A lot of people are either not understanding or refusing to acknowledge that cults find people at their lowest points in life. The victims aren’t stupid, they’re often desperate and depressed.
His description at the beginning makes me realize that an abusive relationship is a cult of two. One leader and one follower. "Social isolation, unable to ask critical questions regarding the leader or their behavior, a feeling that if you leave then you must be wrong, no checks and balances to the leader's power, or transparency regarding group finances."
I was reading somewhere that Organizations can do this, and isolate people to eventually be "hands off" after the grooming and abuse phase: Think: Pavlovian reactions. They corner you, harm you then "ring the bell" for auto reactions...They are terrible people.
22:45 "If you're happy you are not up for change, but if you're unhappy you are." Holy crap that sentence alone makes me understand the world so much better!
to be honest, it isnt a human phenomenon. Almost all mammals form some sort of interpack structure, which at its most simplest is the reason we are prone to joining groups
@brqxton8974 other animals join groups for survival , strength of the many . Cults for humans are more spaces for lonely people to belond to something , something larger , its a lack of purpose in thier life that drives them to want to be in a cult , obviously they don't know it is a cult
Everyone is at some point in their lives vulnerable to being indoctrinated into a cult. though that does not mean everyone *currently* is. It easily puts into question the belief that "if most people think something is a good idea, that must mean that it is." I don't know anyone myself who thinks that way, but I've seen a lot of people online and in the media that do.
Hey i was part of a cult as a kid. i didn't know I was because everyone was super nice and only found out I was part of one as an adult. My wife had to be the one to break it to me and so I did research. They would public humiliate people who left, they claimed to speak for God, they claimed they had spiritual powers that were given to them by God. It was wild stuff. if you think that stuff is hard to believe, well you'd be right. If you grew up in it and if that's all you knew, well then it's a different story. Also everything he is saying is true
It sounds awful when it's called that, but it generally involves feeding someone nutritious meals, providing comfort and safety, and asking questions that get them to begin using their minds for critical thinking again. I don't think anybody in their right mind is opposed to giving an abused person food, safety, and the freedom to think critically.
Yeah same reason scammers give a sense of urgency, they want to get you so stressed your critical thinking is hindered. The same way you don't critically evaluate the possibilities if you see a bush move in the jungle, it's probably something harmless but the fact it could be a venomous snake will make you unable to think and force you to take a couple steps back just in case. By making it seem like there is imminent danger they can tap into that instinct that makes you reactive and cloud your judgement and you'll follow their solution to that danger without questioning if there was really danger in the first place.
Props to this guy for helping people be better aware of situations where people might be taking advantage of them. It's easy to get caught up in a bad group of people who are really good at talking.
Churches use all our infrastructure and pay nothing for it all. Therefore tax dollars DO support churches. It is an easy argument. Won't happen in my lifetime, though,
Escaped a cult 5 years ago. Lost all my family and friends along with it, and I felt like I was taking crazy pills. Thank you for this video because so many people do not take cults seriously.
@@godslittlestidiot2984 in many ways yes, but I struggle with making friends and starting relationships. I never really had to make friends before because everyone I ever needed was right there. Part of that struggle is also not having "normal" life experiences. I've had to learn a lot
They all behave in similar patterns. They are organized, calculated and some form of external abuse will be used be the Cult, Criminal Syndicate, etc. They just present themselves, differently.
Psychologists usually, I believe. Some are ex law enforcement. Edit, it was pointed out that I accidentally wrote psychiatrist instead of psychologist. It has since been corrected.
@@Pfischful Psychologist I think. Psychiatrist handles medication for mental illnesses, while psychologists do more talking and stuff (but might not be able to prescribe medications).
The chorus at my college was scheduled to sing "The Creation" by Haydn. Someone had the idea to create t-shirts that said "The Beginning is Near." I thought that was clever.
I’m the granddaughter of a cult leader who Rick Ross wrote about. His writing aided in the collapse of the cult. Yes, the children of cults can deprogram. In my experience, and what I have observed, a lot of the likelihood of deprogramming and recovery is influenced by the depth of their families involvement, the extent of the abuse the child suffered and just basic personality
This video was incredibly informative. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Rick Alan Ross' expertise and articulate description and examples. Thank you Wired for pulling this together making the internet more aware.
I like this guy. Most people in the comments twist his words to say things they want but he remains neutral and instead of jumping to politics or bashing religion he makes a clear distinction between religion and cults which there is. Are there groups in a mainstream religion that can begin to act like a cult? Yes there is. Of course there is.
If a group acts like a cult, I'd argue it is one. If it walks and quacks like a duck....Just because something doesn't check off every box to determine that, doesn't mean it isn't.
5:38 I'm kinda sure the Pope is NOT accountable for anything, he's literally a king (of Vatican City), and they're kinda adamant about the point "there's no salvation except in (our religion)".
I would say as a Catholic, that if you are living under a religious rule (ie. The Rule of St. Bendict) or have a rule of obedience to a Bishop, then you are probably in a situation similar to being in a cult. Especially if you are under the authority of someone toxic who uses the techniques of control that a cult leader would use. If you are a lay Catholic who can just walk away with no consequences other than a feeling of guilt over making your mom sad, then you weren't in a cult.
