# 3 ## belonging "In charge of who is there in charge of me?" ~ Jon Anderson, Yes, _Close to the Edge_ There are two types of authoritarians: those who lead and those who follow. Followers believe blindly in the leader's right to command, and the leaders believe blindly in the same right. Authoritarian groups are exclusive: the groups must come before everything else, so the member must identify fervently with the group and its ideas. There are many ways to forge and strengthen attachment to an authoritarian group or individual. In a live-in group, members are quickly drawn into 24/7 membership. Isolation from the outside world may be part of the strategy, but there will be enough activities to pack the day, and usually, not enough sleep to ever properly wake up. There can be restrictions on diet -- usually the cheapest food possible, so often a high-sugar, high-carbohydrate diet, which can add to the lightheadedness of sleep deprivation. Group activities, including dancing, singing, or reciting dogma all add to a natural sense of cohesion. Everything that is different to the surrounding society -- language, dress, diet, dogma -- can add to the sense of exclusiveness and amplify alienation from that society. Add to this the promise that the secrets of the universe, eternal life, or liberation from tyranny are just a few steps away, and you have a potent mix. Some groups differentiate between inner and outer members (called "staff" and "public" in Scientology). As a "public" Scientologist, I was subjected to none of the trauma and humiliation of daily life suffered by "staff", who kept their awful living conditions secret from the "public". Staff members may survive on the bare minimum of sleep and nourishment while working impossible hours; "public" members are allowed to sleep and eat properly (even encouraged to do so in Scientology). The core inner members, on the other hand, while often living in drastically worse living conditions, are led to believe that they are superior not only to the world at large, but also to the "public" of the group. This elitism is a vital aspect of membership. In private, staff Scientologists will belittle the celebrities they so eagerly recruit. Out of their earshot, celebrities are dismissed as "dilettantes" -- mere amateurs. ## a brief history of submission The word "mystery" originated in the ancient world, where followers went through a series of secret initiations, culminating in a pretend death and resurrection, which led them to fervently believe that they would survive physical death. Initiates were called _mystes_ and they existed at Eleusis in Greece almost 4,000 years ago.[10] Groups that promise secret knowledge are broadly called "gnostic". At the beginning of the Christian era, the most popular gnostic or mystery cult was that of Mithras, a demi-god who offered resurrection and eternal life to his followers.[11] Early Christian Gnostic sects developed around similar practices, and called themselves the "_electoi_" or "elect". Some were convinced that by going through the seven gates of the planetary bodies after death and reciting the right passwords, heaven would be theirs for the taking.[12] Modern practices that rely on a series of steps, grades or initiations -- such as the Rosicrucians, |Freemasons as well as Scientology and NXIVM -- are "neo-gnostic". People take pride in the trappings of office: the uniforms and badges, the medals and titles. We love to feel superior, and all too readily accept a place in a hierarchy of membership. Mormons pledge complete allegiance to their group, through their "Temple Endowments." Freemasons and Rosicrucians function as secret societies, and often form networks in public office. In the UK, there are many Freemasons in the police and the judiciary. They keep their membership secret and, in absolute contradiction of public policy, prefer their co-cultists over others. A voluntary register for public officials to declare membership of the Freemasons was boycotted by the UK police in 2001.[13] A friend of mine who had been a policeman for 17 years told me that he had always been passed over for promotion, because he refused to join the Freemasons. Secret societies, "old boy networks" and other cultic forms are central rather than peripheral in our world. In 2002, a Metropolitan Police report cautioned that organized crime had infiltrated these very networks through the Freemasons.[14] In 2018, MP Sarah Wollaston renewed calls for a register, specifically for MPs and journalists who belong to Masonic lodges. Her plea failed.[15] By the time I left Scientology, I was at the end of the 25th of the then 27 available levels. The deference of other members towards me was part and parcel of the experience. They believed that I could read minds, see into the future, and move independently of my body. It is shocking to discover the amount of damage concealed by the many people who completed these levels before leaving the group -- because we were told that our "first duty" was to protect the reputation of Scientology.[16] Despite James Randi's offer of a million dollars for proof, no Scientologist ever demonstrated the supposed paranormal abilities we were promised we would attain. Scientology calls those who give money "Patrons", and various titles are offered according to the amount "donated" -- so, for instance, Patrons Meritorious have given $250,000. In return, their names are published in magazines and inscribed on plaques. The sort of elitism encourages an "us versus them" mentality, as well as simple black-or-white thinking. The group is good and right; so, any critic is bad and wrong. Members of the group are the _elect_; they will become powerful and prosperous, irresistible to the opposite sex, achieve enlightenment or enter the kingdom of heaven -- unless (and until) they realize that the emperor wears not a single stitch of clothing. ## reinforcement Membership must be reinforced, so that recruits feel they belong. Status is important, but there will also be a resolute conviction that the group is right and that doubt is wrong. The group's beliefs are touted as scientifically true and/or spiritually correct. This leads to the strange situation where believers will put aside their own values in favor of the group's dogma, which is the test of a true believer. Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton called this "ideology over experience" or "doctrine over person".