There is no doubt that Religion is a powerful toxic of the mind, as the emotional side of mankind in general has always struggled with trying to find an explanation to the origins of life and the world we live in. Recognized Religions are dangerous enough, in the sense that they are divisive, and pitch one set of believers against another, and are in themselves great mediums of political and social control, and war; however with the slow but inevitable collapse of recognized religion especially in Western Europe, the increase in access to information, culture, and with a strict enforcement of the principle of separation of Church and State, religious cults are more and more crawling into the minds of the more vulnerable and ignorant members of our societies, and are becoming a serious danger to constitutional democracies, and our personal liberty.

Christianity is a monotheistic religion which is based on an assimilation of Hellenic Judaism, Egyptian, Greek, Persian (Zoroastrianism) past religions creeds and on the teachings of the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth. Christians believe that Jesus, as the Son of God is part of the Trinity (God as three persons in one), the others being God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that Christianity fulfils Judaism (Pissing off the Jews). Most Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus to be the cornerstone of their faith. Protestant of-shoots of Christianity believe that salvation comes from the belief in God alone, whereas Catholic and Orthodox Christians belief that faith, combined with good works is required for salvation.

Christianity is generally broken into three branches: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Catholicism is the largest with over 1.2 billion adherents. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches split in the 11th century in an event called the Great Schism. Protestantism split from Roman Catholicism in in the 16th century in an event called the Protestant Reformation. From Protestantism have derived some of the most insidious and politically dangerous Christian cults:

New Born Christians

Evangelists

Baptists

Pentecostals

Presbyterians

Quakers

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Mormon

All of the above have been able to flourish over the years mostly in the US, where they have been able to use and manipulate the American legal system and a weak central Government, by pushing to the limits the Constitutional guarantees afforded to all American citizens. In Europe they have not been so successful because our legal systems and do not afford them the same rights as in the US and Freedom of Speech has its limits. Like their Islamic counterparts they all consider themselves supreme Religions within the parameters of detention of the absolute truth, and they all have as common goal the creation of a worldwide Religious Theocracy. Over the last 30 years they have slowly but surely infiltrated branches of the executive both at State and Federal level in the US, and of course special interest groups in Corporate America have recognized their potential of control on the populace and henceforth this alliance between Big Money and Religion Indoctrination.

It is also interesting to note that none of the above mentioned cults really take into account the basic tenets of Christianity, such as compassion, respect, helping of the weak, etc. All teachings that were also brought forward by the described actions and behaviour of the Christ by the Christian scribes; but on the contrary they bring forward messages of hate, intolerance, racisms, and do so in the name of the Christ.

Though other mainstream religions have their own cult none are more insidious as those that come from two of the three Abrahamic Religions and that is Islam and Christianity. Judaism has cults off course, but as Judaism doesn’t really proselytize like the other two I will not mention them here.  All from the outside can seem wonderful and very appealing to weak and the unwary. They promise to help you fulfil your dreams and ambitions and offer you: ‘The Secrets to Self-Improvement’. They act as magnet for the weak minded, the vulnerable, the ignorant, the frustrated and the traumatized. They promise redemption from one’s earthly failures in life with promises such as: ‘Join our Mission to Save the World’ and spice them with things like ‘Gain Special Powers’ along with many others.” But dig beneath the surface and you will discover a sinister world of Lies and Deception where Mind Control and Psychological Coercion are skilfully and subtly used to recruit, indoctrinate and control Cult members.

Let’s look at the New Born Christians and what they promise:

AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Thus we have another condition on entering heaven. You (1) must be converted, and (2) you must become as little children. When you are born the second time, born of the Spirit, a conversion takes place in your attitude. By faith you begin to overcome all things, your attitude changes. You begin to love the Word of God. You begin to hate sin and every evil way. You become converted from doing your will, to doing the will of God, and you must become as little children. In other words, your attitude must become childlike. You begin receiving correction as a little child from the Word of God. You quit striving about the Word of God. You quit being contentious regarding the Word of God, and receive God’s Word in a humble, meek, childlike attitude. You begin to let Jesus reign over you. Whatever you do should be compared with the Word of God. Few people will allow God’s Word to reign over them. They want their own way. They perish. You must be born-again. You must be converted. You must become as a little child, who receives correction from his parents gladly and willingly. You must do God’s will, or perish.

