Quote:
Originally Posted by Socialite
I think the post has offered some narrow definitions. Even the contributions of others. Even descriptions or "symptoms."
The mind control I've seen used in churches is quite amazing. People silence opposition, trumping their controversial opinions as the inspired interpretation of every letter, and themselves as the authorized interpreter for all scripture. Thinking uniformity is big too. People fear questions or thinking contrary to the primary leader. The primary leader makes all decisions. The primary leader is honored above even a human level. The primary leader decides all things. There are no church boards. There are no elders with equivalent authority. The primary leader usually claims special spiritual authority, they alone hear from God for the congregation.
Everyone must dress similar. Again, uniformity is the key. (Thought, dress, worship, behavior)
So we are taking a very broad word and applying to very narrowly. I don't have a better word for it. I think of Jim Jones groups, and if you need a place of reference to how most here would define the word, that's what they are using. When we get an invite to a Sociologist Conference, we may be more academic and broad in our definition.
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The interesting thing about your first paragraph is it can pretty much cover most churches where the pastor or a board dictates interpretation for the group. The SBC dictates interpretation for their group. The RCC for theirs. On a local level Pastors and board members. I don't really consider that "mind control'...authoritarian? Sure. Maybe some churches, like the UU don't have a set interpretation of scriptures
I have a problem when they use "methods" other than teaching the bible, to convince or force members to comply with certain "interpretations".
Other "mind control" methods are separation or stigmatizing people. The JWs are really into this. If someone disagrees on one little point, yet they aren't really causing problems, they are kicked out and current members can't talk to them at all, even family members.
There is a former UPC in town. The Pastor there is like this. He even teaches his sheeple not to visit my church. He would rather them backslid or visit a Trinitarian church. He has his people so messed up that they look down and say my church is compromising because we don't preach against TV (we don't tell people it's ok, we don't tell people they can't own one or else) yet many of his members have TVs and still say my church is a compromiser church. I know one of their members that watches TV over the internet and still says we are the ones that are compromising.
This sort of thing is constantly reinforced, over and over and over.
Even a family can be a "cult" with a controlling and abusive parent and the wife/kids think this is normal.
I personally don't see a problem with a church setting what it feels is the correct interpretation of scripture for it's church and church members. I don't consider that mind control or cultish activity. Mind control is very real and dangerous.
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