“The techniques of thought reform as defined by Robert Lifton are based upon a series of logical leaps and informal logical fallacies. Knowing the basics of commonly used fallacies and propaganda techiniques can help reduce the likelyhood of manipulation. Like a good batter can identify the type of ball a pitcher has thrown him as soon as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, a good fallacy spotter can do much the same thing. Here is a list of common propaganda techniques and logical fallacies commonly used by spiritual abusers and cults.”
Ad Hominem – Attack your opponent’s person rather than the argument itself. Literally “against the man”
Ad Hominem Abusive (Sub category of Ad Hominem) – An attack on the character or other irrelevant personal qualities of the opposition—such as appearance—is offered as evidence against their position. Such attacks are often effective distractions (“red herrings”), because the opponent feels it necessary to defend the self, thus being distracted from the topic of the debate.
Ad Hominem Circumstantial (Subcategory of Ad Hominem) -A Circumstantial Ad Hominem is one in which some irrelevant personal circumstance surrounding the opponent is offered as evidence against the opponent’s position. This fallacy is often introduced by phrases such as: “Of course, that’s what you’d expect him to say.” The fallacy claims that the only reason why he argues as he does is because of personal circumstances, such as standing to gain from the argument’s acceptance.
Appeal to Authority – Citing authorities or respected figures to support an argument or to discredit or negate an argument made by an opponent. This effectively thwarts the debate and the argument.
Appeal to Fear** – Fear is used to destabilize people so that they will be more likely to do or believe something that they would not otherwise choose under normal circumstances
Appeal to Force** (Argumentum ad Baculum) – Use of force and threats of force to “win” a debate. (baculum is a walking stick)
Appeal to Ignorance (also Argument from Silence) -An appeal to ignorance is an argument for or against a proposition on the basis of a lack of evidence against or for it. If there is positive evidence for the conclusion, then of course we have other reasons for accepting it, but a lack of evidence by itself is no evidence.
Appeal to Prejudice** – (Also Called Poisoning the Well) Using emotive terms and connotation to attach moral benefit or goodness to the argument. Attach the modifier “Biblical” to that which should not be questioned. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” It can also be used negatively. “The opinions and unrelated beliefs of a non-Christian cannot really be trusted, even regarding matters that do not relate to morality or Scripture.”
Argumentum Ad Nauseum – An idea is repeated relentlessly until it is accepted. Especially effective when there is a great deal of milieu control.
Argumentum Ad Populum – (also called the “bandwagon” and “inevitable victory”) Persuasion based on social proof
Big Lie – Create a message that is so complex but contains enough truthful elements so that people will not identify all the fictitious and fallacious elements. By the time it is recognized, many of the ideas are a part of the fabric of the debate and widely accepted.
Black-and-White Fallacy** (also called the Either-Or Fallacy or False Dilemma) – Presents information so that there are only two possible choices, one of which is far more appealing than the other. Obsures the difference between that which is contrary vs contradictory.
Common Man – Taking on of the characteristics of the target audience to make the message more palatable
Demonizing the Enemy** – Dehumanize the enemy and remove elements of commonality so that the target is easily dismissed, worthless, and of “non-person” status
Direct Order – Simplification of the decision making process so that followers will respond to very simple commands without question or need for additional problem solving
Euphoria – Use of emotionally charged and euphoria producing events to perpetuate good feelings and utopian ideals
Flag-waving – Capitalizing on patriotic sentiments to further one’s agenda.
Glittering Generality – The use of positive connotation and vague statements to present an argument as very desirable without evidence to support glittering claims
Intentional Vagueness** (also “Fuzzy Logic”) – Conclusions are not directly stated and the message may be intentionally vague so that individuals may draw their own conclusions, and the speaker does not have to be held directly accountable for the ideas. This works well in concert with other propaganda techniques.
Oversimplification (also “Fallacy of the Simple Cause”) – Very complex processes are described with trite explanations that do not provide a faithful perspective for the target audience. Trite explanations are used to reduce rationales into faulty causalities.
Quoting Out of Context (type of “Straw Man” argument) – Selected quotes are extracted from a passage so that without the full context of the passage, the meaning is greatly distorted.
Rationalization** – Positive and unrelated aspects of something are offered as evidence for an argument’s validity. “But they can’t teach wrong doctrine because they have a lovely family”
Red Herring – (large category of several fallacies) Irrelevant but compelling aspects of an argument are offered as a distraction from the core issues in order to derail the debate.
