How the Cult Programs People

But often adults often believe the goals of the group are GOOD. They are convinced that they are helping the children, and in classes children are taught why these beliefs are good; about the coming agenda for the group, where they will be the new leaders. Much discussion of the time when the group will "rule the world" is done, to show that they are actually ushering in a new order, when things will be "better for all."

Status and leadership are held out as carrots to group members to work harder and acheive. The rewards of leadership, of moving up, are real, and every member tries to advance themselves. Being higher means less abuse, being able to order others around, and more control in a life that has had precious little control.

Set ups, where a child is allowed to sit in a leader's seat, and is told that one day they, too, will lead, are often done, to increase the loyalty to the group. Awards ceremonies, where those who do well receive badges, jewels, or other rewards in front of others, are frequently done. A child who works hard, who performs well, is praised and allowed to join the adults for coffee or a meal, while the other children look enviously on.

As the child progresses through the system, they do move higher, since adults are always higher than a young child. Now the child who is growing older can boss the younger children, can tell them what to do, can even abuse them with the approval of the adults around. Being very young means being very abused and wounded in these groups; growing older means the chance to finally act out on the rage the abuse has caused. The child begins to identify with the abusing adults, since they are hurt less, and becomes invested in a cult identity as a perpetrator. This is strongly encouraged, as long as the perpetration is not directed at members older or higher than the child or teen.

This locks the child in, as having become "one of them", like them, and the child is bonded to the group by his/her own guilt and shame, as well as the need for outlets for rage and pain that the group allows. The child may feel ambivalence, but also extreme loyalty.

The group or trainer will also tell the child that they are the only ones that

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