What to do if you or a loved one falls into a sect

Sometimes it happens that people literally do not recognize their loved ones, who just yesterday were cheerful and sociable, and life was pouring out of them. But today everything has changed. Instead of a loved one, with whom it was so easy to talk about any topic of interest to everyone, some kind of zombified person appeared in the house, walking around with a detached look, speaking only in quotations from scriptures, and also constantly talking about God and about some new family. Of course, loved ones try to stir up such a person. They suggest going to the cinema or meeting old friends. However, at the same time, his face changes and begins to curse his surroundings for the devil’s machinations, repeating something about hell.

Of course, seeing such a state of a loved one, it is easy to fall into despair. At the same time, an old friend, son, husband or other relative begins to be perceived as a finished person or a living corpse. This can only mean that he fell under the influence of a sect. In this case, you should not despair. We need to think about how to get him out of there. We need to act decisively. Only in this case is there a chance to protect the family from the impending threat and save the relationship.

Why do people become sectarians? How to convey to them the danger of the situation in which they find themselves? How to get a person out of a sect, and what steps can be taken?

What is the danger of sects?

Freedom of religion is an inalienable human right. However, sectarians are people who are involved in illegal organizations, even if built in the manner of a church, but pursuing criminal goals.

What is the danger of sects? First of all, illegality. A sect is not a denominational church. Its only purpose is not to organize the service of God. The current spreads its influence over its members, cutting them off from society. The leaders of such organizations cultivate dependence in people, seize their property and funds.

What attracts illegal communities?

In order to decide how to get a loved one out of a sect, it is necessary to understand what needs of an ordinary person such an organization can satisfy. The main thing that such communities trump is knowledge of a certain truth that is accessible only to initiates.

Of course, each person has his own need to understand the world, which allows him to determine the meaning of life and expands the boundaries limited only by home and work. For some people, this need comes first. And it is precisely the desire to know the truth that sometimes gets a person hooked into a sect. Moreover, in order to retain a new member of such a community, information will be given to him in small portions, with the repetition of common truths.

Another of the most common lures is to create an atmosphere of trust, warmth and love between “brothers and sisters”. Sometimes a person in a sect sees a sharp contrast in his relationships in the family and prefers to live with a sweet feeling of self-deception, believing that he has finally found the intimacy that is so missing for him.

Another reason why people end up in such communities is the need to realize their own importance. This is especially important for an active and ambitious person who did not get what he wanted in other areas, but does not part with the prejudice that he was underestimated and was not accepted into the circle of the chosen ones. Once in a sect, such a person is unlikely to listen to the content of the sermons. The main thing for such a person is the prospect of receiving recognition, respect and honors in the form of exclusive knowledge and presence at closed ceremonies.

Why do people join sects?

To understand what benefit a newly converted sectarian has found for himself, you need to understand what needs the organization can satisfy in principle.

1. The main thing that all sects flaunt is an exclusive knowledge of the truth, available only to dedicated members. Everyone has a need for cognitive activity, for a higher meaning in life that surpasses the banal “work-home-work”, and for some this need is incredibly strong.
2. Knowledge of the truth may turn out to be one of the hooks that firmly holds a newcomer in an organization that gives out and chews on common truths in small portions.
3. The next, more common lure is the atmosphere of love, warmth and trust of “brothers and sisters”. The contrast with family relationships can be so strong that an unhappy family man will prefer sweet self-deception, thinking that he has finally found intimacy with at least someone.
4. The friendly attention, elation and enthusiasm with which a newcomer is greeted is almost impossible to resist for someone who has poor relationships with real friends and relatives.
5. A less effective, but still significant reason is the need to realize one's own importance. This is an option for ambitious, active people who, due to various circumstances, have not achieved anything in other areas, but remain convinced that they were underestimated, were not given enough responsibility, and were not accepted into the narrow circle of the chosen ones.
6. Once in the organization, such individuals have little interest in the content of the sermons, but are captivated by the prospect of becoming an adherent of the community, winning respect, recognition, honors in the form of titles and participation in closed rituals.

In short, this is how people end up in cults, although it’s probably worth mentioning one more reason separately.

Some religious organizations devote their activities to the problems of socially discredited and oppressed people:

• drug addicts;
• suffering from alcoholism;
• released from prison;
• disabled people;
• orphans and widows;
• mentally ill;
• antisocial individuals, etc.

Despite the fact that sectarians work with them, their rehabilitation and supervision can be valuable for those whom life has thrown to the sidelines, as well as those who, for various reasons, are not cared for by loved ones.

If you find out that your friend from among the named groups ended up in such an organization, before you grab your head and think about how to save him from the sect, think about what is worse for him - to be a sectarian or to be lost in his misfortune among an indifferent environment.

When you cannot provide in return a better life option for the disadvantaged, all that remains is to make sure that his life and property are safe, that he is provided with the minimum care of his “brothers” and leave him alone.

Signs of sect influence

How can you understand that a loved one or good friend has become involved in an illegal organization that preaches its own religion? To do this, you need to pay attention to his behavior and statements. Such people disappear for several hours to attend events in the form of seminars and meetings. They bring the organization’s literature into the house, turn on special “spiritual” music, and burn incense in an oriental manner. A person who joins a sect immediately has a wide circle of new acquaintances, creating the effect of “entering a circle.” He begins to tell his family about them, bring them to visit, and when calling, observe rituals unknown to everyone.

A person who has fallen under the influence of a sect adheres to fasts that are unusual for everyone, educates and corrects his loved ones, accusing them of sinfulness, while making attempts to convert them to his faith. The newly minted sectarian condemns the ignorance of those around him. He becomes withdrawn, self-absorbed and refuses to communicate. Soon, valuables begin to disappear from the house. A person quits his job and leaves his family in order to live permanently in a sect. If he also turns off his mobile phone, then for his loved ones this can mean one thing - the organization has a very strong influence on him. At the same time, its demands on its members are dangerous and radical.

How to get a person out of a sect

1. First of all, it is necessary to understand what exactly led to the emergence of such a problem.
2. You need to decide how dangerous the sect is, whether it can harm the health and property of an individual.
3. It is necessary to understand whether it is worth using open confrontation or whether it is better to seek help from the police.
4. It is important to maintain contact with the person who has fallen into the sect. It is unacceptable to attempt to convince a dependent person. But you shouldn’t agree on everything, otherwise you risk falling under the influence of a sect yourself.
5. Start collecting information about the organization in order to transfer this information to the police.
6. Try to find people who have faced similar problems, find out how they dealt with it. If you find those who currently have loved ones in a sect, it will be easier for you to act together.
7. It is necessary to find an alternative to what became the purpose of joining the sect, to surround the addict with your care and warmth.
8. Keep the documents with you. It is unacceptable for your husband or wife to have the opportunity to dispose of your property or transfer the apartment to the leader of the sect.
9. If a person who is a member of such an organization has disappeared, contact the police immediately.
10. Organize a visit to a psychotherapist for addiction recovery.

Return to normal life

How to get a person out of a sect, since each of them preaches its own ideas and has a specific focus? For this, psychologists have developed general recommendations, the use of which will allow you to obtain the desired result. So how to get a person out of a sect?