Redefinition** – Assigning new meaning to an old term, but this is a logical boobytrap because of the ease of equivocation and confusing meanings. “He who defines, wins.”
Reductio ad Hitlerum (type of Red Herring – see also Transference) – Suggestion that a popular idea is associated with something deplorable, hateful and unthinkable so that people will react and reject the argument or source of information based on the association.
Repetition – A rhetorical or literary device that is lyrical and gets stuck in one’s mind like an advertising jingle. It is akin to argumentum ad nauseum, but also has literary quality.
Scapegoating** – A single cause or element is identified and vilified as the source of all undesirable circumstances or outcomes. The scapegoat distracts the audience from other possible contributing factors.
Slogans – Short phrases or motto used to make emotional appeals and support ideas. Slogans become “thought stopping” techniques quickly and become communication shortcuts that suspend critical thought.
Steriotyping (also “Name Calling” or “Labeling”) – Reduces people, events, practices or ideas to capitalize on prejudice to evoke fear or distain.
Straw Man** – The Prince of All Fallacies (Subtype of “Red Herring”) – Attempt to refute an opponent’s position, and in the context is required to do so, but instead attacks a position—the “straw man”—not held by the opponent. Argues to a conclusion that denies the “straw man” the arguer has set up, but misses the target. A common straw man is an extreme man. Extreme positions are more difficult to defend because they make fewer allowances for exceptions, or counter-examples.
Testimonial – Reports or testimony from trusted sources are offered, out of context, in support of or for vilification of an idea, person, etc.
Transference** – Projection of either positive or negative qualities to something or someone in order to connote qualities that may or may not be related. It capitalizes on emotional response and is related to “Guilt by Association” and “Reductio ad Hitlerum”
Unstated Assumption** – Beliefs are implied or stated indirectly because a direct statement would seem less credible. “Women’s suffrage is outside the prescriptive will of God and Kingdom Architecture.” As a woman and a voter, you now have been told that you are acting outside the will of God and willingly disobedient. Any Christian understands that willful disobedience of God and the Scriptures is sin. The speaker can imply that they have not accused anyone of sinning, skirting accountability; however their inference that voting for women is a sin is understood.
*****Establishing Milieu Control*****
In any manipulative group that practices surreptitious techniques to influence members, one of the primary means of establishing and maintaining control of the community and environment comes through what Robert Lifton called “Milieu Control.”
For most groups, this involves not only control of the flow of information into / within a group but also the generation of information to keep those within the group from engaging critical thought. Any information from outside this closed system (or sometimes from a disgruntled member) that challenges the group must be silenced, because people will then begin to think for themselves and will question the veracity of the information that the group has communicated to them. The outside information will magnify the flaws in the group’s dogma. Most groups communicate the idea that only information from certain sources may be considered, and other sources will be portrayed as false or evil.
For this reason Steven Hassan includes information along with the three elements of the self (thought, emotion and behavior) as a means of dominating a person for the purposes of surreptitious manipulation. When the group can gain control of one aspect of the self, it is highly likely that the other aspects of the person will follow the path of least resistance to reduce psychological stress by causing a change in the other unaffected aspects (cognitive dissonance). Personally, I like to consider information as a separate factor because, though it can be manipulated in order to convert a person, it is external to the person themselves. However in terms of influence, it is just as powerful a means of establishing control.
Within a manipulative or harmful group, leadership uses information to affect all of the aspects of self in order to reinforce the identity of members. They isolate group members from information outside of the group, replacing it with their perceptions and message. In order to overcome pre-existing thoughts or ideas that might be held by members, it may be necessary to use logical fallacy and propaganda techniques to convey and reinforce their messages (though both of these tactics also employ emotional tactics as well). Information may also be used to convey messages of shame and fear to coerce members, but they can also appeal to desires by promising solutions to troubling problems. Groups actually create a perception of problems and then provide an irresistible solution to those problems, and naturally, the solutions can only be found by actively participating with the group. Cialdini in particular outlines the social pressure (see Asch), authority (see Milgram), and systems of positive and negative reinforcement (see Spiritual Abuse) utilized to influence members in order to gain behavioral compliance.

Most groups use some method of isolation of members from external information that contradicts the group’s message and information, or the group may allow select information to be filtered into the group after it has been altered or tainted with negative connotation. Lifton says that isolationism or withdrawal often serve as unavoidable adaptations. Group members learn rather quickly which sources and information should be avoided because they will experience cognitive dissonance when faced with the truth. Any message that scrutinizes the group or that contradicts the group think will produce great discomfort in the follower, so groups actually have to do very little warning of their members. (Because members experience discomfort when they do review challenging information that brings the group or their teachings under scrutiny making the milieu a self-reinforcing system, when groups do formally declare warnings to their followers, it does make one wonder if the groups have become particularly threatened.)