[17] A famous heart surgeon in the notorious Japanese group Aum Shinrikyo murdered patients at the behest of his leader, in spite of the Hippocratic Oath's provision to do no harm[18] A fanatic will believe that the murder of innocents is vital to bring about the Caliphate or the End Days, perhaps putting aside years of benevolent behavior to follow this ruthless path. If the leader says that salt is sweet, the follower may well taste that sweetness, just as those hypnotized will cheerfully eat an onion as if it were an apple -- or, as followers of Lesego Daniel testify, believe that gasoline tastes like pineapple juice.[19] Years after leaving an authoritarian group, members often still cling to the teachings or the leader. They have learned to internally reinforce the state induced by their fervor. The contradictions in their beliefs can be startling. Ma Anand Sheela spent 39 months in prison. In her autobiography, she says that all of her wrongdoing was at the behest of Rajneesh (aka Bhagwan or Osho the Buddha) and that she was scapegoated by him. She speaks at length about his vindictive, deceitful behavior, and says that he took a massive amount of diazepam or valium (some 240mg) along with two sessions a day -- each two hours long -- sniffing laughing gas (nitrous oxide), yet, in the same autobiography, she says, "He is my eternal lover" and "This love is still there. It is forever ... I am proud and grateful to be part of this plan. I will not exchange this love for anything in the world..."[20] Reinforcement is also behavioral. Each group has its own variations. Habits of dress, of speech, responses and rituals are all readily adopted. Radical Islamists often adopt what they believe to be traditional dress, with men growing beards and women covering thir hair, or even their faces. Scientologists make locked-on eye contact -- which can keep them in an altered state of consciousness, while asserting predatory dominance. There will be thought-stopping rituals -- Krishnas chant the Hare Krishna mantra if they feel challenged. Slogans are implanted to keep thought at bay. Phobias are induced, so that opponents are viewed as if in the grip of Satan and unworthy of attention. Scientologists, followers of NXIVM and Jehovah's Witnesses are urged to cease any communication with critics -- Suppressive Persons or agents of the devil -- and such "shunning" is commonplace in authoritarian groups: indeed, it is a defining factor when assessing the danger of a group. Ostracism is a benchmark of authoritarianism. ## hard selling Once members have committed to a group, the honeymoon period is over, and ruthless techniques are often used to increase that commitment. Hard selling is used shamelessly in Scientology. Talking about the extremely expensive exorcisms that constitute the secret "upper levels" of Scientology, leader Ron Hubbard said, "Advanced Courses are the most valuable service on the planet. Life insurance, houses, cars, stocks, bonds, college savings, all are transitory and impermanent ... Advanced Courses ... last forever and give immortality. There is nothing to compare with Advanced Courses. They are infinitely valuable and transcend time itself." It costds at least a quarter of a million dollars to complete Scientology's "Bridge to Total Freedom." [This photo is embedded here: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/author-l-ron-hubbard-poses-for... ] Hubbard aged beyond his 62 years, in hiding, 1973 In a dispatch called _What is Life Worth? - The Importance of Hard Sell_, Hubbard said, "HARD SELL is ... a MUST in dissemination and selling of services and materials." He also said, "You tell him that he is going to sign up right now and he is going to take it right now ... One does not describe something, one commands something. You will find that a lot of people are in a more or less hypnotic daze ... and they respond to direct commands in literature and ads. Hard Sell means insistence that people buy." Further, "You have to be willing to invade privacy, very definitely ... [recruits] don't have any rights!" Scientology "registrars" -- or salespeople -- are trained using hard-sell expert Les Dane's book _Big League Sales Closing Techniques_. Sales interviews can last whole days. I'm happy to report that towards the end of my involvement with Scientology, I refused to accept a money-lender's check, even after a 13-hour sales interview. The demanded interest rate was 30%. Many others have not been so lucky, and have lost everything they owned, simply to pay for "advanced courses." Inheritances are quickly hoovered into the group's bank accounts. Former members can be saddled with debt for the rest of their lives. Many words are used to describe authoritarian groups. In the last few decades an ancient Roman term has gained a new, negative meaning. Let's look at the word "cult". ### recommended reading: Jon Atack, _Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky_ ## references 10: See, for instance, Mircea Eliade, _A History of Religious Ideas_, volume 1, _From the Stone Age to the Eleusinian Mysteries_, University of Chicago Press, 1978 11: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraism#cite_note-RichardsonHopfe1994-7 [it looks like the article has since been edited, changing the citation numbers, but there are a number of citations to a book from 1994 by Hopfe and Richardson] 12: For an overview of Gnostic Christianity, see Elaine Pagels, _Gnostic Gospels_, Random House, NY, 2004 13: 11 March 2001, The Telegraph, _Star scores own goal with Freemasons' register_ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1325935/Straw-scores-own-goal-with-F... 14: _Revealed: How gangs used the Freemasons to corrupt police_, 13 January 2014, The Independent 15: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/05/freemasons-in-westminster-sh...; https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/04/two-freemasons-lodges-opera... 16: Ron Hubbard, _An Open Letter to All Clears_, Policy Letter, 17 January 1967: "your first duty is to protect the repute of the state of Clear by exemplary conduct." 17: Robert Jay Lifton, _Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of "Brainwashing" in China_, Norton Library, NY, 1963, 1969 18: Robert Jay Lifton, _Destroying the World to Save It_, Henry Holt, NY, 1999 19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2XkzZvbJCg 20: Ma Anand Sheela, _Don't Kill Him! The story of my life with Bhagwan Rajneesh_, Prakash Books, New Delhi, 2012, 2018.