1. It is advisable to do this at the initial stage of the recruiter’s influence. A person who has already accepted a new idea can follow its dogmas for several years. During this period, the sect will certainly pay increased attention to its new member. If this has already happened, then it is better to abandon your efforts and wait until the members of the destructive organization “leave behind” the person. The cooling of the relationship will give impetus to the first disappointment and give a chance to return to the family.
2. Don't break off the relationship. How to get a person out of a sect? To achieve the desired result, relatives must not lose touch with him, while at the same time finding out the methods by which the organization controls his consciousness. If the sect was able to attract your child into its ranks, then you should not give him ultimatums. They will lead to a break in the relationship. It is always worth remembering that as long as you maintain contact with a person, there is a chance to influence him.
3. Express your love. Relatives and friends of a person who has fallen into a sect must constantly show that they continue to respect him, are interested in his life and do not give up close relationships with him.
4. Sure. When conducting conversations, you should remain firm. You should avoid uncertainty in the conversation and a boring start. In addition, it is necessary to control your behavior, avoiding even the slightest disrespect for your loved one.
5. Use the inertia effect. When persuading someone to leave a sect, psychologists recommend starting the conversation with simple topics in which the opinions of the interlocutors should coincide. And only over time, gradually, should one move on to more complex topics that are unpleasant for a newly minted sectarian.
6. Don't dissuade. There is no point in resorting to logic and common sense. Such a move will only lead to the sectarian withdrawing into himself. After all, members of the destructive organization had already managed to warn him about possible attacks. By criticizing a sect, you can only alienate a loved one, who will once again be convinced that the new “brothers and sisters” are telling him only the truth.
7. Do not intimidate or use force, but contact the nearest anti-sectarian center.
8. Be patient. During communication, sectarians often demonstrate disdain for loved ones who, in their opinion, do not understand the truth. The new convert should be invited to an open conversation, during which he should not show hostility.
9. Do not give money to a sectarian. After all, he will definitely donate them to his organization.
10. Awaken a person to independent thinking. This will make it possible for him to understand the formulas and phrases of “brothers and sisters” heard by the sectarian in a completely different way.

Let's consider those illegal organizations that are engaged in zombification of people in our country.

How to recognize a sect and not become a sectarian yourself

Books and brochures with bright covers, on which, like a slogan, are the words: “God loves you. What do you know about God?”... They can be found in a clinic, in a club where you brought your child to classes, in a store on a table for packing groceries, even in your own mailbox... Smiling young people near the metro hand out leaflets inviting them to lectures , in which the meaning of life will be revealed to you... And around the corner you will be offered not a thin brochure, but a weighty volume about yoga... But it could also be like this: they will come up to you and simply ask: “Are you happy? Do you want to be happy? There are many sects and all kinds of religious communities operating in Russia today. How do people get into them? What should you do if they try to lure you or your loved ones into a sect or some seemingly Christian community? How can you tell if you are dealing with an adherent of a dubious teaching? We are talking about this with cult expert Roman Mikhailovich Kon.

Mormon preachers

– Since the beginning of the 1990s, since the laws on freedom of religion came into force, the activities of various sects and the so-called have intensified in the country. Protestant denominations. They became popular among young, active people doing business... Please tell me why sects turned out to be so attractive?

– There will most likely not be a clear answer to the question of why this or that person became a member of a sect. Every occasion is always special. But if we talk about the early 1990s, then the general reasons why sectarianism attracted people at that time can be named.

The early 1990s were a time of religious vacuum in the former Soviet Union. Many people were in search of the meaning of their existence, looking for God, and they perceived anyone who, with a Bible in their hands, preached about God, almost as Jesus Christ Himself or His messenger. Religious searches were also facilitated by external reasons: the destruction of the usual way of life, the curtailment of social and medical programs, the dismantling of communist ideology, which was the ideological guideline for many.

– Did everyone who followed the newly-minted preachers become sectarians?

A person becomes a sectarian not when he attends sect meetings, but when he encounters the Truth, but chooses error

– If a person who is not a believer, or does not have religious knowledge, or is a seeker, heard a sectarian sermon about God and became carried away by it, then he has not yet become a sectarian. Until the moment the Truth was revealed to him, one can speak of a person as a sectarian only formally, but he is not yet a real sectarian. He will become a sectarian when he encounters evidence of the Truth, but chooses error.

- Clarify please.

– When a person was converted to Baptism, Adventism, Pentecostalism, became a charismatic, Jehovah's Witness, Hare Krishna, Mormon or follower of another sect, then a sectarian view of Orthodoxy was imposed on him, representing our faith in a distorted form. Sectarians told him that, for example, the Orthodox veneration of icons is idolatry, the priesthood is a barrier between God and man. But as soon as a person comes into contact with Orthodoxy and hears that the sectarian understanding of the Orthodox teaching about icons or the priesthood is distorted and does not correspond to what the Church actually teaches, then he is faced with a choice: to remain faithful to the sectarian interpretation of Orthodoxy or to reject sectarian errors and choose the truth .

The Holy Fathers note stubbornness of will, conscious resistance to the truth, defense of lies as a distinctive feature of heresy and sectarianism

The right to choose belongs to the rational will of the individual, but the will in the current fallen state is prone to sin, therefore irrational actions are possible. All the holy fathers note stubbornness of will, conscious resistance to the truth, and defense of lies as a distinctive feature of heresy and sectarianism.

If a person has the courage to admit his error and accept the truth, then he takes a decisive step and leaves the sect.

– Are there statistics showing how many people left sects?

– It’s not easy to answer this question, since there are no end-to-end statistics on the number of sectarians. We can talk about dynamics within individual sects. For example, during the period of the sectarian boom in Russia in 1992–1994, the number of Moonies who had the status of full members ranged, according to various sources, from 2 to 6 thousand people. In those years, to become a full member of this sect, a probationary period of seven years was required; therefore, the number of adherents striving for this goal was several times greater. In 2012, after the death of the founder of the Moon sect, in Russia there were, according to the Moonies themselves, about 1 thousand members, but it was not specified who was included in these statistics.

Meeting of Moscow Moonies. 1997

People who have left sects do not always consider it necessary to declare this. But some of them considered it their duty to publicly announce their departure and began to fight against sects in order to warn others from sectarian errors.

– And if we ignore the situation of the 1990s, which was still special, why do people end up in sects in other times? And why do they stay there?

The enemy of the human race has one task - to distract people from Christ and His Church. And all techniques are suitable for this

– There is an opinion that the reasons for the passion for sectarianism are rooted in the social, political conditions of life and the psychology of the person himself. If this were so and sectarianism were a natural stage in the development of man and society, then with the disappearance of socio-political problems and psychological problems it would also disappear. In fact, these circumstances are external factors that contribute to the emergence of sects and people falling into them. Without denying their influence, it must be said that the main reason for ending up in sects is the choice of the person himself under the influence of unreasonable zeal for salvation, pride, vanity, the desire to justify carnal lusts and passions - and the evil will of demons who choose those who are subject to passions , and through them they begin to preach false teachings. After all, the enemy of the human race has one task - to distract people from Christ and His Church. And for this, all techniques are suitable.

