I met Rachel Bernstein through a referral by Karen de la Carriere and I am so happy I did, as she is very knowledgeable and articulate about destructive cults and Scientology in particular. She has counseled over a thousand people through the exit/recovery process in leaving a cult behind and has a great deal of experience with Scientology practices and the harm it causes psychologically and emotionally. I thought interviewing her about this would be informative and helpful to anyone who has ever had anything to do with Scientology and would also help increase understanding for those never-ins who struggle to decipher why anyone would get involved with a destructive cult in the first place. This interview is the first of three parts. In the final part, we will cover the Fair Game tactics Scientology engaged in against Rachel directly when she first began her practice, but first we cover what destructive cults are all about and what can be done about them. I hope everyone gets as much out of this as I did.
[VIDEO] What is a Destructive Cult? – An Interview with Rachel Bernstein (Part 1)
Wow, Chris! I am only part way through this and had to stop and comment…
just…wow.
Thank you for posting this.
You’ve done some great stuff, Chris.
This is #1 on my list. Very cool.
This is one of your best Chris!! I should add that that is saying a lot too!
This amazing paper defining the word “cult” comes out and, omg, it looks like the spitting image of, (can it possibly be?) the church of scamology (heard of it?)
Please let me list the bullet points here and now, listing the red flags,
– meaning YOU MAY BE TALKING TO A CULT, when you see these markers:
[This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.]
-The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
-Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
-Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve 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 to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, 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, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
-The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
-The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
-The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members’ participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
-The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
-Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
-The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
-The group is preoccupied with making money.
-Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
-Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
-The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave.
Although it may sound otherwise, this guy was not specifically talking about scientology, rather cults in general and how to identify them. The link was provided by a poster here in Mike Rinder’s blog, but I can’t find him now. I would like to thank that person for leading me to this informative report.
Thank you very much Chris and Rachel for this interview.
This is helping me to understand not only the reason I was drawn to Scientology, but also why I have a pattern of getting involved in cult like relationships.
I am now living on my own, and for the first time, it’s OK!
I can make my own decisions, and do what I want and it’s good.
Watching this was like having a therapy session.
I have been out of Scientology for a few years, and have had some good counselling since, and learning to look after myself, tho still a long way to go I guess.
I like your channel Chris – It helps me a lot.
I look forward to Part 2.
Healing KJaye