It’s interesting that the genesis of the switch from Bible study to cult was a new person with a pathological personality coming in and moulding the group to their own will. I’ve had situations where I left groups because one toxic person ruined them and I never understood why everyone else put up with their dominance. I’d rather be alone than controlled… so I’ve ended up alone a lot.
I will for a forever be fascinated and horrified by how one singular person can control and/ or ruin an entire group. There isn't a person alive who hasn't experienced this at least once.
“I wonder if there’s some kind of actual mental block that prevents people from being able to see what’s right in front of them because the stakes are just too high. The internal protective mechanism of the entire construct of your identity would have to be dismantled and reassembled if you were to shift your mindset . . . “ Wow. You articulate it so perfectly. I think it also applies to political affiliation, or the medical industrial complex, or questioning anyone in power. They make you feel like your whole identity/life is in jeopardy.
I was watching an interview in a documentary a while back and one of the experts said that rebellious people are more vulnerable to being seduced by a cult. It really stood out to me because my mom was a very rebellious teen who ended up in a cult. I have never been in a cult, but as someone who was also very rebellious and always questioning things to the point of uncertainty I can see how following something blindly can have a big appeal. Constantly challenging view points including your own can be exhausting after a while
The conversation about the friend who married a man with red flags hurts so much. My best friend just got married last Sunday to a red flag. I gently tried to explain why I didn’t think he was a good choice for her and she ghosted me. It’s been over a year since we spoke. I can’t imagine abandoning a lifelong friend for a romantic interest, but it happens all the time, especially in the context of a cult. My heart is broken.
TY Eric and Bethany Joy so thought provoking and powerful. Wonderful interview as someone who was in Drama Class in H.S. people that were either RELIGIOUS FANATICS or QUEER people who were criticized by the fanatics I was part of both.
Wow I just watched Thinner for the first time a while ago and I was wondering why she looks so familiar! She's barely aged it's incredible. I can't wait to watch the full interview!
Eric's asks about the difference between feeling shame and personal responsibility. I have struggled with making sure I hold my feet to the fire and hold myself extremely "accountable" for everything but I'm missing the piece that my intentions were very pure and loving. It's actually self-harmful to be so dogged in thinking and rethinking my personal accountability given pure intentions. I think this comes from having parental narcissists who never took accountability for anything so I saw the effects and harm of that amplified. I also think it confused my understanding because narcissists suggest that their intentions were good but continue with harmful behavior. I have to remind myself that I don't have this personality profile and that when I say my intentions were good they *really were good (counter to the lies I've heard from parental figures). I also think narcissists lie to themselves all the time and buy their lies (that it's for everyone's good) even in the midst of great evidence that it's not. Know your personality and whether you have that disorder and it should help in evaluating how to feel about your actions. Have you had a heart guided by genuine interest in loving others for instance...
I joined a cult in the summer of 2016. I was seeking biblical counseling with addiction. I was told if I don’t cease this particular sin I was never one of the chosen ones. I was told how I should vote, who to associate with. That my family was lost. The pastor would preach so fast and intellectually and the music was dead and the people around me like zombies. I got out of it after I read the book of John and believed upon Jesus. This is a Calvinistic cult - sister church of John MacArthur whom I discovered is a reprobate. I’m now free!
Honestly if a person does not know the Bible or was not raised in church they could easily be caught up in a cult. people make mistakes but once you realize it is a cult you can find a way out. When people are looking for peace and purpose and community people can get caught up in cults. One definition of a cult is a group that does not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, That he is the only way to Heaven, not a religion or a denomination. Jesus and him alone is the way to Heaven. Salvation is a free give from God you can not earn it or buy it or you are not saved by your works. So these points are ways to know if something is a cult.
That's an easy thing to say from the outside, but it's easy for cult or cultish leaders to say the right words and then say "they" aren't doing it right.
having come from a narcissist family which is VERY cult like, I've spent the last decade researching and learning from professionals in things like psychology and counseling. Yes, there is psychologically that codependency that people choose and to choose to be in an abusive relationship, a trauma bond. That is one reason, I am sure there are others. but there is spiritually too, a darkening of one's understanding. The bible says about bribes that it blinds discernment. Often times bribes are used in political context but bribes can also be used to properly describe the reason of spiritual darkening of the senses. The bible is adamant time an time again to wear the truth, to not sell it for a lie.
It’s interesting that the genesis of the switch from Bible study to cult was a new person with a pathological personality coming in and moulding the group to their own will. I’ve had situations where I left groups because one toxic person ruined them and I never understood why everyone else put up with their dominance. I’d rather be alone than controlled… so I’ve ended up alone a lot.
