Avoid Cults That May Try to Convert You

There are many cults out there that may be dangerous, mind-controlling, and possibly violent. But this article will tell you how to spot the difference between the two.

Steps

  1. Know how to respond to insults to your religion or beliefs.
  2. Look for one person who is in complete control. Cults almost always have that central leader. If this person founded the cult and later died, there may now be a small group of people who control everything. These people are egomaniacs who love attention. The religious leader that decides whether the members views are valid or not and carefully explains the rules that only his/her opinions and answers to provocative questions are true and not to be questioned is likely a cult leader.
  3. Check to see if the religion is legal. Some countries in Europe and other places actually have a list of which religions are allowed and are considered legal. This may be helpful.
  4. Look on the internet for information about the religion. See if there are any possible problems with it or its founder. If you believe that the religion's beliefs are not true, don't join them!
  5. If you are threatened by the cult, call the police.
  6. Do not go to live in an isolated area away from the people you know. No matter how bad your life is where you are, it will not be better if you go to live with an organization. These compounds are often in remote or rural areas, and although you will be told you can leave at any time they will not let you go, either through physical force, gates, or intimidation.
  7. Avoid groups or people that try to impose rules on the non-moral aspects of your life such as who you can talk to or where you can shop for groceries, which movies you can see, what books are appropriate, etc.
  8. Watch out for people who just keep telling you what you want to hear, constantly flatter you, or tell you that everything is OK.
  9. Be sure your religious group does not support violence or discriminate against others, such as saying others are going to hell because they are not us.
  10. Beware of the techniques that include your giving up control of the details of your life. Anyone that can obtain control of your thinking will control your distribution of your resources for the cult's benefit.

Tips

  • If you think your religion is a cult, do some research. Ask a wide variety of people, and look up plenty of websites - not one or two, because everyone has their own bias. Get a good objective opinion. If you continue to be uncomfortable with your religion, look into other belief systems for something better.
  • Note that you do not need to have a belief system. You're a semi-intelligent, and evolved human being. You should be able to think for yourself and choose for yourself what you think you should do.
  • Cultic groups tend to look very similar to normal groups when they first approach you. Only after you're in do they start to "turn up the heat" asking for more control one issue at a time. They start with the small issues and build toward the big ones at which point you've been in for so long that your emotional ties or your fear keep you from questioning inappropriate advances.

Warnings

  • If you suspect that you're in a cult and want to separate, do not confide in anyone that is also involved in the cult. If they believe in what the cult stands for they might sell you out which could be a dangerous position for you to be in.
  • Sometimes cults will find seemingly innocent ways to interest young people - such as by setting up fun promotions on college campuses.
  • Do not join a religion or cult when you aren't thinking logically or rationally. Only do it when you have a completely clear head.
  • Remember, all major religions started out as a small 'cult'. They achieve religion status when enough members grant it political power.
  • If you are in a cult and want to leave you need to tell someone safe that is not in the cult. Tell the police, tell a friend and please see a professional so you can recover and reintegrate into normal life. They'll become cruel and even more destructive than they normally are when you want to leave. Asking for help is the key to recovery.
    • Remember cults do not have the answer of the universe or God for life's problems. As a cult their viewpoint isn't accurate and you should not listen to their words once you want to leave. You live with your choices not them. Do not let them lead you around like they know what's better for you than God or you.

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