If the group is unable to stop any information that challenges its ideology, the sacred science of the group, and the doctrine over person at work in a manipulative system, it predictably resorts to various measures of damage control. Groups marginalize or discredit sources of information and the information itself through typical propaganda techniques. “Poisoning the well,” reducteo ad hitlerum, ad hominem arguments, straw men, red herrings and other typical tactics are used to discredit the source of information (refer to sidebar information). Groups often employ fear mongering, communicating to followers that review of information deemed questionable or dangerous will place their eternal souls in great jeopardy. Most members will not be Bereans about this type of information because reviewing the challenging information while holding on to the group dogma will place them in harms way with the group and may not be worth investigating.
Bill Gothard propagates a particularly powerful means of establishing and maintaining milieu control with his “umbrella
of protection” teachings. Gothard makes submission and acts of selfless humility a type of sacrament necessary for the earning of grace that enables Christians to live safe and protected lives. Going against the standard set by the group exposes believers to harm, so that under Gothard’s ideology, failure to observe the rules that maintain milieu control expose one to God’s wrath and open one up to satanic attack. This serves to further isolate the group and polarize members to reject information from outside of the system because of fear of losing their salvation as well as their physical well being.
Most interesting to watch in closed systems and manipulative groups is their response to disgruntled members of the group. Thought reform and mind control is very effective, but it is not a sure thing. Most people walk away from cultic groups of their own volition and are not usually dismissed or disfellowshiped from their groups. As group members become dissatisfied, the same types of techniques used to influence members to reject information from outside of their system is used to isolate members who demonstrate non-compliance. Groups devote many damage control measures to containing information propagated by problematic members who become wise to their deception. Groups often dissemble and exaggerate information to cast these disgruntled members in unfavorable light so that if they do communicate problematic or thought provoking information, members will be highly inclined to ignore or dismiss this information.
Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire
Questions To Help Identify Specific Areas of Spiritual Abuse, Deception, and Fraud
Excerpts — Questionaire by Chris Lawson
The following list of questions is to help you, the reader, think through a number of things that perhaps you have never seriously considered on your own before.
As you read the questions, circle either YES or NO. When you reach the end, go back through the list and prayerfully consider the questions that you have answered YES to.
Answering YES to any of the following questions may be an indication of an unhealthy problem in your group or with your leaders.
Answering YES to more than just a few questions is a definite cause for alarm. If this is the case, it is recommended that you take a much closer look into your group’s or organization’s history, purpose, and goals. Observe closely the methods, activities, and lives of the leaders. Are they using abusive and manipulative tactics on people?
If you believe that you are being abused in any way, it is highly recommended that you seek immediate help from balanced individuals and relatives who are outside of the influence of your group and its leaders.
Remember, you have the freedom to make your own choices and to be free from controlling and manipulative people. Controlling, abusive, and manipulating people will only mock, chastise and attempt to control you even more when their ploys, methods and artful ways of controlling others have been exposed.
Lastly, if you are suffering physical harm in any way or are involved against your conscience in any activity, you have the freedom to call emergency personnel by dialing 911.
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR CHURCH OR GROUP’S LEADERS
Are you in any way fearful of your leader(s)?
YES / NO
Does your church or group revolve around one main charismatic personality who is the final arbiter of “truth”?
YES / NO
Do your leaders make claims of being “Anointed,” having “Elijah’s Mantle,” having “Apostolic Authority,” etc?
YES / NO
Does the main leader, or the leaders in your church or group ALWAYS insist that they are right?
YES / NO
Are you allowed to freely ask questions about the background of your leader(s) and your group without being looked down upon or being considered ‘divisive’?
YES / NO
Would you be ‘rebuked’ by your leader(s) if you researched the background and history of the group and its leader(s)?
YES / NO
Are you allowed to freely discuss teachings, prophecies, or so-called new revelations that your groups leader(s) have stated in the past or present?
YES / NO
Are you allowed to ask your leader(s) questions regarding their background in ministry, education, teaching, policies, etc.?
YES / NO
Are your leaders above reproach (without blame) in morals, ethics, teaching and financial issues?
YES / NO
Do any of your leaders have a criminal record?
YES / NO
Would your leader(s) freely allow you to research their background in order to find out if they have any criminal record?
