Post by cute_red_clover on Apr 25, 2009 21:14:50 GMT -8
So...being bored online (when of course, I should be working on my English 3H homework...an essay and pictures for my vocab.), I of course decided to google the word "cult," and it seems that we are not culty enough to be a cult...there's a checklist + random info.:
ICSA does NOT maintain a list of "bad" groups or "cults." We nonjudgmentally list groups on which we have information.
Groups listed, described, or referred to on ICSA's Web sites may be mainstream or nonmainstream, controversial or noncontroversial, religious or nonreligious, cult or not cult, harmful or benign.
We encourage inquirers to consider a variety of opinions, negative and positive, so that inquirers can make independent and informed judgments pertinent to their particular concerns.
Views expressed on our Web sites are those of the document's author(s) and are not necessarily shared, endorsed, or recommended by ICSA or any of its directors, staff, or advisors.
See: Definitional Issues Collection; Understanding Groups Collection
Views expressed on our Web sites are those of the document's author(s) and are not necessarily shared, endorsed, or recommended by ICSA or any of its directors, staff, or advisors
Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised
Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship.
Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a “cult scale” or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.
-The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. [Hahaha! This one is totally true, right? I mean, look at our members...making their own religions and whatnot...:P We are so devoted to Kelly]
-Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. [Yup, totally. Kevin's not disappearing off to Texas without reason :P]
-Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). [Hahaha! We do have a variety of different languages spoken. We've got the French, Russian, Swiss-German, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Pig-Latin, etc.]
-The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). [lolz. Totally. *cough* *cough* *Melanie* *cough* There wasn't a break up without reason. :P And we totally dictate how to raise our non-existent [rock?] children *cough* *cough* *Susan*]
-The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). [We're not called, "HELPING HUMANITY" without reason]
-The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. [We're the "best club on campus," right?]
-The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). [PSH! What "adviser?"]
-The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). [Hahaha! Free the Children...how much do we REALLY know about them? ...and considering that practically all our members/officers are in sports...you never know...]
-The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. [lolz...this is how we get our "club participation..." or at least how I get it. :P Guilt...kinda? *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* or... *tear*]
-Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. [KEVIN! You can't leave HHC. You now have to cut all ties with your family 'cuz you're in our CULT. Also, you have to quit golf. :P]
-The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. [Hahaha! We actually kinda are...what with the lack of participation, and considering our latest "officers' meeting"...We did spend quite some time discussing this]
-The group is preoccupied with making money. [Bake sales, "Charity" Ball, what more do I have to say?]
-Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. [Weekend events? Seriously? After school ones too? Man, have we got too much free time or what?]
-Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. [Mondays at lunch...at SPARE Beautifications... no talking to other people. You all are apparently required to only talk to us now.]
-The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group. [lolz...maybe if we had any "Loyal" members or "true believers." According to this definition, we're not loyal enough...our FIDELITY (vocab. word!) needs some work...]
This checklist will be published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). It was adapted from a checklist originally developed by Michael Langone.
Well...and here I thought we weren't a cult upon the initial reading on this, but now that I look at it closer...we kinda are...hmmm...so, what do you guys think? "Cult or club?"
ICSA does NOT maintain a list of "bad" groups or "cults." We nonjudgmentally list groups on which we have information.
Groups listed, described, or referred to on ICSA's Web sites may be mainstream or nonmainstream, controversial or noncontroversial, religious or nonreligious, cult or not cult, harmful or benign.
We encourage inquirers to consider a variety of opinions, negative and positive, so that inquirers can make independent and informed judgments pertinent to their particular concerns.
Views expressed on our Web sites are those of the document's author(s) and are not necessarily shared, endorsed, or recommended by ICSA or any of its directors, staff, or advisors.
See: Definitional Issues Collection; Understanding Groups Collection
Views expressed on our Web sites are those of the document's author(s) and are not necessarily shared, endorsed, or recommended by ICSA or any of its directors, staff, or advisors
Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised
Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship.
Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a “cult scale” or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.
-The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. [Hahaha! This one is totally true, right? I mean, look at our members...making their own religions and whatnot...:P We are so devoted to Kelly]
-Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. [Yup, totally. Kevin's not disappearing off to Texas without reason :P]
-Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). [Hahaha! We do have a variety of different languages spoken. We've got the French, Russian, Swiss-German, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Pig-Latin, etc.]
-The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). [lolz. Totally. *cough* *cough* *Melanie* *cough* There wasn't a break up without reason. :P And we totally dictate how to raise our non-existent [rock?] children *cough* *cough* *Susan*]
-The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). [We're not called, "HELPING HUMANITY" without reason]
-The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. [We're the "best club on campus," right?]
-The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). [PSH! What "adviser?"]
-The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). [Hahaha! Free the Children...how much do we REALLY know about them? ...and considering that practically all our members/officers are in sports...you never know...]
-The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. [lolz...this is how we get our "club participation..." or at least how I get it. :P Guilt...kinda? *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* or... *tear*]
-Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. [KEVIN! You can't leave HHC. You now have to cut all ties with your family 'cuz you're in our CULT. Also, you have to quit golf. :P]
-The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. [Hahaha! We actually kinda are...what with the lack of participation, and considering our latest "officers' meeting"...We did spend quite some time discussing this]
-The group is preoccupied with making money. [Bake sales, "Charity" Ball, what more do I have to say?]
-Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. [Weekend events? Seriously? After school ones too? Man, have we got too much free time or what?]
-Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. [Mondays at lunch...at SPARE Beautifications... no talking to other people. You all are apparently required to only talk to us now.]
-The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group. [lolz...maybe if we had any "Loyal" members or "true believers." According to this definition, we're not loyal enough...our FIDELITY (vocab. word!) needs some work...]
This checklist will be published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). It was adapted from a checklist originally developed by Michael Langone.
Well...and here I thought we weren't a cult upon the initial reading on this, but now that I look at it closer...we kinda are...hmmm...so, what do you guys think? "Cult or club?"