[ot] Karlbook [coercion]: Opening Our Minds by Jon Atack
opening our minds avoiding abusive relationships and authoritarian groups by jon atack 4th Edition Originally published as _Opening Minds: the secret world of manipulation, undue influence and brainwashing_ This book is dedicated to the memory of Bobby Yang, who was a daily source of good cheer throughout his short life. Praise for this book: "_Opening Our Minds_ shines a laser beam into every key bit of research on manipulating the human mind and surgically extracts the kernel in each. This has created a book of immense breadth and depth without the lumbering weight of an academic tome. Instead, we have an almost breathless, short yet comprehensive review of what we know about manipulating human minds and the educational vaccinations against these processes. If there were a required reading list for maintaining one's critical thinking in the over-information age, _Opening Our Minds_ would be at the top. Parents should make this book the first present to your children graduating middle-school, high school or college, and then bring it to your book club to discuss how to integrate it in your own life. It will be the liveliest discussion you have all year and very possibly the most worthwhile!" ~ *Ira Chaleff*, author _Courageous Followership,_ and _Intelligent Disobedience._ Visiting Leadership Scholar, Moller Institute, Churchill College, Cambridge University. Chairman Emeritus of The Congressional Management Foundatoin, Washington, DC, and member of the Board of Directors of the International Leadership Association 2012 - 2017. "Jon Atack's book _Opening Our Minds_ is exactly what I expected: an interesting, important and incredibly helpful book. The work perfectly illustrates Jon's brilliance, learning, wisdom and compassion." ~ *James A. Beverley*, Research Professor, Tyndale University, Toronto, Ontario. Associate Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion, Woodway, Texas "In the years I have sought to undo the abuses of extremist authoritarian sects and other controlling relationships, I have been one of many voices asking, "Isn't there anything we can do to prevent all this harm in the first place?" For a number of reasons, answering that question always proved harder than asking it. As more years have passed the techniques of propaganda, destructive manipulation, and predatory influence, once most often associated with totalist sects, now have penetrated into all areas of life. "In this edition of his book _Opening Our Minds_, Jon Atack gives us clear insights and precision tools for protecting ourselves and our society from these exploitative techniques. He does this not merely by describing the current landscape of coercion, control, and harm, but by exposing the underlying principles by which our minds are vulnerable. In doing this, Jon also shows us how to equip ourselves to recognize and resist manipulation in all its disguises. "This book has been on my "must-read" booklist for members, ex-members, and their families since it was first published under the title, _Opening Minds._ This new edition will remain there." ~ *Christian Szurko*, DialogCentre UK "Opening Minds" by Jon Atack is an excellent guide for those people who want to understand what cultic mind control is, how it functions, and how not to become a victim of it. The book is clear, witty and deep at the same time. The author shows incredible erudition in many areas and possesses a rare gift of explaining difficult matters in a very simple and understandable way. I especially want to commend the language - concise and elegant. Bravo, Jon!" ~ *Professor Alexander Dvorkin* "Jon Atack's book is an important wake-up call for us all. I work with people who have survived authoritarian groups and strongly recommend it to all survivors of human predators, and to their loved ones and the counselors who support them. "Jon not only explains how human predators operate and why they are so successful, he also shows why we are all vulnerable to persuasion and trickery. It is important to know that acknowledging this makes us less vulnerable and increases our ability to help others who have been victimized. "Jon is a truly gifted writer and has made this complex subject accessible to those who need it the most." ~ *Frances Peters*, counselor and cult expert. "Jon has written a classic. He uses story-telling effectively to bring the book to life. _Opening Our Minds_ orients the reader and provides an understandable framework for how our minds work, and how intelligent and functional people can become victims of undue influence. "It will help you understand unethical influence in a wide variety of contexts including cults, parental alienation, terrorist recruitment, and more. Consider buying copies to donate to your local library, mental health professionals, politicians, and educators. "Hopefully, this book will be translated in all languages and it will serve as a foundation to create global awareness about how humans can be deceived, manipulated, and enslaved so we can protect human rights everywhere." ~ *Steven Hassan*, PhD, director of Freedom of Mind and author of _Combating Cult Mind Control_. TABLE OF CONTENTS before we begin introduction by Alan Scheflin 1 the web of influence 2 recruitment and seduction: the way to unhappiness 3 belonging 4 cults in our mist 5 manufacturing fanatics 6 belonging and susceptibility to coercive control 7 groupthink 8 coercive control at work 9 the mind's "I": conscious and identity 10 the imitation game: from copying to compliance 11 life is a pitch (and then you buy) 12 coercive control: the science and the law 13 the evidence for coercive control 14 from child abuse to college hazing 15 the human predator 16 understanding the past to find the way forward 17 bringing the living back to life: from groupthink to courageous followership appendix A appendix B appendic C afterword acknowledgements about the author references [i will be splitting references and including them at the bottom of each email.] # before we begin Human predators roam among us. Although there aren't many of them, they have a tremendous influence. To them, the rest of us are prey. Predators manipulate their prey using well-tried tricks. Once you know these tricks, it is much easier to avoid them or to stop them in their tracks. Every bad relationship, every destructive group, every dangerous government has a human predator at its heart. Predators rely upon persuasion. In honest persuasion, we have access to all of the facts - and different opinions about those facts - and enough time and privacy to consider these facts and opinions. But then there is the type of persuasion used by predators, which is simply manipulation. To manipulate means to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner.