Cult Danger Evaluation Frame (P.E.I.Bonewits)

CULT DANGER EVALUATION FRAME ~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~

(with apologies to P.E.I. Bonewitz)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 low middle high

Rate these 15 criteria according to the amount of it you perceive in a given group/religious organization. Higher scores usually mean a higher danger of mind control or brainwashing.

1.) HOW MUCH CONTROL DO THE LEADER(S) OF THE ORGANIZATION

HAVEOVER

ITSMEMBERSHIP?............................___________

2.) HOW MUCH WISDOM AND/OR INFALLIBILITY IS CLAIMED BY

THELEADER(S)OFTHEORGANIZATION?...................___________

3.) HOW MUCH WISDOM AND/OR INFALLIBILITY DO THE MEMBERS

OF THE ORGANIZATION CREDIT TO THEIR LEADER(S)?.......___________

4.) HOW INFLEXIBLE IS THE ORGANIZATION ON INTERPRETATION

OF

DOCTRINE/REALITY

CONCEPTS?........................___________

5.) HOW IMPORTANT IS RECRUITING/PROSELYTIZING TO THE

ORGANIZATION?........................................___________

6.) HOW MANY FRONT GROUPS DOES THE ORGANIZATION OPERATE

UNDER?...............................................___________

7.) HOW MUCH EMPHASIS DOES THE GROUP PLACE ON DONATIONS?

HOW IS MONEY USED WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION? ARE THE

LEADER(S) VISIBLY WEALTHIER THAN THE RANK-AND-FILE

MEMBERSOF

THEORGANIZATION?........................____________

8.) HOW MUCH POLITICAL POWER EXISTS WITHIN THE

ORGANIZATIONORIS DESIREDBYTHE ORGANIZATION?.....____________

9.) IS THERE SEXUAL MANIPULATION BEING USED IN THE

GROUP? (HARASSMENT/LEADER(S) ASKING OR GETTING

SEXUALFAVORSFROMTHEMEMBERS).....................____________

10.) HOW MUCH ACCESS TO AND TOLERANCE OF OTHER IDEAS DO

THE LEADER(S) ACCORD MEMBERS? HOW MUCH DO MEMBERS

KNOWOFOUTSIDE OPINIONSOFTHE ORGANIZATION?.......____________

11.) HOW INTENSE ARE EFFORTS DIRECTED AT PREVENTING OR

RE-INDOCTRINATING

DROPOUTS?.........................____________

12.) DOES THE ORGANIZATION ENDORSE VIOLENCE ON BEHALF OF

ITOR

ITSLEADERS?..................................____________

13.) HOW MUCH PARANOIA DOES THE ORGANIZATION EXHIBIT

TOWARDSTHE"OUTSIDE

WORLD?"........................____________

14.) HOW MUCH DISAPPROVAL DOES THE ORGANIZATION HAVE OF

JOKES ABOUTIT,ITS DOCTRINES,OR ITSLEADER(S)?....____________

15.) HOW TIGHT IS DISCIPLINE INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION?

(FOR EXAMPLE, ARE THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH DOCTRINAL

POINTS OR LEADERSHIP DECISIONS OSTRACIZED OR

SHUNNED?).........................................._____________

Questions number 9 and 12 are pretty much yes or no questions, so give a 1 if no, a 10 if yes. 7 is an iffy one, if it looks like the leader or leaders of the group are living a lot higher on the hog than their

"flock", or that the leader(s) skim liberally from the "collection box" and use that to live in luxury, then you should give the group an automatic 9 or 10 in that department.

I hope this is of use to all in regards to figuring out whether or not a group is truly a "cult" or not. It's YOUR mind...USE IT!!!!!!!

Last amended June 11, 1989 -- Page NEXTRECORD

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