Mind control is not just the domain of far-out cult leaders like David Koresh or Jim Jones. It is not magical or mystical and it is not always obvious at first glance. It is a real and psychologically demonstrable and it happens routinely at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy.
Mind control and brainwashing are very serious charges to levy at anyone. What do I mean by these terms? To clarify what I mean by these words, I’ll be using the article called The Mind Control Toolbox from www.cultwatch.com, with my comments in bold:
1) Deception
A cult will use deception. The cult will not normally tell people exactly what they believe, their origins, what they practice, and what life is really like in the cult, because if people knew they would not join. This information is taught to the new recruit slowly and in pieces – a “frog in the pot” tactic.
Deception is a key pre-requisite to Mind Control. The cult must be willing to deceive people. The Bible teaches that Christians are not to use deception. Many cults know this and yet practice deception.
Unfortunately, deception does occur at the Honor Academy. When life at the Honor Academy is not what you were led to believe or when new and unexpected requirements are laid upon you, you are told that you have no choice but to submit and comply. This is classic bait and switch. Check the ‘true stories’ to see many examples of this.
2) Exclusivism
A mind control cult will promote an “Us verses Them” environment. They will teach their members that their church is the only true church, the only church in which you can be saved. If you leave the cult then it is said you have “fallen away from God.” This is done to instill fear in the members which can be expressed like this: If you ever think of leaving this body of true Christians or do something which forces us to expel you from this body then you will be losing your salvation and God will hate you. There is nowhere else you can go and still be a Christian. This is a powerful control mechanism.
Exclusivism is fear based control mechanism, the Bible tells us that we have no reason to fear except for a healthy fear of God. Exclusivism imposes false criteria on salvation – “If you do not join us and/or if you are not doing what we are doing you are not saved.” This of course is a serious doctrinal error ingrained in the practice of the group. Remember, just because a group does not teach it officially does not mean they do not practice it.
This last line is key. Honor Academy leadership would NEVER say this from the pulpit, but it is strongly implied in many ways. The us vs. them mentality is also prevalent. From the oft-used phrase that interns are “elite” leaders or warriors (even written on the entrances to the dormitories) to Ron’s constant berating of “namby-pamby, kumbaya Christians,” the interns are constantly told that they are better than other believers. The “cream of the crop” etc.
3) Fear and Intimidation
Leadership is feared. To disagree with leadership is to disagree with God. If the leaders tell you to do something, you had better do it. Often intense breaking sessions are employed to destroy any supposed rebellion or threat to the leadership. These sessions can involve many people at once attacking the character and motives of the target. (ESOAL, anyone?)
The Bible tells Christians not to “lord it over people,” but rather to be one another’s servants. Jesus attacked the Pharisees who placed themselves between God and the people. It does not take much to realize that fear and intimidation is not the biblical model for Christian leadership. (Fear and Intimidation is very different from having respect for Christian leaders.)
They do actually teach this hyper-authoritarianism from the pulpit. No matter what, you MUST submit to their leadership because they are “godly” and the “appointed authorities.” They routinely use this to squelch criticism, disagreement, or even just setting your own personal boundaries and making your own decisions.
4) Love Bombing
A mind control cult practices love bombing or false love. When you first join the cult you will gain instant friends, you’ll be hugged and everyone will want to talk to you. For someone who is lonely or comes from out of town this is especially wonderful. However, after a while this “love” becomes conditional on your performance and/or you measuring up to the cult’s unpublished standards. If you ever leave the cult then you know you will lose all of your new friends just as quickly as you gained them. Like an unhealthy marriage relationship, love is switched on and off to control. Of all of them, this is probably the most effective implement in the mind control tool box.
We are relational beings with the ultimate aim of regaining a relationship with the God who created us. It only requires common sense to see the power this “love bombing” tool could have on someone. We have all seen it at work in the cults, at work in manipulative relationships and at work as peer pressure in schools and society in general. This false love is a distortion of true love which is defined in 1 Corinthians 13.
I haven’t seen this particular tool used much at the Honor Academy, though I will say that your social acceptance is revoked if you commit certain sins or hold certain opinions.
5) Information Control
Those who control the information control the person. In a mind control cult any information from outside the cult is considered evil, especially if it is opposing the cult. Members are told not to read it or believe it. Only the cult-supplied information is true.
This technique is really a partner to deception. Common sense tells us that a person who does not consider all information may make an unbalanced decision. Filtering the information available or trying to discredit it not of the basis of how true it is, but rather on the basis of how it supports the party line, is a common control method used throughout history. A Christian should have nothing to fear from any source of information – after all “Falsehood runs from truth, but truth stands solid against falsehood.”
Teen Mania’s information control is major tool in their arsenal to brainwash interns. Any voice that disagrees with Teen Mania’s teachings is automatically construed as rebellious, wicked, lying, etc. The actual arguments in question are not ever addressed, but instead the source of those arguments is derided and their motives are questioned. The leadership usually spins the situation so that they are misunderstood, or more likely, persecuted. Using this tactic, they can keep the interns from actually examining both sides of the story and coming to their own conclusions.
