Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 48
can back up what you believe, you would rather not rock the boat. The result of conforming
in small ways can best be illustrated by my reaction to excessive confession.
We were encouraged, for example, to confess as sin the fact that ―I was in a bad mood this
morning when I got up,‖ or, ―I was afraid of what someone might think of me,‖ etc. When I
first arrived at DTS, I was scared and nervous about being on my own for the first time. I
certainly had not tried to hide my fear from God, but I did not feel the need to confess it
every day as sin. It seemed to me that this would create an unhealthy self-absorption. But
not wanting to be stubborn, I relented and confessed things that I did not really think
necessary to confess. In a matter of weeks, I was very much caught up in the spirit of
confession and was an avid participant. In the words of a former cult member. ―They get
you behaving before they get you believing. I thought they were acting like fanatics, but
when I began to behave like them, I had to rationalize that they were okay.‖22
Exclusive Social System
To be a member of a cult a person must remove himself from society, cut himself off from
job, education, friends, and family.23
The DTS ―Guidelines‖ stated: ―Weekdays (Mon.-Fri.) -Students should not leave the general
area between Kainaliu and Captain Cook without permission. The principle behind this is
that we maintain the integrity of the community God is building together. Weekends will be
for going to Kailua and other areas‘ ―Singles are not allowed personal cars‖ ―Couples and
families may have a car, but must maintain the integrity of the weekly schedule.‖ There was
no outside stimulation. We were not allowed to watch TV. ―You go to the beach because you
want to get away from the DTS people,‖ a student wrote, ―and then you run into them all at
the beach.‖ Everywhere I went, YWAM people were there to reinforce what we were being
taught.
Religious cults are exclusive social systems, claiming that their members will achieve
salvation (or happiness). Members are taught to believe that they are „superior‟ to those
outside the group.24
An organization called ―Sports Life‖ took a group of Christian college soccer players to Spain
as part of their ministry. While there, members of the team stayed with YWAM
representatives. The following was taken from an interview with several of these players.
We stayed in Barcelona, Spain, with an outreach group called Youth With A Mission
...We didn‘t get along with the outreach group. They saw our group as just coming
for the enjoyment and not really wanting to spread the news ...The people at YWAM
were really skeptical. When we told them what we were doing they said: ―What,
soccer?‖ They thought we were nuts or something. For one of their meetings, YWAM
was going to a gypsy camp. [The soccer team went along.] ...It‘s a tough place to
go and have a program because they‘re [the gypsies] not very open to anyone ...A
lot of people turned out. They wanted to see what we [the soccer players] were all
about. So much so that the YWAM people were astonished. They couldn‘t believe the
turnout and the reaction ...25
YWAM does make a point to be involved with other mission groups and encourages its
members to become involved in local churches, but as illustrated by this incident in Spain,
the prevailing attitude is that the way YWAM operates is the right way. They found it hard to
accept a different type of group. Every member has been taught the exact same thing -
thanks in part to the fact that lectures are recorded -so everyone agrees that YWAM is
right.
can back up what you believe, you would rather not rock the boat. The result of conforming
in small ways can best be illustrated by my reaction to excessive confession.
We were encouraged, for example, to confess as sin the fact that ―I was in a bad mood this
morning when I got up,‖ or, ―I was afraid of what someone might think of me,‖ etc. When I
first arrived at DTS, I was scared and nervous about being on my own for the first time. I
certainly had not tried to hide my fear from God, but I did not feel the need to confess it
every day as sin. It seemed to me that this would create an unhealthy self-absorption. But
not wanting to be stubborn, I relented and confessed things that I did not really think
necessary to confess. In a matter of weeks, I was very much caught up in the spirit of
confession and was an avid participant. In the words of a former cult member. ―They get
you behaving before they get you believing. I thought they were acting like fanatics, but
when I began to behave like them, I had to rationalize that they were okay.‖22
Exclusive Social System
To be a member of a cult a person must remove himself from society, cut himself off from
job, education, friends, and family.23
The DTS ―Guidelines‖ stated: ―Weekdays (Mon.-Fri.) -Students should not leave the general
area between Kainaliu and Captain Cook without permission. The principle behind this is
that we maintain the integrity of the community God is building together. Weekends will be
for going to Kailua and other areas‘ ―Singles are not allowed personal cars‖ ―Couples and
families may have a car, but must maintain the integrity of the weekly schedule.‖ There was
no outside stimulation. We were not allowed to watch TV. ―You go to the beach because you
want to get away from the DTS people,‖ a student wrote, ―and then you run into them all at
the beach.‖ Everywhere I went, YWAM people were there to reinforce what we were being
taught.
Religious cults are exclusive social systems, claiming that their members will achieve
salvation (or happiness). Members are taught to believe that they are „superior‟ to those
outside the group.24
An organization called ―Sports Life‖ took a group of Christian college soccer players to Spain
as part of their ministry. While there, members of the team stayed with YWAM
representatives. The following was taken from an interview with several of these players.
We stayed in Barcelona, Spain, with an outreach group called Youth With A Mission
...We didn‘t get along with the outreach group. They saw our group as just coming
for the enjoyment and not really wanting to spread the news ...The people at YWAM
were really skeptical. When we told them what we were doing they said: ―What,
soccer?‖ They thought we were nuts or something. For one of their meetings, YWAM
was going to a gypsy camp. [The soccer team went along.] ...It‘s a tough place to
go and have a program because they‘re [the gypsies] not very open to anyone ...A
lot of people turned out. They wanted to see what we [the soccer players] were all
about. So much so that the YWAM people were astonished. They couldn‘t believe the
turnout and the reaction ...25
YWAM does make a point to be involved with other mission groups and encourages its
members to become involved in local churches, but as illustrated by this incident in Spain,
the prevailing attitude is that the way YWAM operates is the right way. They found it hard to
accept a different type of group. Every member has been taught the exact same thing -
thanks in part to the fact that lectures are recorded -so everyone agrees that YWAM is
right.