He said that the majority of mainstream religions are NOT cults. They do not coerce you not to leave. If the members have an opinion it's theirs not the religion's. The only major known religion that is in fact more cult than religion is Scientology.
@@nonnayerbusiness7704 : fair point. However, just for example, in Italy until recent times (20 years or so?), you didn't really want to tell your grandma you were not getting married in a church, you could lose your inheritance. There's some shady mix of guilt-trip, social blackmail ("never going to speak to you again"), and money-related extortion (comply, and you'll have your study payed, don't...).
@@MattiaBulgarelli I mean in that example thats not a cult, thats just your grandma being manipulative. A cult needs a central authority. Imo the primary difference between a cult and a religion is that a religion has grown beyond the scope of one central authority. You could argue that some religions are actually many smaller cults that use the same mythology and systems to indoctrinate followers. Either way I think we can agree that religion can lead to terrible, abusive behaviour, regardless of if it strictly meets the definition of cult or not.
Great video. Only nitpick is calling the Jim Jones thing a "mass suicide" even if he did say the children were murdered cuz there was no way for them to choose suicide, other people were also forced to drink the poison. I watched a documentary on it, and the survivors described it as a mass murder.
This is a good point and clarification, but many, many of his followers did take the poison voluntarily. One of the most haunting things I have ever heard is the audio recording of the mass suicide/murder in Jonestown, which was recorded in its entirety.
@@therealJamieJoy @darkness_visible Refer back to the part of the video where Ross mentions standing ovations. If everyone around you is doing something, you are going to feel more compelled to do it. Especially if you just had to watch someone else who refused to drink be held down and injected against their will. Even more so if your judgement is hampered by sleep deprivation and malnourishment like the victims were. To characterize the deaths of these people as either "murder" or "suicide" is to oversimplify the social dynamics at play. I personally would not describe the deaths as suicides in the traditional sense, just given the sheer amount of coercion involved.
@@general_ghosty Yes, but that is all part of being in a cult. Accepting horrendous abuse as a part of daily life. Cults program people to give up themselves in offering to a leader.
All interesting but I'd like to add a counter point. The Branch Davidians weren't making illegal weapons for some stockpile. They were legitimate gun sellers. They had booths at the local gun shows and everything. They would import parts and manufacture the weapons to sell in America legally. The FBI and ATF illegally raided them that day in Waco. Not saying Koresh isn't a monster and didn't need to be stopped. The whole Waco raid was a complete clusterfuck of bad decisions.
Koresh also didn't "decide it was time for the end" and burn the place down. The ATF pumped flammable CS gas into the compound which ignited, trapping the members inside, burning and suffocating them.
No. If you are told not to question, THEN you are in a cult. Every person who follows a movement should always compare their experience to the earmarks of a cult. Not questioning is the way to get stuck.
Wrong, like the other comment said, if you are told to never question a movement then you are in a cult. Your methos would make it impossible to be part of anything unless you are 100% devoted and would never question your group. Thats exactly the type of mindset that a cult would want.
Nope. To stay safe it is best to evaluate every group you are a part of, or considering, and compare it to the red flags of coercive control. See B.I.T.E. Model
I was roped into Amway in 2018. I wanted to be successful because i had grown up in poverty and wanted to help my family. I was only in for 2 months but I was lucky. I know so many people like me who haven't been able to get away... It's sad.
I nearly got roped into that nonsense about a decade ago. Luckily something about it always truck me as odd, and I hadn't even learned the terms pyramid scheme or MLM yet. A friend did it for a while, and I'm pretty sure they stopped doing it...but I never asked. Either way, I just remember a lot of the stuff they were trying to sell being all over their bedroom and bathroom at one point, and when I found out exactly how and why that's commonplace considering that model of "Business", it made sense. As well as made me angry. Every time I see the usual tell-tale signs on someones social media, I'm like "NOOOOOOOOOO"
I live in Albany, New York and learned about NXVIM (however its spelled) after Keith got busted. When I learned his partner was Nancy Salzman, I was floored! My mom went to her for therapy in the early 90's and helped her a lot! My mom was not recruited into the cult, and because she died in 2011, never learned about NXVIM. She would have been shocked as I was I'm sure. I still can't believe that cult was in my neck of the woods and never knew about it..crazy!!
let's form a group! maybe we can rent an Airbnb somewhere secluded? we only eat stinging nettle and worship our leaders true form - black phillip the goat.
you gonna have to try harder to convince me that all major religions aren't cults to a lesser degree... everything he said in the first 30 seconds applies to pretty much all flavors of Christianity I've encountered
Thank you for bringing up Jehovah's Witnesses. As someone who grow up as one, they are absolutely a cult! The amount of lives I saw ruined, and family's destroyed makes me sad to this day.
Except JW beliefs are based on the Bible…nor do they have a ‘cult leader’. I also grew up as one and I wouldn’t say they were a cult just more of a closed off religion. Also if you think they still cut off family members who aren’t in the religion, that has been changed quite recently.
@@Juli95 I guess you haven't been exposed to the Silent lambs website? I know a few people who were severely harmed by the church. The church did nothing but hide it and shame the children.
@@Juli95They are definitely a cult. There are 11 “cult leaders”. They cherry-pick scriptures and do not teach the Bible. They keep people in by using fear tactics. Also, they did not fully change their DF policy and didn’t change the policy regarding DA ones at all. Why all the talk about not reading or believing negative things said about the religion? If what they are saying is true, followers should be able to look at anything, because the truth stands up to scrutiny. “Closed off religion” says it all.
