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If you’re not in a cult, are you being influenced by groups, perhaps on social media that operate as one? The more disturbing questions is, would you know?
My guest for this episode says that “you never know that you are in a cult, you only know you were in one.”
Wikipedia describes a cult as a term used for “a relatively small group which is typically led by a charismatic and self-appointed leader, who excessively controls its members, requiring unwavering devotion to a set of beliefs and practices...”
Cults can influence its members subtly with strategies such as:
· Exploiting our confirmation biases, refuting any evidence or perspective that challenges the beliefs of the group, or simply offers another idea as a possibility.
· Preys on our fears, we are only safe from “them” when under the guidance of a charismatic thought leader, guru and the special members of the group who are different, who know the real truth, the special or awakened few.
· Build their ideology on partial truths to make their teachings seem plausible, but never backed by hard empirical evidence.
· Anchors their philosophy around emotionally charged words or language that conditions members to react without critical thinking around context.
· Weaponizing virtues. The group believes in a highly specific way of life, set of beliefs, a virtuous philosophy in which anyone who believes differently is either lost, evil, deceived or deeply deficient in some way.
· Financial exploitation. Money is given to the leader, either directly or in exchange for training; not around the acquisition of skills, applied knowledge or a particular craft, but rather so you can learn how to be more like the leader and their inner circle.
· Members are encouraged to isolate themselves from people who think differently, or even from individuals who question any aspect of the group’s beliefs and practices.
Any of this sound familiar?
My guest for this fascinating episode was surprised to find himself in a religious cult.
In his raw, vulnerable, and powerfully engaging memoir, Peter Young provides an unflinching look at how cult leaders brainwash their followers and infect them with condemnation, hatred, and paranoia.
A basketball coach, author, and successful sports broadcaster for organizations such as ESPN, Peter Youngs life was good. When he met Paige, the love of his life, it was perfect, she was perfect. Life seemed too good to be true. However, when Peter married Paige, he unwittingly married into a whole new world, one dominated by the family guru, the bizarre Uncle Robert.
While trying to remain close to Paige and thus save his marriage, Peter was unwittingly sucked into the tiny cult of Uncle Robert, where casinos are churches and Jews conspire to rule the world.
For nearly twenty years Peter allowed himself to be slowly brainwashed, missing the obvious signs he was in a cult, including the true meaning of the mysterious tiger dream, which is detailed in his riveting book “Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger.” His book can be found on amazon and wherever books are sold.
I loved this conversation with Peter, I found it to be deeply interesting, shocking, at times disturbing, but important and engaging. Peter’s background is Christianity. His faith is expressed throughout our conversation. Yet, regardless of your background or spiritual beliefs, this conversation is a relevant one.
Enjoy
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