********************************************************************** * (C) 1979 by P.E.I. Bonewits. * * Reprint Procedure: Neopagan, Druidic, Midievalist and all * *cultural publications may reprint any material written by P.E.I. * *Bonewits, but his copyright notice must appear in full. If more * *than 250 words are excerpeted, one cent per word should be donated * *to ADF. * ********************************************************************** CULT DANGER EVALUATION FRAME ---------------------------- This a quick reference system to evaluate wether a group should be avoided personally as being a cult. Basically you rate a group/religion on the basis of some simple criteria, giving a range of 1-10, with 1 being low and 10 being high. Those with the highest scores are best avoided..... 1) INTERNAL CONTROL. Amount of internal political power exercised by leader(s) over members. 2) WISDOM CLAIMED. by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared about decisions. 3) WISDOM CREDITED. to Leader(s) by members; amount of trust in the decisions made by the leader. 4) DOGMA. Ridgidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexability. 5) RECRUITING. Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing. 6) FRONT GROUPS. Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group. 7) WEALTH. amount of money and/or property desired or obtained; emphasis on members donations. 8) POLITICAL POWER amount of external political influence desired or obtained. 9) SEXUAL MANIPULATION of members by leader(s) amount of control over sex lives of members. 10)CENSORSHIP. amount of control over member's access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s). 11)DROPOUT CONTROL. Intesity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts. 12)ENDORSEMENT OF VIOLENCE when used by or for the group or its leader(s). 13)PARANOIA. Amount of fear concerning real or imagines enemies, perceived power of opponents. 14)GRIMNESS. AMount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or leader(s). ---------------------------------------------------------------- Basically its best to avoid any group that rates higher than say a 70, as it is almost for sure a cult. My own personal Opinions (Joe Teller's) is the following scores for some groups and religions: Myceneaen Mysteries : 23 ADF : 25 Catholic Church : 89 Discordianism : 17 Yes, I'd rate the Catholics that high on the cult scale, since they heavily try to interfere with their memberships sex lives, extreme dogmatism, extreme faith in leaders, Grimness etc...... Now, how does the organization(s) you've belonged to and faiths rate on the scale? Inquiring minds want to know!!! Joe 1@5803