If it is difficult to persuade a person to renounce faith in the Holy Trinity, then demons contribute to the emergence of false teaching, where there is faith in the Trinity God, but there is no Church. For those who want to follow the moral commandments of the Gospel and are confused by the dogma of the Holy Trinity, who think that this paganism is supposedly three Gods, the doctrine of one God is being created. For those who want there to be a doctrine of the Trinity, but it is also desirable that a Christian should not look like a marginalized person, but be a prosperous person, there are charismatic sects. And they will explain why a person should be healthy and live in abundance. It turns out that the crucified Lord Jesus Christ nailed all infirmities and sufferings to the Cross: poverty, misery, illness... And those who consider themselves a Christian are simply exempt from the effects of poverty and other misfortunes.

There are a number of sects where the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, is supposedly celebrated. At the same time, the Eucharist is perceived only as a remembrance of the meal that Christ served with His disciples on the eve of the Passion of the Cross, but this rite does not communicate grace and has nothing to do with salvation.

– What human passions do sects indulge?

- Everyone. For example, in the Vissarion sect in the 1990s, the doctrine of the family as a union of a man and a woman, based on mutual love, was spread. Simultaneously with the preaching of this teaching, Vissarion had many mistresses, and he had to somehow justify his debauchery. Then he began to teach that a husband’s love for his wife is selfish love, and true love should extend to many women, so a man should have not one wife, but two, three...

Vissarion's sect

There is nothing new in this justification of human passions. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans says that people have fallen so far from God that they began to sanctify and deify their passions. And today, if a person seeks to justify some of his passions and infirmities, he often receives religious sanction for them in sects. Callousness, conceit, pride, vanity, indifference, etc. are justified.

– What social and psychological dangers do sects pose?

– When it comes to the danger posed by sects, as a rule, they cite facts of destructive influence on the individual and society without any connection with the teachings of sects. It is believed that sects are dangerous due to the destructiveness of the psychological atmosphere that has developed in them. However, its root is in the creed of the sectarians.

Sectarians commit crimes, but not all crimes committed by them are specifically sectarian. Sometimes they commit a crime not because they are Hare Krishnas, or Scientologists, or representatives of other sects, but because of corrupt human nature, like those who profess other religions.

But there are a number of crimes that sectarians commit due to the fact that the doctrine to which they are committed makes their antisocial and criminal acts legitimate.

– Please give examples.

– Hare Krishnas teach that an effective means of getting rid of karma is devotional service to Krishna, and one who devotes his life to this service can perform any actions that do not lead to worsening karma. Therefore, Hare Krishnas can lie, steal, and engage in fraud - but on one condition: this is done in a state of devotional service to Krishna. Thus, criminal acts receive religious justification. Another example. Jehovah's Witnesses have a ban on blood transfusions. And if a Jehovah’s Witness finds himself in a situation where a blood transfusion is necessary to save a person’s life, then his refusal to do this procedure is actually a deliberate suicide. But for a representative of this sect, this is not suicide, but the fulfillment of a falsely understood prohibition on eating blood - that is, virtue.

Hare Krishnas and the idol of Swami Prabhupada

– How is the ban on blood transfusions motivated?

– In the Holy Scriptures there is a prohibition against eating blood. Jehovah's Witnesses interpret it broadly - as a ban on blood transfusion, considering this procedure as a way of nutrition. However, in our body, the digestive system and the circulatory system are not directly connected: blood does not participate in the digestion process.

Sects are dangerous because they legitimize criminal, administrative, and antisocial acts, filling them with religious meaning.

So the danger of sectarianism, first of all, is that sects legitimize criminal, administrative, antisocial acts, filling them with religious meaning. Thus, the destructiveness of sects is determined by their teaching. It should be taken into account that sects in which a creed has not yet been formed and many provisions are not clearly stated, have the theoretical possibility of a very broad interpretation of the creed, including to justify various kinds of acts.

– What do we, Christians, as well as all other people, need to remember so as not to be drawn into sects?

– Christians, first of all, need to know the teachings of the Church and exercise sobriety. If a Christian hears a sermon that goes against the fundamental tenets of his faith, then this should immediately alert him. For example, if someone claims that the Second Coming of Christ took place in 1914, then someone familiar with the Gospel will immediately react to this, to put it mildly, a strange statement. The Gospel clearly states that the Second Coming of Christ will be visible to everyone and will be accompanied by signs on a cosmic scale. This was not observed in 1914. If Vissarion claims that he is Christ who came a second time, but under a new name and in a new body, then it is obvious that this teaching has nothing in common with the Gospel.

Secondly, in order not to fall under the influence of sectarians, you must try to determine which teaching is in front of you. If you are offered a scripture study course, you should ask the person offering to introduce themselves. If he does not want to clearly indicate his religious affiliation, then we are dealing with something dubious. It should be remembered that sectarians like to introduce themselves as an Orthodox bishop, priest, hieromonk, monk...

- Even so?

- Yes, even so. For example, the now famous “god Kuzya” began his activities in the Orthodox environment. He showed up at the Orthodox parish and introduced himself as a monk. The abbot showed promiscuity and accepted him as a monk without requiring any documents from him. Then this “monk” revealed to the abbot that he was supposedly a hierodeacon, then - that he was a hieromonk, appointed by the late Metropolitan Pitirim, was tonsured in his home church, no documents were preserved. He was allowed to perform divine services. But in the end he was exposed and expelled from the Orthodox parish.

"God Kuzya"

Having gained some experience, in Moscow he began to introduce himself as Bishop Roman. But no one was embarrassed that the bishop was without a pulpit.

How should an Orthodox person act in such a situation? If he hears that there is some kind of ascetic, especially a bishop, he needs to make inquiries. Find out which diocese. Currently, information about the clergy of the Church is available to almost everyone. If the name is a diocese, then in the end you can call that diocese and inquire there. Just ask yourself a question: what is this “bishop” doing in our city, in our area? Why did you leave your diocese? And it is imperative to inquire about extraordinary elders and ascetics who suddenly appear.

– What is important to pay attention to if a person comes up to you, introduces himself, and says what religious organization he is from?

Newly formed Christian groups with a short history should make you wary

– Be sure to pay attention to the time of the establishment of this organization. If this organization calls itself a “church,” but arose 10 years ago, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago, the question is quite logical: “What does this Christian group have to do with the Church of the Apostolic Age, created in the year 33 after the Nativity of Christ? What have its communities been doing these almost two thousand years?” Newly formed Christian groups with a short history should be wary. It has been noticed: sectarians do not like questions about their history, about their origin, they will try to evade answers, they will simply say: “We are a Christian church,” insist that the time of appearance is not important, and the main thing is faith.

– What else do sectarians not like?

“They don’t like it when they ask critical questions and compare their teaching with the Orthodox.

- People are gullible...

- Yes, people are gullible. But first of all, we must trust the Church, and as soon as a person does not trust the Church, he finds himself in danger.

– Why don’t they trust the Church, do you think?