Jehovah's Witnesses don't ruin lives. Every ex member is allowed to move on without us. If you want a good example of a religion that ruins lives go look at Scientology. They will blackmail you before you leave with all the information they gathered about you during their E-Meter sessions. After that, they will stalk you and even call your job to get you fired. They will use your confessions during your E-Meter sessions to ruin your life. Go look up the death of the famous Lisa McPherson who was held against her own will until she died. Jehovah's Witnesses have done nothing like that. They just cast you out and leave you alone. No interference. I'm a JW myself. Only I'm an adult convert. I don't have any JW. 40% of JW are people like me. We have little to no family in the religion. So there's no way they can ruin people's lives.
I may have missed it, but you didn’t mention the Love Bombing, Secret Knowledge, and Dispensing with Existence factors involved in recruiting/indoctrinating, all of which were critical in my recruitment.
Sounds like you described tele-evangelist and a few Evangelical churches that I've seen. I've been under the impression that many Evangelical churches are becoming more and more cultlike since the rise of the Christian Right and Jerry Falwell & Reagan made religion political.
Ronald Reagan did not make religiosity political. it was a different time when all political leaders talked about god and religion. don't confuse president reagan with falwell.
@@jlg3315 The person who really brought the very religious into the political fold was Jimmy Carter. He ran specifically as a Christian after the awfulness that was Nixon. Unfortunately you then had people like Falwell that twisted that into supporting policies Christ would have hated.
@@saschamayer4050every time there’s like a mass sui or something someone is gone or shows up late and “misses the ship” because the mass sui is normally done at a certain time or date in order them to be “beamed up” to the mother ship aka there was never a ship and they dodged a bullet or “missed the ship”
@@sherrifjenkins9229 many psychological experts are saying it is a cult. It ticks all the boxes for a cult. This is not about love/hate or being on "a team" it's about the situation being so dangerous some of his supporters are willing to kill in his name. That's pretty intense.
To be honest, I’ve stayed sitting during a standing ovation if I wasn’t impressed, and I’ve been the first to stand up if I was blown away by a performance. Staying seated should not be viewed as a sign of disrespect and people shouldn’t feel pressured to stand up. It’s all good either way.
Are you sure Apple was a benign cult? It's my understanding that Jobs was rather emotionally abusive towards anyone within striking distance when it suited him.
religion has transparency and accountability? I have to point to the catholic church on that one. Has a single abusive priest ended up in prison? has a single decision-maker that helped relocate/cover up abuse been held accountable?
Stockholm syndrome. One is blinded till their 40’s. I had no speculations that my father was a cult leader. I could not articulate the abuse with words being so entrained….
An entire country ban become a cult..."It's Easier to Fool People Than It Is to Convince Them That They Have Been Fooled". can't wait to quote this during upcoming holiday dinners with family...
If it doesn't depend on intelligence or education, are there certain traits in people, which make them susceptible to (a certain) manipulation? We are all group animals, social. But not everyone falls for this sort of thing, far more people have heard of than are a member of it. Most of us have heard of scientology, and it doesn't have that many followers. This is a question for sociologists perhaps.
Most people I know are in one kind of cult (if you count religions, as I do). Not all in the same one. Different cults. Don't know anyone who doesn't want to.
@@saschamayer4050 yet this man, who is a cult expert, just told you that by definition religions are NOT cults. Just because you feel something is cultish does not actually make it so.
@@jonok42 He listed off all the reasons an organization is considered a cult, and religions literally ticked all the boxes. He may be an expert but he is also human. Not infallible.
One of the people on wired was a lady who was a former member of a political cult. So it can be people who think theyre doing the right thing for their country and the world. I think some traits would be people going through very hard times, befriend a cult member who helps them feel better and then time passes and they become manipulated. Like a lot of abusive relationships start out good, or not bad. But by the time the victim realizes, they are really tied up in the relationship through income/ kids. I think when i was so depressed i couldn't get out of bed i could've definitely gone to at least a couple meetings 😂😂 of something.
Oh, that's funny. I used to live in Dutch Harbor AK, a huge fishing town, and there was a Unification Church there. I'd never heard of The Moonies before, but it makes sense that they'd be there.
Back in the 70s and 80s, cults seemed to be more pervasive to society than they are now. The Moonies were well known and talked about often. I had forgotten about them until hearing him speak about the cult.
In reference to the question at 8:58, Do cults recruit based off appearance? JMS Cult Recruits based on race, gender, age, social status, and appearance.
Did he use the words "religion" transparency and accountability in the same sentence. The native Americans would probably not agree with that nor any other group that has been colonized by christians. The church has never been held accountable for the atrocities carried out in the name of God ever.
I appreciate the kindness you bring to this topic. Let's not judge people who are in a cult as being low IQ but recognize them as being exploited at a vulnerable moment when they weren't able to see the warnings signs.
I’ve looked this up before to read people’s opinions on AA. the common answer was that there were cult like elements but it doesn’t fit the more technical description.
It was a flimsy, paper thin excuse as to why not, and contradictory to other answers. Def gave the vibe that he voted for him but had to validate to himself.
