[Vision2020] Characteristics of Manipulative Leaders
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Sun, 22 Feb 2004 16:49:04 EST
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Visionaries:
"The following statements, compiled by Dr. Michael Langone, editor of Cultic
Studies Journal, often characterize manipulative groups. Comparing these
statements to the group with which you or a family member is involved may help you
determine if this involvement is cause for concern. Keep in mind that this
checklist is meant to stimulate thought, not "diagnose" groups."
<http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm>
The group is focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display
excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment.
The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
The group is preoccupied with making money.
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues,
denunciation sessions, debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts
about the group and its leader(s).
The leadership dictates sometimes in great detail how members should think,
act, and feel (for example: members must get permission from leaders to date,
change jobs, get married; leaders may prescribe what types of clothes to wear,
where to live, how to discipline children, and so forth).
The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its
leader(s), and members (for example: the leader is considered the Messiah or an
avatar; the group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity).
The group has a polarized us- versus-them mentality, which causes conflict
with the wider society.
The group's leader is not accountable to any authorities (as are, for
example, military commanders and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream
denominations).
The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify means
that members would have considered unethical before joining the group (for
example: collecting money for bogus charities).
The leadership induces guilt feelings in members in order to control them.
Members' subservience to the group causes them to cut ties with family and
friends, and to give up personal goals and activities that were of interest
before joining the group.
Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group.
Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other
group members."
It is uncanny how closely these stipulations appear to be modeled on Christ
Church leadership, isn't it? My great hope is not just that ordinary V2020
readers notice it, but that lurking Kirkers will consider their current
situation.
Rose Huskey
Once you lose integrity everything else is easy.
(Thanks to Tom Trail for this wonderful quotation.)
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<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
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<DIV><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT=20=
size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font=
-family: Arial">Visionaries</SPAN>:</FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial=20=
size=3D3>"The following statements, compiled by </FONT><A title=3Dhttp://www=
.csj.org/infoserv_email/email_address_L.htm#Langone href=3D"http://www.csj.o=
rg/infoserv_email/email_address_L.htm#Langone"><STRONG><SPAN style=3D"FONT-F=
AMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#000080 size=3D3>Dr. Michael Lang=
one</FONT></SPAN></STRONG></A><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>, editor of <STRON=
G><SPAN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><A title=3Dhttp://www.csj.org/pub_csj=
/csj_home.htm href=3D"http://www.csj.org/pub_csj/csj_home.htm"><I><FONT colo=
r=3D#000080>Cultic Studies Journal</FONT></I></A></SPAN></STRONG>, often cha=
racterize manipulative groups. Comparing these statements to the group with=20=
which you or a family member is involved may help you determine if this invo=
lvement is cause for concern. Keep in mind that this checklist is meant to s=
timulate thought, not "diagnose" groups." <</FONT><A title=3Dhttp://www.c=
sj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm href=3D"http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cul=
t101/checklis.htm"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>http://www.csj.org/infoserv_c=
ult101/checklis.htm</FONT></A><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>><o:p></o=
:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The group is=20=
focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealo=
us, unquestioning commitment.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FA=
MILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>The group is preoccupied with bri=
nging in new members</FONT>. </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:=
p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The group is=20=
preoccupied with making money.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>Questioning,=20=
doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT=
></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>Mind-numbing=20=
techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation=20=
sessions, debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts about the=20=
group and its leader(s).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The leadershi=
p dictates <CITE><SPAN style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">sometimes in great det=
ail</SPAN></CITE> how members should think, act, and feel (for example: memb=
ers must get permission from leaders to date, change jobs, get married; lead=
ers may prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, how to disci=
pline children, and so forth).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The group is=20=
elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and m=
embers (for example: the leader is considered the Messiah or an avatar; the=20=
group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity).<o:p></o:p><=
/FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The group has=
a polarized us- versus-them mentality, which causes conflict with the wider=
society.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The group's l=
eader is not accountable to any authorities (as are, for example, military c=
ommanders and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream denominati=
ons).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The group tea=
ches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify means that members=20=
would have considered unethical before joining the group (for example: colle=
cting money for bogus charities).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>The leadershi=
p induces guilt feelings in members in order to control them.<o:p></o:p></FO=
NT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>Members' subs=
ervience to the group causes them to cut ties with family and friends, and t=
o give up personal goals and activities that were of interest before joining=
the group.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>Members are e=
xpected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group.<o:p></o:p></FONT>=
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D3>Members are e=
ncouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members=
."<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3> </FONT><=
/o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3D3></FONT></o:p></SPAN> <=
/P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>It is uncanny=20=
how closely these stipulations appear to be modeled on Christ Church leaders=
hip, isn't it? My great hope is not just that ordinary V2020 read=
ers notice it, but that lurking Kirkers will consider their current sit=
uation. </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3D3></FONT></o:p></SPAN> <=
/P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>Rose Huskey</F=
ONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT lang=3D0 size=3D3 P=
TSIZE=3D"12" FAMILY=3D"SERIF">Once you lose integrity everything else is eas=
y. </FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT lang=3D0 size=3D3 P=
TSIZE=3D"12" FAMILY=3D"SERIF">(Thanks to Tom Trail for this wonderful quotat=
ion.)</FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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