[1] Facts are hidden or distorted, and we are rushed into decisions that take away our own authority and harm our interests. Predators cause upset, conflict, corruption and devastation. By seeing through their methods, we can take power away from human predators and have a much greater chance to overcome the problems they cause in our personal and group relationships. Here is a quick description of the human predator: Human predators: - are mean. - are utterly selfish. - pretend friendship and love but feel absolutely nothing for others. - are charming and good at flattery, but don't mean a single word of it. - brag and boast and make up outrageous lies. When challenged, they blame others. - don't feel anxiety or fear - or are deeply anxious and cowardly. - are impulsive and easily bored. They demand thrills and take dangerous risks. They enjoy pushing others into taking dangerous risks, too. - are bullies with explosive tempers. - are cunning and manipulative. - enjoy humiliating people. - weaken people with insults and putdowns. - hate it if anyone else has power or is praised. For the predator, life is a competition and they want to WIN. - lie easily and think nothing of breaking a promise. - are without conscience: they do not feel remorse or guilt. - often boast about the harm they've done other people. - are parasites and lazy, living off others, giving as little as possible in return. - are control freaks, stopping others from taking control of anything if they can. - force petty rules on others - rules that are impossible to follow. - boast about tricking other people and breaking the law. This book will show you how to deal with predators and how to make society safe from their tricks and traps. # introduction The most precious and personal part of every person is her or her own mind. No one else ever sees it, or knows exactly what it is thinking or feeling. It is our most sacred possession because it houses our innermost identity. It defines for us precisely who we are, and who we are not. We can hide the truth from others, but not from ourselves. Or so we think. But our mind, like our body, needs nourishment. Other people feed our mind with thoughts, suggestions, comments and ideas. We choose which ones to accept and which ones to reject. And we feel confident that we are good at doing so. But are we? To be good at protecting our minds we must be familiar with the tactics and strategies that may be used by others to outmaneuver our natural protections and defenses. You can see a punch coming, but not a carefully crafted lie or a manipulation strategy, unless you are trained to look. The greatest threat to the autonomy of our mind is from people who seek to influence it for their own best interests, but present themselves as our friends and helpers. Every one of us has great confidence in our ability to protect ourselves from other people acting in ways that would harm our own best interests. We have faith that we have a strong mind, have good "crap detectors" and are not easily influenced. I call this "The Myth of the Unmalleable Mind." As kids are fond of saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." But they can. For the last 60 years I have studied how people can be fooled, seduced, altered and injured by con artists with exquisite expertise in mental manipulation. I have journeyed through Soviet, Chinese, Korean and American government programs to mentally enslave citizens and enemies, and private cultic groups around the world that have millions of devout follows. I have studied the tactics of advertisers and marketing specialists, the techniques of police interrogators, the dark literature of the antisocial uses of hypnosis, and the exquisite artistry of rhetoric and persuasion. During this journey I encoutered Jon Atack and found a fellow traveler, and a friend. My journey has been as a research scholar; Jon's journey began by being a victim. After he freed himself from the clutches of a cultic group, he chose to make saving others his life's work. There are very few "warriors of the mind." Jon is one of the best. In this book, Jon has written a handbook for mental integrity. A botanist studies what insects and pests can harm plants and flowers. Jon has provided us with a handbook for protecting the mind from often invisible forces seeking surreptitiously to undermine freedom of thought. One of the fastest growing areas of law is the expansion of protection for victims of mental assault. British and American law for over 500 years has recognized that it is a violation to act towards another person with undue influence. The cases, however, usually involved older people conned out of their life savings by dishonest caretakers. These cases involve _financial_ harm. Within the last twenty years, however, courts and legislatures have recognized that undue influence can also include _mental_ harm. New laws now widen the protections available for people injured by mind manipulators. The need for such laws demonstrates how serious the problem has become. Lord Thomas Robert Dewar once observed that "minds are like parachutes; they only function when open." This book is a manual for keeping your mind open. If you want to make your body strong, go to a gym. If you want to make your mind stronger, pay close attention to what this book tells you. Not only will you learn how to spot and avoid threats to your mental integrity, you will also have the pleasure of reading a very fine book. ~Alan Scheflin, professor emeritus of law Alan Scheflin holds a BA in philosophy (with high honors), a JD in law (with honors), an LLM in law, and an MA in counseling psychology. He is the co-author of _The Mind Manipulators_ (1978) and _Trance on Trial_ (1989) and many others. He has also published over 70 articles, and is the recipient of 18 awards from various professional organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He has been a consultant in, or appeared as an expert witness in, dozens of legal cases. # references 1: Dictionary.com
