I live in Utah, mormon country if you will, you want to see a cult trying to pass as a religion, come take a trip here, it’s insane!

The mentality is a combination of fear and the feeling of “knowing more/being better” than those not a part of the group…..

I think its very interesting. My philosophy professor has done tons of work and even spent time with a bunch of cults. James R. Lewis, look him up.

The key phrase here is “give up all of their individuality for the sake of pleasing the group”. I see some people who point the finger at certain organizations being “cults” that simply are not cults for this reason.

Narrow minded people will never be worth your while.

That seems to be the way of it. “You must think like us or else”. We will label you a sinner and if we can’t control you, we will do our best to destroy you! Whenever I read about how people are treated as you have been, it makes me want to strike back so hard, I find it almost impossible to judge them fairly.

Not every cult destroys a person’s individuality.
To go along with what you’ve said, Christian’s seem to be that way. When you leave the church or something bad happens they’re quick to turn up their noses at you and think that you’re inferior.

As a complete stranger, i’m hoping this means something to you, but for standing up for your beliefs and doing what you truly felt was right, thank you.
that we should all be so courageous….

Cults do their brain washing job very well, I have a friend in one and he tells me that if i reported the things he tells me that go inside he could be disfellowshipped, label as a apostate and would lose his life at Armageddon and his family would not talk to him, Lot’s of scare tactics here, he has been before the judicial committee many times, this is a group of elders who believe in judging the person and passing sentence. he is going to break away no matter what because he knows by visiting silentlambs.org that the cult has been sued for pedophiles.

Some people with weak ego structures and pathological need for acceptance are highly subject to this. Watch for key phrases that me you can’t understand unless you are one of us (e.g. “Only believers with the Holy Spirit can understand the Bible when they read it.”)

Congratulations on not being a sheep, despite the aspersions you endured.

Yes! I know what you mean. I joined one of those multi-level companies myself, (this one is legit) but I didn’t want to go to the meetings every week or buy the instructional guides to a better business. Because when I did go, the people there acted like they were brainwashed by the system there were in. So I didn’t want to be like them, I’m doing ok in the business without spending $300 on CD’s and what not. In fact one the head members of the group called me and demanded that I listen to the CD, which made me not want to listen to it even more because I felt they were trying to brainwash me too!
And don’t even let me get started with my cousin who after almost 25 years of Christian bashing decided to become a born again! Talk about brainwashed. She went from an independent thinker to… well you know what I mean.
I just try to steer clear of all that. Those are just a few examples from my life. You’re not alone! Stay strong!

I agree, many people give up their individuality for the sake of pleasing a group… sometimes out of peer pressure, other times out of insecurity on their part and they can’t stand alone. I am not saying that everyone should always stand alone, because we can’t… there are times when we need others, but we should never give up our “Self” in order to please those people.

I lost a lot of friends when they found out that I am a Pagan, but as I see it, they weren’t True friends if my beliefs is what caused them to drop the whole friendship to begin with. They were merely using me to help support their group mentality (and that is something I was never able to do….) Since I was in my teens I learned to be very upfront about who and what I am in order to find out, right away, where the other stood on the topic/situation. If they frowned on anything about me, I didn’t stick around. If they were merely concerned for me, I would explain where I stood and see where it went from there. I have found many strong, individualistic friends who will there when I really need them (as I am there for them) and I never have to worry about what they will do when I speak my mind to them. Being accepted doesn’t mean I have to give in to them, nor them to me. It means that no matter what happens, they are there when I need someone, even if they don’t happen to agree with everything at that moment. I accept their advice (even though I may not follow it) and I appreciate their voice on matters…

There isn’t strength in numbers when the group is using each other just feel secure… because in the end, all you have is a group of insecure people… Not something of strength and honor that can be trusted.