Posted by WitnetObserver [WitnetObserver] on November 12, 1999 at 18:20:40 {CkRQXOxAaIY.5ADQk2RYQv.iPpdwjE}:
In Reply to: ****Potential witness profile? posted by PraeTell on November 12, 1999 at 10:15:03:
Have you read up on COERCIVE PERSUASION?
With coercive persuasion you can change people's attitudes without their knowledge and volition.
Coercive persuasion changes both attitude AND behavior, not JUST behavior.
At least share this with him so that if it
starts happening to him, he will remember
that he was told EXACTLY how it would be
done to him. Supposedly, if you know about
it, you're immune to it.
TYPICAL BEGINNINGS
1 denying the existence of hell so as to retain
a more understandable view of God's love.
2 Formulation of a simplified interpretation of
Scripture so as to make the Bible
more acceptable or believable.
3 Followers of the leader(s) must recognize them as
the modern day spokesman for God, or leave the group.
4 One's salvation must depend on belonging to the group.
5 Freedom of thought is inhibited, lest the followers
be overpowered by another train of thought
alien to the religion.
This is usually accomplished by
(a) keeping the convert too busy to read or consider
other views,
(b) developing a morbid fear of the devil
and his efforts to use others (even friends) to lead them astray,
(c) prohibiting the reading of other religious literature,
especially that written by former members of the religion, and
(d) a continual daily or weekly program of indoctrination
that must be kept up in order to maintain their unique world view.
Such a fabricated world view must be emphasized regularly,
or it will soon lose its power over the person.
His own common sense will seek to re-establish control over his mind.
A tremendous guilt complex is placed on the individual
who bucks the system, so that even if he/she leaves,
they are at best a shell of a person fraught with morbid fears
and mental problems, only too happy to later re-join the fold
to re-establish peace of mind.
The followers soon become divided: the "loyal" ones
allow their consciences to be dulled to the real moral issues
and justice as they re-affirm their leader as God's chosen spokesman,
while the dissenters refuse to tolerate
the power play going on in God's name.
from http://www.freeminds.org/psych/cultptrn.htm