Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 49
Suppression of Individuality
Cultic religions often deprecate individuality the person is submerged in a sea of uniformity
in which individual identity is sacrificed to the goals of the group.26
In a lecture given in DTS entitled ―The Spirit of Independence,‖ students were told that
independence is a deception and that ultimately it can lead to suicide and abortion. To be
independent was to be anti-social and a cause of disunity. The effects of this concept can be
illustrated by an incident that made me quite uncomfortable because many of the concepts
presented didn‘t seem right I recall one lecturer stating, ―If national liberty ceases to
function, we won‘t be able to carry out the Great Commission.‖ The existence of Christians
living in Russia and China was proof to me that this was not true. Unfortunately, the
lectures were on tape, so I had no opportunity to challenge any of the ideas. After one of
these questionable lectures had ended, I decided I couldn‘t handle the commitment time
(during which peer pressure is brought to bear to accept as truth that which had just been
taught) immediately following. I felt the need to be alone to prayerfully consider all that I
had heard. I slipped out a side door while the others prayed. But I did not leave unnoticed.
Several days later, I was baptized in the Pacific Ocean, and as I reveled in that beautiful
experience, one of the staff approached me. ―So how are you liking it here so far,‖ he
began. ―Oh, I love it!‖ I replied. ―It seems like you‘ve been having problems with some of
the lectures,‖ he commented. ―You know, Laurie, you shouldn‘t be so independent‖
Sobered, I quietly began to defend myself. We discussed my behavior and motives for a
while. Finally he concluded. ―Laurie, God doesn‘t want you to go off on your own like that.
He will always show you someone [staff] in the room for you to talk with.‖ I never again left
a meeting.
Perhaps not being allowed to leave a lecture is a reasonable restriction. I can appreciate the
DTS staff not wanting students to be wandering off any time the mood struck them. But the
crucial point is that I was trying to avoid the pressure to accept things that did not seem
right to me. The influence of an emotional experience occurring during the ―time of
commitment‖ following each lecture cannot be overemphasized as a way to gain agreement
and conformity.
Submission and Authority
All that I have described so far can be summed up in the following paragraph:
The primary control mechanisms which [function] to hold members --
spiritually and psychologically --to cultic groups [include]...the severing of all
familiar social support systems (old friends, family, former church ties),
removal to a totalitarian and structured environment where all aspects of
one‘s life are controlled, indoctrination by an exclusivistic group possessing
―the truth,‖ limited access to outside simulation, diminished ability to think for
oneself, the use of fear and intimidation -these are the ties that bind the
spirit and cripple the mind.27
It was in this context that YWAM introduced its views on leadership. ‗Me actual lectures on
Submission and Authority were not given until the third month at King‘s. I remember being
impressed by the staff lecturer who said that they had waited to teach submission because
they had wanted our obedience to be based on their earned respect not by them telling us
that the Bible demanded it. At that time I had not yet realized that the strength of
Intercession and peer pressure had been sufficient to ensure our obedience. A former
student observed: ―When I look at the pattern of lectures given, I see exactly how we were
made weaker and weaker. If we would have received lectures on ‗Submission to Authority,‘
i.e., ‗You get the leaders you deserve,‘ at the beginning of DTS, there is no way I would
have handled it. They left that for the end because by that time our minds and emotions
Suppression of Individuality
Cultic religions often deprecate individuality the person is submerged in a sea of uniformity
in which individual identity is sacrificed to the goals of the group.26
In a lecture given in DTS entitled ―The Spirit of Independence,‖ students were told that
independence is a deception and that ultimately it can lead to suicide and abortion. To be
independent was to be anti-social and a cause of disunity. The effects of this concept can be
illustrated by an incident that made me quite uncomfortable because many of the concepts
presented didn‘t seem right I recall one lecturer stating, ―If national liberty ceases to
function, we won‘t be able to carry out the Great Commission.‖ The existence of Christians
living in Russia and China was proof to me that this was not true. Unfortunately, the
lectures were on tape, so I had no opportunity to challenge any of the ideas. After one of
these questionable lectures had ended, I decided I couldn‘t handle the commitment time
(during which peer pressure is brought to bear to accept as truth that which had just been
taught) immediately following. I felt the need to be alone to prayerfully consider all that I
had heard. I slipped out a side door while the others prayed. But I did not leave unnoticed.
Several days later, I was baptized in the Pacific Ocean, and as I reveled in that beautiful
experience, one of the staff approached me. ―So how are you liking it here so far,‖ he
began. ―Oh, I love it!‖ I replied. ―It seems like you‘ve been having problems with some of
the lectures,‖ he commented. ―You know, Laurie, you shouldn‘t be so independent‖
Sobered, I quietly began to defend myself. We discussed my behavior and motives for a
while. Finally he concluded. ―Laurie, God doesn‘t want you to go off on your own like that.
He will always show you someone [staff] in the room for you to talk with.‖ I never again left
a meeting.
Perhaps not being allowed to leave a lecture is a reasonable restriction. I can appreciate the
DTS staff not wanting students to be wandering off any time the mood struck them. But the
crucial point is that I was trying to avoid the pressure to accept things that did not seem
right to me. The influence of an emotional experience occurring during the ―time of
commitment‖ following each lecture cannot be overemphasized as a way to gain agreement
and conformity.
Submission and Authority
All that I have described so far can be summed up in the following paragraph:
The primary control mechanisms which [function] to hold members --
spiritually and psychologically --to cultic groups [include]...the severing of all
familiar social support systems (old friends, family, former church ties),
removal to a totalitarian and structured environment where all aspects of
one‘s life are controlled, indoctrination by an exclusivistic group possessing
―the truth,‖ limited access to outside simulation, diminished ability to think for
oneself, the use of fear and intimidation -these are the ties that bind the
spirit and cripple the mind.27
It was in this context that YWAM introduced its views on leadership. ‗Me actual lectures on
Submission and Authority were not given until the third month at King‘s. I remember being
impressed by the staff lecturer who said that they had waited to teach submission because
they had wanted our obedience to be based on their earned respect not by them telling us
that the Bible demanded it. At that time I had not yet realized that the strength of
Intercession and peer pressure had been sufficient to ensure our obedience. A former
student observed: ―When I look at the pattern of lectures given, I see exactly how we were
made weaker and weaker. If we would have received lectures on ‗Submission to Authority,‘
i.e., ‗You get the leaders you deserve,‘ at the beginning of DTS, there is no way I would
have handled it. They left that for the end because by that time our minds and emotions
