That’s what I was thinking — sounds like Obama Same-Thinkers..
Awfully close, heck — it is a dead-on match.
The democratic party hits every single bullet item dead on the head.
"Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s)."
Like shouting "Yes we can!" over and over and over again?
And repeating the mantra "Change We Can Believe in!" over and over again.
"Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished."
I used to know some moonies who were “ordered” to get married to one another. They didn’t choose one another beforehand (didn’t know each other) but they got married, as ordered, in one of those mass ceremonies.
That, by itself, wasn’t so spectacular, as I had heard about those before, but what was interesting is that I met the guy at one of the local politician’s offices (one that I was volunteering to help). It was a local Republican and the moonie was helping with the campaign, too.
I even got sent to Miami for one of those big Moonie political conventions, and saw Fawn Hall and Lt. Colonel Oliver North. The moonies paid all expenses for the trip there and back again.
The moonies were sponsoring these political events for conservatives, at a rate of about 1/2 million in expenses per convention, all over the country. There were usually one or two a month, at that time.
And in another political event (a fundraiser for that local Republican), Lt. Colonel Oliver North was one of the featured speakers ($1,000 a plate dinner), and that particular Moonie political operative arranged for me to be there and meet (otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the $1,000... LOL...).
"The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself,
its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered
the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or
the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). "
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/8510
*****Cult Leaders Make Lousy Presidents******
When Obamanutz comes out in July, there will be a lot of info about cults including Lalich’s work.
*sticks fingers in ears* O-ba-ma! *hip swivel* O-ba-ma! *hip swivel* O-ba-ma!
Hmmmmmmm.....
Obamamaniacs please stand up
An important, sometimes ignored element of cults that should be taken into consideration are things the cult does precisely because the cult membership *wants* it done that way.
That is, many cults would be much more mainstream, if that is what their followers wanted. But their followers want much more intensity. Even mainstream religions have to deal with a few followers who want to be fanatical and obsessive with their beliefs.
Institutionally, cults then have to juggle attracting new members versus satisfying existing members. Increasing control and introducing new ideas has to be done gradually to insure that new members become emotionally invested and not overwhelmed by new demands.
Cults then face an interesting crossroads. Either they keep radicalizing, and burn out; or they try to stabilize their beliefs, and risk schism from disappointed radicals.