When he explained the difference between cults and religions, his arguments doesn’t contradict the 3 primary core characteristics that define a cult though…
If I'm at a theater, and everyone else stands up and starts clapping I just sit there, and ask myself "Who are they clapping for? The people on the screen can't hear them. The director, and crew aren't here... What are they doing?" I do not stand up and clap with them. That'd be super silly and awkward.
9:00 A cult in the Philippines is kind of known for having a lot of babes. I think cults purposefully recruit babes to help with the recruitment process, so once you marry into a cult, you can never leave, and you produce beautiful offspring to further the cycle.
The only thing I disagree with him on is the idea that Trumpism is not a cult and that getting booed means he's not a cult leader (around 12:00). I do get the sense that he's sponsored by Trump affiliates.
A lot of people are either not understanding or refusing to acknowledge that cults find people at their lowest points in life. The victims aren’t stupid, they’re often desperate and depressed.
Or they're raised in it.
Same goes for religions too I’m afraid
you are describing exactly what Christians told me how they got into Christianity
And stupid.
@@marmac83 vulnerable is a better word.
We need people like this man more than ever.
tariffs are a tax on people. you will own nothing and not be able to afford anything and be happy.
Ok
I'll definitely join his cult
Why don't you be one yourself
What are you referring to? I don't understand
His description at the beginning makes me realize that an abusive relationship is a cult of two. One leader and one follower. "Social isolation, unable to ask critical questions regarding the leader or their behavior, a feeling that if you leave then you must be wrong, no checks and balances to the leader's power, or transparency regarding group finances."
he also speaks about abusive relationships as a cult in the video. but yep =\
I was reading somewhere that Organizations can do this, and isolate people to eventually be "hands off" after the grooming and abuse phase: Think: Pavlovian reactions. They corner you, harm you then "ring the bell" for auto reactions...They are terrible people.
22:45 "If you're happy you are not up for change, but if you're unhappy you are."
Holy crap that sentence alone makes me understand the world so much better!
Truly i just heard that part too and it hit hard
I was born and raised in a doomsday cult and have been out for about 10 years. Thank you for this video.
Does this cult have a name and is i5 very big? Glad you're out.
Soft hugs. It's hard getting out of a cult and healing.
Glad you’re out but sorry you had to go through that, must’ve been very tough
@@ryboi1337most cults are very small and not at all well known
@ryanmargolis2160 yeah but that's not a guarantee. Some cults are worldwide
Cults are endlessly interesting. Particularly the idea that anyone can be coerced into a cult. It's all very humbling, and a very human phenomenon.
to be honest, it isnt a human phenomenon. Almost all mammals form some sort of interpack structure, which at its most simplest is the reason we are prone to joining groups
@brqxton8974 other animals join groups for survival , strength of the many . Cults for humans are more spaces for lonely people to belond to something , something larger , its a lack of purpose in thier life that drives them to want to be in a cult , obviously they don't know it is a cult
I'm not able to join any cult.
I'm allergic to all of them.
Everyone is at some point in their lives vulnerable to being indoctrinated into a cult. though that does not mean everyone *currently* is. It easily puts into question the belief that "if most people think something is a good idea, that must mean that it is." I don't know anyone myself who thinks that way, but I've seen a lot of people online and in the media that do.
Islam is cult guys
Hey i was part of a cult as a kid. i didn't know I was because everyone was super nice and only found out I was part of one as an adult. My wife had to be the one to break it to me and so I did research. They would public humiliate people who left, they claimed to speak for God, they claimed they had spiritual powers that were given to them by God. It was wild stuff. if you think that stuff is hard to believe, well you'd be right. If you grew up in it and if that's all you knew, well then it's a different story.
Also everything he is saying is true
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am glad you have such a loving wife.
😂
My friends broke it to me that I grew up in a cult. I thought it was perfectly normal.
Mormon? JW?
Almost all religions are cults at their core. There is threat of not having an everlasting life after death and other intangible, magical promises.
Let's hope this reaches some of the people who need it most.
I like this guy's honesty, "Involutary deprogramming? Yes I have done that in the past."
It sounds awful when it's called that, but it generally involves feeding someone nutritious meals, providing comfort and safety, and asking questions that get them to begin using their minds for critical thinking again. I don't think anybody in their right mind is opposed to giving an abused person food, safety, and the freedom to think critically.
"The end is near" conveys urgency and 'I have the answers'
Yeah same reason scammers give a sense of urgency, they want to get you so stressed your critical thinking is hindered. The same way you don't critically evaluate the possibilities if you see a bush move in the jungle, it's probably something harmless but the fact it could be a venomous snake will make you unable to think and force you to take a couple steps back just in case. By making it seem like there is imminent danger they can tap into that instinct that makes you reactive and cloud your judgement and you'll follow their solution to that danger without questioning if there was really danger in the first place.
I recently saw a T-shirt that said, "The Beginning is Near." It had blue skies around the slogan. Pretty cool.
my favorite Cult was the Blue Oyster
Don't fear the reaper
@@saschamayer4050 more cowbell
I. M. Ready 2 Rock 🤘
i prefer the one of personality
😂😂😂
This man is so well read and articulate. I was thoroughly entertained and learned a lot while watching this one.
Props to this guy for helping people be better aware of situations where people might be taking advantage of them. It's easy to get caught up in a bad group of people who are really good at talking.
