How to spot a cult — elliot freeman

I went to an interesting workshop by Anke Richter, a cult researcher, and thought I’d share some learnings.

I was curious because I’ve seen some dubious ethics as I’ve explored spirituality / personal development through workshops, communities etc.

But cultish qualities can appear anywhere, even workplaces.

Cults develop over time and don’t necessarily look sinister.

The world seems to be quite susceptible to them with online echo chambers (e.g. Q Anon) and a thirst for community and meaning.

What makes a cult?

Control (could be over your emotions, work, financial sacrifice, food, often led by a charismatic leader)
Unity (there’s a common goal, group think, ‘us vs them’ mentality)
Love (new members are seduced, experience love bombing and trauma bonding)
Transformation (promise of something bigger)

Red flags to look for:

secrecy about the content of a program, workshop or institution
buzzwords, jargon
grandiose claims (e.g. “life-changing”)
lack of choice / doctrine (e.g. my way or the highway)
fear to speak up (could be seeing someone ridiculed or shut down)
no feedback system
gaslighting or spiritual bypassing (e.g. “you’ve attracted this”, ”this is an opportunity for you”)

What ethical teachers do

acknowledge the power differential (teachers are often put on a pedestal and ultimately someone is paying so it’s important to recognise this)
encourage students to make safety requests
allow people to leave the room or rest
invite you to challenge authority and give feedback
have no favourite or intimate relationships
make amends after mistakes

Things to consider:

Everyone is susceptible (it’s not just naive, lonely people - in fact very often it’s the opposite)
Cults feel good (they don’t look sinister!)
If you spot red flags, call them out. You can help to prevent a slide into abusive power structures