– The reasons for mistrust are usually subjective. Someone did not like the priest in the temple he entered. Someone was offended, something harsh was said - this happens. But we must always separate the personal from the teachings of the Church. And if a person does not trust the Church, then this testifies to his conceit and pride, and this leads to delusion. Demons use this passion as an effective means of attacking humans. Sectarians play it skillfully.

You can often hear on the street how Jehovah’s Witnesses or representatives of Protestant communities recruit a person: “We don’t drink, we have strong families. For us this is good, this is good – but for them, the Orthodox, everything is bad, bad and bad.” This is a typical example of how they try to exploit human discontent. And this dissatisfaction can lead a person to a sect. And the atmosphere in the sect immediately fascinates many people, because newcomers are immediately shown attention, they are made to feel welcome, and they are taken care of. And the person naturally likes this, he begins to go to meetings of the sectarian community more and more often. He gets used to it, and after some time it is difficult for him to part with this environment.

Roman Mikhailovich Kon

“They knocked on our door and asked: “Do you want to know about God?” How should we respond? How to proceed?

- Depends on who opens the door. If these are Orthodox people, then they must say that they know the true teaching of God. They can offer their teaching to those who come, so that they too can become familiar with the truth that the Church possesses, or offer to attend theological courses at the parish or communicate with a priest.

Ask those who approach you what the main tenets of their faith are

If the door is opened by people who are unchurched, have little church, or are hesitant, then, first of all, they need to ask who the people who come represent. If a request to introduce themselves is followed by a refusal, then they are clearly sectarians. If sectarians name their organization, we must try to find out what the main tenets of their dogma are and ask how they differ from the teaching of the Orthodox Church. If those who come cannot or do not want to do this, this should be alarming. If people are not embarrassed by sectarian teachings, then they must be prepared to bear all the consequences of their choice.

– In our mailbox we found books that were clearly sectarian: Jehovah’s Witnesses or another sect... What should we do about this?

– Throw it in the trash chute or burn it. Inform the parish priest and catechist (missionary) that sectarians are operating in the parish and distributing propaganda materials. It is advisable to mobilize parishioners so that not only sectarian literature appears in their mailboxes and that residents of their homes, entrances, and streets can find out that in addition to sectarians, there are Orthodox parishes where they are welcome and where classes are held for them in the study of the Holy Scriptures, in the study of biblical history, where lectures on theology are given, where you can learn about God and salvation.

Pentecostals

This movement is the most widespread in Russia. The number of its members reaches 300 thousand people. They recruit new people right on the streets. As a magical occult movement, Pentecostals proclaim the idea that a Christian should be rich, happy and healthy. Otherwise, he cannot be called a Christian. For the first time, newcomers come to this sect for a “wonderful party.” Here people are explained that in order to gain wealth, they need to give money to this organization. Soon the sectarians become confident that, contrary to reality, they are successful and healthy. Sometimes their psyche cannot stand it. In this regard, members of this movement often attempt suicide.

How to get a person out of the Pentecostal sect? In addition to following the general recommendations of psychologists, try to explain to him that entering a trance, which is used in the services of this organization, can have a negative impact on health and for the rest of his life.

№26 (167) / September 15 '01

World of sects

In this topic:

World of sects

London mayor bans Scientology demonstrations

…A lot has already been said and written about destructive totalitarian sects, their negative and often disastrous influence on human consciousness. And yet, we have to return to this topic again and again. Taking advantage of loopholes in Russian legislation, and often the patronage of officials of various ranks, these fishers of human souls are still trying to recruit ignorant people who are easily amenable to psychological treatment into their ranks. Unfortunately, such attempts are often successful.

Today we offer our readers a conversation with one of those in our Diocese who helps a person escape from the strong clutches of sectarians, heal mental wounds and once again become a full-fledged citizen of our society. Word to the priest of the Holy Cross Monastery, Father Nikita Suroveykin.

– Father Nikita, how long have you been providing assistance to people affected by totalitarian sects?

– Two years ago, His Eminence Bishop Vincent gave his blessing to organize a Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Non-Traditional Religions in the name of St. Joseph of Volotsky. And for two years now we have been receiving and providing assistance to people who have suffered from the activities of totalitarian sects.

During this time, several dozen people contacted us. Basically, these are relatives and friends of the victims. We provide assistance in two areas. First of all, these are consultations for those whose relatives have fallen under the influence of sects. We teach how to communicate with such people and how to provide them with effective help.

The second direction of our work is consultations for the sectarians themselves. There is such a term - “exit consultation,” meaning leaving the sect. To achieve this, we are preparing some ground for free dialogue and mutual communication.

– How does this happen in practice?

– Literally before your arrival, a woman came to us, whose sister ended up in a sect. She and I discussed a certain procedure for joint actions, after which we will contact the sister directly. Further, in the process of meetings and conversations, we will try to do everything to lead the person out of the sect, to show him the error of the path he has taken.

If we talk about results, we actually helped ten former members of them leave various kinds of totalitarian sects. So far this is not much, but we must take into account that we recently began to engage in this type of activity. We have to learn a lot literally in the course of our work.

Unfortunately, sometimes relatives refuse to fight for their loved ones, for children who have fallen into sects. After all, this is a very difficult and difficult matter. But without the help of relatives, it is very difficult to help people in trouble.

Unfortunately, we very often encounter the fact that our rehabilitation center is perceived as a kind of mechanism that allows one to automatically rescue a person from a sect. For example, parents come and say: “We have come to you, here is our child, tell him to stop going to the sect!” This approach is completely wrong. First of all, a person himself must want to look at the world with different eyes. Through the eyes not of a sectarian, but of a free person.

With those who consciously turn to us for help, we conduct so-called consultations on leaving the sect. These are conversations lasting several hours, as a result of which the work of a peculiar mechanism that inhibits a person’s consciousness slows down. Only after this does he begin to think and think independently. After all, totalitarian sects are organizations that use methods to control a person’s consciousness and personality. Rehabilitation just involves their removal.

It is important to note that very often sectarian leaders deliberately create various kinds of phobias in people, and in particular, the fear of leaving the sect. At the same time, the person begins to fear the outside world. He is told that if he leaves the sect, he will not be able to survive without it, and will either commit suicide or something will happen to him.

– What does it mean to work with loved ones of those who have fallen into totalitarian sects?

– First of all, we explain to the relatives of those who are in trouble that without their help we are unlikely to be able to help in any way. You cannot get a person out of a sect without his desire and the desire of his family. After all, where does a person come to a sect? - first of all, from family. He tries first of all to get away from the problems that surround him at home. A characteristic detail: the vast majority of sectarians are people from single-parent families and most often young. At the same time, the principles by which their parents live (I’m talking about the parents of non-believers) most often do not suit these young people. Often this is the main reason for their leaving for the sect.

During our conversation with loved ones and relatives, the reason why this happened is determined. After this, we inform them about the totalitarian sect that they have to face in this case, introduce them to the necessary literature, various kinds of materials and publications.

