[Intern]

Since most of the recruiting for WMSCOG is on college campuses, what advice should students follow to find a real church? Ironically, the recruiters have their own way to answer this question in their studies, but what should be the real way to find a church. I have been told that pastors as well as other clergy are not required to be licensed (however licensing by the state is available) so this cannot be an indicator of legitimacy. Are there any guidelines in the bible as to what makes a "real" church?  

[Simon]

[Simon]

most is door to door around here…. so far as the other aspect even outside of cults there is a lot of disagreement on the issue of what makes a real church

[Intern]

Thats very true, I did not think about that while writing this. Even among Catholics and Protistants there are disagreements. Most guidelines on how to watch out for cults are outside the bible. However, what advice can former memebers give people that are approached by recruiters?

[Ms Freedom]

Ask a lot of questions:

In Steve Hassan's book, "Combatting Cult Mind Control," Chapter 6 gives the following questions to ask the recruiters:

1. How long have you (the recruiter) been involved? Are you trying to recruit me into any type of organization?

2. Can you tell me the names of all other organizations that are affiliated with this group?

3. Who is the top leader? What are his/her background and qualifications? Does he/she have a criminal record?

4. What does your group believe? Does it believe that the ends justify the means? Is deception allwoed in certain circumstances? (Most cult recruiters will not want to explain what they believe right there on the spot. They are trained to use your curiosity to get you over to hear a lecture, watch a video or attend a program [and I will add – attend a Bible study]. If a person is not willing to summarize the key points of the groups's beliefs right there and then, you can be sure that he/she is hiding something.)

5. What are members expected to do once they join? Do I have to quit school or work, donate my money and property, or cut myself off from family members and friends who might oppose my membership?

6. Is your group considered to be controversial by anyone? If people are critical of your group, what are their main objections?

7. How do you feel about former members of your group? Have you ever sat down to speak with a former member to find out why he left the group? If not, why not? Does your group impose restrictions on communicating with former members? (I would add to this – has your group ever sued a former member for speaking out against the group?)

8. What are 3 things you like the least about the group and the leader? (Cult members will generally give some variation on that reply because they are simply not permitted to talk critically… If you get a chance to continue your questioning, ask the person what else he/she would rather do in his/her life than be a member of the group. The answer is likely to be "Nothing."

Hassan, Steven. Combatting Cult Mind Control. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1988.

[Simon]

I wouldn’t wanna ask so many of those

[emil]

I doubt that you would get honest answers to those questions from a wmscog recruiter. You would get the ideal answers not accurate ones.

[misspeace]

First, we must understand that there is no single, right church that we must go to. Just as Jesus did not put limitation between Jews and Gentiles…there is also no real or true or perfect church/religion to go to. Since churches are handled by man, it is bound to break laws sometimes. But I guess if you base it on teachings, then you must understand what the bible is teaching first before you go church-seeking. Only by knowing the truth, can you distingiush it from the lie. On the other hand, how to know if a religion is a cult or not is fairly easy… There are general guidelines for that and it could be taught to people so that they would recognize one immediately and avoid those recruiters as much as possible.

[MountainMom]

@Ms. Freedom:  Your list of questions is excellent.  At least, if someone looked at the list, they would be aware of cultic type behavior in recruiters, and they might not have to actually ask all the questions listed.  They would eventually make the connection through the behavior of the members and recruiters, if not their statements, and would do their research. 

We tend to try to warn our kids when they go off to college about all kinds of things, and many manage to avoid pitfalls through our advice.  But when it comes to something as bizarre as cult recruitment tactics, we (most parents, that is) just aren't aware that this is such a real threat, and we haven't prepared them for it. Most people don't know that cults exist all over our nation, and they don't believe their kid could possibly be recruited into something so obviously wrong.  But it can happen to anyone, regardless of who they are.   I really believe there needs to be active teaching to make our kids aware.  It can be done, and it should be done.  Because once your son/daughter is in a cult, it is too late to avoid the damage that comes with their involvement.  Even when they get out (which most eventually will)  there is the aftermath to deal with, and it is usually traumatic. 

I know of young people who got out of a cult after being a member for only 5 months or so, but it is still too painful to talk about.  Imagine the damage done to those who waste years there.