# 1 ## THE WEB OF INFLUENCE "When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer." ~ Stevie Wonder, Superstition. It doesn't matter how smart you are. Anyone can be taken in by a human predator. Even an expert on influence. ### you are not a gentleman I was barely awake when the phone rang. The urgent voice at the other end of the line claimed that Microsoft had found a serious problem with my computer. The caller insisted that I log in, immediately: otherwise, the malware would destroy my machine and everything on it. He sounded deeply concerned. I tapped in the letters as he dictated them. A list of over a thousand errors and warnings scrolled down the screen. Yes, I had noticed that the computer had been slowing down. Yes, so many error messages were indeed worrying. "You see," he said, "your computer is about to die." I was having a little difficulty making out his accent; I was concentrating on understanding, rather than on the significance of the call itself. But I was beginning to wake up. "Did you say you're with Microsoft?" I asked. "No, we're partners. We're Microsoft certified. Look on your screen." Sure enough, there was a window with "Microsoft Gold Certified" right there, on the screen. Again, he insisted that my computer would die, _today_, if I did not let him install software to quarantine the many infections. A new window flashed on the screen for £149 (about $200), he would save my computer, and the protection would last for a year, but for another hundred pounds, if I bought the software immediately -- today -- he would extend the protection to five years. "How do I know that you're Microsoft certified?" I asked, stifling a yawn. "Look at your screen," he responded. "Yes, but you can put whatever you want on the screen. Who can I contact at Microsoft, in the UK?" The address for Microsoft in London flashed on the screen. "But the London office won't know who we are," he said. "How did you get my number?" I asked. "If you don't do this right now, your computer will die. What difference does it make to me? I'm paid my salary whether you take my advice or not. I don't work for a commission. You'll lose everything on your computer. It's no skin off my nose." "How did you get my number?" I asked again. "You are not a gentleman!" he said. "I'm trying to help you." He sounded genuinely frustrated. "Hang on a minute," I said. "I won't let you call me names just because I want to be sure your offer is genuine." "It's no skin off my nose," he repeated. "I want to talk to your supervisor," I said. The supervisor came on the line and apologized for the slur. He then repeated the assertion that my computer would die, and I would lose everything on it, if I didn't act _immediately_. "Listen. We'll do the work for free. If you're happy, you can pay us. If not, you can simply walk away without paying a penny." I put the phone down as my computer went through various changes before my eyes. I called my brother Jim. "Switch your machine off, immediately," he urged. "It's a scam. Several of my friends have been caught by it. They leave ransom-ware on the machine, so every few months, you have to buy new add-ons to repair it." I had already pulled the plug. The phone rang again. It was the supervisor. "You've dropped your Internet connection. You are not a gentleman!" "I _am_ a gentleman and _you_ are a scam artist. A criminal." He wanted to argue the point. I hung up. Luckily, my son Ben is a computer expert and later that day he cleaned the machine thoroughly. "Watch out for any pop-ups," he recommended. I have spent a lifetime studying tricks and scams. I can recite the litany of names used by experts to describe these manipulative methods. And yet, I almost fell for this rather obvious confidence trick. There are even web pages warning about this particular company. I didn't buy the fake fix, and no ransomware was left in my computer. I've never sent money to a Nigerian offering to share his inheritance with me if I just give him a few dollars so he can collect. I have never sent a "registration fee" to collect my winnings from the Dutch lottery. When a gorgeous Malaysian girl claimed to lust after my aging body, I did realize it was a scam (though only after exchanging emails for a couple of hours). It is not just the Internet that is rife with scams. Trickery is an aspect of human nature, and it reaches back long before the advent of the worldwide web. Indeed, some students of animal behavior say say that lying is the first stage in the evolution of intelligence. Californian jays have been observed pretending to bury food, and then quickly concealing their actual stash, while their rivals scrabble about in the false hiding place. Pride does indeed come before a fall. If there is one lesson that we should all learn, and relearn, as often as necessary, it is that no one is invulnerable to persuasion. Not even those of us who make it our life's work. Indeed _it is confidence in our invulnerability that make us so vulnerable_. Despite decades of immersion in the world of tricksters, I, too, can still be charmed, cajoled, and led like a lamb to the slaughter. Years ago, I finished my interview with a teenager who had escaped from a notorious authoritarian group only