CFCMI was founded in a very specific way, with a particular purpose in mind. A detailed analysis of the structure that facilitated decades of abusive behavior by leadership can be found in the Analysis section.

This is a lengthy response (actually two responses in one), but relevant because it addresses the mindset involved in the question. The discussion below is from an early 2000’s blog discussion and has two former member responses.

“Ok, so all of y'all hate and dislike Pastor Davis. So, tell me something, do you hate him sooooooooooo much, that you would divorce your spouse, get rid of your children, etc.?

What am I getting at, you ask. Well, if it had not been for God using Pastor Davis to start FCFC, guess what? Alot of you would not have met your spouses, nor have the children you have, if you had them by someone from FCFC. Also, those of you who may have already been married when you started going to FCFC but God performed miricles in your marriage through the prayers of your former brothers and sisters at FCFC. Plus, how many of out have the kind of job you have because God used someone in FCFC to bring out your talents or someone from FCFC was able to help you get a job? Do you get my point? So, for some of you and you know who you are, the next time you go to hug & kiss your spouse, kiss your children good-night, hop in that ride to go to that particular job, then go back to your home, just remember, if God hadn't used Pastor Davis to start FCFC, your life would be really different. I can say, if it hadn't been for this ministry, I would have never met my wonderful spouse and I certainetly would not have my wonderful children.

Just something to think about.

My response:

 I personally don't hate LR Davis. I do, on the other hand, completely disavow the excessive adulation I heaped upon him for the 16 years I was in CFC. I realize that I was deliberately deceived and manipulated by him for that time period in a way that caused many, many bad things in my life. I regret ever having come in contact with CFCMI and LR Davis. I don't hate him, but I do recognize the immense cost in having followed him and intend to learn as much about the entire situation as I can to help others and myself avoid ever being involved in such a destructive situation.

Now, I'd like to respond to your comments about thanking God for "us(ing) Pastor Davis to start FCFC" and the resulting effects on my family, my career, miracles in my life, relationships with my "brothers and sisters", etc.

I love my wife and our children immensely. As you know, they are wonderful people. So are many of the friends that I made over the years in FCFC. However, I in no way attribute those relationships to anything positive in CFCMI. In fact, part of the reason my friends are special is because we ENDURED such HARDSHIP, SACRIFICE and ABUSE together. Sort of the way life-long friendships are borne out of war. I'm certain if you asked WWII vets if they would have wished that WWII would have never happened, even if it meant never having met many special people in their lives, each one of them would reply that they would rather that the war never occurred in the first place.

I wish CFCMI would have never existed in the first place. I would have preferred that LRD would have never abused a single person in his life. I don't care how my life would have been different...I'm certain those 16 years would have been more productive: spiritually, emotionally, physically...in every way.

Why do I say this? CFCMI suppressed everything about my existence, most importantly my freedom to live my life to my fullest potential...and I don't mean "worldly" potential either. I mean "in God".

I trust God that he would have brought my wife and I together, if that was his plan. Quite frankly, I don't think I can put my finger on a single, bona-fide "miracle" in my marriage or life that I can attribute in any way to CFCMI either. In fact, I've experienced more "miraculous" things in the year since I left than the 16 years that I was there. It's all about perspective. As they say, "you don't know what you don't know" or haven't experienced. If you are kept deprived and suppressed, then when something is cast as a "miracle", you are more prone to believe it. What you don't realize is most of the stuff you are being told about is actually relatively normal. It's just being trumped up to keep you well fed with propaganda.

Regarding friendships, I've found that there are an equal percentage of wonderful people outside of CFCMI as there are inside of it. I'm able to see now that I can look on my fellow man with benevolence, instead of skepticism and condescension, and it's a MUCH more fulfilling existence.

With respect to my relationship with God and salvation, I have enough confidence in the soundness of my own mind and sincerity of my heart toward God that I definitely didn't need CFCMI's dogma, structure, and suppressive control in order to serve him. I'm not going to Hell and that fact has absolutely nothing to do with CFCMI. I'm convinced that my relationship with God is much less developed than it would have been if I would have spent those 16 years in a healthy organization that nurtured that relationship.

