jmknapp53@gmail.com
8th October 2008, 08:20 AM
Give me a moment. I mean to give this article a positive agenda. But it may take a second to get there.
I could complain about cults that my cult counseling clients have been abused by. Or about my own group, Transcendental Meditation. But I'd like to give cult leaders a few tips on how not to be a cult.
Perhaps other cults and leaders could incorporate a few of them.
This is what I observe. When critics label a group cultic, there's a knee-jerk reaction. The group enters an escalating spiral of defensiveness.
First, they claim they are not a cult. They give dozens of reasons why they're just like other religions or groups. They attempt to destroy their critics. They claim critics are "disgruntled," criminal, bankrupt, unbalanced -- downright crazy.
When these tactics don't work, cults ratchet up repressive isolation of their members and forbid them to read critics.
Critics rightly point out these defensive maneuvers make the groups even more cultic than before. Which sets off another round of defensiveness.
Once in a great while, modern cults claim they have reformed. Scientology and ISKCON come to mind.
I remember opening my apartment door one sunny, Sonoma summer day in 1996 to Gene Ingram's smiling face. Gene's a private investigator best-known for allegedly intimidating critics of his main client, Scientology. He heard I left a startup cult activist foundation. So he thought I might be sympathetic to Scientology's side of the story.
"Scientology used to have some problems. But it's over. We threw the bad guys out. The good guys won."
Gene left me his business card and invited me to Los Angeles for a private tour of Scientology's facilities there -- and a private audience with some church bigwigs.
Somehow, I never got around to that trip.
Gene sadly misjudged my state of mind. Despite his assurances, cultic abuse complaints continue to dog Scientology some 12 years later. Maybe the mainstream media didn't get the memo.
Hare Krishnas reform? Same tune, different day with ISKCON's Hare Krishnas.
Okay. So on to my positive agenda.
Not every organization that critics label a cult started out to abuse its members. But without forethought, any organization can become cultic. Look at the problems the Catholic Church faces.
So here are a few tips for cult leaders. Maybe, just maybe, they can dodge the cult label.
Be Transparent
discuss policies, procedures & scandals openly
publicize open complaint procedures
report public scandals promptly to members, law officials & public media
allow free information flow & fully disclose "secrets," especially those that might affect potential members' choice to join
fully disclose the group's political & legislative involvement
fully disclose finances, particularly international finances, with third-party audits
create a member-driven task force to set reasonable fees for retreats & "courses"
dialogue openly with laity, the press & the public
Be Accountable
publish -- and adhere to -- a set of ethics
publish -- and adhere to -- all fees & donation policies
oversee clergy & other agents with governing boards
if any group agent acts unethically or illegally, take full responsibility
Advocate Freedom
allow open questioning of the leader's beliefs & practices
Create a mechanism for modifying beliefs & practices
create an elective or accountable structure of representation (as in most churches)
promote freedom of speech within the group, without reprisals for contrary opinions
promote academic freedom for clergy & scholars
allow access to files/records held on members & public individuals
advocate freedom to explore our spirituality without shunning or other repercussions
avoid use of shame or guilt to control members
Provide Member Protections
institute safeguards against members devoting damaging amounts of time, money & emotional resources to the group
Value Respect for Non-Members
foster a systemic respect for other spiritual traditions & non-members
foster a systemic respect for the rule of law, rather than the belief the ends justify the means
foster a systemic respect for members' families, whether they are members or not
foster a systemic practice of charity & support to the less fortunate
encourage members to live or socialize with non-group members
Provide Informed Consent
fully disclose negative side-effects of group's mind-altering or medical techniques
undertake real efforts to address & heal side-effects
accept financial responsibility for members suffering side-effects
Imagine a cult that acted with this kind of integrity.
That's a spiritual organization I could be proud of.
I'm sure readers will think of more bottom-line policies for successful non-cults. Please feel free to suggest them in comments below or by emailing me directly at jmknapp53@gmail.com.
I could complain about cults that my cult counseling clients have been abused by. Or about my own group, Transcendental Meditation. But I'd like to give cult leaders a few tips on how not to be a cult.
Perhaps other cults and leaders could incorporate a few of them.
This is what I observe. When critics label a group cultic, there's a knee-jerk reaction. The group enters an escalating spiral of defensiveness.
First, they claim they are not a cult. They give dozens of reasons why they're just like other religions or groups. They attempt to destroy their critics. They claim critics are "disgruntled," criminal, bankrupt, unbalanced -- downright crazy.
When these tactics don't work, cults ratchet up repressive isolation of their members and forbid them to read critics.
Critics rightly point out these defensive maneuvers make the groups even more cultic than before. Which sets off another round of defensiveness.
Once in a great while, modern cults claim they have reformed. Scientology and ISKCON come to mind.
I remember opening my apartment door one sunny, Sonoma summer day in 1996 to Gene Ingram's smiling face. Gene's a private investigator best-known for allegedly intimidating critics of his main client, Scientology. He heard I left a startup cult activist foundation. So he thought I might be sympathetic to Scientology's side of the story.
"Scientology used to have some problems. But it's over. We threw the bad guys out. The good guys won."
Gene left me his business card and invited me to Los Angeles for a private tour of Scientology's facilities there -- and a private audience with some church bigwigs.
Somehow, I never got around to that trip.
Gene sadly misjudged my state of mind. Despite his assurances, cultic abuse complaints continue to dog Scientology some 12 years later. Maybe the mainstream media didn't get the memo.
Hare Krishnas reform? Same tune, different day with ISKCON's Hare Krishnas.
Okay. So on to my positive agenda.
Not every organization that critics label a cult started out to abuse its members. But without forethought, any organization can become cultic. Look at the problems the Catholic Church faces.
So here are a few tips for cult leaders. Maybe, just maybe, they can dodge the cult label.
Be Transparent
discuss policies, procedures & scandals openly
publicize open complaint procedures
report public scandals promptly to members, law officials & public media
allow free information flow & fully disclose "secrets," especially those that might affect potential members' choice to join
fully disclose the group's political & legislative involvement
fully disclose finances, particularly international finances, with third-party audits
create a member-driven task force to set reasonable fees for retreats & "courses"
dialogue openly with laity, the press & the public
Be Accountable
publish -- and adhere to -- a set of ethics
publish -- and adhere to -- all fees & donation policies
oversee clergy & other agents with governing boards
if any group agent acts unethically or illegally, take full responsibility
Advocate Freedom
allow open questioning of the leader's beliefs & practices
Create a mechanism for modifying beliefs & practices
create an elective or accountable structure of representation (as in most churches)
promote freedom of speech within the group, without reprisals for contrary opinions
promote academic freedom for clergy & scholars
allow access to files/records held on members & public individuals
advocate freedom to explore our spirituality without shunning or other repercussions
avoid use of shame or guilt to control members
Provide Member Protections
institute safeguards against members devoting damaging amounts of time, money & emotional resources to the group
Value Respect for Non-Members
foster a systemic respect for other spiritual traditions & non-members
foster a systemic respect for the rule of law, rather than the belief the ends justify the means
foster a systemic respect for members' families, whether they are members or not
foster a systemic practice of charity & support to the less fortunate
encourage members to live or socialize with non-group members
Provide Informed Consent
fully disclose negative side-effects of group's mind-altering or medical techniques
undertake real efforts to address & heal side-effects
accept financial responsibility for members suffering side-effects
Imagine a cult that acted with this kind of integrity.
That's a spiritual organization I could be proud of.
I'm sure readers will think of more bottom-line policies for successful non-cults. Please feel free to suggest them in comments below or by emailing me directly at jmknapp53@gmail.com.