weeks before. He grinned and said, "The great thing is, Jon, that we'll _never_ be conned again." I shook my head, "No, the great is that I realize I'm gullible. And that's my only defense. Whenever I'm brimming over with enthusiasm and ready to reach for my wallet, I try to stop myself and analyze the evidence. Sometimes that saves me money and embarrassment." A few years ago, when Amazon contact me to say I'd won a thousand pounds in their Wishlist lottery, I didn't believe it. And the disbelief did me no harm; it actually made it sweeter when the credit appeared in my account. ### the fraudster's sales kit The phone fraudster -- and his colleagues in a boiler room somewhere in Kolkata or Delhi -- went through a tried-and-tested script that exploited normal feelings and responses. First he created fear: your machine will die. _Emotional pressure always reduces the capacity to reason_. Language can be crafted to direct us away from thinking: psychologists have found that certain words and phrases can bypass our reasoning processes altogether -- "buy now", "new and improved", "for a limited time only" and "every penny counts", for instance. Next, he created a sense of urgency: he wanted me to act immediately, so that I would have no time to think. This is the "buy now" mechanism, which slips past reasoning. When we are buying anything -- from computer software or a second-hand car, to a business training program, to a new religion -- it is important to take our time. This mechanism is recognized legally in some countries, where there is a "cooling off" period in which you can cancel a contract to fit double-glazing or anything else you have been pressured into buying. _If you must "buy now," don't buy at all_. A good scam artist creates rapport. Here the phone scammer failed. He was too urgent, and he was rude. Often as not, when challenged, tricksters protest too much. How could I doubt his word? This is actually a way of generating rapport in reverse. He was suggesting that we had made a connection and that I had violated it by distrusting him. Whenever I hear the phrase: "You can trust me," a voice in my mind whispers: "You can trust me; I'm a con artist." a fraudster's sales kit - inertia -- keep them going in the right direction - emotional pressure -- turn on the heat! - urgency -- don't give them time to think - rapport -- act like a friend and they'll trust you - consistency -- if you can get 'em once... - flocking -- "everybody's doing it!" - scarcity -- "supplies are limited!" - reciprocity -- "let me give you something in return" Rapport is an essential aspect of sales and recruitment. We are far more likely to buy from someone who has become a friend. Instant friendship is almost always a trap. Real friendship takes more than one meeting, just as love at first sight is often simply a matter of psychological projection. We find what we are searching for in the other person, whether it is there or not, because _expectation conditions experience_.
From rapport comes _authority_. We believe our friends, but we also believe people who agree with us, and share our view of the world. Flattery usually works very well at creating rapport, and when someone has shown us that they have the discernment to appreciate our superior qualities, we are open to their opinions about other matters, too.
Once we have sent the first few dollars to the Nigerian heir, the Dutch lottery official or the gorgeous young Malaysian woman, the next tranche of cash comes more easily. Against the protests of her family, on seventy-year-old squandered her every last cent -- some $300,000 -- on a telephone scammer. She lost her home and ended her days on welfare, after alienating her whole family. The power of persuasion is far greater than we like to admit.[2] Once we have committed to a course of action, we tend to continue. It is the inertia of "throwing good money after bad," which is also known as the _sunk cost fallacy_. Once we've decided on a course of action, we tend to keep following it down the slippery slope. Psychologist Robert Cialdini calls this _consistency_ or _commitment_.[3] Scammers attack the most generous part of our nature. They are like vultures looking out for the kindest people. Somehow by continuing to fund the Nigerian's lifestyle, we believe that everything will work out. History is littered with such scams. ### fraudsters in history In the early eighteenth century, the Mississippi Company, owned by the French Royal Bank, offered investors the chance to make enormous rewards by buying shares in the new Louisiana Territories in America. The currency of France came to depend on the illusory trade of this company. Many French people lost everything they owned to the fraudulent Mississippi Company, and the French currency collapsed. At the same time, British investors were gulled into buying shares in the South Sea Bubble. The Panama Canal scam bankrupted invetstors in the Victorian era. Clever, wealthy and accomplished people lost everything. [here is an illustration that appears identical to the illustration at this url: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Memoirs_of_Extraordinary_Popular_Delusio... ] A contemporary illustration showing investors in the South Sea Bubble falling like over-ripe fruit into the sea Dishonest dealings also featured in the Wall Street Crash that precipitated the Great Depression in the 1930s. Share prices were inflated in an ever-increasing spiral. With the Crash, the banks, which had poured investors' money into this illusion, were forced to foreclose on mortgages; property prices collapsed. Later on, the same trickery happened on a grand scale with the banking crash of 2008. Bankers really believed that they could package up "sub-prime" debts and so give them value. So, property mortgages were offered to people who had no chance of making the payments. Two economists were awarded Nobel prizes for "proving" that the economy would never collapse again. Trillions of dollars leached out of the economy because of