Post by Poor Richard on Mar 3, 2021 14:46:16 GMT -7
Coercion or Conversion? CUT vs. Mull by Erin Prophet
Erin Prophet, daughter of Elizabeth Prophet of Church Universal and Triumphant wrote:
"Brainwashing is seldom far from the news. During the twenty-first century to date, we find everyone from terrorists to Scientologists to consumers described as having been “brainwashed,” or sometimes in a more sophisticated sounding vein, as having been influenced by “coercive persuasion,”a force beyond their control, whether strong or weak. I myself have given a lot of thought to the dynamics of influence, having grown up in a group that was labelled a cult and left gradually of my own accord.
It is clear that influence increases when a person or group has financial or physical control over an individual. It is strongest obviously when people are locked up and prevented from leaving, as in prisoner-of-war camps.What is less clear is how far influence goes when it is simply mental or emotional. The current popular terminology leaves no room for nuance, and the professional academic discourse seems at times out of touch with popular fears.
When conversion is to a “cult,” a commonly used term for small and unpopular religions,the love affair of conversion can be even more unstable.
*With a living charismatic leader, things can turn bad quickly. Flaws may appear in leaders who once seemed appealing. Leaders may withdraw to hide their flaws. If a person has given up a lot to join the group—a job, financial security—it can be emotionally difficult to leave, whether or not there are physical barriers.
Gregory Mull, the central figure in the case at hand, was a member of Church Universal and Triumphant from 1974 to 1980. The church grew out of The Summit Lighthouse, a religious organization founded by my father, Mark Prophet, in 1958. After his death in 1973, his widow, my mother, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, shifted the group’s identity largely into a new organization called Church Universal and Triumphant. A complicated history led the church to sue Gregory in 1981, following which he sued both the church and its living leader.
The suit and countersuit between Gregory Mull, Church Universal and Triumphant and Elizabeth Clare Prophet took place in an interesting period in American judicial history with respect to theories of group influence. During the trial, Mr. Mull’s attorney argued that he had been a victim of “coercive persuasion” during his time in the church and had therefore been unable to make decisions independently."
So goes the introduction to a thoughtfully written piece of history from someone who was there.
The full book is 166 pages long and is excellent reading. The pages are small; the above introduction was two pages long.
Download the PDF book here.
"Brainwashing is seldom far from the news. During the twenty-first century to date, we find everyone from terrorists to Scientologists to consumers described as having been “brainwashed,” or sometimes in a more sophisticated sounding vein, as having been influenced by “coercive persuasion,”a force beyond their control, whether strong or weak. I myself have given a lot of thought to the dynamics of influence, having grown up in a group that was labelled a cult and left gradually of my own accord.
It is clear that influence increases when a person or group has financial or physical control over an individual. It is strongest obviously when people are locked up and prevented from leaving, as in prisoner-of-war camps.What is less clear is how far influence goes when it is simply mental or emotional. The current popular terminology leaves no room for nuance, and the professional academic discourse seems at times out of touch with popular fears.
When conversion is to a “cult,” a commonly used term for small and unpopular religions,the love affair of conversion can be even more unstable.
*With a living charismatic leader, things can turn bad quickly. Flaws may appear in leaders who once seemed appealing. Leaders may withdraw to hide their flaws. If a person has given up a lot to join the group—a job, financial security—it can be emotionally difficult to leave, whether or not there are physical barriers.
Gregory Mull, the central figure in the case at hand, was a member of Church Universal and Triumphant from 1974 to 1980. The church grew out of The Summit Lighthouse, a religious organization founded by my father, Mark Prophet, in 1958. After his death in 1973, his widow, my mother, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, shifted the group’s identity largely into a new organization called Church Universal and Triumphant. A complicated history led the church to sue Gregory in 1981, following which he sued both the church and its living leader.
The suit and countersuit between Gregory Mull, Church Universal and Triumphant and Elizabeth Clare Prophet took place in an interesting period in American judicial history with respect to theories of group influence. During the trial, Mr. Mull’s attorney argued that he had been a victim of “coercive persuasion” during his time in the church and had therefore been unable to make decisions independently."
So goes the introduction to a thoughtfully written piece of history from someone who was there.
The full book is 166 pages long and is excellent reading. The pages are small; the above introduction was two pages long.
Download the PDF book here.