LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTS:
12. The group focuses upon a leadership that members appear to display a zealous, unquestioning commitment towards.
13. Often the members’ allegiance is based upon the belief the leadership is, or represents, the Messiah, an avatar, a prophet, or possesses a special anointing from God.
14. The group’s leadership is not accountable to any authorities (as contrasted with ministers, pastors, priests or rabbis in mainstream religions or leaders of non-religious groups)
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15. Significant, and sometimes total, decision making authority rests with the leadership.
16. The leadership of the group will impose pressure or may openly dictate, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act and feel. (e.g. lifestyle choices, dating, marriage, employment, education, clothing, living arrangements, child rearing, etc.)
17. The leadership may avoid or brush off questions they don’t have scriptural answers for.
18. The leadership will often answer questions differently depending upon who is the speaker and who is the listener.
19. Obedience to the leadership is understood to be required and expected from members.
20. The leadership is often emulated by members. This may include such items as similar mannerisms, clothing styles, modes of speech, hair styles, and attitudes.
21. Indiscretions and improper conduct by the leadership are often ignored or covered up.
METHODS CULTS USE TO CONTROL THEIR MEMBERS:
22. The group’s recruitment techniques are often deceptive.
23. New members are often lavished with love and attention thereby creating an attachment between the group and the new member. Later, further love and attention depends upon the member’s good performance (ie. love is conditional, not unconditional).
24. The group’s leadership induces, accentuates, and manipulates feelings of fear and guilt within its membership as a method of control.
ping BHO Management style
Could you please post the source for your points?
That is spooky stuff — “The Cult of Obama”...
More and more he reminds me of Idi Amin. Or Pharaoh King of Egypt.