Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 1988 Page 54
number of thorough investigations and observations. Once this initial step is taken and the
individual accepts the invitation, a result analogous to that within the nuclear research and
development area, occurs. ―An individual officially becomes a member of the classification
priesthood, agreeing to participate in its rituals and to abide by its regulations. Above all, the
person may swear never to disclose classified information to unauthorized persons...‖ (Hilgartner,
Ball &O'Connor, p. 59).
Once accepted into the elitist camp, the potential leader is subjected to a period of indoctrination.
The analogy with government secrecy continues: ―The DOE (Department of Energy) maintains a
program of continuing classification education to make sure that no one forgets his or her
responsibilities‖ (P. 59). In addition, ―once a person accepts a security clearance, his or her ability
to engage in public debate is compromised‖ (p. 59). The result is a serious segmentation of the
sect into members given ―access‖ to the sect's secrets and inner mechanics and those within the
sect but not granted security clearance. ―Those who know won't speak, and those who don't know
cannot speak with authority‖ (Livingstone, 1955:756).
The classification priesthood, coupled with the sin-potential hierarchy, places the doctrinal
proclamations and enforcements of OASIS leadership on a near infallible level. The priesthood
creates the illusion of invulnerability, where confidence is total and decisions are very rarely
challenged, if questioned at all. The priesthood also fosters an unwavering belief in the inherent
morality of its actions, which causes members to either ignore or minimize the ethical or moral
consequences of the priesthood's decisions (Janis, 1972).
Coercive Persuasion and Deviance Production: A Descriptive Analysis
The initial process of member/sect conflict is generally caused by a leak of information into the
group from the outside. This leak is beyond the group's control, because, being evangelistically
utopian, the sect must continually send out ―deployable agents‖ (Lofland and Stark, 1965, p. 873)
into the world for proselytizing purposes, as well as public relations work. The sect is thus caught
in a bind. Its main purpose is external activity, yet this very activity brings the sects members
into close contact with the secular world. This close relationship with the outside world has the
tendency to erode the mythical aspects of the sect's segmented environment Intensive interaction
between deployable agents and prospective converts can create ―seeds of doubt‖ about the
veracity of the sect's mission. It can also dissipate the picture of a stark ―good/evil,‖ ―black/white‖
world that has been built in the deployable agents mind.
From information inadvertently obtained from outside the sect, a member might start his own
investigation of problems with the sect's doctrines, norms, and purposes. Because of this built-in
possibility, members are continually exhorted to ―touch base‖ with other members. Many live
together in communal houses, have regular meetings on a daily basis where they tell ―war
stories‖ of their experiences ―in the world,‖ and continually reinforce the sects segmentation.
Hence, in many cases, the deployable agent has little time for reflective thinking.
Furthermore, members' time away from the sect is often monitored. If members miss more than
one or two meetings, they may be reproved for ―forsaking fellowship.‖ There have even been a
few cases of excommunication for this .crime‖ of lax participation in group activities. Members
who go home to visit friends and relatives are sometimes encouraged not to stay too long
because ―you may lose your sense of purpose,‖ or more often, ―may lose the vision.‖ At
conferences, (particularly Leadership Training '86), ―canned‖ letters of progress, that are written
by the leadership, are sent to the families of participating members. In addition to the regular
church-wide meetings, there are smaller home groups that also meet, and even smaller ―cell‖
groups of eight to a dozen members overseen by one or two leaders. These cell groups are for
―accountability and encouragement‖ A member's schedule is so filled with activity that it is very
difficult for some reflectively to think about any conflicting information or behaviors that they may
see.
number of thorough investigations and observations. Once this initial step is taken and the
individual accepts the invitation, a result analogous to that within the nuclear research and
development area, occurs. ―An individual officially becomes a member of the classification
priesthood, agreeing to participate in its rituals and to abide by its regulations. Above all, the
person may swear never to disclose classified information to unauthorized persons...‖ (Hilgartner,
Ball &O'Connor, p. 59).
Once accepted into the elitist camp, the potential leader is subjected to a period of indoctrination.
The analogy with government secrecy continues: ―The DOE (Department of Energy) maintains a
program of continuing classification education to make sure that no one forgets his or her
responsibilities‖ (P. 59). In addition, ―once a person accepts a security clearance, his or her ability
to engage in public debate is compromised‖ (p. 59). The result is a serious segmentation of the
sect into members given ―access‖ to the sect's secrets and inner mechanics and those within the
sect but not granted security clearance. ―Those who know won't speak, and those who don't know
cannot speak with authority‖ (Livingstone, 1955:756).
The classification priesthood, coupled with the sin-potential hierarchy, places the doctrinal
proclamations and enforcements of OASIS leadership on a near infallible level. The priesthood
creates the illusion of invulnerability, where confidence is total and decisions are very rarely
challenged, if questioned at all. The priesthood also fosters an unwavering belief in the inherent
morality of its actions, which causes members to either ignore or minimize the ethical or moral
consequences of the priesthood's decisions (Janis, 1972).
Coercive Persuasion and Deviance Production: A Descriptive Analysis
The initial process of member/sect conflict is generally caused by a leak of information into the
group from the outside. This leak is beyond the group's control, because, being evangelistically
utopian, the sect must continually send out ―deployable agents‖ (Lofland and Stark, 1965, p. 873)
into the world for proselytizing purposes, as well as public relations work. The sect is thus caught
in a bind. Its main purpose is external activity, yet this very activity brings the sects members
into close contact with the secular world. This close relationship with the outside world has the
tendency to erode the mythical aspects of the sect's segmented environment Intensive interaction
between deployable agents and prospective converts can create ―seeds of doubt‖ about the
veracity of the sect's mission. It can also dissipate the picture of a stark ―good/evil,‖ ―black/white‖
world that has been built in the deployable agents mind.
From information inadvertently obtained from outside the sect, a member might start his own
investigation of problems with the sect's doctrines, norms, and purposes. Because of this built-in
possibility, members are continually exhorted to ―touch base‖ with other members. Many live
together in communal houses, have regular meetings on a daily basis where they tell ―war
stories‖ of their experiences ―in the world,‖ and continually reinforce the sects segmentation.
Hence, in many cases, the deployable agent has little time for reflective thinking.
Furthermore, members' time away from the sect is often monitored. If members miss more than
one or two meetings, they may be reproved for ―forsaking fellowship.‖ There have even been a
few cases of excommunication for this .crime‖ of lax participation in group activities. Members
who go home to visit friends and relatives are sometimes encouraged not to stay too long
because ―you may lose your sense of purpose,‖ or more often, ―may lose the vision.‖ At
conferences, (particularly Leadership Training '86), ―canned‖ letters of progress, that are written
by the leadership, are sent to the families of participating members. In addition to the regular
church-wide meetings, there are smaller home groups that also meet, and even smaller ―cell‖
groups of eight to a dozen members overseen by one or two leaders. These cell groups are for
―accountability and encouragement‖ A member's schedule is so filled with activity that it is very
difficult for some reflectively to think about any conflicting information or behaviors that they may
see.