this fanciful belief. Once the mind is convinced, it continues in the same direction -- _inertia_, the commitment of consistency, bedevils human belief. This highlights another innate problem of such scams: if other people flock to invest, we will be tempted to follow suit. This pattern of jumping on the bandwagon is sometimes called _social proof_ or _flocking_. Any examination of history shows that people can be brought to believe almost anything. At the extreme, this _flocking_ behavior led Germans and Austrians to vote away the right to vote and put all power in the hands of a skinny, average-height, dark-haired Austrian, who proclaimed the era of the muscled, tall, blond, Aryan superman. Fifty million people died in the aftermath of this group delusion. Hitler refused to end the war, costing another million lives, because he believed that his followers deserved to die, because they had failed him. _There is no safety in numbers when it comes to belief, and joining the crowd quite often leads to catastrophe._ ### scarcity and reciprocity Throughout history, _scarcity_ is another often-used aspect of confidence trickery. This can be the insistence that we "buy now" (or the computer will die) or the precious rarity of a "limited edition" of 10,000 coins, postage stamps, or porcelain mice. We also tend to feel obliged to give something in return. Charities will send a free ballpoint pen, a couple of cardboard table coaster, or some nametags along with a request for donations. This is the _reciprocity principle_. The supervisor who almost managed to scam me said he would fix my computer for free, and I should only pay if I was satisfied. The truth is that many people will pay up, after this seemingly friendly gesture, which is simply another way of building rapport. Then your computer will crash, and you'll be forced to buy the "add-ons". Now we turn to the methods used by scammers, recruiters, radicalizers and pick-up artists to slide past our defenses and sell us anything from a time-share to a belief system. # references and recommended reading 2: Pratkanis & Shadel, _Weapons of Fraud_, AARP, Seatle, 2005. 3: Robert Cialdini, _Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion_, Harper, NY 2007
# 2 ## recruitment and seduction: the way to unhappiness "The saddest thing about any man, is that he be ignorant, and the most exciting thing is that he knows." ~ King Alfred the Great The process of coercive control follows a predictable series of steps. First comes _contact_. This will either happen in person or through advertising, which comes in many forms: flyers, posters, mailings, books, media ads and articles are all used by authoritarian groups to lure new recruits. Many groups use street recruiters, and most have their own publications; some, including Scientology, have hired professional advertising agencies to refine their approach.[4] Public relations experts speak of interruption as the first step. They make contact by distracting your attention. The Moonies and, more recently, militant Salafi Islamists, approach college freshmen. Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and LaRouchies knock on doors. The LaRouchies -- followers of the late trickster Lyndon LaRouche -- also use obituary columns to target grieving widows and widowers. Pseudo-Buddhist groups, such as the New Kadampa Tradition, have latched on to the craze for Mindfulness and use this in their pitch. Contrary to popular myth, authoritarian groups seek competent recruits. Anyone with significant physical or mental problems, including drug or alcohol addiction, will be weeded out at the outset. There may also be certain groups that are not targeted -- Scientology, for instance, avoids gay people, journalists, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, disabled people and communists. Authoritarian groups can and do recruit intelligent people. Many followers are idealists, convinced that they are working towards a better world. Studies show that authoritarian group members are often middle-class and fairly well-educated.[5] They have higher than average IQs and perfectly normal personality profiles. Authoritarian group members do not present with any more emotional or psychiatric problems than the normal population. The same is true of terrorists. Detailed surveys of several terrorist groups have shown that member show little difference from the general population for mental illness, except for their practice of the anti-social beliefs of the group.[6] Once contact is made, _rapport_ is developed. The recruiter looks for common ground, agreement on cultural, political or religious biases. In Scientology, this is called the "reality factor". The intention is to create a friendly atmosphere. An Al-Qaeda manual cautions the recruiter, "Don't criticize the candidate's behavior. Thank him for any help, even if it is just a little. Caution: don't disregard his opinion or his manner of thinking, but let him express his opinion even if it opposes yours ... Be close to him in order to get to know more about his character."[7] Krishnas handed out joss sticks and then asked for a donation, which follows the _principle of reciprocity_. One of my friends startled a Krishna recruiter by refusing either to make a donation or to return the recording of Temple songs he had just been given. Most people simply reached into their pockets and overpaid for the few pennies' worth of "Spiritual Sky" joss sticks. This approach is like a fishing lure -- a bright object to attract attention. Moonies sold candy and flowers on the street, at vastly exaggerated prices. Scientologists offer a "free" personality test. There is no such thing as a free lunch; there is also no such thing as a free personality test. By answering the 200-question test, you volunteer private information, and grant authority to the tester. The test was the work of Ray Kemp, a merchant seaman with no training in psychological testing. It is called the "Oxford Capacity Analysis" to give it a ring of authority (Kemp