How to help people whose friends and relatives are active members of the LC

[Cal]

Originally Posted by aron

Brainwashing is a sort of controversial term, like "cult". It's so emotionally freighted that it's hard to use in any objective way that all the participants in the discussion agree upon.

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It is the same kind of therapy used to free schizophrenics. Make them aware, make them confront the contradictions inherent in their own thinking, and then they will see the doorway out. Otherwise they are trapped, and round and round the circle they go.

A linchpin in all this is that the LRC discredits the independent thought processes necessary to arrive at conclusions other than theirs. Not only do they inundate members with their teachings, they issue explicit warnings and impose controlling social structures which make it practically impossible to exist in their culture while holding to differing views. The member is trained that even entertaining the idea that the CHURCH is in error is a transgression.

It's not hard to consider possible alternatives to the LRC's beliefs and practices. What's hard is to have the courage to drop the LRC versions for the alternatives.

This is the "genius" of controlling groups. The very act of initially considering they might be in error is itself a sin. To question the group is to step out of the light. They shoot the horse before it has a chance to leave the gate.

It's an extremely effective, self-reinforcing means of control. We all fell prey to it.