Critical Thinking on Cults & AntiCults
Adopting the beliefs of the anti-cult movement dramatically changes the views and attitudes of those who experience a loss of faith. Those changes have a profound effect on how Exes make sense of their own past. So we must ask: How helpful is the ideology of the anti cult movement in making sense of your life?
I try to explain what I’ve learned over the last 25 years since being out of Scientology, and how that has led me to the way I think about Scientology now.
If you are a victim who comes forward and resolution through the court provides a conviction, it will not undo what happened to you. You will still have to heal…
Jason Horvatic Has a Request. But is it possible these days to have civil discussions on “cults” and minority religions on the Internet?
India Oxenberg is a former member of NXIVM and the daughter of Catherine Oxenberg. India was the star and producer of the 4 part documentary called “SEDUCED”. In this interview, on her podcast called “Still Learning”, she discusses her deprogramming from NXIVM by her deprogrammer. They discuss the deprogramming techniques that Diane Benscoter used on … Read more
Anti-Scientologists who were never in Scientology have a long row to hoe if they hope to be accurate in their criticisms of Scientology. I provide the lessons you need here at AlanzosBlog.
The anti-cult movement provides the principle ideology almost all Ex-cult members are given to adopt after they leave their minority religions. The foundation of that anti-cult ideology is the belief in “brainwashing”. But does “brainwashing” really exist? Or is it just an excuse?
‘Cults’ only exist in terms of the mainstream society or culture around it. “Cults” are simply minorities within that mainstream context.
Most all of the witnesses against Keith Raniere in his criminal trial went through government deprogramming before they testified. Studies have shown this re-deculturization greatly effects the Ex-cultist’s attitudes toward their experience.
What if being a Scientologist was never a really a disease in the first place that you needed to “recover from”? What if it was just one part of your own much longer spiritual journey that taught you many important lessons, and from which you emerged stronger and wiser than ever?
How would you know?
Former members of NXIVM’s secret sorority called DOS discuss their decision-making, and their consent, in joining the group.
“Ex” is not “Anti”. Anti is a stance against. Ex is simply a former member, having many different stances about their former religious pursuit.
The metaphor of ‘brainwashing’ is best understood as a social weapon for religious persecution which provides a “libertarian” rationale for the suppression of unpopular social movements and belief systems.
I used to think that as long as I was not in the cult of Scientology, I would never fall into the unquestioning, partisan mindset I’d adopted when I was a Scientologist.
Poor Mike Rinder: Mike was brainwashed! Mike had no choice! Mike was only following orders! But what about Scientology’s victims? Why hasn’t he helped them?
In 2011, Mike Rinder traveled to Trinity College in Ireland to debate why Scientology is a religion. I mean if he traveled all the way there to say this – he must have meant it – right? His co-star Leah Remini, after being a Scientologist for 34 years, now says Scientology is not a religion. … Read more
Former ED International of the Church of Scientology Bill Franks Reveals L Ron Hubbard’s Efforts to Create Brainwashing in Scientology.
Human mainstream cultures protect themselves against minorities they feel threatened by.
The brainwashing myth Rebecca Moore, San Diego State University Nearly 40 years ago, my two sisters, Carolyn Layton and Annie Moore, were among those who planned the mass deaths in Jonestown on Nov. 18, 1978. Part of a movement called Peoples Temple, which was led by a charismatic pastor named Jim Jones, they had moved … Read more
The Dossier Project: Eight women who’ve been been accused of being “brainwashed sex slaves” in the global media deconstruct this superstition for all to see.