I might need some family members to talk to this man
What cult are they in?
@@ryboi1337MAGA
I like howw he handled that rude question of "how can you even get yourself into a cult". My abuser had cult-like behaviours, he was disgusting
I really, really wish that logic and skepticism was taught in schools at an early age.
Well one political party wants to abolish the Dept of Education, ban books, and basically indoctrinate
How to tell you're in a cult: You go to a group event and Tom Cruise is a key speaker.
Religions should pay taxes
i couldn't agree more.
Churches use all our infrastructure and pay nothing for it all. Therefore tax dollars DO support churches. It is an easy argument. Won't happen in my lifetime, though,
truth
As should 501c3 Helper Organizations. Or at least be audited for fraud. They also abuse people.
Religions should be considered the same as theatres - they do the same thing, and should pay the same taxes
Escaped a cult 5 years ago. Lost all my family and friends along with it, and I felt like I was taking crazy pills.
Thank you for this video because so many people do not take cults seriously.
I hope you are doing better now ❤ 🙏🏻 it must've taken incredible courage
@@godslittlestidiot2984 in many ways yes, but I struggle with making friends and starting relationships. I never really had to make friends before because everyone I ever needed was right there. Part of that struggle is also not having "normal" life experiences. I've had to learn a lot
My BFF is a lawyer for the FBI. He said most cults and criminal organizations are brought down over weapon charges.
Because being a controlling as*hole isn't illegal.
They all behave in similar patterns. They are organized, calculated and some form of external abuse will be used be the Cult, Criminal Syndicate, etc. They just present themselves, differently.
how does one even become a cult deprogrammer…?
Psychologists usually, I believe.
Some are ex law enforcement.
Edit, it was pointed out that I accidentally wrote psychiatrist instead of psychologist. It has since been corrected.
He doesn't have any psych credentials. @@Pfischful
By simply claiming to be one.
Usually they're one that got away.
@@Pfischful Psychologist I think. Psychiatrist handles medication for mental illnesses, while psychologists do more talking and stuff (but might not be able to prescribe medications).
The chorus at my college was scheduled to sing "The Creation" by Haydn. Someone had the idea to create t-shirts that said "The Beginning is Near." I thought that was clever.
is it just me or is the very first answer describing 99% of modern workplaces 😅
That was my first thought, too. "Sounds like my job, mate"
I don't see it
Sounds like America😂
can we get a Dark Mode version of these videos?
good idea. not everyone is watching mid day
Yeah, this set is bright af. They should at least use some red lighting.
Stop
Turn down your brightness and live with it
😆
At least he's wearing a black shirt
"buddy walked in the room and you could sense his little gnome aura. stinky green with flies." this guys funny asf
i didnt know Rick Ross was a rapper AND cult deprogrammer!
Loved this guy when he talked about cults a few years ago so great to see that he’s back for another video!
I’m the granddaughter of a cult leader who Rick Ross wrote about. His writing aided in the collapse of the cult. Yes, the children of cults can deprogram. In my experience, and what I have observed, a lot of the likelihood of deprogramming and recovery is influenced by the depth of their families involvement, the extent of the abuse the child suffered and just basic personality
This video was incredibly informative. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Rick Alan Ross' expertise and articulate description and examples. Thank you Wired for pulling this together making the internet more aware.
This has to be my favoutite Tech Support so far, good job
What if half the country is in a cult?
Yeah the democrats all thought kamala was a good option lol
Oh zip it
@@danbh84 Truth hurts doesn't it
What cult?
The cult of personality
I like this guy. Most people in the comments twist his words to say things they want but he remains neutral and instead of jumping to politics or bashing religion he makes a clear distinction between religion and cults which there is. Are there groups in a mainstream religion that can begin to act like a cult? Yes there is. Of course there is.
If a group acts like a cult, I'd argue it is one. If it walks and quacks like a duck....Just because something doesn't check off every box to determine that, doesn't mean it isn't.
8:56 bro is unfazed by anything
5:38 I'm kinda sure the Pope is NOT accountable for anything, he's literally a king (of Vatican City), and they're kinda adamant about the point "there's no salvation except in (our religion)".
I would say as a Catholic, that if you are living under a religious rule (ie. The Rule of St. Bendict) or have a rule of obedience to a Bishop, then you are probably in a situation similar to being in a cult. Especially if you are under the authority of someone toxic who uses the techniques of control that a cult leader would use.
If you are a lay Catholic who can just walk away with no consequences other than a feeling of guilt over making your mom sad, then you weren't in a cult.
He said that the majority of mainstream religions are NOT cults.
They do not coerce you not to leave. If the members have an opinion it's theirs not the religion's.
The only major known religion that is in fact more cult than religion is Scientology.
The age of consent in Vatican City was 12 until 2010.
@@nonnayerbusiness7704 : fair point. However, just for example, in Italy until recent times (20 years or so?), you didn't really want to tell your grandma you were not getting married in a church, you could lose your inheritance. There's some shady mix of guilt-trip, social blackmail ("never going to speak to you again"), and money-related extortion (comply, and you'll have your study payed, don't...).