Finally, let me just briefly respond to the comment about "God us(ing) someone in FCFC to bring out your talents or someone from FCFC...to help you get a job". I really have to completely disagree with you here also. On the contrary, I would submit that talents and opportunities that existed within individual lives were the mine from which CFCMI drew its resources, leaving those individuals empty and hollow. With no access to education, no freedom to pursue talents or careers due to excessive demands having to be near a church, no time to develop interests or explore potential, the core members were left bankrupt when it comes to reaching their true potential. Look at the average education level and career path of long-time CFCMI members. I am not bashing those people, I love them, but they have sold out their futures and subsist largely on wage-earning jobs with no viable future or retirement thanks to oppressive CFCMI control. It is simply a fact.

Yes, I DO thank GOD that I ESCAPED CFCMI with a loving wife and wonderful children. I thank God that I have managed to SALVAGE a decent career, DESPITE CFCMI. I appreciate the relationships that were forged through the mutual hardships ENDURED while in CFCMI. But, I do not thank God that I spent 16 years in a cultic, oppressive, abusive environment, where I was encouraged to alienate countless wonderful people who cared about me, where the teachings and practices caused me to disregard the tugging of the Holy Ghost on my heart to get in line with God's will, where, through time, I ultimately denied who I was as a person to fit the mold that a man had cast for me, etc., etc.

Simply put, the world and my life both would most certainly be better if CFCMI would have never existed.

I am not bitter. I am thankful to have escaped and praise God for the freedom and the opportunity he has given me to salvage the rest of my life. One of His greatest gifts was keeping my Dad alive long enough to see me break free from the evil grips of CFCMI.”

Here’s another former member’s response:

“I just read your post, and my blood is boiling along with my hands shaking I am so angry at the nerve you have. Any good thing that happened to me during my years at FCFC happened in spite of LR Davis and his family. I believe that they got in the way of my walk with God! I believe that God KEPT ME SAFE during the decade I spent at FCFC when my family and I were in DIRECT SPIRITUAL DANGER. I believe that had LR Davis been out of the way - I would have been even more powerful in Christ during those eleven years than I was. I know because my sincerity was towards God - . I KNOW I would still have ...the family I today without FCFC - it is God, not FCFC.

My husband and his talents where only hindered in that place along with my own. Everything about an individual is suppressed and oppressed in that place. We endured the "evil" of FCFC and are stronger people today because GOD kept us! My family was emotionally abused and spiritually taken advantage of! Imagine the energy I could have devoted to my husband and children had I not been struggling to convince myself of the righteousness and godliness of the pastorships' "vision and ways" - when God was whispering to me that it was WRONG countless times over the years! Imagine if FCFC was not in the way of that still small voice. Imagine what I could have spent countless hours praying for had I not been praying for a pedophile to get out of jail when he was supposed to be there - where GOD PUT HIM! Imagine had I not accepted that he was not yet free because of the CONGREGATIONS LACK OF FAITH! Imagine had I not been so CONSUMED by countless pointless meetings and lectures about rules - what could I have been doing for MY NEIGHBOR! Imagine the MANY MORE DEAR FRIENDS I would have had I not been so convinced the everyone else only had a "form of God" and caused me to constantly be on guard instead of enjoying the diversity of people that GOD CREATED! Imagine the MONEY that could have gone to a true cause! - I'm stopping, I really could just keep editing.

My blessings came to me in spite of CFCMI - and now that I am gone from that place, they flow freely!

I do not hate LR Davis or his family, I hate the evil he promoted and that his family promotes to this very day by refusing to do what is right in this situation for themselves and for their fellow man.”

Bottom line is that, at least on the "staff" level and probably extending to anyone that would have been considered to be "hundredfold", CFCMI is what it has been accused of being all along, a cult. By and large, the average CFC-er is there because they honestly think that that is where "God called them" and that if they leave, there's a good chance they'll go to hell eventually.