Next, we are developing a methodology for interaction - how we will keep in touch with each other and coordinate our joint actions. Only after the person who has fallen into the sect is ready to meet us, do we come into direct contact with him. The place of the meeting and its psychological background are of great importance - we discuss all this in advance with his relatives. After our first meeting, we draw some joint conclusions and see what we should do next.

As a rule, if a person leaves a sect, he does so immediately after the first contact. Sometimes one conversation over the course of several hours is enough to re-evaluate many values ​​that previously seemed unshakable for a sect member.

In general, if we talk about the methods of our work, we act according to the methodology of the famous researcher of the destructive activities of sects, Alexander Leonidovich Dvorkin. The diocesan Orthodox psychologist Mark Matveevich Itskovich, as well as the rector of our church, Hieromonk Flavian, also helps us with this.

– Have there been difficult, advanced cases in your practice when it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove a person from the sect?

“Unfortunately, this also happened. Here's just one example.

In one single-parent family, the mother of a teenager (let's call him Roman) fought for a very long time to get him out of the sect. In order to somehow isolate her son from sectarians, she was forced to close him at home. It even came to the point of her open clashes with members of the sect.

The struggle for the fate of his son continued for a long time. Roma himself had been a member of the Moon sect for eight years by that time. The mother did everything she could, but in the end she still came to us with her son.

We spent more than one hour, and even more than one day, in conversations. They talked about the most vital things - about God, about the Bible, about the Moonies themselves and the influence of their sect on the consciousness and thinking of a person... As a result, now he is not a member of the sect, he works. But it is impossible to say that he left there completely. After all, he, unfortunately, did not abandon his previous views. The consolation is that he at least stopped contacting members of the Moon sect. We must pay tribute to his mother - she did and is doing everything to help her son find himself.

There is another example, unfortunately, more sad. The mother of one teenager, let’s call him Ivan, contacted us about the fate of her son. He also became a member of the Moon Sect at a very young age.

I met him. By that time, Vanya was already an active member of the Moonite sect - he traveled to Moscow on his own, and at the age of 15 he lectured at Moonite seminars. It is important to note here that his parents had every opportunity to stop his involvement in the sect in time. After all, until the age of 16, he did not have the right to independently engage in any religious activity. Parents could simply sue the local Mooney cell because they involved an underage teenager in their activities. But Vanya’s parents, unfortunately, missed this opportunity and came to us too late.

We, of course, tried to interact with him - we met, talked, convinced... However, the parents themselves refused any fight for Vanya’s fate, leaving us alone in such a difficult situation. Now Ivan, unfortunately, is already an adult Moonite, who will graduate from school this year and join the number of active supporters of the Moon sect.

– Why did this become possible, in your opinion?

“The thing is that this teenager’s parents simply stopped helping us.” I already said above that it is almost impossible to get a person out of the sect without the help of family and friends.

– Who most often ends up in sects? What is the intellectual and educational level of these people?

“A person with any education can fall into the hands of sectarians. And the likelihood of this is extremely high when a person does not have any spiritual core, spiritual foundation - for example, the Orthodox faith, some kind of internal unshakable foundations...

In addition, often a person may have an internal crisis, some kind of mental breakdown, when he especially needs attention and support. It is at this moment that sectarians can provide him with such temporary help and support, purely for the purpose of involving him in the sect. It’s not for nothing that in sect studies there is even such a special term - “honeymoon”. It is at this time that a person who has fallen into a sect strongly maintains the illusion that he is an extraordinary person, that everyone needs him, that they love him... Things go much further among the Moonite sectarians - they even have such a special concept as “bombardment with love” " In this case, two active members of the sect are specially assigned to the person, who all the time, for a month, tell him how smart, kind, beautiful he is... After the month has passed, the person already becomes a completely psychologically dependent member of the sect. At the same time, his life principles, value orientations, relationships with the outside world change...

In general, there are extremely many methods of involvement in a sect, but this is a topic for another discussion.

– How and where can parents, loved ones and relatives of those people who have fallen under the influence of various kinds of sects turn for help?

– To do this, you need to come directly to us, to the Holy Cross Monastery. We are located in Yekaterinburg on K. Marx Street, 31, and on Wednesdays, from 12 to 16 hours, we hold a special reception on these issues. You can call in advance by calling 62–39–50, or 77–00–14.

– In conclusion, what would you like to wish to all those who want to protect themselves from the influence of sects?

– First of all, I would like to urge everyone, and above all, parents with children, to become religiously literate. This is what will make it possible to distinguish traditional religions from false teachings and pseudo-religions, under the cover of which various kinds of totalitarian sects operate today.

Interview prepared by Yu. Anipchenko

In other rooms:

Scientologists

This is a fairly powerful organization with an international scope. Its activities are aimed at introducing Scientology management into enterprises. This trend does not remain aloof from politics and medicine. Currently, Scientologists have managed to take over large industrial groups, which allows them, according to experts, to receive a daily income of 3 to 5 million dollars. According to these sectarians, our planet is doomed to destruction. However, in addition to the physical body, man exists in the thetan, the basic element of every personality. Anyone who falls into a sect is able to learn to operate with this element and become a superman. Scientologists conduct paid courses, the cost of which reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars. Members of the sect recognize themselves as superhumans, considering the rest of humanity inferior. The organization exercises strict control over its members and demands their unquestioning obedience. Gradually, sectarians lose the ability to think critically, they gain self-confidence, but at the same time they lose the ability to write correctly. Despite the seeming harmlessness of such influence, psychologists argue that former members of this movement require the most time for rehabilitation.

How to get a person out of the Scientology sect? It is worth keeping in mind that it is impossible to maintain constant neutrality in relation to this trend. After all, anyone who refuses to cooperate with a member of this organization is immediately declared its enemy. How to get a person out of the Scientology sect? Despite the possibility of a breakup, you should not allow yourself to be misled. At the same time, it is necessary not to lose contact, talking only about good things when meeting with a loved one who has become a sectarian. Questions of Scientology should not be raised in this case.

Signs of infatuation with a cult

You can suspect that a person close to you is participating in a cult based on the following signs:

• he himself said that he had found a great place where kind people help everyone;
• a person disappears for a long time in an unknown place;
• is in an inappropriately elevated mood;
• says he has found the meaning of life;
• wears paraphernalia, uses thematic vocabulary;
• quotes incomprehensible, repetitive expressions;
• speaks like a memorized text;
• abandoned his usual way of life, interests, hobbies, made many new acquaintances, often goes to meetings;
• communicates frequently by telephone and mail;
• meditates or performs other rituals;
• spends a lot of money.

Try to get answers to questions that might allow you to suspect participation in a cult:

1. Is there a teacher, how does he present himself?
2. Is there a hierarchy, how is it created and maintained?
3. How is power distributed, how and who exercises it?
4. How do they receive, use and distribute money?
5. How do they attract new participants, what methods do they use, how quickly does this happen?
6. Are participants free to choose information and other activities?
7. Does the potential victim feel a lack of sleep, time, or food?
8. Does the sect prevent communication with people who do not belong to it?
9. Does the group accept the person as he is or ask him to change? Is this change acceptable for the participant?
10. Does the sect give a negative assessment to the outside world and the previous life of the participant?
11. Is it acceptable to deceive other people for the sake of the interests of the group?
12. Does the leader require unquestioning obedience to his words and execution of orders? Are you punished for trying to think critically?
13. Leaders are convinced they have supernatural powers but can only reveal them to a select few?
14. Are the rules of conduct the same for all participants?