@@MattiaBulgarelli I mean in that example thats not a cult, thats just your grandma being manipulative. A cult needs a central authority. Imo the primary difference between a cult and a religion is that a religion has grown beyond the scope of one central authority. You could argue that some religions are actually many smaller cults that use the same mythology and systems to indoctrinate followers. Either way I think we can agree that religion can lead to terrible, abusive behaviour, regardless of if it strictly meets the definition of cult or not.
Great video. Only nitpick is calling the Jim Jones thing a "mass suicide" even if he did say the children were murdered cuz there was no way for them to choose suicide, other people were also forced to drink the poison. I watched a documentary on it, and the survivors described it as a mass murder.
Most of the people voluntarily drank the poisonous drink.
This is a good point and clarification, but many, many of his followers did take the poison voluntarily. One of the most haunting things I have ever heard is the audio recording of the mass suicide/murder in Jonestown, which was recorded in its entirety.
@@therealJamieJoy @darkness_visible Refer back to the part of the video where Ross mentions standing ovations. If everyone around you is doing something, you are going to feel more compelled to do it. Especially if you just had to watch someone else who refused to drink be held down and injected against their will. Even more so if your judgement is hampered by sleep deprivation and malnourishment like the victims were. To characterize the deaths of these people as either "murder" or "suicide" is to oversimplify the social dynamics at play. I personally would not describe the deaths as suicides in the traditional sense, just given the sheer amount of coercion involved.
@@general_ghosty Yes, but that is all part of being in a cult. Accepting horrendous abuse as a part of daily life. Cults program people to give up themselves in offering to a leader.
@@therealJamieJoy The majority were literally surrounded by armed enforcers. Those who ran were shot.
All interesting but I'd like to add a counter point. The Branch Davidians weren't making illegal weapons for some stockpile.
They were legitimate gun sellers. They had booths at the local gun shows and everything. They would import parts and manufacture the weapons to sell in America legally. The FBI and ATF illegally raided them that day in Waco. Not saying Koresh isn't a monster and didn't need to be stopped. The whole Waco raid was a complete clusterfuck of bad decisions.
Koresh also didn't "decide it was time for the end" and burn the place down. The ATF pumped flammable CS gas into the compound which ignited, trapping the members inside, burning and suffocating them.
If you question yourself if you're in a cult. You're probably in a cult
No. If you are told not to question, THEN you are in a cult. Every person who follows a movement should always compare their experience to the earmarks of a cult.
Not questioning is the way to get stuck.
Wrong, like the other comment said, if you are told to never question a movement then you are in a cult. Your methos would make it impossible to be part of anything unless you are 100% devoted and would never question your group. Thats exactly the type of mindset that a cult would want.
Nope. To stay safe it is best to evaluate every group you are a part of, or considering, and compare it to the red flags of coercive control. See B.I.T.E. Model
So, you didn't watch....
I was roped into Amway in 2018. I wanted to be successful because i had grown up in poverty and wanted to help my family. I was only in for 2 months but I was lucky. I know so many people like me who haven't been able to get away... It's sad.
I nearly got roped into that nonsense about a decade ago. Luckily something about it always truck me as odd, and I hadn't even learned the terms pyramid scheme or MLM yet. A friend did it for a while, and I'm pretty sure they stopped doing it...but I never asked.
Either way, I just remember a lot of the stuff they were trying to sell being all over their bedroom and bathroom at one point, and when I found out exactly how and why that's commonplace considering that model of "Business", it made sense. As well as made me angry. Every time I see the usual tell-tale signs on someones social media, I'm like "NOOOOOOOOOO"
I live in Albany, New York and learned about NXVIM (however its spelled) after Keith got busted. When I learned his partner was Nancy Salzman, I was floored! My mom went to her for therapy in the early 90's and helped her a lot! My mom was not recruited into the cult, and because she died in 2011, never learned about NXVIM. She would have been shocked as I was I'm sure. I still can't believe that cult was in my neck of the woods and never knew about it..crazy!!
I used to watch Smallville and i was crazy shocked 😢😢😢😢
I like this guy. Kinda wanna worship him...
😂😂
let's form a group! maybe we can rent an Airbnb somewhere secluded? we only eat stinging nettle and worship our leaders true form - black phillip the goat.
@@HoldFastFilms all hail Rick Allen Ross
Bruh
@HoldFastFilms I'm joining. Just let me know the address and I'll be there lmao
you gonna have to try harder to convince me that all major religions aren't cults to a lesser degree... everything he said in the first 30 seconds applies to pretty much all flavors of Christianity I've encountered
I worked for a cult deprogrammer, we had some serious interesting clients.
What did you do? I'm surprised it's in demand enough to pay well lol
Thank you for bringing up Jehovah's Witnesses. As someone who grow up as one, they are absolutely a cult! The amount of lives I saw ruined, and family's destroyed makes me sad to this day.
Except JW beliefs are based on the Bible…nor do they have a ‘cult leader’. I also grew up as one and I wouldn’t say they were a cult just more of a closed off religion. Also if you think they still cut off family members who aren’t in the religion, that has been changed quite recently.
@@Juli95the governing body members are the leaders
@@Juli95 I guess you haven't been exposed to the Silent lambs website? I know a few people who were severely harmed by the church. The church did nothing but hide it and shame the children.