The threat of going to hell is about all the power CFCMI has ever had, but it's been quite enough most of the time.

Over the last 10 years or so there's been a lot to upset the applecart and people, even active members, are generally more aware of the ruse that is CFCMI. However, the one thing that is keeping most of them there is the thought that what the leadership has been feeding them about doctrine, about calling, about salvation and about going to hell is actually true. The thought process might go "Sure, they might have lied about things like their actions or tried to forgive and forget, but you gotta admit, they preached the truth." So, under the rationalization that "the truth" is all that matters, they stay...and they continue to be abused by the organization.

That's how a cult works. Convince someone that they have a monopoly on "the truth", that the only important thing is "the cause", ...etc., etc. Again, skim any book on the subject. CFCMI has the formula down. It's worked through the ages.

For the most part, the average person just wants to live a normal life. We all do. But they, just like many of us for many years, have largely been convinced that "this is where God called them" and that if they "forsake their calling" then they stand a good chance of going to hell.

Simple but effective formula. Too bad it has taken us so long to see it for what it really is.

Each person has their own concerns. Do what’s right for you. The below response was written over 20 years ago, but still holds up pretty well for us.

“Here are the rules of thumb my wife and I have used when selecting where we have attended over the years. Take them or leave them:

1. Trust your instincts. If something seems fishy or out of place, it probably is. It's good to be skeptical.

2. Avoid upstart, small churches that are focused on their pastor, leader, etc. In fact, take notice of the subtleties of how the pastor is viewed and operates in general.  This is particularly true if you have recently left a spiritually abusive situation/relationship like CFCMI (i.e., "on the rebound").  Heavily centralized power usually leads to abuse.

3. Be open minded. We've come to realize that we were wrong for a lot of years about a lot of things. We're surely still wrong about a few. Don't look for a church to perfectly fit your beliefs...your beliefs may not be right, and no organization has it completely right anyway.

4. Look for a healthy climate instead of a strict dogma. "Doctrine" is not near as important to us as it used to be. A healthy, uplifting, think-for-yourself, develop-your-own-walk-with-God climate is now MUCH more important to us than it used to be.

5. Find a place where it's OK if you don't get too involved (again, especially if you just left a really intense situation). Sure, it's good for a church to be active, but you shouldn't HAVE to be involved in everything, or anything. Take plenty of time (measured in at least months, if not years...whatever you need) to get very comfortable with the organization before you sign up for things. It should be OK for you to somewhat be "a face in the crowd", especially if you are new. If that's not the case, then something is probably wrong.

6.  If you have children, make SURE wherever you choose has a nurturing culture within their children's programs.  We've actually made that our overriding factor in recent years.  Church should be fun and supportive for children.

Bottom line for us is that finding a good church is important, but being comfortable with who you are and how you, personally, feel led to serve God is even more so.

If it seems too good to be true... IT IS.”

This is a simple but very tough question. Again, it was posed in a blog over twenty years ago. The question itself was an internal “pro & con” discussion. The discussion is a long one, but the topic merits the time involved.

“I am in need of some SCRIPTURAL guidance relating to whether to stay in CFC or leave. I have put this post in the religious debate section because I do want to hear about all the emotions and anger that accompany what we have all went through in CFC. I want people to carefully read what I'm saying and respond directly to the questions I have. That is what I need right now. Not the anger and emotions.

Now, before I get into my questions let me say that I understand that we have common sense and have to use it. I also know that sometimes God speaks to us without using scriptures. I know those two things are rest assured that God IS speaking to me and I AM using my common sense. What I am asking you all for is some advice and input concerning the scriptures and issues surrounding said scriptures.

So here goes....

LEAVING

I think "The leaders are evil! Of course I need to leave. They sinned and then lied about it, and they lie about it still. Naturally God would want me out of here.I know God called me here, but does that mean I have to stay forever?"