I will for a forever be fascinated and horrified by how one singular person can control and/ or ruin an entire group. There isn't a person alive who hasn't experienced this at least once.
@ for sure
Fantastic interview! Thank you both
“I wonder if there’s some kind of actual mental block that prevents people from being able to see what’s right in front of them because the stakes are just too high. The internal protective mechanism of the entire construct of your identity would have to be dismantled and reassembled if you were to shift your mindset . . . “
Wow. You articulate it so perfectly. I think it also applies to political affiliation, or the medical industrial complex, or questioning anyone in power. They make you feel like your whole identity/life is in jeopardy.
I was watching an interview in a documentary a while back and one of the experts said that rebellious people are more vulnerable to being seduced by a cult. It really stood out to me because my mom was a very rebellious teen who ended up in a cult. I have never been in a cult, but as someone who was also very rebellious and always questioning things to the point of uncertainty I can see how following something blindly can have a big appeal. Constantly challenging view points including your own can be exhausting after a while
The conversation about the friend who married a man with red flags hurts so much. My best friend just got married last Sunday to a red flag. I gently tried to explain why I didn’t think he was a good choice for her and she ghosted me. It’s been over a year since we spoke. I can’t imagine abandoning a lifelong friend for a romantic interest, but it happens all the time, especially in the context of a cult. My heart is broken.
TY Eric and Bethany Joy so thought provoking and powerful. Wonderful interview as someone who was in Drama Class in H.S. people that were either RELIGIOUS FANATICS or QUEER people who were criticized by the fanatics I was part of both.
Thanks for watching!
Wow I just watched Thinner for the first time a while ago and I was wondering why she looks so familiar! She's barely aged it's incredible. I can't wait to watch the full interview!
She definitely looks like her!
Great interview!!!
Best hair and beard version for you. Love The Topic.
Wow thanks!
Eric's asks about the difference between feeling shame and personal responsibility. I have struggled with making sure I hold my feet to the fire and hold myself extremely "accountable" for everything but I'm missing the piece that my intentions were very pure and loving. It's actually self-harmful to be so dogged in thinking and rethinking my personal accountability given pure intentions. I think this comes from having parental narcissists who never took accountability for anything so I saw the effects and harm of that amplified. I also think it confused my understanding because narcissists suggest that their intentions were good but continue with harmful behavior. I have to remind myself that I don't have this personality profile and that when I say my intentions were good they *really were good (counter to the lies I've heard from parental figures). I also think narcissists lie to themselves all the time and buy their lies (that it's for everyone's good) even in the midst of great evidence that it's not. Know your personality and whether you have that disorder and it should help in evaluating how to feel about your actions. Have you had a heart guided by genuine interest in loving others for instance...
I joined a cult in the summer of 2016. I was seeking biblical counseling with addiction. I was told if I don’t cease this particular sin I was never one of the chosen ones. I was told how I should vote, who to associate with. That my family was lost. The pastor would preach so fast and intellectually and the music was dead and the people around me like zombies. I got out of it after I read the book of John and believed upon Jesus.
This is a Calvinistic cult - sister church of John MacArthur whom I discovered is a reprobate. I’m now free!
Honestly if a person does not know the Bible or was not raised in church they could easily be caught up in a cult. people make mistakes but once you realize it is a cult you can find a way out. When people are looking for peace and purpose and community people can get caught up in cults. One definition of a cult is a group that does not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, That he is the only way to Heaven, not a religion or a denomination. Jesus and him alone is the way to Heaven. Salvation is a free give from God you can not earn it or buy it or you are not saved by your works. So these points are ways to know if something is a cult.
I think you can know your Bible and still be in a cult. It depends on how one filters the Word.
People who speak like they “know the Bible” in a way others do not make the very best cult leaders.
That's an easy thing to say from the outside, but it's easy for cult or cultish leaders to say the right words and then say "they" aren't doing it right.
having come from a narcissist family which is VERY cult like, I've spent the last decade researching and learning from professionals in things like psychology and counseling. Yes, there is psychologically that codependency that people choose and to choose to be in an abusive relationship, a trauma bond. That is one reason, I am sure there are others. but there is spiritually too, a darkening of one's understanding. The bible says about bribes that it blinds discernment. Often times bribes are used in political context but bribes can also be used to properly describe the reason of spiritual darkening of the senses. The bible is adamant time an time again to wear the truth, to not sell it for a lie.
What does that shirt mean??
Now she‘s in another cult
Huh?
@@mjacton In Hollywood.
Shows that too much righteousness can lead to evil (see Ecclesiastes)