I’ve been told that a particular lobby in the British pagan community has been on a strange kind of crusade. While the obvious agenda has been to assimilate all “valid” belief groups into one religious standard- its validity inclines to be based purely on written dogma than any personal gnosis. Especially when it involves a specific code of ethics, its experts naturally assume this gives them authority above all the rest. Ironically, the ethics emphasized smack so heavily of Christian interfaith, the hidden agendas are all too obvious...and of course any rights and privileges only apply to the “valid” belief groups. While the general suspicion is that Rowan Williams has his hands in this, much of the blame falls on Tony Blair’s attitude that the average public lacks the incentive for responsible decision making. Indeed, this very bias seems to prevail amongst many who presume to hold a responsible position in the British pagan community. In essence, dissent is simply written off as childish disobediance- and failing this, surrepititiously blackballed as anarchic conspiracy. In the study of cult mind control, this is referred to the tactics of “self-fulfilling conspiracy”. In other words the dissenters are conveniently made to look like the trouble makers, so as to justify their removal. Having seen such draconian tactics being employed by a number of popular forums there, I reckon its only a question of time before a few internet authorities get wise to it. On the other hand, when people fail to see the signs, it’s time to bugger off as far away as possible before the impact. Such inept fools have that paranoid habit of trying shoot the messenger to hide their mistakes.
Back in 2006 on a California based witchcraft forum, the whingeing of too many young fluffies had an ugly habit of attracting trouble, and this time it smacked of a sexual predator with a drug-related delusional problem. Although some of the older members also realized something amiss, they weren’t quite sure how to deal with it. Although the admin was known to arse the fluffies with a few false identities, this was hardly the case, but either way I wasn’t gonna stick around to hear the screams. In the case of three British forums, however, there were just too many loose cannons coming from all sides every time shit happened- and this while I had quite enough problems on the home front. After four and a half years of nursing a severely stroke-debilitated father, I felt utterly ragged. What they called "prolonging life" was more like an unnaturally drawn out and agonizing death. The gradual and systematic shut down of every self-sustaining function left him mere skin and bones in the end. The last thing I needed was another tacky remake of “Charmed” trying to get on my case. The same goes for that plastic shaman and his alleged medicine woman who doesn’t know the geographical differences between Lakota, Dakota and Nakota. Guess that shows how far she got in her so-called medicine wheel teachings. As for those who think some new age course is gonna teach them amazing powers of perception, try the wilderness instead of pagan camp to learn what that inner voice is really trying to tell you.
Robert Jay Lifton's Eight Point Model of Thought Reform
1. ENVIRONMENT CONTROL. Limitation of many/all forms of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are taboo. "Come out and be separate!"
2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. The potential convert to the group becomes convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group through a profound encounter / experience, for example, through an alleged miracle or prophetic word of those in the group.
3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or personal level. "Perfection is possible if one stays with the group and is committed."
4. CULT OF CONFESSION. The unhealthy practice of self disclosure to members in the group. Often in the context of a public gathering in the group, admitting past sins and imperfections, even doubts about the group and critical thoughts about the integrity of the leaders.
5. SACRED SCIENCE. The group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.
6. LOADED LANGUAGE. A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members "think" within the very abstract and narrow parameters of the group's doctrine. The terminology sufficiently stops members from thinking critically by reinforcing a "black and white" mentality. Loaded terms and clichés prejudice thinking.
7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly and decisively interpreted through the absolute doctrine, even when experience contradicts the doctrine.
8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.
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