I’m happy to report that towards the end of my involvement with Scientology, I refused to accept a money-lender’s cheque, even after a 13-hour interview. The demanded interest rate was 30%. Many others have not been so lucky, and have lost everything they owned, simply to pay for ‘advanced courses.’ Inheritances are quickly sucked into the cult leader’s bank accounts. Former members may be saddled with debt for the rest of their lives.
Some cults will differentiate between inner and outer members (called ‘staff’ and ‘public’ in Scientology). Staff members are given the bare minimum of sleep and nourishment while working impossible hours; ‘public’ members are allowed to sleep and eat properly (even encouraged to do so). The core members, on the other hand, while often living in drastically worse living conditions, are led to believe that they are superior not only to the world at large, but also to the ‘public’ of the cult. This elitism is a vital aspect of membership.
We have the word ‘mystery’ from cults in the ancient world, where members were taken through a series of secret initiations, culminating in a false death and resurrection, which led them to believe that they would survive physical death. Initiates were called mystes. From these first mysterycults, almost 4,000 years ago, such groups have offered a sense of superiority to their members. Members of early Christian Gnostic sects called themselves the ‘electoi,’from which comes the word ‘elect’. They were convinced that by passing through the seven gates of the planetary bodies, and reciting the right passwords, heaven would be theirs.
People take pride in the trappings of office: the uniforms and badges, the medals and titles. We love to feel superior, and all too readily accept a hierarchy of membership.Freemasons and Rosicrucians revel in their position in the hierarchy: such groups function as secret societies, and often form networks in public office. In the UK, there are many Freemasons in the police and the judiciary. Mormons owe complete allegiance to their group, through their ‘Temple Endowments.’
By the time I left Scientology, I was at the end of the 25thof the then 27 available levels. The deference of other members was part and parcel of the experience. They believed that I could read minds, see into the future and move independently of my body. It is shocking to discover the amount of damage concealed by the many people who completed these levels before leaving the cult. No one has actually ever demonstrated the supposed paranormal abilities we were promised we would attain.
Scientology calls those who give money ‘Patrons’, and various titles are offered according to the amount ‘donated’ – so, for instance, Patrons Meritorious have given $250,000. In return, their names are published in magazines and inscribed on plaques.
Elitism encourages an ‘us versus them’ mentality, as well as simple black and white thinking. The group is good and right; any critic is bad and wrong. Members of the group are the elect: they will become powerful and prosperous, irresistible to the opposite sex, achieve enlightenment or enter the kingdom of heaven - unless (and until) they realize that the emperor wears not a stitch of clothing.
Membership must be reinforced. Status is important, but there will also be a resolute conviction that the group is right and that doubt is wrong. The group’s beliefs are scientifically true and/or spiritually correct. This leads to the strange situation where believers will put aside their own beliefs in favour of the group’s dogma, which is the test of a true believer. So, a famous heart surgeon in Aum Shinrikyo murdered patients at the behest of the cult, in spite of the Hippocratic Oath’s provision to do no harm. A fanatic will believe that he must murder innocents to bring about the Caliphate or the End Days, perhaps putting aside years of compassionate behaviour. If the leader says that salt is sweet, the follower will taste that sweetness, just as those hypnotised will cheerfully eat an onion as if it were an apple – or, as followers of Lesego Daniel testify, believe that gasoline tastes like pineapple juice.7
Reinforcement is also behavioural. Each group has its own variations. Habits of dress, of speech, responses and rituals will all be readily adopted. Radical Islamists take up traditional dress, with men growing beards and women covering their hair, or even their faces. Scientologists make locked-on eye contact – which maintains a light trance and affects visual perception. There will be thought-stopping rituals – Krishnas chant the Hare Krishna mantra if they feel challenged. Slogans are implanted to keep thought at bay. Phobias are induced, so that opponents are viewed as if in the grip of Satan and unworthy of attention.