had no affiliation with Oxford University). Recruitment checklist - contact - reciprocity and rapport - flattery - test resistance to group - push fear of worsening - elicit confession to gain authority (recruit following directions from here down) - show understanding and sympathy - bring to a peak experience - demand testimonials to reinforce consistency - induce guilt, phobias, and disgust The prospective recruit will be _flattered_ -- called "love bombing" by the Moonies. Your appearance, beliefs or talents will be praised to the skies. Rapport is built and a false friendship is created. Recruiters see nothing wrong in this trickery, because it is believed to be for the greater good and it raises their own status in the group. Moonies speak of "heavenly deception". For the recruiter, it is another statistic, which will lead to praise from the group, just like a salesperson selling another car. Recruits, however, feel as if they have made a new friend, someone who resonates with their existing beliefs. By the time they realize that the recruiter was simply agreeing to be agreeable -- and make a sale -- it may be too late to retreat. ### the buy-in Any _resistance_ to the group is then tested, unless the group represents itself under a false name (the Moonies have dozens of front groups, and refrain from mentioning that they are a "religion" at first contact). Scientologists are taught to dismiss media reports by saying that the media is untrustworthy: "You can't believe anything you read in the papers". Not one person _ever_ disagreed with me when I used this line -- such is the level of public distrust of the media. _Once rapport has been established, the recruiter will seek out the most significant difficulty in the recruit's life._ In Scientology, this is called the "ruin": "What is ruining your life?" If the preceding steps have been followed closely, _most_ people will offer up even their most secret troubles. Unless they've been hurt before by exposing their secrets, most people welcome sympathy for their problems. It is surprising how willing people are to share their deepest longings with complete strangers, as if there is a need to confess; this confession deepens rapport. Scientology recruiters then push the target into _"fear of worsening"_. The recruit is exploited to feel discouraged about the "ruin". "I'm sure you've tried everything, but nothing has worked." __Confession_ of troubles usually shifts the recruiter into a position of superiority, of authority._ The recruit will be willing to follow directions from this point, almost like Pavlov's dogs, which salivated when a bell was rung, because they had learned to associate the sound with the offer of food. Next, the recruiter will use the information from this confession to demonstrate that the recruit desperately needs the group to achieve positive change; Scientology recruiters call this step _"bringing to understanding"_. Sales manuals suggest that a story be made up to show sympathy: "I know a guy who had exactly the same problem. He took a few of our courses and everything started to work out for him." The "understanding" is that the group can solve whatever problem is presented -- whether it is romantic, financial, work-related or spiritual -- anything and everything can be resolved by the offered course, counseling or study program, so the recruiter has no difficulty in inventing a supporting story: the ends justify the deceptive means. Various tricks can be used to convince a new recruit. Indeed, the process of recruitment can begin by creating a euphoric or peak experience. Simply focusing attention can bring about a euphoric or high state. This creates a state of awe, which is found in the love at first sight, or infatuation (also called limerence). Awe can bring about a belief in the authority of the person who introduces it. _There are five routes to awe: vastness, beauty, skill, celebrity, and inexplicable events._ The view from a mountain ridge or a vast night sky, the beauty of a painting or landscape, the skill of a craftsman, the allure of a film star, or an event that baffles us can all cause an elevated state, in which we find it more difficult to reason, so are more easily influenced. Tricksters often use inexplicable events to capture a recruit. The event is presented as a miracle or a transcendent state. The trickster then seems to have special knowledge and may be seen as an expert about everything.[8] They have achieved authority over the recruit which can extend to every aspect of their lives. The first course, seminar, or workshop will continue the love-bombing, while often using a hypnotic technique to bring about a peak experience. Given a long enough duration, any form of repetition, mimicry or fixation can lead to a euphoric altered state. Chanting, drumming, group singing, visual fixation -- as in meditation or mindfulness -- repetition of a word or phrase ("mantra meditation"), repeated movements, such as rocking or "davening", shaking, or walking meditations, all lead to an altered state. It is easy to mistake the feeling of euphoria for psychological or spiritual progress. But just because we feel high doesn't mean that we've actually achieved beneficial change -- as any cocaine addict can testify. Most people in western society are unfamiliar with the effects of eastern meditation, so they are delighted and surprised by the sense of wellbeing that floods them. Almost every former member of an authoritarian group that I've talked with had an initial peak experience and spent the remainder of their time in the group trying -- and failing -- to repeat it. It is likely that the peak experience is simply a release of dopamine or serotonin. These neurochemicals are the "reward" system of the brain, and are released during sex and by alcohol and drug use. In a group setting, surrounded by approving people, carefully designed techniques can lead to a powerful high in the new recruit. Yuval Laor has defined the fervent attachment brought about by manipulating awe.