Analyze each answer regarding the main characteristics of a sect. Read more about this in the article “Sectarianism - what is it from a psychological point of view. Signs and dangers of participation in sects."

Hare Krishnas

This movement was founded in 1966 by a native of India living in New York. The main goal of this movement in those years was agitation among drug addicts and hippies. The ideology of the sect lies in the assertion that the creator of the world is the god Krishna, an effeminate blue-eyed youth. The main goal of its members is considered to be love for the creator, which will allow them to enter his heavenly palaces and become his concubines. Moreover, this conviction is acquired not only by women, but also by men. During the sessions, these people bring themselves to ecstasy, rolling on the ground and making loud screams, believing this to be sexual intercourse with their god. Such actions negatively affect a person, sometimes causing him to develop mental illness.

How to get a person out of the Hare Krishna sect? It is worth bringing to your loved ones the facts that in such communities there is a ban on ordinary married life, but at the same time acts of violence, presented in the form of ritual, flourish. At the same time, drugs can be used to emancipate people.

Jehovah witnesses

This belief is based on the Bible, but is fundamentally different from Christianity. Followers of this trend claim that paradise will come to Earth after the Day of Judgment. Christ will weed out sinners who will then die forever. These sectarians encourage people to believe in Jehovah God and already build good relations with him in advance.

This organization is intrusive. Its representatives pester people on the street and go door to door offering to study the Bible. At the same time, they impose their vision of a society in which there is no politics and governance, and everything is subordinated only to God. To achieve their goals, they do not deny the possibility of family destruction, as well as betrayal of loved ones who do not want to support their views.

How to get a person out of the Jehovah sect? Draw his attention to the history of the organization so that he realizes that its leadership is not directed by the holy spirit.

But if all the attempts made are unsuccessful, how can you get a person out of the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect? Insight should come after realizing the fact that the “prudent slave” leader himself constantly makes mistakes in his life. This will sober up the person and can help free him from the clutches of the sect.

Signs that you are in a cult

Usually the word “sect” is associated with extremism, religious fanaticism and something very unhealthy, so the average intelligent, developed, educated person seems to have absolutely nothing to fear. And, of course, no one feels in danger when they join a cult. That's right, because no one joins a sect, and no one is invited to a sect. And they invite you to self-development courses, to a psychotherapeutic group, to spiritual practices. And if you were invited there by a friend, spouse or relative - where do doubts come from? Everyone is always sure that a sect is not something that can happen to them. I wonder where then do thousands of followers of various false gurus come from?

It’s very easy to get into a sect, and it doesn’t matter how smart, educated, or developed you are. There are plenty of very smart, educated, developed people there. It's difficult to get out of there. And it’s also difficult to realize that you are in a sect.

Therefore, the main defense against falling into a sect is awareness. Below I present the most characteristic features of sects and some of their methods of influence.

Every sect has a guru, teacher, or some other charismatic person who calls himself. Sometimes the entire teaching rests on charisma alone and can reach an extreme degree of illogicality. The leader is naturally infallible, has absolute authority, and none of his actions can be questioned or criticized, no matter how wild they may be. It is not always possible to quickly recognize such a leader. After all, there are those who clearly cultivate self-worship, and there are those who do it indirectly. The second ones are the most dangerous. They may call themselves simply psychotherapists, even doctors, or simply humble sufferers of God. They may even emphasize that they do not need any honor or glory, and that they are sincerely perplexed why their followers feel such reverence for their rather insignificant figure. But you shouldn’t believe the words and the image that the leader wants to create; look at his actions. And the actions of such gurus, one way or another, go against what they say. They can preach any asceticism, but allow themselves quite a lot of things that everyone else is ordered not to do. The main explanation: when you reach the same level of spirituality/development/level of consciousness, it will be possible for you too. Of course, they are excellent manipulators. And even if you come to a group in which it is openly stated that everyone is manipulating each other, and you will be taught to live free from manipulation, the guru himself may not hesitate to use manipulation against you, because this is all for your own benefit and is nothing else , as a technique.

It would be a good idea to find out the name of your deliverer. There are cases when people who have been visiting sects for decades do not know the real name of their leader. Why do you need to know the last name, don’t you trust me? Trust, by the way, must also be complete, unquestioning, total.

Of course, if you find yourself in a destructive group, you won’t understand this right away, because you will only see a masquerade: we were waiting for you. They may announce to you that you are the missing link for some very important, usually universally important process. They may tell you that you are the same karmically connected element with this group, and together you will have to untie all the knots that you have tied during past incarnations. You will be admired, even compared with other participants, you will be listened to carefully, and given their unconditional love, care and attention. But this is all to lull your vigilance and make you feel special, chosen, involved in something great, to feel that, finally, at least someone completely understands you.

And, of course, each sect has its own mission. It often sounds very noble: it could be a fight for world peace, it could be self-development in the name of improving the genetic selection on the planet, it could just be a life in freedom and confidence. No one will ever tell you that you are here only because the leader needs to make money from you.

Enrichment of the leader is the main task of the sect’s existence. This is probably where the greatest number of contradictions are hidden. Often you can be assured that a successful person should actually provide for himself enough to be able, without hesitation, to shell out some unfortunate thirty for a week-long session. And yes, participants in such groups often begin to progress very quickly in increasing their income. Here it is quite easy to close your eyes to everything that is happening in the group, because the result is obvious - the material condition is improving. And, in fact, how does it improve? A person, driven by the fear of being excluded from the elite of the world, begins to move and begins to work hard at work, goes to the boss, sometimes blackmails him into giving him a raise, because they convince him that you are worthy of this money, you are worthy right now, so go - and get them any way you can. It is beneficial for the sect that you can have a good income so that you can give, give, give.

By the way, you can also be encouraged to give money by the fact that you have a dekarmic debt to your fellow group members or even to the leader himself; have the conscience to pay it off. Or retort that transcendental knowledge is not for everyone, not for the rabble, and therefore is expensive.

And if you came to such courses to cope with some kind of psychological problems, then no one will offer you to say goodbye to self-doubt in a couple of weeks, no, it will all take years. And along the way, even bigger problems will be revealed that you didn’t even suspect about. Well, it’s clear: normal people don’t live like this, so you have to really work on yourself. The longer you stay in the sect, the more they can earn from you.

Each such group has a hierarchy. Access to the guru's body is always very desirable. Even if it is related to service, which is an honorable thing, they can even compete for it. This way you become enlightened faster, because you serve for the benefit of the universe in the person of your leader. In general, the presence of any hierarchy should be alarming: be it levels of consciousness, be it an informal circle around a guru.