@@Juli95They are definitely a cult. There are 11 “cult leaders”. They cherry-pick scriptures and do not teach the Bible. They keep people in by using fear tactics. Also, they did not fully change their DF policy and didn’t change the policy regarding DA ones at all. Why all the talk about not reading or believing negative things said about the religion? If what they are saying is true, followers should be able to look at anything, because the truth stands up to scrutiny. “Closed off religion” says it all.
Jehovah's Witnesses don't ruin lives. Every ex member is allowed to move on without us. If you want a good example of a religion that ruins lives go look at Scientology. They will blackmail you before you leave with all the information they gathered about you during their E-Meter sessions. After that, they will stalk you and even call your job to get you fired. They will use your confessions during your E-Meter sessions to ruin your life. Go look up the death of the famous Lisa McPherson who was held against her own will until she died. Jehovah's Witnesses have done nothing like that. They just cast you out and leave you alone. No interference.
I'm a JW myself. Only I'm an adult convert. I don't have any JW. 40% of JW are people like me. We have little to no family in the religion. So there's no way they can ruin people's lives.
I do think it's so important to correctly distinguish religious organisations and cults. Not all cults are religious, not all religions are cults.
Religions are just cults that broke the mold and got popular.
There is a book and an old After School Special called The Wave, its a great case study about cults.
Thanks to all the people who make this series possible, every video is a gem
I may have missed it, but you didn’t mention the Love Bombing, Secret Knowledge, and Dispensing with Existence factors involved in recruiting/indoctrinating, all of which were critical in my recruitment.
He did mention "Dispensing with Existence" without using the term. He mntion isolating family, friends, anyone who does not belong to the group.
This content is so good! I'm hooked!
The benefits of being anti-social, I could never join a cult
Being anti social makes you an even better target to join a cult. You are already self isolated.
No,no, social isolation helps. You're basically half way there!
or the military
Sounds like you described tele-evangelist and a few Evangelical churches that I've seen. I've been under the impression that many Evangelical churches are becoming more and more cultlike since the rise of the Christian Right and Jerry Falwell & Reagan made religion political.
I'd agree about televangelists, for sure. John Oliver has a good episode about one
Ronald Reagan did not make religiosity political. it was a different time when all political leaders talked about god and religion. don't confuse president reagan with falwell.
@@jlg3315 The person who really brought the very religious into the political fold was Jimmy Carter. He ran specifically as a Christian after the awfulness that was Nixon. Unfortunately you then had people like Falwell that twisted that into supporting policies Christ would have hated.
One gets government tax breaks and the other always misses the ship
"Misses the ship"? 🤔
I don't get it.
@@saschamayer4050every time there’s like a mass sui or something someone is gone or shows up late and “misses the ship” because the mass sui is normally done at a certain time or date in order them to be “beamed up” to the mother ship aka there was never a ship and they dodged a bullet or “missed the ship”
Trumpism is no cult, but Tina Turners relationship is? Yeah, right...
They are both cults.
You can’t call it a cult just because you hate it.
I'd bet money he was coached by Wired on what he could actually say about Trumpism. Don't wanna lose subscribers!
@@sherrifjenkins9229 many psychological experts are saying it is a cult. It ticks all the boxes for a cult. This is not about love/hate or being on "a team" it's about the situation being so dangerous some of his supporters are willing to kill in his name. That's pretty intense.
He’s back!!
To be honest, I’ve stayed sitting during a standing ovation if I wasn’t impressed, and I’ve been the first to stand up if I was blown away by a performance. Staying seated should not be viewed as a sign of disrespect and people shouldn’t feel pressured to stand up. It’s all good either way.
Are you sure Apple was a benign cult? It's my understanding that Jobs was rather emotionally abusive towards anyone within striking distance when it suited him.
Apple being a "benign" cult is debatable...
It's not benign. Google "Right to repair and Apple". Very bad for the environment.
Like a benign tumor.
religion has transparency and accountability? I have to point to the catholic church on that one. Has a single abusive priest ended up in prison? has a single decision-maker that helped relocate/cover up abuse been held accountable?
Excellent point! It is being exposed in the Anglican Church too.
Not defending the Catholic Church but yes a lot of paedophile priests are in prison
I believe he means they are accountable amongst themselves and to each other, not a dictatorship like a cult is.
12:08 Someone hire this man some bodyguards, if he doesn't already have then.
Stockholm syndrome. One is blinded till their 40’s. I had no speculations that my father was a cult leader. I could not articulate the abuse with words being so entrained….
The biggest reason people get into cults is due to desperation, you can be smart and be fooled.
love the use of examples
Family cult....oh, The Duggars....
Don't forget Westboro Baptist Church.
An entire country ban become a cult..."It's Easier to Fool People Than It Is to Convince Them That They Have Been Fooled". can't wait to quote this during upcoming holiday dinners with family...
Rick Ross detoxing people 🔥🔥
I never thought I'd be seeing my favourite artist Rick Ross on wired! 😂😂😂😂
Anyone interested in this subject should check out Daniella Young, I read her book UnCULTured recently and it was so eye opening!
the fact that involuntary deprogramming was banned in the us and all the mental institutions were closed explains a lot
GOP? Checked all boxes except a charismatic leader.
They think he's charismatic. I don't know why, but some people get off on hearing someone tell them it's OK to hate.
If it doesn't depend on intelligence or education, are there certain traits in people, which make them susceptible to (a certain) manipulation?
We are all group animals, social.
