Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1992, Page 25
brainwashing was a hoax but that the “hoax” was the myth that American military personnel
had been weak, passive, and cowardly. West cited numerous studies indicating that “Accord-
ing to all available evidence, the behavior of the [American] fighting men in Korea during
combat and during subsequent captivity upheld the military and moral standards of our
fighting forces at least as well as it has in any previous war.”32
The same author says, “Singer is arguing that brainwashed cult converts have been
hypnotized and remain in hypnotic trance through their stay in the cult” (p. 160).72 In fact,
Singer does not believe this and has never made such a statement, in print or verbally.
Distortion 2: If Brainwashing Does Exist in Cults, It Is Suffered Voluntarily
In addition to belying scientific documentation to the contrary, the assertion that
brainwashing, if it does exist in cults, is suffered voluntarily puts the action in the transaction
between cultic systems and their members completely on the shoulders of the individual
member. This emphasis accomplishes three goals for the cults.
First, it avoids assigning group or leader responsibility for building systems of influence that
produce and guide the unethical (and sometimes illegal) acts perpetrated by group members,
including those related to charity status and tax exemptions, labor and social security laws,
infringement of personal freedoms, physical and psychological damage, fund-raising practices,
deception in recruitment and immigration laws, spurious lawsuits, and others.47
Second, it blames the victim for actions he or she would not have taken had it not been for
the influence of the group.
Third, it avoids taking group responsibility for deceptions in recruitment and implies that
people seek out totalistic groups to join, an implication that victims of this deception
vociferously deny.
Distortion 3: Belief and Behavior Cannot Be Separated from Each Other in
Scientific Examination
The assertion that belief and behavior cannot be separated from each other in scientific
examination is used to attempt to obfuscate the well documented scientific literature on social
influence and the centuries-old legal separation of belief from behavior.
Distortion 4: New Religions Hold Their Converts by Nothing More than Preaching
The Unification Church (whose members are often called “Moonies”) preaches “heavenly
deception” the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (whose members are known
as the Hare Krishna) preaches “transcendental trickery.”43 Both of these practices are the jus-
tification for lying to potential recruits and to those from whom members are soliciting funds.
Are these concepts merely beliefs that are preached? Or are they instructions to behave in
deceptive ways?
Of equal interest in examining the distortion that new religions hold their converts by nothing
more than preaching is: What is the emotional goal of the preaching? Congregation-oriented
preaching is designed to benefit positively the listeners‟ earthly and spiritual lives. Exploitative
preaching, in contrast, creates strong feelings of guilt, anxiety, and fear to manipulate the
congregation for the preacher‟s benefit.
Distortion 5: Cult Is a Pejorative Term and Should Not Be Used to Describe “New
Religious Movements”
The term cult is merely descriptive of the power structure and the control of decision making
in a group it has nothing to do with belief systems, religious or otherwise. Further, many
cults are not religious in content, but are based on psychological, political, health fad, or other
themes. So why are cult supporters so concerned? The answer may be in the classic 1984.73
brainwashing was a hoax but that the “hoax” was the myth that American military personnel
had been weak, passive, and cowardly. West cited numerous studies indicating that “Accord-
ing to all available evidence, the behavior of the [American] fighting men in Korea during
combat and during subsequent captivity upheld the military and moral standards of our
fighting forces at least as well as it has in any previous war.”32
The same author says, “Singer is arguing that brainwashed cult converts have been
hypnotized and remain in hypnotic trance through their stay in the cult” (p. 160).72 In fact,
Singer does not believe this and has never made such a statement, in print or verbally.
Distortion 2: If Brainwashing Does Exist in Cults, It Is Suffered Voluntarily
In addition to belying scientific documentation to the contrary, the assertion that
brainwashing, if it does exist in cults, is suffered voluntarily puts the action in the transaction
between cultic systems and their members completely on the shoulders of the individual
member. This emphasis accomplishes three goals for the cults.
First, it avoids assigning group or leader responsibility for building systems of influence that
produce and guide the unethical (and sometimes illegal) acts perpetrated by group members,
including those related to charity status and tax exemptions, labor and social security laws,
infringement of personal freedoms, physical and psychological damage, fund-raising practices,
deception in recruitment and immigration laws, spurious lawsuits, and others.47
Second, it blames the victim for actions he or she would not have taken had it not been for
the influence of the group.
Third, it avoids taking group responsibility for deceptions in recruitment and implies that
people seek out totalistic groups to join, an implication that victims of this deception
vociferously deny.
Distortion 3: Belief and Behavior Cannot Be Separated from Each Other in
Scientific Examination
The assertion that belief and behavior cannot be separated from each other in scientific
examination is used to attempt to obfuscate the well documented scientific literature on social
influence and the centuries-old legal separation of belief from behavior.
Distortion 4: New Religions Hold Their Converts by Nothing More than Preaching
The Unification Church (whose members are often called “Moonies”) preaches “heavenly
deception” the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (whose members are known
as the Hare Krishna) preaches “transcendental trickery.”43 Both of these practices are the jus-
tification for lying to potential recruits and to those from whom members are soliciting funds.
Are these concepts merely beliefs that are preached? Or are they instructions to behave in
deceptive ways?
Of equal interest in examining the distortion that new religions hold their converts by nothing
more than preaching is: What is the emotional goal of the preaching? Congregation-oriented
preaching is designed to benefit positively the listeners‟ earthly and spiritual lives. Exploitative
preaching, in contrast, creates strong feelings of guilt, anxiety, and fear to manipulate the
congregation for the preacher‟s benefit.
Distortion 5: Cult Is a Pejorative Term and Should Not Be Used to Describe “New
Religious Movements”
The term cult is merely descriptive of the power structure and the control of decision making
in a group it has nothing to do with belief systems, religious or otherwise. Further, many
cults are not religious in content, but are based on psychological, political, health fad, or other
themes. So why are cult supporters so concerned? The answer may be in the classic 1984.73