But then I think of David as king. He sinned. He lied about it. He had people killed to cover it. But EVENTUALLY, AFTER people SUFFERED and DIED because of his sin he did repent. And the people that were under him while he was sinning and lying and murdering weren't dismissed from being where God put them.

I understand it's been 20 years and lies are still going. I understand that the leaders have not made any steps toward repentance. I really REALLY do. But the thing is, neither did David. Until one day. And then he did. Just because David hadn't repented one day, didn't stop him from repenting the next. I know this will draw a lot of flack from some folks, but tough cookies: According to the God I know, Ed, Pete and crew could repent at any moment. Please don't just respond with "They never will", cause honestly, I feel that way, too, but the truth is we don't know if they will or not.

Also, in the Bible there were so so many evil leaders, but the leaders being evil didn't give anyone under them the ok to leave.

Now onto the next part:

Staying

I think:

My friends are here. People that I've seen stand up for righteousness against the leaders. I feel at peace when I'm with just my brothers and sisters, and the fruit in their life proves they love God and want to serve Him. Sure, the leaders are messed up, but I'm not here for them. And the kids...they need to see that not everyone who calls him/herself a Christian is a hypocrite. God called me here. There is NO doubt in my mind about that. I should just stay until it is perfectly clear that I am supposed to leave."

But then I read about shepherds that feed themselves. I wonder if I'm supporting evil even though I now stand up and say so EVERYTIME I see a wrong. I wonder if my talents are just wasting away in a place where you must be certain criteria before the pastor will use you, and even then it's stifled to a certain degree. Or do I just need to find new/different/not in church ways to use my talents?

I welcome any input and scriptures/studies whatever you all have. I will not even bother reading posts that are talking about a) my lack or moral character evidenced by the fact that I am still in CFC b) how weak I am as evidenced by the same c) how I obviously lack personal integrity because I have not left CFC in what some of you feel is a reasonable amount of time d)your factual knowledge that the leadership will never ever ever ever ever change, you'd bet your life/house/child etc on it.

This post is a sincere attempt to get some prayerful, thoughtful, careful and spiritual advice. That is what I need.

Thanks in advance to those who will attempt to give me just that.

God bless

My response:

Friend,

You are going through a difficult time. Times of change and growth always are. I rejoice to see your struggle, because it’s my guess that there are many others in a similar situation to yours who have not decided to post for one reason or another. Why does this cause me to rejoice? Because you are actively questioning yourself, your organization, your walk with God, what you’re being told, etc. This is something I didn’t do near enough of for way too long, and now I have finally realized how essential it is to my spiritual, emotional and intellectual well-being. Keep it up!

Now to your comments.

Regarding "LEAVING":

While I acknowledge that there are perhaps a few parallels that can be drawn between the nation of Israel and its leadership and CFCMI and its leadership, I don’t think they compare very well in the overall analysis. There can be all kinds of discussion about things like whether LR/Ed/Pete were ever called by God, placed in their positions by God, etc. In any case, I think there’s enough doubt there to undermine the usefulness of the comparison in the first place.

Secondly, and I believe this to be the most salient difference (particularly regarding the points you brought up), David repented IMMEDIATELY upon being made aware of his sins. It was a very discrete anomaly in his life, not a systematic pattern. When his error was pointed out, he immediately turned and got back on track. The point is, he was on track in general, deviated, and then returned to his "original course", if you will, immediately upon being called out by the prophet. This, I think, makes David completely different from LR/Pete/Ed.

I now have serious doubts, for example, whether they were ever really headed in the right direction with their life/ministry/message, etc. I’m certain there are many who disagree, and that’s fine. However, with respect to Pete and Ed, I think it’s clear that many, many people over the years, and certainly at least over the last 5-6 years, have pointed out the inconsistencies in their leadership. They, unlike David, did not immediately turn once made aware. I believe they have essentially continued systematically with the same patterns of spiritual and emotional (if not physical) abuses that LR institutionalized as CFCMI’s way of doing things from the very beginning.

Yes, they may repent. However, I’m not sure how capable they are of honestly leading a healthy Christian organization even if they did.