[9] Testimonials are demanded for _reinforcement_. In Scientology these are called "success stories" [stopped here and sent document. in the last book club for this book, the author came in to speak and answer questions. i recorded this in my poor quality manner to arweave. i haven't tested the download (or if i have forgot), but it looks like the data is supposed to be below $ cat zAXcl1NxJ3BunzDRAE-95EECu3PQq--8kt0tg5OUCGk {"ditem": ["jJ6CqX-8HShDuPx9N04qE70YDLvbyQfD8rTSqk774j4"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132045407} $ curl -L https://arweave.net/jJ6CqX-8HShDuPx9N04qE70YDLvbyQfD8rTSqk774j4 [[6561, {"ditem": ["377rcyj4P35wCcPNaytq0X8Hc8q7ygbDnjDTzguQIsk"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697131870689}, 0, 657821047], [81, {"ditem": ["5CjgPuf2OaQSTGgdpvS254dPsIgOH0skXR6IjNTl-gI"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697131935296}, 657821047, 4220597], [81, {"ditem": ["zY3avoT3ER9FOd5tdyaCSlHzgTzIgcJJSU041egFEl8"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697131995739}, 662041644, 3964274], [27, {"ditem": ["3TxR1vwMCxDxgVdRb-miQl9eDPYzbSsUtM0qPc43_uU"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132015654}, 666005918, 1308560], [27, {"ditem": ["QzcfpNE3tStnC0_KY32IliqmXt1DH9XrfbJPgttRmhw"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132036311}, 667314478, 1946232], [9, {"ditem": ["AP_3vQaTfOTsU_X3MHZPgqzwvUmfTKqzcm40UNOPo0U"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132043795}, 669260710, 868217], [1, {"ditem": ["CBsWMOB-nmrJDeR2Fh0qjEeJ16mUSWMLW1g09s0d8o0"], "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132044649}, 670128927, 107993], [-1, {"capture": {"ditem": ["wABtTCPMPUu73E0cD4D-E-m9dn50oDhtalw9NMODzZE", "at-YfEMWSv1DBrZCxguIDot4BOUjGCFclrkvgXK4lH4", "VkTyzRHu-OBXorSD-wMmD5QeQmiadgU3_6IlrN-YgX0", "GFk-TY8ug5GQrowTQ7LuNbq7rvo9JjcDOYYXxi_agJE"], "time": [1697132043.9408221, 1697132044.1202533, 1697132044.1204848, 1697132044.3197477]}, "min_block": [1280214, "1FIh9R7GHi-Uvyg05z97htdtxLq4Sk72vEG_SXQPM12_495Sw83jbpIlzt2s1gDL"], "api_timestamp": 1697132045098, "dropped": null}, 670236920, 104825]] ] # references 4: The Hill and Knowlton agency and Jack Trout have been on the Scientology payroll. 5: Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, _op._ _cit._ While "cult" groups in western society tend to consist of educated seekers, this is not true of popular movements, from football hooligans and gangs, to the grass roots support for Nazism. In the US, Identity Christians do not fit the profile of other more sophisticated groups, either. Groups such as the Watchtower Society -- or Jehovah's Witnesses -- restrict education for their members, and actively recruit from prison populations. 6: "the outstanding common characteristic of terrorists is their normality," Martha Crenshaw (1981 study of the Algerian FLN), "terrorists do not show any striking psychopathology," McCauley and Segal (1987) cited by Jerold M. Post, _Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World_, New York, 2004, p.128; see also Marc Sageman, _Understanding Terror Networks_, Philadelphia, 2004; Anne Speckhard & Khapta Ahkmedova, _The Making of a Martyr: Chechen Suicide Terrorism_, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Volume 29, Issue 5, pgs. 1-65. 2006: See also Ariel Merari, _Driven to Death_ (OUP, 2010), and https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201602_clat_policy_paper_1_v2.pdf which estimates mental illness at 27% in the normal population and 35% in terrorists 7: _A Course in the art of Recruiting_, Abu Amru Al Qa'idy 8: Yuval Laor, PhD thesis, _The Religious Ape_. 9: _ibid_. See also Yuval's work on our jon atack, family and friends YouTube channel
# 2
### the buy-in
Any _resistance_ to the group is then tested, unless the group represents itself under a false name (the Moonies have dozens of front groups, and refrain from mentioning that they are a "religion" at first contact). Scientologists are taught to dismiss media reports by saying that the media is untrustworthy: "You can't believe anything you read in the papers". Not one person _ever_ disagreed with me when I used this line -- such is the level of public distrust of the media.
_Once rapport has been established, the recruiter will seek out the most significant difficulty in the recruit's life._ In Scientology, this is called the "ruin": "What is ruining your life?" If the preceding steps have been followed closely, _most_ people will offer up even their most secret troubles. Unless they've been hurt before by exposing their secrets, most people welcome sympathy for their problems. It is surprising how willing people are to share their deepest longings with complete strangers, as if there is a need to confess; this confession deepens rapport.
Scientology recruiters then push the target into _"fear of worsening"_. The recruit is exploited to feel discouraged about the "ruin". "I'm sure you've tried everything, but nothing has worked." __Confession_ of troubles usually shifts the recruiter into a position of superiority, of authority._ The recruit will be willing to follow directions from this point, almost like Pavlov's dogs, which salivated when a bell was rung, because they had learned to associate the sound with the offer of food.
Next, the recruiter will use the information from this confession to demonstrate that the recruit desperately needs the group to achieve positive change; Scientology recruiters call this step _"bringing to understanding"_. Sales manuals suggest that a story be made up to show sympathy: "I know a guy who had exactly the same problem. He took a few of our courses and everything started to work out for him." The "understanding" is that the group can solve whatever problem is presented -- whether it is romantic, financial, work-related or spiritual -- anything and everything can be resolved by the offered course, counseling or study program, so the recruiter has no difficulty in inventing a supporting story: the ends justify the deceptive means.
