An article comparing leftist diversity to cults applies to other collectivist beliefs as well. The term sacred science suits environmentalism quite well. I've noted several times AGWers are cult-like. See the original, it makes use of bold/italics. http://majorityrights.com/index.php/weblog/comments/the_cult_of_multi... The Cult of Multi-Culturalism I ran into a fantastic site about the formation and mechanics of cults that I thought I might post here; this site makes a point of not naming or listing any actual cults which I think is the right way to go about it.  Both Drs. Lifton and Singer engaged in years long study of cults and this _link_ highlights their findings.  When you read the excerpts here think of Multi-Culturalism and your daily interactions with people at school, church, and work.  Multi-Culturalism clearly has many of the earmarks of a gigantic cult, with strong elements of mind-control, which is probably as good as explanation as any as why so many don't seem to be able to look at the facts about things.  I've highlighted some portions of the website and added my own commentary in italics. One thing though, most definitions of a cult include the presence of an individual, a living person who is at the center of the cult members' attention and adulation, and Multi-Culturalism does not have such a person...yet! What is Mind Control? Mind control (also known as brainwashing, coercive persuasion, and thought reform ) refers to a process in which a group or individual systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator(s). Describes multi-culturalism in one succinct sentence, how do they do that!!?? Such methods include the following: extensive control of information in order to limit alternatives from which members may make choices deception group pressure intense indoctrination into a belief system that denigrates independent critical thinking and considers the world outside the group to be threatening, evil, or gravely in error an insistence that members' distress-much of which may consist of anxiety and guilt subtly induced by the group-can be relieved only by conforming to the group physical and/or psychological debilitation through inadequate diet or fatigue the induction of dissociative (trance-like) states via the misuse of meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, and other exercises in which attention is narrowed, suggestibility heightened, and independent critical thinking weakened alternation of harshness/threats and leniency/love in order to effect compliance with the leadership's wishes isolation from social supports pressured public confessions Dr. Robert J. Lifton's Eight Criteria for Thought Reform Milieu Control. This involves the control of information and communication both within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a significant degree of isolation from society at large. Yep, print media, radio and TV are already largley controlled. Efforts are now under way to do the same to the internet. Mystical Manipulation. There is manipulation of experiences that appear spontaneous but in fact were planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate divine authority or spiritual advancement or some special gift or talent that will then allow the leader to reinterpret events, _script_ure, and experiences as he or she wishes. Hmmmm...The Summer of Love (1967), Woodstock (1969), the Manifestations of 1968 in Europe, the entire 1960's ultimately as it is presented here in the states .  Peace bro! Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here. Very much so,no question. Confession. Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' sins, attitudes, and faults are discussed and exploited by the leaders. Sacred Science. The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leader, as the spokesperson for God or for all humanity, is likewise above criticism. Loading the Language. The group interprets or uses words and phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating clichés, which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to the group's way of thinking. Definitely, hate , race , tolerance , are among a few of the perfectly legitimate words twisted by these folks. Doctrine over person. Member's personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group. Yes, a persons personal experiences with other groups must not get in the way of unity thru diversity. :rolleyes Dispensing of existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not.  This is usually not literal but means that those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they must be converted to the group's ideology. If they do not join the group or are critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave the group, he or she must be rejected also. (Lifton, 1989) Curiously it says this dispensing of existance is usually not literal....but it does seem to be that it is what is planned -God forbid!- for Europeans who have been slated to dissappear. Dr. Margaret T. Singer's 6 Conditions for Thought Reform These conditions create the atmosphere needed to put a thought reform system into place: Keep the person unaware of what is going on and how she or he is being changed a step at a time Spot on.  They certainly haven't been telling us what they have planned for us ultimately.  It's all just a natural transformation taking place. Potential new members are led, step by step, through a behavioral-change program without being aware of the final agenda or full content of the group. The goal may be to make them deployable agents for the leadership, to get them to buy more courses, or get them to make a deeper commitment, depending on the leader's aim and desires. Control the person's social and/or physical environment; especially control the person's time Through various methods, newer members are kept busy and led to think about the group and its content during as much of their waking time as possible. Systematically create a sense of powerlessness in the person. Yep, certainly true for European peoples. This is accomplished by getting members away from the normal social support group for a period of time and into an environment where the majority of people are already group members. The members serve as models of the attitudes and behaviors of the group and speak an in- group language. Strip members of their main occupation (quit jobs, drop out of school) or source of income or have them turn over their income (or the majority of) to the group. In many of our European lands unemployment is high and the new non-European arrivals are given preferences in employment over that of the indigenous.  Taxes as well are high to pay for what amounts to the native population's own displacement.  Could the idea be that the asylum seekers , economic migrants , etc, are to form the loyal core of the cult as Europeans are displaced? Once stripped of your usual support network, your confidence in your own perception erodes. As your sense of powerlessness increases, your good judgment and understanding of the world are diminished. (ordinary view of reality is destabilized) As group attacks your previous worldview, it causes you distress and inner confusion; yet you are not allowed to speak about this confusion or _object_ to it-leadership suppresses questions and counters resistance. Might just explain the madness many Europeans are displaying. This process is sped up if you are kept tired-the cult will keep you constantly busy. Manipulate a system of rewards, punishments and experiences in such a way as to inhibit behavior that reflects the person's former social identity Anyone attempting to even bring up the idea of preserving their European self is condemned and may lose their job in certain instances Manipulation of experiences can be accomplished through various methods of trance induction, including leaders using such techniques as paced speaking patterns, guided imagery, chanting, long prayer sessions or lectures, and lengthy meditation sessions. Your old beliefs and patterns of behavior are defined as irrelevant or evil. Certainly they are off on this one. Europe is only being described as the land of old, dead, racist , and oppressive white males.  Leadership wants these old patterns eliminated, so the member must suppress them They certainly do! Members get positive feedback for conforming to the group's beliefs and behaviors and negative feedback for old beliefs and behavior. Manipulate a system of rewards, punishments, and experiences in order to promote learning the group's ideology or belief system and group-approved behaviors You go along to get along with the nonsense and you get promotion at work, political office, selling books, etc.  You resist it and you can easily find yourself ostracized by friends and family, with little to no work, even physically assaulted Good behavior, demonstrating an understanding and acceptance of the group's beliefs, and compliance are rewarded while questioning, expressing doubts or criticizing are met with disapproval, redress and possible rejection. If one expresses a question, he or she is made to feel
... read more ť