Regarding "STAYING":

I totally agree with you about your friends and their sincerity towards God, etc. In fact, it’s precisely that all-out sincerity that has provided the fuel to run the engine of corrupt CFCMI leadership. If it wasn’t for our complete dedication over the years, things would have broken up a long, long time ago. As I’ve said before, our sincerity for serving God is the land on which the CFCMI leadership has been strip-mining for 25+ years. Just because people are seeking to serve God with all their heart within CFCMI does not mean that (1) they are getting all that God would have for them, just because they are trying so hard to live for him (to use the children of Israel again - just think of how hard they worked as slaves in Egypt), (2) CFCMI is where God would have them, or (3) there aren’t many, many more people just as sincere outside of CFCMI.

As far as the kids are concerned, I think the best thing anyone can do for them is to show them a way out by leaving themselves. The children are perhaps the most heart-rending thing for me. When I think about the horrible patterns of thinking that they are being taught within those walls it tears me apart. I even felt that way to some extent when I was still the Children’s Church Superintendent in Norfolk in the mid-90’s. Even in the height of my involvement I could see that they were getting all the wrong messages regarding judging other people, about legalism being supreme, about how to (mis)treat others, about not being able to learn from and appreciate the world around us, etc., etc. For example, I had 8-year-olds talking about how evil their teachers were at school because they wore shorts and how proud their parents were of them for pointing out the wrongfulness of it to the teacher! Again, they need to get out of that environment of hypocrisy (as you refer to it).

The last direct response that I can offer is simply that if it was "perfectly clear" that you are supposed to leave, then it wouldn’t take much faith to do so. Yes, my wife and I had doubts and it probably wasn’t until about 2-3 months after we left that we were ABSOLUTELY sure that we had done the right thing. I think that’s the way faith works. It’s strengthened by looking back and realizing that God was with you in the tough decisions you made when you were completely uncertain, sought to do his will and then just stepped out.

I was going to now dive into some more generalized discussions that I think really apply to your situation, but I think it best that I cut it off here.

Another question put forward in 2002:

“Why would grown men be in this situation if it existed? I do not believe everyone was privy to what went on. If they did, there would have much debate and possibly more than verbal exchanges...it is sad when someone takes sound Biblical teaching and allows it to be used for his own personal gain. Whether the current leadership is right or wrong in handling the matter, only God can answer this along with those involved.

 My response:

 I think it simply stands to reason that there is no way such systemic wrongdoing could have existed in isolation. There had to be lies, distorted teachings (the "no lust in your heart" teaching being the most extreme example), controlling practices, etc. in order to keep the lid on things. No doubt that biblical teachings were distorted to support his activities (i.e., the "Eunuchship" and "Abiding in your Calling" teachings worked hand in hand).

I also agree that not everyone was privy. In fact, as a member for 16 years and a member of the single-men’s "staff" for 10 years, I honestly believe it was a small minority that was aware of the full extent of the activities. LR chose his victims carefully and was well practiced in the art of reading people and exploiting them. While many had brushes with the illicit activities, I think that probably on the order of 30-50 at any one time really knew the full extent of what was going on. Of course, over the years, that amounts to several hundred men, many of whom left.

Why did grown men remain in this abusive relationship? My simple answer is the same thing that I believe motivated most of us to endure things we instinctively knew were either wrong or at least out of balance. The bottom line is that we were convinced that if we did anything counter to what the leadership told us, and in particular, if we EVER left CFCMI, we’d go to hell. I call it the "Hotel California" mindset. The thought process might have been "Well, it’s not perfect, but at least I’m going to make it to heaven". Next to actual threat of physical harm (which I believe existed to some extent in veiled "death threats" that I observed in the form of "prophecy" over people’s lives (i.e., if you leave CFCMI you’ll be dead in 6 months, etc.)), the certain prediction of eternal damnation is one of the most powerful motivators possible to suppress people.”

This question originated from the tone many of the bloggers, particularly ex-members or their family members, etc., have taken on various blogs over the years. 

