Religion, Sects, and Cults: Proceedings of the International Symposium

Author: Editorial Committee of Social Problem Research Series / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-07-01
Features: [Excerpt:] All cults distort and misinterpret orthodox religious doctrines, exploiting the ignorance of some people. They start by catering to people's desires and needs, then use tactics such as persuasion, deception, and intimidation to gradually control the minds of believers and achieve their hidden agenda. After joining a cult, believers' consciousness and beliefs are redefined by the cult's doctrines, and their original worldview, values, and social outlook are thoroughly "cleansed" according to the "doctrines." Under the manipulation and instigation of the cult leader, they willingly give away all their money and even their bodies, gradually becoming completely subservient to the leader, reaching a fanatical state of "living and dying for the leader," exhibiting thoughts and attitudes different from ordinary members of society. In recent years, the author has conducted multiple follow-up investigations on cults such as the Shengling Church. One case is particularly typical. In this case, a believer proclaimed himself the cult leader, established an organization locally, recruited members, and within a short two years, illegally defrauded over 13 million yuan and sexually assaulted two women. Through the analysis and research of this case, the author believes that it well reflects the fanatical mentality of cult believers.
I. The subjective desire for physical health and disaster prevention, combined with economic and cultural factors, leads many believers to join cults blindly.
Before joining a cult, most believers have a subjective desire for physical health and disaster prevention and are eager to achieve this through some means or belief. In some areas, the economic conditions are relatively underdeveloped, and the overall education level is relatively lagging, with a low cultural among the main social groups. These people exhibit a tendency to blindly follow, easily listen to and believe without question, often joining cults without proper discernment between religion and cults, or science and superstition. The cult's claims of "no cost, no injections, and healing" are highly tempting, while the "end-of-the-world" doctrine creates immense psychological panic among believers, driving them to desperately seek safety, refuge, and disaster avoidance. Among the 83 key members of the Shengling Church case, 31 were illiterate (37.3%), 49 had primary school education (59%), and only 3 had high school or higher education (3.6%). Most of these individuals had low cognitive and analytical abilities, and the vast majority of believers joined the cult after being persuaded by just one or two people.
II. Under the psychological suggestion of "cult leader worship," believers gradually lose their sense of self.
All cults construct a beautiful but virtual blueprint of a "heavenly kingdom," the core of which is a supreme and self-proclaimed cult leader. Through the indoctrination of "divine unity," the leader becomes a "god" with supernatural powers, gaining absolute authority among believers. A pyramid-like organizational structure completely obedient to the leader forms around the leader. Through this system, believers gradually lose their sense of self, voluntarily placing themselves completely under the control of the leader, worshipping the leader, and blindly believing in the leader's supernatural abilities. As their sense of self diminishes, they gradually become loyal followers of the cult, losing their sense of self entirely. A Shengling Church believer, whose wife had died early, raised two daughters and an elderly mother in poverty. Yet, he dared not use the 5 million yuan in "dedicated funds" hidden by the cult leader at home. To demonstrate his loyalty to the leader, he even forbade his two daughters from dating or finding partners, demanding they actively accept the leader's "call" and dedicate their bodies to him, leading to both daughters being sexually assaulted by the leader.
III. Self-satisfaction within a relatively closed group makes believers willing to follow the leader without consequences.
To achieve their hidden agenda, the cult leader must identify a core group of loyal followers who will carry out their commands and instructions. Based on the loyalty and reliability of believers, the leader distinguishes between them, entrusting some with "important tasks" and elevating them to the first or second tier of core personnel who "execute the leader's mission." The cult itself is highly exclusive, anti-social, and relatively self-sealed. Within this almost isolated group, the self-worth of these core members is greatly fulfilled and realized. Psychologically, this manifests as absolute obedience and fanaticism to the leader's commands, using various means to "serve the leader," allowing the cult's organization and membership to grow. The Shengling Church leader anointed "twelve apostles" and "twenty-four elders," promising to build a holy city with twelve branches, dividing the world into twelve countries, with each apostle ruling one country and two elders assisting each apostle. Driven by these benefits, these believers "diligently fulfilled their duties," contributing nearly 800,000 yuan through their own "dedications" or collecting money from other believers.
IV. The complete "dedication" of material possessions in exchange for spiritual satisfaction and "refuge" highlights dependent psychology.
To fulfill personal desires, cults fabricate rumors, transforming the demand for material and physical resources into seemingly legitimate doctrines, making fraud and sexual assault "legitimate" and "sacred" within the cult. Believers not only willingly give away all their wealth and even their bodies to the "leader" but also believe this is the leader's grace and the way to reach the "paradise," immersing themselves in a so-called sense of group belonging and reveling in it. The Shengling Church leader claimed, "Those who join the cult must be one with the leader, dedicating their money, possessions, and bodies to him—only then can they enter the 'heavenly kingdom.' The more money and possessions they contribute, the higher their status in the heavenly kingdom." The believers' passion and "selfless dedication" only satisfy the leader's material enjoyment and personal desires. The Shengling Church leader used the believers' "dedications" to build ten new houses, purchase large amounts of timber, furniture, and high-end consumer goods, and even planned to buy a car for his own pleasure.
V. Under the psychological pressure of "karma and the afterlife," believers struggle to escape the leader's spiritual intimidation.
The cleverness of the cult in deceiving believers lies in the fact that it takes measures early on to address potential betrayal. The cult establishes a direct link between believers' "betrayal" and the "karma" they suffer or the inability to "reach the afterlife," depicting terrifying consequences to intimidate them. This leaves believers in a dilemma when faced with the choice of belief or disbelief, abandoning or not abandoning, burdened with heavy psychological burdens, and experiencing intense guilt or fear of retribution. They avoid discussing cult-related matters or the fraud and sexual assault, keeping silent. After being rejected by a female believer, the Shengling Church leader threatened, "If you don't have sex with me, I'll take the life force from your entire family (the leader claimed taking life force meant death)," forcing himself on the woman. When a believer's son fell ill, the believer, influenced by the cult's lies, refused to take him to the hospital, leading to his death. The believer then considered leaving the cult, but the leader intimidated, "This was his own arrangement. He deserved to die."
In summary, the author believes that cults are nothing more than spiritual opium wrapped in sugar coating, and their believers are the victims and addicts of this opium. The fanatical mentality of cult believers is like opium addiction, starting with curiosity, experimentation, and desire, deepening into obsession, unwavering belief, and an inability to escape, until they are completely controlled by the cult's spiritual manipulation. As long as we use advanced productivity and culture to improve people's production and living standards and occupy the ideological front, cults will lose the soil in which they thrive, utterly