Various tricks can be used to convince a new recruit. Indeed, the process of recruitment can begin by creating a euphoric or peak experience. Simply focusing attention can bring about a euphoric or high state.
This creates a state of awe, which is found in the love at first sight, or infatuation (also called limerence). Awe can bring about a belief in the authority of the person who introduces it.
_There are five routes to awe: vastness, beauty, skill, celebrity, and inexplicable events._ The view from a mountain ridge or a vast night sky, the beauty of a painting or landscape, the skill of a craftsman, the allure of a film star, or an event that baffles us can all cause an elevated state, in which we find it more difficult to reason, so are more easily influenced.
Tricksters often use inexplicable events to capture a recruit. The event is presented as a miracle or a transcendent state. The trickster then seems to have special knowledge and may be seen as an expert about everything.[8] They have achieved authority over the recruit which can extend to every aspect of their lives.
The first course, seminar, or workshop will continue the love-bombing, while often using a hypnotic technique to bring about a peak experience. Given a long enough duration, any form of repetition, mimicry or fixation can lead to a euphoric altered state. Chanting, drumming, group singing, visual fixation -- as in meditation or mindfulness -- repetition of a word or phrase ("mantra meditation"), repeated movements, such as rocking or "davening", shaking, or walking meditations, all lead to an altered state. It is easy to mistake the feeling of euphoria for psychological or spiritual progress. But just because we feel high doesn't mean that we've actually achieved beneficial change -- as any cocaine addict can testify.
Most people in western society are unfamiliar with the effects of eastern meditation, so they are delighted and surprised by the sense of wellbeing that floods them. Almost every former member of an authoritarian group that I've talked with had an initial peak experience and spent the remainder of their time in the group trying -- and failing -- to repeat it. It is likely that the peak experience is simply a release of dopamine or serotonin. These neurochemicals are the "reward" system of the brain, and are released during sex and by alcohol and drug use. In a group setting, surrounded by approving people, carefully designed techniques can lead to a powerful high in the new recruit. Yuval Laor has defined the fervent attachment brought about by manipulating awe.[9]
Testimonials are demanded for _reinforcement_. In Scientology these are called "success stories"
Testimonials are demanded for _reinforcement_. In Scientology these are called "success stories". This reinforces _consistency_: the more publicly and loudly you commit to a technique or experience, the more difficult it will be to repudiate it later. People trying to stop smoking are advised to tell all of their friends that they have given up, because, under the consistency principle, it will make it harder to admit defeat and light another cigarette. We all suffer from _confirmation_ or _myside bias_, where we justify our actions and dismiss anything that disagrees with our beliefs. There is a quality of inertia to all human activity; we keep going in the direction we're travelling. Delivering a testimonial reinforces the sense of belonging and further confirms our bias. Often, members will be encouraged to confess their former sinful lives in front of the group. By humbling themselves in this way, people give ever more power to the group. Members come to believe that everything good can be attributed to the group's practices, and everything bad is their own fault. This brings us to _groupthink_, a normal aspect of human psychology. _Induction of guilt_ is a part of this, but the group will also induce phobias and disgust towards out-groups and critics. _As Hitler said: create an enemy to bind a group together._ Often, as we shall now see, we simply follow the herd because we want to belong. ## recommended material: Steven Hassan, _Combating Cult Mind Control_ Yuval Laor, _Belief and Fervor_ on YouTube
# references
4: The Hill and Knowlton agency and Jack Trout have been on the Scientology payroll.
5: Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, _op._ _cit._ While "cult" groups in western society tend to consist of educated seekers, this is not true of popular movements, from football hooligans and gangs, to the grass roots support for Nazism. In the US, Identity Christians do not fit the profile of other more sophisticated groups, either. Groups such as the Watchtower Society -- or Jehovah's Witnesses -- restrict education for their members, and actively recruit from prison populations.
6: "the outstanding common characteristic of terrorists is their normality," Martha Crenshaw (1981 study of the Algerian FLN), "terrorists do not show any striking psychopathology," McCauley and Segal (1987) cited by Jerold M. Post, _Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World_, New York, 2004, p.128; see also Marc Sageman, _Understanding Terror Networks_, Philadelphia, 2004; Anne Speckhard & Khapta Ahkmedova, _The Making of a Martyr: Chechen Suicide Terrorism_, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Volume 29, Issue 5, pgs. 1-65. 2006: See also Ariel Merari, _Driven to Death_ (OUP, 2010), and https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201602_clat_policy_paper_1_v2.pdf which estimates mental illness at 27% in the normal population and 35% in terrorists
7: _A Course in the art of Recruiting_, Abu Amru Al Qa'idy
8: Yuval Laor, PhD thesis, _The Religious Ape_.
9: _ibid_. See also Yuval's work on our jon atack, family and friends YouTube channel
# 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.
participants (1)
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Undescribed Horrific Abuse, One Victim & Survivor of Many