 I think I can safely say that I understand where you are coming from when you ask "what about the good?", especially where blogging about CFCMI is concerned. 

Certainly everything on here and on various message boards and blogs must be taken with a grain of salt. However, amidst the emotion, the distortions, the rumors and gossip that inevitably are a part of a web log (esp. with anonymous posting being the norm), I believe there is an enormous benefit to be had as well. Like anything, it is what you make of it.

The thing that I am thankful for about these venues is the debate.  At least WE ARE EXPRESSING OURSELVES and involving ourselves in a meaningful examination of the circumstances surrounding us. THAT IS HEALTHY and one of the things that bothers me most when I look back. I just accepted EVERYTHING I was told, because I wasn't allowed to use my mind, to think for myself (at least not outwardly, and certainly not to question anything). To do so would mean risking losing years of credit for "being faithful" and the implication that I was on the road stepping out of the race (i.e., going to hell). That may not be how you look at it, but that's how I look back on the social order in CFCMI. Everything was judged on how willing I was to comply, to submit, to fall in line ...which ultimately meant allowing my natural, God given instincts to question, to seek and to expand my mind to atrophy from disuse.

To not allow "outside" thoughts to be entertained is a very comfortable place to be. Your "faith" is never challenged because everyone/thing else is automatically wrong. The world is black and white and since you're the one in the light, no need to entertain darkness.

But, you see, now I realize that I was wrong about alot of things, that I have a propensity to be wrong, and that it is a good and healthy thing for me to consider other views, to allow them to challenge me. I'm not talking about the challenge being a bible study contest so that I can prove the victor over the opponent because I am SO confident in my faith. In fact, I think the most healthy thing is the challenging of my faith, the testing of it and the willingness to admit it might be misplaced in some or many cases. That the other person, who I might not know at all, might be right and I may be wrong.

It's a world of grey out here and that's OK for me. My faith is secure in God and I'm learning new things about him all the time. It's great not to meet someone and have to judge them right away.

I'll close by saying that to me, the largest thing that we all are seeing and expressing here is the pain and emotion of seeing our whole world turned upside down in an instant (or month, or year, etc.). I don't think there's much debate that at least to some degree, a sacred trust has been betrayed by the CFCMI leadership. Dealing with it can be tough, REALLY tough. Being in the organization for a number of years has set us up to be extremely ill equipped to handle the transition. We were socially, emotionally and intellectually dependents of CFCMI. There's a lot of us that we have to claim back.

Final thought: Amongst the "negativity" about CFCMI out there in webspace, I've seen a lot of people post about the immense relief and sense of freedom they are experiencing. I have moved four times, had a few very serious family tragedies and been separated from Genny and the boys for months and months at a time, and yet since leaving, I am the happiest I've ever been.  I AM OVERJOYED that the rest of my life is bright with opportunity, that I have the hope of a healthy, enriching upbringing for my children, that I am a child of God and I am free to live for him. That, I think is a very common theme (though perhaps not often expressed) among those of us who have left and, ultimately, is the most positive thing to come out of this...that people are reclaiming the lives that God intended them to have.

It's my view that the fundamentalist aspect of CFCMI teachings certainly leant itself perfectly to the abuses.

The reason is that in a strict fundamentalist environment nothing really has to make sense in the "real" world, because it's "worldly".  As long as the leader claims he's being led of God, the only justification has to be a few scriptures. Everything is so "spiritual" that it doesn't have to make sense to the average person...because the average person is so lost in the first place they wouldn't know "truth" if it hit them in their face.

That's an unhealthy environment that is a petri dish for abuse, rationalizations and out of balance teachings. Does it exist in all "fundamental" churches? I don't know, but it certainly did in CFCMI.

I said once in a post that I no longer live in a world of black and white. I've found so much of what I was SURE was right for so long to actually be wrong, that I realize now the danger in defining things for God. It's a world of grey out there, and I'm totally secure wading through it all, unsure of the spiritual boundaries and truths in given situations but trusting God to keep me as long as I sincerely trust in him.

