Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1998, page 28
counselor and eventually helped form national and professional organizations on this topic
and related matters.
Influence of Walter Martin
I would say Walter Martin, who wrote a book called The Kingdom of the Cults, was the most
definitive influence on me in terms of the cult phenomenon and my becoming an activist.
This book was the first definitive work in that area that I had ever come across. (This was
before the Spiritual Counterfeits Project wrote its analysis of The Walk in1976.) Martin‘s
book talks about why cultists are not interested in rational cognitive thinking. One very
interesting thing in this book is the chapter on the psychological structure of cultism. Both
Martin and Robert J. Lifton, who also influenced me greatly, describe processes of mind
control. Both authorities clearly describe brainwashing as a real phenomenon.
A rewriting of history that deeply troubles me concerns the issue of cult mind control and
brainwashing in the Christian community. It appears that some people are incorrectly
suggesting that the late Dr. Martin did not proclaim the notion of brainwashing. Indeed, the
latest edition of The Kingdom of the Cults has been re-edited. There is some controversy
involving the late Dr. Martin‘s family, who apparently is not happy with changes and serious
additions related to the subject of brainwashing in the most recent edition of the book.
It is my firm belief that those responsible for this current contemporary change of his views
would not have dared to do so during his life. Those who are old enough to know his original
and consistent views on this subject, however, are here to challenge them. Walter Martin‘s
original audiotape series on the new cults, for example, clearly states on quite a few tapes
that brainwashing is a reality. Dr. Martin also directly supported and endorsed ―biblical
deprogramming‖ as stated in the Colorado Cult conference audiotape of 1988.
Scripture and Mind Control
In addition, there are scripture texts that are relevant to the issues of culpability and
responsibility. In Matthew 25:15, for example, Jesus says ―Woe unto you the scribes and
Pharisees --hypocrites --for ye encompass sea and land to make one proselyte and, when
he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.‖ Matthew 25:13
says, ―But woe unto you, the scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the Kingdom
of heaven against men, for either do ye go in yourselves.‖ Ron Enroth talks about 2
Corinthians 4:4, and about the God of this world blinding the minds of them who believe
not. And we have the caution of 2 Corinthians 11:3, where the apostle Paul says, ―But I
fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, that your minds
should be corrupted from the purity of devotion that is in Christ.‖ That same chapter also
states, ―For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into
the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be also transformed into ministers of
righteousness whose end shall be according to their works.‖
Thus, according to the Bible deception can be a very insidious thing. It‘s a matter of
internal church issues as well. In Acts 20:30 Paul speaks to the church: ―Also of your own
selves men shall arise, speaking perverse things, drawing away disciples after themselves.‖
The covert infiltration of which Paul speaks is not just an external matter it is also internal.
I was being perverted that way I broke away from it, but there was a lot that I did not
know when I got involved. Indeed, I think that the lack of informed consent was a big
factor in my victimization. If I had known more, my decisions would have been entirely
different.
counselor and eventually helped form national and professional organizations on this topic
and related matters.
Influence of Walter Martin
I would say Walter Martin, who wrote a book called The Kingdom of the Cults, was the most
definitive influence on me in terms of the cult phenomenon and my becoming an activist.
This book was the first definitive work in that area that I had ever come across. (This was
before the Spiritual Counterfeits Project wrote its analysis of The Walk in1976.) Martin‘s
book talks about why cultists are not interested in rational cognitive thinking. One very
interesting thing in this book is the chapter on the psychological structure of cultism. Both
Martin and Robert J. Lifton, who also influenced me greatly, describe processes of mind
control. Both authorities clearly describe brainwashing as a real phenomenon.
A rewriting of history that deeply troubles me concerns the issue of cult mind control and
brainwashing in the Christian community. It appears that some people are incorrectly
suggesting that the late Dr. Martin did not proclaim the notion of brainwashing. Indeed, the
latest edition of The Kingdom of the Cults has been re-edited. There is some controversy
involving the late Dr. Martin‘s family, who apparently is not happy with changes and serious
additions related to the subject of brainwashing in the most recent edition of the book.
It is my firm belief that those responsible for this current contemporary change of his views
would not have dared to do so during his life. Those who are old enough to know his original
and consistent views on this subject, however, are here to challenge them. Walter Martin‘s
original audiotape series on the new cults, for example, clearly states on quite a few tapes
that brainwashing is a reality. Dr. Martin also directly supported and endorsed ―biblical
deprogramming‖ as stated in the Colorado Cult conference audiotape of 1988.
Scripture and Mind Control
In addition, there are scripture texts that are relevant to the issues of culpability and
responsibility. In Matthew 25:15, for example, Jesus says ―Woe unto you the scribes and
Pharisees --hypocrites --for ye encompass sea and land to make one proselyte and, when
he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.‖ Matthew 25:13
says, ―But woe unto you, the scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the Kingdom
of heaven against men, for either do ye go in yourselves.‖ Ron Enroth talks about 2
Corinthians 4:4, and about the God of this world blinding the minds of them who believe
not. And we have the caution of 2 Corinthians 11:3, where the apostle Paul says, ―But I
fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, that your minds
should be corrupted from the purity of devotion that is in Christ.‖ That same chapter also
states, ―For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into
the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be also transformed into ministers of
righteousness whose end shall be according to their works.‖
Thus, according to the Bible deception can be a very insidious thing. It‘s a matter of
internal church issues as well. In Acts 20:30 Paul speaks to the church: ―Also of your own
selves men shall arise, speaking perverse things, drawing away disciples after themselves.‖
The covert infiltration of which Paul speaks is not just an external matter it is also internal.
I was being perverted that way I broke away from it, but there was a lot that I did not
know when I got involved. Indeed, I think that the lack of informed consent was a big
factor in my victimization. If I had known more, my decisions would have been entirely
different.
