Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2006, Page 27
CIA). In collaboration with the Taliban theocracy, he set up training camps, where recruits
from around the Muslim world learned Al Qaeda doctrine as well as the use of guns and
explosives. They formed autonomous small cells in Europe, Asia, and the United States that
were supported by a covert Muslim financial network. In 1997 bin Laden declared war on
the United States. Among his objectives were removal of U. S. bases in Saudi Arabia and
withdrawal of support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.
Since the defeat of the Taliban, Osama and the Al Qaeda leadership have disappeared. The
9/11 commission (9/11 Report, 2004) concluded that Al Qaeda had no connection with the
secular Baathists of Saddam Hussein. As we have noted, the extent of participation of Al
Qaeda in Iraq and even in Madrid may or may not be exaggerated. Although experts like
Bergen (2001) believe that the group may now be severely weakened, video tapes of
Osama appear from time to time that encourage the faithful. According to Steven Coll
(2004), Osama is the intellectual, the theorist, versed both in theology and politics he is
the public relations specialist for the group as well as its charismatic leader.
GPA of Al Qaeda
Please look at Exhibit B3. Compliance =4.6 Exploitation =4.1 Mind Control =4.6
Dependency =4.1 Total =4.4 (Cannot say 3 =11%).
When I apply whatever information is available to me in rating Al Qaeda on the GPA items,
across the board it is characteristic of a group that uses psychological abuse. In particular,
its high scores on Compliance and Mind Control fit with the impression that absolute
obedience to Allah is more important than material gain. There is no scale on the GPA that
characterizes a group on Violence (e.g. "aggressively kills outsiders in substantial
numbers"). Such a scale would help to justify classifying Al Qaeda as a killer cult.
Exhibit B3
Dole’s Ratings on GPA Subscales for Afghan Al Qaeda
Psy Abuse
Rating
Complia
nce
Exploita
tion
Mind
Control
Dependen
cy
5 very
characteristic
4.6 4.6
4.1 4.1
4
characteristic
3 can‘t say
2 not
characteristic
1 not at all
characteristic

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2006, Page 28
Heaven’s Gate
In 1997 39 members of a group known as Heaven‘s Gate killed themselves. As documented
by sociologist Janja Lalich (2004a 2004b), through interviews with former members and
informed others, plus content analysis of archival reports, and scholarly and popular
articles, Heaven‘s Gate was a totalistic group. Its charismatic leaders, Ti and Do, controlled
and influenced its members within a closed, self-sealing belief system.
Ti and Do, formerly Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, left traditional lives to form the
group in the 1970's. Applewhite was divorced with four children and had been a music
educator, while Nettles, a married mother of four children, had been a nurse.
At the height of the New Age Movement they were successful in recruiting members from
communes and college campuses. They spoke convincingly about the Book of Revelations,
about UFO's, reincarnation, and spirit beings, and they claimed they were messengers of
the second coming. New members ranged in age from the late teens to the sixties. They
gave up their worldly goods. Although these donations supported Ti and Do, Ti and Do were
not interested in material things or sex. In fact, Ti may have been a latent homosexual. In
the end they joined their followers in taking a poisonous potion of liquor and drugs.
Lalich (2004, page 233) described their belief system:
...Ti and Do would be killed by opponents. ...and three and one-half days
later a spaceship would arrive to lift them off to the "Next Level," or the
"Level Above Human." ...an actual physical place. ...Days, months, years,
even decades passed as Ti, Do, and their followers waited for the spaceship
to retrieve them, all that time living within their specially constructed social
system.
GPA of Heaven’s Gate
Now please look at B4. Compliance =5.0 Exploitation =2.1 Mind Control= 4.9
Dependency =4.4. Total =4.1 on Exhibit C (Cannot say =2 items, 7%).
According to my interpretation of the GPA items, Heaven‘s Gate members were strongly
attached to their leaders, who exerted exceptional psychological control. Within a bounded
world, there seemed to be little concern with outsiders, except as threat. Although Heaven‘s
Gate was characteristic of a cult, I saw no hint of terrorist behavior.
Exhibit B4
Dole’s Ratings on GPA Subscales for Heaven’s Gate
Psy Abuse Rating Compliance Exploitation Mind
Control
Depend
ency
5 very characteristic 5.0 4.9 4.4
4 characteristic
3 can‘t say
2.1
2 not characteristic
1 not at all
characteristic