Sure, I'm all about seeking God's will for every aspect of my life...I'm just a lot more hesitant to stand up and say that I'm sure I'm on the right side of what His will is. And that's fine. No sweat, actually. It's a wonderful way to live.

Barry Beyerstein is professor of neuropsychology at Simon Fraser University in Canada.  This is an excerpt from an article in the electronic newspaper "The Rational Enquirer".

Who is vulnerable to cult recruitment?

- We all are at some time in our lives. Most of us satisfy the foregoing needs within our normal range of relationships and this gives us a certain amount of protection, as long as we stay within that framework.

- Cult recruits are not any more likely to be mentally ill, less intelligent, or less well educated than the average population.

Nor are they necessarily more gullible on average. They do tend, however, to be “seekers,” constantly looking for pat answers and magical solutions for personal or societal problems. They are often driven to find answers (any answer) to the great metaphysical questions, rather than live with uncertainty. Those who have a higher tolerance for ambiguity can live with the acceptance that such things are ultimately unknowable.

How can we recognize a cult?

A fair use of the cult label for a questionable organization would require the presence of most of the items on the following checklist.

Does the group:

(a) engage in deceptive recruitment practices? (recruiters typically disguise the true nature and aims of the group when seeking converts)

(b) tend to target vulnerable individuals, as outlined above?

(c) offer unconditional affirmation and support initially, but soon make its continuance contingent on obedience?

(d) have a closed social system that makes a special effort to isolate acolytes from family, friends, etc.?

(e) use constant bombardment with pro-group and pro-leader messages and exclusion of other messages?

(f) have a rigid, authoritarian hierarchy?

(g) have a leader and ruling clique that are perceived to possess infallible insight, supernatural powers, etc.? Do they claim to have been chosen by some higher authority to rule, and thus to be excused from the normal social restrictions on one’s behavior?

(h) have an eclectic, often muddled and internally contradictory, set of teachings - usually a magic-laden philosophy that claims to have infallible answers to those “big ticket” questions of existence?

(i) have a strict behavior code that governs all aspects of how one should think, feel, and act? Are there strong penalties for deviation?

(j) instill fear of outsiders (the “bunker mentality”)? Does the group try to convince members they are powerless to act without the group’s support and that the world “out there” is uncaring and hostile?

(k) engage in major forms of exploitation (e.g., financial, occupational, or sexual - of self, spouse, or children)?

(l) demand immoral, unethical, or illegal activity on the part of its members?

Three Characteristics by Dr. Michael Langone

Three characteristics, which my be present to a greater or lesser degree, help to distinguish cults from other communities or groups.  The are:

1. Members are expected to be excessively zealous and unquestioning in their commitment to the identity and leadership of the group.  They must replace their own beliefs and values with those of the group.

2. Members are manipulated and exploited, and may give up their education, careers, and families to work excessively long hours at group-directed tasks such as selling a quota of candy or books, fund-raising, recruiting, and proselytizing.

3. Harm or the threat of harm may come to members, their families, and/or society due to inadequate medical care, poor nutrition, psychological and physical abuse, sleep deprivation, criminal activities and so forth.

Several other Characteristics by Dr. Margaret Singer

Other characteristics relevant to cult identification, some of which hilight the role of the cult leader, may be:

1. Cults are authoritarian in their power structure.

2. Cults tend to be totalitarian in their control of the behavior of their members.

3. Cutls tend to have double sets of eithics (one for the leader and another for the members; one for those inside the group, another for dealing with outsiders).

4. Cult leaders are self-appointed and claim to have a special mission in life.

5. Cult leaders tend to be charasmatic, determined, and domineering.

6. Cult leaders center the veneration of members upon themselves.

7. Cults appear to be innovative and exclusive.

8. Cults basically have only two purposes:  recruiting new members and fund-raising.

The above are excerpts from "Captive Hearts, Captive Minds" by Madeleine Landau Tobias and Janja Lalich, Hunter House Publishing, 1994.