13 comments:
None of this information is really new to me, but every time I read about the brainwashing and abuse that goes on at HA, it feels like someone is squeezing my heart so that it can’t beat properly. I feel so powerless; I want to help all the kids who are there – including my step-daughter – but have no way of actually DOING anything. But I think that this blog – the information and support it provides – will help so many people, once they are in a position to go looking for help. When my kid is home, I will be so glad to have you all as a resource.
January 28, 2010 8:19 AM
Nunquam Honorablus said…
“I haven’t seen this particular tool used much at the Honor Academy, though I will say that your social acceptance is revoked if you commit certain sins or hold certain opinions.”
RA, I have to vehemently disagree with this. This is absolutely what it’s like. You’re looking forward to making Godly friends, and leadership and fellow interns smother you with love and gushiness.
But as soon as you start thinking outside the box or questioning rules or leadership, it’s gone.
I regret to say that as a GI, I did this to brand new interns as well. I discounted them as a person entirely because they disagreed with a rule.
January 28, 2010 8:55 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
Nunquam – I personally don’t recall seeing it, but I still wanted to include this because I wasn’t sure if others might have experienced it. Thanks for clarifying.
January 28, 2010 10:03 AM
Nunquam Honorablus said…
Ah, right, that makes sense then. Good on ya for staying objective, though 🙂
I guess it probably varies, but for my year(s), that was definitely the major vibe everytime a new wave of fresh meat came in. 😛
January 28, 2010 10:10 AM
Ex-Intern Aug 07 said…
Yeah I can testify to Nunquam’s comment. They totally smother you with “love” in the beginning.
RA this is great – so truthful and insightful for those guys at the HA. Any current intern reading cannot deny that these tactics are in place!
January 28, 2010 3:54 PM
s said…
I never thought I’d do this– I’m writing to a blog… but I wanted to add that I’ve seen love-bomb tactics every year during Teen Mania’s mission trips. I was a team leader on their trips for years, and we were instructed by Ron or another high-rank TM guy to welcome the missionaries with hugs, slaps on the back, how-are-ya’s… to “love on them”. That was probably the very phrase that was used.
Whenever a bus pulled up with a new group of missionaries from the airport, those in the vicinity screamed like rock star groupies. When they walked into the registration area, it happen again with a new group. As far as those trips were concerned, it was the norm. And it made sense to me back then because some of those kids legitimately needed to be loved, and we also wanted to nip any homesickness in the bud.
I was never an intern, but I went on so many trips as a leader people thought I was for years. But I eventually quit going, and will refuse to go ever again until there is a fundamental change in how the ministry is run. I was getting more burned out every passing year; it got harder, not easier to lead kids and set up logistics; I had more rules to learn and it stopped being fun. Even some superiors on some trips knew that some things didn’t seem right.
You may be familiar with a pastor named Bruxy Cavey, and his book “The End Of Religion”. I go to his church, and it is decidedly the opposite of the culture I saw unfolding as the years went on. Being exposed to him, as well as Wayne Jacobsen, helped me to start moving past my own issues with a church I used to attend– so yes, this isn’t only an HA thing, not by a long shot.
Last thing: I met a LOT of interns throughout my time doing TM missions. I grew to love them as a group of people, and totally enjoyed having them with me on trips. So I feel so horrible for you, and any former interns who’ve experienced this. I’m glad you’ve recovered, but hearing the other stories makes me want to cry for you all.
January 28, 2010 4:29 PM
Recovering Alumni said…
Thanks for sharing about the “love bombing” everyone. Its certainly possible I was just oblivious to it! Hearing everyone’s comments sure helps give a more well-rounded and accurate picture of the HA.
January 28, 2010 7:21 PM
Anonymous said…
R.A. You were my CA, I feel totally left out for not being “love bombed” pshhh thanks alot! (totally kidding btw)
January 28, 2010 7:34 PM
Recovering Alumni said…
Anonymous – Oh good! At least one way I didn’t brainwash people! lol If you haven’t already emailed me, send me a note at recoveringalumni at hotmail dot com
January 28, 2010 7:41 PM
Diane said…
S! I go to The Meeting House, too! What site do you attend? I go to the Downtown Toronto one…
January 29, 2010 10:32 AM
s said…
Hey, RA, I’d like to respond to Diane, but want to stay anonymous. How do I do that?
January 31, 2010 6:02 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
S & Diane – If you want, send me an email and I can get you guys connected.
January 31, 2010 7:28 AM
kymberlydawn said…
There are other very classic signs of a cult. I cam across a small list in a persuasive communications course – the one that sticks with me… keeping people poorly fed, sleepless, and overworked. Yep, TM
And love-bombing, absolutely – I remember being handed the “Saber” [rules for the HA] and told “welcome to the family” – well intended? possibly. creepy? absolutely.
March 17, 2010 11:50 AM