Ten
warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.
- Absolute
authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
- No tolerance for
questions or critical inquiry.
- No meaningful financial
disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently
audited financial statement.
- Unreasonable fear about
the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil
conspiracies and persecutions.
- There is no legitimate
reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving,
negative or even evil.
- Former members often
relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern
of grievances.
- There are records,
books, news articles, or television programs that document the
abuses of the group/leader.
- Followers feel they can
never be "good enough".
- The group/leader is
always right.
- The group/leader is the
exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving
validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable
or credible.
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Ten
warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe
group/leader.
- Extreme obsessiveness
regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost
every practical consideration.
- Individual identity, the
group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories
of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the
follower's mind these identities become substantially and
increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the
group/leader continues and deepens.
- Whenever the
group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as
"persecution".
- Uncharacteristically
stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms,
cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
- Dependency upon the
group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions
without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to
think independently or analyze situations without group/leader
involvement.
- Hyperactivity centered
on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any
personal goals or individual interests.
- A dramatic loss of
spontaneity and sense of humor.
- Increasing isolation
from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest
in the group/leader.
- Anything the
group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or
harmful.
- Former followers are at
best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences.
They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
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Ten
signs of a safe group/leader.
- A safe group/leader will
answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
- A safe group/leader will
disclose information such as finances and often offer an
independently audited financial statement regarding budget and
expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you
want to know.
- A safe group/leader is
often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging
accountability and oversight.
- A safe group/leader may
have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify,
excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
- A safe group/leader will
not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records,
books, articles and statements about them.
- A safe group/leader will
encourage family communication, community interaction and
existing friendships and not feel threatened.
- A safe group/leader will
recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing
with others.
- A safe group/leader will
encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of
self-esteem.
- A safe group/leader will
admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism
and advice.
- A safe group/leader will
not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding
everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of
ideas.
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