Of course, these are very strong manipulations: receiving encouragement or censure from the leader. But when it comes to a group, group processes also come into play. Thus, one or more people are often chosen to be censured. These could be especially “lost souls”, mired in vices, not even understanding how deeply vicious they are; they could be downright possessed by demons or apostates who have doubted the correctness of the path. Such an impact has a very strong impact on all members of the group: both those who are disgraced and those who are more favored. The disgraced simply begin to abandon themselves, giving power to the guru who sees, who knows everything that happens to him. And those who this time sit on the laurels of favor simply turn into watchdogs, helping the guru deal with the lost, and at the same time everyone thinks: “it’s good that I wasn’t the one who fell into disgrace.” But the whole process is like Russian roulette, and people who were favorites today are easily bullied tomorrow. This allows you to keep absolutely everyone at bay.

Relationships with those who are not members of the group deteriorate. All connections are broken. Sometimes this is a necessary condition, sometimes the leader acts more subtly, he suggests that your loved ones do not understand you, do not like you, and will try to prevent you from attending meetings. Sometimes this can be played out so subtly that the guru may say something like: your relatives will decide that you are in a cult and will rescue you. Agree, a very clever move. But you have to ask yourself whether you have people with whom you communicate outside of this group. If the answer is no, just run. After all, isolation does not happen immediately; it can happen unnoticed.

Here are some of the techniques they will use to separate you from the rest of the world. Sometimes it seems to me that all sorts of prohibitions on watching the news, reading newspapers, and incorrect literature are not worth mentioning at all, because this is very obvious, but the number of people who agree to this suggests that no, it is still worth it. Further, it is a special language. Yes, all sects use their own special terminology. At first you don’t understand anything either, and they look at you like you’re a fool. Trying to overcome this awkwardness, that how come you are still using such and such a word in the wrong meaning, you learn new vocabulary, maybe you stop using some words in your speech altogether. And, voila, no one outside the group understands you, and you, accordingly, see stupid people everywhere who haven’t even bothered to find out the meaning of words.

Another way to tear you away from the outside world and keep you under control all the time outside of meetings is through assignments. The tasks can be very different; again, I don’t want to list all sorts of banalities, such as working for the benefit of your group. I'll tell you about more sophisticated methods. They may come up with tasks for you to work on yourself, for self-development. For example, reading mantras and prayers, writing affirmations, keeping diaries, meditation. All of these things may very well be harmless. But if you are forced to devote most of your free time to this, then you should think about it.

The feeling of being chosen and elitist also works great to separate you from the outside world. You just won’t notice how you stop communicating with these undeveloped, uninitiated, unconscious people.

Attendance at meetings can never be free. The question is always posed bluntly: either you always go without missing meetings, or get out of our elite community. And they will definitely add that vegetation, dullness, deterioration of health await you, that your vices will entangle you and you will become a terrible evil monster. Well, or they can also intimidate you with death, because only the mighty energy of a spiritualized guru keeps you alive.

Assignments are also non-negotiable. You either trust and do it, or you are not with us. You have no opportunity to refuse to do something assigned to you by the leader. Even if your whole nature protests. And time after time, when you step over yourself, even at first it can be something completely harmless, you simply give power over yourself to the guru. And then you don’t even ask when you are forced to do things that are quite strange in the eyes of an ordinary person.

They can also control you through your secrets. Sometimes there are sects in which you will be asked to reveal all your secrets right out of the gate in order to free yourself and be honest with your brothers, and sometimes you yourself will give up everything safely, because such a stone is hard to carry in your soul. With any real psychotherapist, with any confessor, everything said will remain only between you. But not in a sect. In the sect, you will be manipulated with the help of these secrets, they will be kept on your toes that the information may become public, so you will have no choice but to follow all the commandments and obediently take your place in the hierarchy. By the way, if you just got into a certain group and still don’t understand what’s going on here and what, but you heard some personal information about one of the group members, and something that the person himself would not tell - run, the same will happen to your secrets .

To make you more and more suggestible, various influences on the psyche are used. Sleep deprivation is very common. You can either be directly forbidden to sleep as much as you are used to, creating a schedule where you need to get up in the middle of the night and perform a ritual, or they can tell you that all the scientists in the world are in a conspiracy about 8 hours of sleep, and the norm for a person is 4 hours, and that all geniuses slept for 4 hours. And now you yourself are trying to deprive yourself of sleep, because you also want to reach the heights of genius. You don’t even need to be controlled - you are your own best controller. What happens to the body if it is deprived of sleep for a long time? First of all, this is a lot of stress. Long-term sleep deprivation leads to many disorders, including mental ones. In such a state, it becomes very difficult to sensibly assess reality.

Another method of exposure is cold. They can hold meetings in very cold rooms, explaining this, for example, by the fact that the body’s capabilities are limitless. In fact, this is also just a way to put you in a stressful state and deprive you of the ability to think adequately.

Of course, there are other ways, like zombies, but you can hardly guess about them.

Physical punishment and moral humiliation are quite common in sects. At the same time, none of the normal people, of course, would do this. But the processing that the guru uses involves normal people in these actions, again, gradually and very skillfully. They may offer to “help” one of their brothers by simply slapping him in the face. No, well, it’s clear - help. But there are different kinds of good, and all pity is not good at all, but when you unite and do not allow a person to fall low, it’s a different matter, a good thing. And so you, perhaps at first gritting your teeth, and then more and more easily “help” to return to the true path. Of course, if you are a beginner, no one will fool you at the first meeting, but they will begin to accustom you to this type of mercy. And such “help” can even go as far as exorcism of demons with real beatings and drowning. If you encounter such manifestations, there is nothing to think about: just run away. Remember: no one ever has the right to subject another to physical violence, no matter how it is called or beautifully presented - the essence of it, nevertheless, is violence.

Next, no one should ever force you to take off your clothes. We live in a society where it is customary to wear clothes, this is a completely normal, social aspect. There is not a single psychotherapeutic technique that involves undressing as a practice. Even if they tell you that this will help you get rid of all your complexes at once and become free from all the shackles of society, you should not agree. And your personal and sexual relationships should definitely not be controlled by a third party. There can be no sexual prescriptions, nor can there be any imposition of celibacy. There are gurus who preach the transmission of teachings with their seed, it would seem that nothing could be more absurd. But no, they also agree to this, because the teaching is beyond doubt.

Never take children to such meetings. It’s like an axiom: where some practices are held for adults, there should be no children. You may be convinced that this is also very useful for children, that why leave children alone when you will spend time with them here. The cult benefits from you spending as much time as possible at its meetings, so if you need to spend time with your family, then why do it outside your group. The more control you have, the better. For the sect, of course, not for you. If you are a beginner and see children of all ages often left to their own devices while parents soak up the teaching, you can walk away without a second thought.

It is very difficult to leave the sect. A person’s will is quickly suppressed, and the boundaries of personality are erased. A person ceases to belong to himself. Therefore, the question does not arise that one can leave this association, no matter what strange things happen there. Because there is simply no one left to make such decisions. Of what was once a man, only a shell remains.

There are no unsuggestible people. There is always something to hook a person on. And, probably, those most at risk are the most skeptical people, those who have no doubt that it is certainly impossible to smuggle something into him or impose something against his will. Cultists have a large arsenal of methods for slow, invisible enslavement.

