Cults Discourage Individual Freedom

Much of the concept of freedom as we know it today originated from the Judeo-Christian tradition, as many authors have pointed out.  The Westminster Confession clearly states the principle of liberty:  "God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men...and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also."

Freedom implies loyalty to truth, to conscience, and to the ability to make one's own decisions about matters of faith, ethics, and morality.  Cult leaders, however, claim that their members are not equipped to make wise personal decisions.  They attempt to dictate the members' use of time, dating lives, thoughts, beliefs, and who they marry, among other things.  

The lack of freedom lies at the core of cultism.  In fact, it is the breeding ground for cultism.  

(from Cult Proofing Your Kids by Dr. Paul R. Martin)

The Grand Poo-Bah says to Evan Matthews:  

We seem to have a lot in common.  I feel for your situation and totally relate.  Barrie Victory Centre and churches like it tend to rip families apart rather than unite them.  The reason is that you and I have spiritual discernment which is given by the Holy Spirit.  Our families seem to be lacking in this area.  

This church is a cult and is telling their people that they are the only church with the truth.  You and I know that this is not true.  You cannot be a follower of Barrie Victory Centre unless you believe this to be true.

My personal opinion is that Barrie Victory Centre is a training centre for "Christian Terrorists."  They believe very strongly in the concept of  "in-your-face" religion.  One of my sons lost a 60K a year job because of  "in-your-face" religion.   He had his Bible open on his desk all day at work where others could see it.  His religion was the only thing he was able to talk about while at work.  I believe he was consequently let go for this reason.  This could not be stated as the reason because it would be "religious discrimination."  Barrie Victory Centre and churches like it are training their members to be super-militant when it comes to their faith at any cost.

These people are so militant that you don't dare question what they believe. Try disagreeing with them face-to-face and see what happens!  I tried it and the BVC follower immediately became incensed and began to scream and yell in close proximity to my face at the top of their lungs.  When I tried to talk to them to express my point of view, I was shouted down with finger-pointing hand gestures so that I couldn't talk.  You finally give up and stop talking because there is no point in continuing.  This is exactly what they want.  They are not interested in what you have to say because they believe they are the only one who knows anything about the subject.

They have learned this technique from the church on how to deal with opposition.  It is likely demonstrated to the congregants on a regular basis. Do not listen, do not allow a differing point of view to be expressed.  Do not allow the opposition to speak.  Shut them down.  If you yell loud enough and long enough, gesture forcefully enough with your finger, they will eventually back down.  This technique makes followers feel right, vindicated and victorious.

If you are trying to deal with members of Barrie Victory Centre, be prepared to be brutalized, verbally abused, and possibly physically as well.  This is not true, however, if you are willing to keep your mouth shut.  This is the only way you can have any kind of relationship with family members. I find it very difficult to believe that I have actually witnessed some of the things I have seen and heard from members of my family since they became involved with Barrie Victory Centre.  We should talk, Evan!

Spotting A Cult

As a child, Jane attended a Hebrew school, where she learned all about cults. She was taught how cults recruit new members: by "love bombing," by offering free meals, by "weekend retreats," and by using front organizations that pose as some youth service ministry. She also learned about specific cults like the Moonies, the Scientologists, and the Children of God.

Jane felt prepared for an encounter with a cult. In fact, she had actually received one of the best cult prevention programs available to anyone in a school setting. Yet all Jane's cult education was to no avail, for she joined the Church Universal and Triumphant after having been recruited by a close friend. Later she realized her mistake and came to Wellspring to recover from her involvement with this cult.

How could Jane, of all people, find herself in a cult? This young woman did not realize that cults recruit in a variety of ways. Nor did she realize that even the best books on cults leave out hundreds, if not thousands, of other groups that are cultic in nature. Instead, Jane reasoned, "If it isn't a Moonie or a Way member, or a Scientologist, then I'm not being 'love bombed.' I am not being pressured to attend any special meetings, so it must not be a cult."

Surface Appearances

No one has ever shopped around to join a cult. No one has ever deliberately sought out an organization where they could be manipulated economically, physically, and emotionally. Yet each day, people are lured into cults and fringe groups that promise one thing and deliver another.

