre55]

@@sofigag He ran back to India to escape prosecution and changed his name to Osho.

[@lm7092]

His teachings still help people.

[@CMDRunematti]

Seems to me that screaming with her dismissing is parallel with "mirroring" in negotiation settings. Wondering is there's a neurological similarity

[@anoni6108]

Unrelated but your hair is really pretty in your profile picture

[@wanderingIvy67]

I asked the preacher at the Baptist Church "are you a cult?" and he said "why would you ask such a question?"