Interesting reading this because first the New Born Christian must be reborn, and in order to do so he has to become a child again, and we all know that children are defenceless against brainwashing. Therefore the Cult need to use Lies, Deception and sophisticated recruiting techniques to recruit new members who would otherwise immediately back off and run! They do not tell people up front what the group really is and what is expected of them, or what the group actually believes in.

 People being approached by the Cult recruiter are often totally unaware of how well they have been sized up. Recruiters will know that their targets are people with a range of unmet personal ambitions. “Are you trying to recruit me?” “No, I’m just trying to share something meaningful with you.”

 A religious group like the NBC, for example, may not even tell people that they have a religious agenda. They may use Front Groups like ‘Management Courses’ ‘Meditation Centres’ ‘World Peace Organisations’ ‘Personal Development Centres’ ‘Philosophy Courses’

 Cult Recruiters may offer you something Free and make you feel obliged to give them something in return: “Well, we gave you that free dinner, the least you could do is come to our weekend intensive.”

 Recruiters can tell you that time is running out and you must make your decision now or it will be too late: “This is your only chance to make it happen – Don’t blow it!” “It’s important to make this commitment RIGHT NOW!” “This is an issue of real urgency!”Cults will often have a professional Public Relations front which presents a glowing image of their work for peace, self improvement and fulfilment, helping the poor. These type of cults are like an Onion, with the most helpful and benevolent features on the outside and the most controlling, strange and evil parts at the inner core

Mind Control (also known as Brainwashing and Coercive Persuasion) is used by Cults against unsuspecting people.  It is a dishonest influence used covertly to recruit, indoctrinate and control Cult members.  Religious cults need to use Deception and Mind Control because if people knew the hidden facts beforehand they would not join the Cult. They will hide the real truth from you until you have been sufficiently ‘Softened Up’.

 There are many different types of Mind Control including:

 Hypnosis

Often disguised as meditation and relaxation

 Love Bombing & Relationship Control

 Excessive flattery and ‘friendship’ from existing Cult members trained to assist in recruitment. They will maximise your contact with Cult members, and minimize contact with family and friends. Gradually they will shape your behaviour by granting or withholding this love and attention.

Chanting & Singing

 Long periods of time spent repeating mind narrowing phrases and chants to eliminate non Cult ideas and help to create a new Cult identity. Cults will often attempt to induce trance states and use self-hypnosis to cause a Mental Breakdown disguised as a Spiritual Awakening.

 Confession

By appearing friendly and interested in you, they will gently extract information about your weak spots, and then use this information to manipulate you.

 Confusing Doctrine

Insist on total acceptance of a confusing and incomprehensible doctrine.

“Our Ideology answers all questions to all problems”  “Let our Doctrine think for you”

 Peer Group Pressure

 Eliminate all resistance and doubt to new Cult ideas by subtly exploiting the need to belong.

 Reject Old Values

 Encourage acceptance of Cult beliefs by continually criticising former beliefs and values.

 Time Control

Keep recruits focused on the Cult by keeping them continually busy with study and Cult related activities, leaving little or no time for leisure or vacations.

 Information Control

Discourage access to critical non-cult sources of information in books, TV, newspapers etc.  Distort information about the Cult to make it appear normal and acceptable.

 Numerous other forms of Mind Control include combinations of:

◦Fear and Phobias of what will happen if you leave Cult

 (Accidents, Death, Loss of Friends)

Change of Diet to create disorientation

Guilt about your failings, family, past, thoughts, feelings

◦Financial Dependence on Cult

After the victims have donated their assets

◦Problems

 If there are problems the fault lies with you, not the Cult

◦Create extremes of emotional highs and lows

 ◦Intense unrelenting pressure to join Cult.  Phone Calls. Emails. Home and Office Visits.

 ◦Accusations

◦Isolation

 ◦Verbal Abuse

 ◦Thought Stopping Rituals

 ◦Excessive Breathing Exercises

◦Dress Code to remove individuality

 ◦Strict Rules and Regulations

◦Sleep Deprivation

 ◦Spied upon by other Cult members

◦No criticism of Cult tolerated

 ◦Hyped Up Group Meetings

Once the subject has been put through all this his/her connection with reality is totally impaired and only serious Psychiatric help can, and not always, bring the victims back to some normal life. I don't know if you can see the video in the US because of copyright issues so here is the link in case : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHh_ZYw_YxI