How, then, can you spot a cult? How can you get past the initial or surface appearances presented by cults to find out their inner mechanisms? One way is to recognize the chief characteristics of cults.

Your Child Could be Lured into a Cult

NO MATTER HOW SPIRITUAL YOU ARE, NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOUR FAMILY, you could lose your child to the siren call of the cults.

Time and time again, Dr. Paul Martin has seen dedicated Christian young people fall into the trap of cults and fringe churches. Himself a victim of a cultic fringe church, Dr. Martin now reaches out to other former cult members, assisting hundreds of them to find healing.

Now Dr. Martin shares his expertise in the first book about cults designed especially for concerned Christian parents. In Cult-Proofing Your Kids, he advises parents on:

• how to identify a cult
• how to educate children about cults
• why people join cults
• what to do when your child joins a cult
• how to help your child recover from cult involvement

There is nothing more heartbreaking than losing your child to a cult. But with Cult-Proofing Your Kids, you now have the tools you need to prevent that from happening -- or to fight back when it does.

"A very practical tool for parents, counsellors, youth leaders, and anyone else concerned about the potential dangers lurking in today's spiritual supermarket." Ronald Enroth, Westmount College, author of Churches That Abuse.

Paul R. Martin, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist, directs the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center in Ohio, a counselling center for former cultists. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cult Awareness Network and is an advisory board member for the American Family Foundation.

(from Cult Proofing your Kids by Dr. Paul R. Martin)

Teach Your Children Well!

Following is a list of questions you may ask about a group. Take the time to answer as many as possible to help you identify problem areas and whether the group is a cult or not.

• What is so appealing about what the group offers?
• Does the group make its members feel good, fearful, or guilty?
• Does the group leader have a special charm and persuasion that its people find inexplicable and hard to resist?
• Do the people in the group seem a bit too friendly, loving, smiling, and happy?
• Do the people in the group visit or call and offer to help with almost anything?
• Does the group claim to have a special mission or calling that is unique and not found elsewhere?
• Does the leader claim to have unique powers, vision, knowledge, or other abilities?
• How many leaders have left the group, and for what reasons?
• What is the group's reputation in the community?
• Are there any checks and balances to the leadership and power structure?
• Does the group have a constitution or laws of government?
• How many meetings does the group have each week? Is attendance mandatory?
• Do the people talk about their pastor all the time, as though he were next to God?
• What is the group's view on leadership authority and discipleship?
• What is the group's view on dating and marriage?
• Does the pastor encourage the flock to read different Christian authors, or attend seminars and conferences sponsored by other churches and organizations?
• Is there an isolationist or elitist mentality?
• If the group is independent or non-denominational, to what associations does it belong?
• Have any other local pastors or civic leaders heard any complaints about the group?
• Check with selected religious or secular organizations that keep an eye on such groups. Do they know this group? Have they heard any complaints?
• Is the group affiliated with a larger, well-known and reputable organization?
• What are the credentials of the leader?
• How do your parents, other relations, or close friends feel about the group? Do they have reservations?
• Is the church rabidly separatist?
• What are the finances of the group? Is there secrecy? Does the leader live differently from the followers, drive a better car, take longer vacations, live in a nicer house, than people of comparable education and experience?
• Does the group motivate its members mostly through fear and guilt?
• Who invited you to the group or to the meeting? Was it a total stranger (if so, be very cautious)?
• Have any articles been written about the group? Any books?
• Do you know of any criminal investigations concerning the church or its leader?
• Was there a split in the group and why did it split?
• Are there disgruntled former members?
• Do the disgruntled former members, more or less, tell a similar story of why they left? Did they leave because they disagreed with either the teachings or the practices of the group or its leader?
• How was the disagreement handled?
• Does your "gut level" feeling about this group tell you from time to time that something is wrong?

We must ask and we must teach our children to ask such questions if we are going to cult-proof them and keep them out of the hands of false teachers.

(from Cult-Proofing Your Kids by Dr. Paul R. Martin)