And even if your friend or close relative goes to this association, and everything in his life has improved, do not rely on anyone. Always think for yourself. Ask questions, seek information. There is no point in giving up critical thinking, especially when it is persistently suggested.

Baptists

Adherents of this movement also preach the Bible, but the main thing for them is God's word. They are trying to convince a new member of their sect that he has taken the right path of salvation. At the same time, through deceptive means, Baptists take possession of a person’s consciousness and his material means.

How to get a person out of the Baptist sect? Anyone who is already completely immersed in the life of this movement should be reminded that his family continues to exist. At the same time, one should not evaluate the world around him only from the point of view of the sect, ignoring people close to him. It is better if such a conviction arises in a person through specific practical actions. This could be a hike in the forest with your family or an evening gathering of loved ones over a cup of tea.

How to understand that a person has fallen into a sect: 7 signs

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As a rule, we are used to calling various religious organizations a sect, but this is not entirely true. In fact, a sect is often based on the idea of ​​politics, sex or society. Many people sign up as sectarians everyone who lives and thinks differently. But, nevertheless, there are groups that are truly dangerous for the physical and mental health of participants.

How can you determine when it’s time to save a loved one?

Lifestyle

The first sign that a person has fallen into a sect is sudden changes in his lifestyle. Conversation, interests, favorite activities - everything that you knew so well about him became different: from habits and ideals to diet. Frequent and unexplained absences from home are also worth paying special attention to.

Ideological obsession

An unhealthy obsession with a certain idea appears. Perhaps the conviction that only he and his like-minded people follow the true teaching. At the same time, you may be too insistently invited to attend a certain meeting or meeting where your life will “change for the better.”

Unknown words

You may also notice strange words and expressions in a person’s speech that were previously unfamiliar to you. Cultists often use a language in communication with each other that is understandable only to their accomplices, which brings the group even closer together.

Behavior

Behavior changes dramatically. Detachment and isolation may set in, or, conversely, unreasonable irritability and even aggression may appear.

Five Ways Parents Manipulate Their Adult Children

Spending

Another clear sign is spending money much more than usual. Loans from banks and borrowing from relatives and friends may immediately appear. The sextant usually does not advertise the purpose of these investments.

Indifference

A characteristic indicator may also be unusual indifference towards family and friends, rejection of their point of view on any issues. Your circle of acquaintances suddenly changes. Old friends disappear, and you know nothing about new ones.

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Cloth

As for appearance, you will most likely see a person's changes in the way they dress, or even indifference to their image. The wardrobe may be reduced beyond recognition, but at the same time, take a closer look at the appearance of unusual attributes: jewelry, amulets, accessories. This may also indicate involvement in a particular society.

Of course, this is far from a complete list by which one can determine belonging to a particular sect. But the signs listed are quite enough to sound the alarm.

7 Reasons Why Women Stay in Abusive Relationships

But most importantly, if this person is really dear to you, you should not break off relations with him, no matter what happens. Perhaps at some point he will have doubts about the doctrine he professes. And then you should be there to support and strengthen his suspicions.

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Hello! This is a blog on psychology, in which significant attention is paid to the topics of psychological violence - abuse, narcissism, relationships, personal crises, taking responsibility for one's life, increasing self-esteem, existential problems. The cost of consulting a psychologist is 3000 rubles/hour, in person (Moscow, Maryina Roshcha metro station), or via Skype About us/Make an appointment

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"Amway"

There are organizations in which there is no religious teaching. They glorify the cult of wealth and prosperity. At the same time, obsessive and loud promises of success are heard, which will definitely come after joining this community. Religious scholars classify such organizations as sects, calling them commercial cults. A typical example of such communities is the international multi-level organization Amway.

The main goal of its creators is to attract a large number of new people into the system, who, having gathered together, chant verses from Scripture, while concentrating their thoughts on images of symbols of well-being in the form of yachts, cars, houses, etc. Members of this organization are invited to listen to inspiring audio recordings and participation in motivational seminars where system leaders vehemently denounce the immorality of today's world. In addition, members of this commercial sect are required to make donations aimed at further spreading the organization.

How to get a person out of the Amway sect? This will require gradually changing his consciousness, providing concrete facts that most people in today's economic situation in the country do not need weight loss products or nutritional supplements. That is why members of this organization should not hope that this direction will provide an opportunity to stand firmly on their feet and be the master of their future financially.

Personal growth trainings

Such events are classified as a subcategory of the same sects. The fact is that both of them use the same techniques. During personal growth trainings, a person is taught that he is a leader by nature and that he can achieve success simply by default. You don't even need to make an effort to create wealth. Secret knowledge will help him in this.

At such trainings, each participant is promised millions, expensive cars and personal islands. Here emotional swings are arranged and special exercises are performed. All this forces a person to leave his comfort zone, which breaks his psyche.

How to get a person out of a personal growth sect? Let him understand that he needs to take off his rose-colored glasses and objectively assess reality.

Stages of recruitment, or how to avoid becoming a victim

A person is lured into a sect in four stages:

1. Care, love, attention. They sincerely rejoice at the newcomer, greet him with love and honor, pay him compliments, and emphasize his importance. The chosen one must believe that he was precisely what was missing to fulfill the great mission. The victim is promised freedom, happiness, answers to all the questions of the universe. This is the first trick: a contrast is formed between the evil reality, where no one notices, appreciates, or loves a person, and a friendly, caring group.
2. Killing critical thinking and unnecessary personality traits. They explain to a person that enlightenment cannot be achieved simply, one must fulfill a number of conditions, read literature, and try spiritual practices. Cultists keep a person busy as much as possible: work, lectures, attracting new members, meditation, prayers. A person does not have enough time to comprehend everything that is happening and look at his life from the outside. All this forces you to give up yourself, freedom, and the right to independence. Many sects even teach people how to speak correctly: what words, what timbre and tempo of speech should be used.
3. Strengthening the connection with the sect and the break with society. Hostility towards society, its harm, the dangers of medicine, psychiatry, politics, and other faiths are openly promoted. And even the family is passed off as people who interfere with the salvation of the individual; they urge you to quit school, work, change your place of residence. The victim is assured that society will not understand it, will not accept it, since it itself is mired in erroneous judgments. Naturally, those who try to reason with the sectarian only make things worse. He meets the resistance he was told about and becomes even more immersed in the group.
4. Complete dependence on the group, impossibility of returning to society. The person lost his family, job, income, housing, friends, and other support. The cult's grip becomes even tighter due to the fear and guilt generated in the participants. As a result, even if one of the participants understands the deplorable nature of their condition, they decide that going with the flow is the only possible option. He is tormented by a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. Moreover, the leaders assure that happiness and truth are about to be revealed to the sufferer. It seems stupid to the victim to retreat when almost everything has already been accomplished.

It is important to know! Through meditation, monotonous singing, and similar movements, sectarians achieve a state of trance. All this slows down thought processes and increases suggestibility. In this state, a person can “record” any installation into the brain.

After passing through all four stages, the victim finds himself completely subordinate to the teacher. Such “dolls” make fanatics.