But not everyone falls for this sort of thing, far more people have heard of than are a member of it.
Most of us have heard of scientology, and it doesn't have that many followers.
This is a question for sociologists perhaps.
Most people I know are in one kind of cult (if you count religions, as I do). Not all in the same one. Different cults.
Don't know anyone who doesn't want to.
@@saschamayer4050 yet this man, who is a cult expert, just told you that by definition religions are NOT cults.
Just because you feel something is cultish does not actually make it so.
@@jonok42 He listed off all the reasons an organization is considered a cult, and religions literally ticked all the boxes. He may be an expert but he is also human. Not infallible.
One of the people on wired was a lady who was a former member of a political cult. So it can be people who think theyre doing the right thing for their country and the world.
I think some traits would be people going through very hard times, befriend a cult member who helps them feel better and then time passes and they become manipulated. Like a lot of abusive relationships start out good, or not bad. But by the time the victim realizes, they are really tied up in the relationship through income/ kids.
I think when i was so depressed i couldn't get out of bed i could've definitely gone to at least a couple meetings 😂😂 of something.
I wonder if he'll talk about the Apple and Tesla cults.
He did mention Apple in the video.
Perhaps watch the video before commenting.
Realyy great informative video
i find cults really interesting i really want to do this when im older :)
And I will stop u right there 👏🏾🥰
Learning about cults done traumatized me
There are mother family cult leaders too.
Oh, that's funny. I used to live in Dutch Harbor AK, a huge fishing town, and there was a Unification Church there. I'd never heard of The Moonies before, but it makes sense that they'd be there.
I used to live in Homer AK. We had the Moonies there.
Back in the 70s and 80s, cults seemed to be more pervasive to society than they are now. The Moonies were well known and talked about often. I had forgotten about them until hearing him speak about the cult.
This guy is incredible, I'll follow him anywhere
Dude dissed Ranieri so bad, good on him.
In reference to the question at 8:58, Do cults recruit based off appearance? JMS Cult Recruits based on race, gender, age, social status, and appearance.
Surprised this guy has time to make this video... seems like there's a good chunk of the US that are in need of his services right now.
He just told us they aren't.
@@jonok42 he did say Q annon was a cult and also there are tons of cults in the US..
Don't I know it.
He's one of them.
Did he use the words "religion" transparency and accountability in the same sentence. The native Americans would probably not agree with that nor any other group that has been colonized by christians. The church has never been held accountable for the atrocities carried out in the name of God ever.
U cant put that on all billions of christians. That was just white people
@@bologneseprinceyou spread it, you’re part of it.
I appreciate the kindness you bring to this topic. Let's not judge people who are in a cult as being low IQ but recognize them as being exploited at a vulnerable moment when they weren't able to see the warnings signs.
I’m curious to hear this guys take on AA
I’ve looked this up before to read people’s opinions on AA. the common answer was that there were cult like elements but it doesn’t fit the more technical description.
tragedy + time = comedy
cult + time = religion
the podcast Trueanon has a great series about the Synanon cult, its called "The Game".
11:07 Wait a minute. Steve Jobs was a cult leader but Trump is not?! Come on. You can’t be serious.
It was a flimsy, paper thin excuse as to why not, and contradictory to other answers. Def gave the vibe that he voted for him but had to validate to himself.
Yeah, he's off on that one.
Can this dude talk to half of the country please
He really nailed this topic.
hoping soma MAGAts see this and can change for the better
Sounds like a certain international group in Clearwater FL.
Watch out they’re gonna fair game you lol
You mean the one that was mentioned multiple times? lol
Yes, the group was mentioned.
A Cult is a religion where the leader is still alive.
He'll be the emperor you deserve.
When he explained the difference between cults and religions, his arguments doesn’t contradict the 3 primary core characteristics that define a cult though…
Absolutely. By his own examples and definition.
I am grateful my mother educated me about cults. When I went to college, I found three cults on campus!
There's a sliver of difference on a venn diagram. That's social acceptance of one but not the other.
If I'm at a theater, and everyone else stands up and starts clapping I just sit there, and ask myself "Who are they clapping for? The people on the screen can't hear them. The director, and crew aren't here... What are they doing?"
I do not stand up and clap with them. That'd be super silly and awkward.
Whole time I was wondering when he was gonna show us what the photo of the shirtless man was for
9:00 A cult in the Philippines is kind of known for having a lot of babes. I think cults purposefully recruit babes to help with the recruitment process, so once you marry into a cult, you can never leave, and you produce beautiful offspring to further the cycle.
4:51 as a former christian, this honestly just bolsters my belief that all organized religion is a cult.
same here, i feel you bro
Same here, TBH.
Because you are dumb. And neither Mormons or JWs' are Christian.
He flat out told you that they aren't.
Try listening better. Your feelings do not make fact.
@@jonok42 he said a whole lot of "they aren't because they don't do this" when my experience in religion has been "they do this"
"Signs you're in a cult."
Answers.
me, in tech: "sounds like a project manager."
The only thing I disagree with him on is the idea that Trumpism is not a cult and that getting booed means he's not a cult leader (around 12:00). I do get the sense that he's sponsored by Trump affiliates.
It’s because you’re chronically online
Current Mormon here! I love learning about cults and am still a believer
Keep learning! You will figure it out eventually!