YES / NO
Has anyone in your group ever tried to persuade you to NOT research the personal background of the leaders?
YES / NO
When issues are brought up about abusive situations, do your leaders say, “You just need to have more faith!”, or “You are being disloyal to leadership!”?
YES / NO
Are leaders in your group very, very hard to contact or meet with?
YES / NO
Do your leaders avoid problematic issues? Or, when you discuss or address a real problem, do YOU then become targeted as THE problem, instead of the real issue that needs to be addressed?
YES / NO
Are your leaders aloof, unapproachable, unkind or harsh in any way to any of the people in your group?
YES / NO
Are your leaders amongst an “elite” class within your group?
YES / NO
Have your leaders ever told you or taught you that they are the only ones that can “rightly interpret” the Scriptures (Holy Bible)?
YES / NO
Do your leaders teach that your “church” or “movement” or “group” is the Only True Church?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR GROUP AND ITS TEACHINGS
Do you feel that your group twists and misapplies Bible verses?
YES / NO
Are you told what you will believe?
YES / NO
Are you guided through the Bible and at the same time NOT ALLOWED to study the Scriptures on your own, apart from your group’s own materials?
YES / NO
Do your leaders claim “New Revelations,” or special “Words from God?”
YES / NO
Do your leaders withhold or avoid providing you and your group with a written “Statement of Beliefs”, or, “Statement of Faith”?
YES / NO
Is it difficult to get a straight answer from the group’s leader(s) on the group’s teachings?
YES / NO
Is your group ‘secretive’ about any of its teachings, practices or meetings?
YES / NO
Does your group take ‘oaths’ or have you commit to unrealistic expectations?
YES / NO
Are your leaders ever “harsh” in tone with you or do you ever feel like an animal that is “driven hard”?
YES / NO
Have you been taught, told or commanded NOT to share any of your group’s teachings, doctrines or practices with any outsiders?
YES / NO
Does your group encourage you to read the Bible on your own, apart from the group’s own interpretation of what it is teaching?
YES / NO
Have you ever been instructed to cut all ties with the past, with relatives (spouse, children, in-laws, etc.) or with friends upon joining the group?
YES / NO
Do your leaders favorably quote and endorse known false teachers and false teachings in their own sermons, messages and teaching?
YES / NO
Are the leaders in your group or church comprised of “yes men” who simply follow, submit to, and carry out the whims and desires of one man?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR GROUP’S OR CHURCH’S POLICIES
Does your group have any policies (or lack thereof) that allow leaders to use threats, pressures to conform, bribes, verbal abuse, etc.?
YES / NO
Would you say that your church’s or group’s policy on ‘discipline’ is extreme? If so, why and how?
YES / NO
Is, or could, your group’s policy on ‘discipline’ be dangerous, illegal, or abusive in any way?
YES / NO
Does your group restrict you from “visiting” other churches?
YES / NO
If you visit another church for a wedding, baptism, funeral or baby dedication would you get in trouble?
YES NO
If you were to ask valid, enquiring questions about your group’s policies, would this create relationship problems with the leaders?
YES / NO
Does your group have any policies that you would consider harmful to children, the family unit, or society in general?
YES / NO
Does your group employ “out-loud shaming” of individuals and/or families?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR GROUP’S LITERATURE AND MULTI-MEDIA
Do you rely completely, without question, on the literature and information that your group gives you for your spiritual growth?
YES / NO
Will you be disciplined if you ever, at any time, listen to, read or view literature and multi-media materials that are not from your group, church or organization? Materials could include such things as books, journals, tracts, magazines, newsletters, CD’s, DVD’s, audio cassettes, videos, websites, etc.?
YES / NO
Are you only allowed to use study aids, books, etc. that are from your group or organization?
YES / NO
Do your leaders ever communicate to you that only your organizations materials or “of God” -
YES / NO
Have your leaders ever told you that all bible study materials outside of your group considered worldly, bad, apostate, ‘of the devil’, or evil?
YES / NO
If you are caught reading religious materials or assessments about your group, that are not published by your group, your group’s governing body or your organization’s headquarters, will you be disciplined?
YES / NO
Do your leaders speak down, mock, or show consistent disdain against Christian churches and Christian, counter-cult research ministries?
YES / NO
If you were to visit your leaders and confront them regarding false prophecies they have made, or false teachings they have taught, do you think they would be angry, upset or frustrated that you came to show them their error?
YES / NO
Would you say that your leaders display lack of sorrow, lack of apology, and unrepentance when they are confronted with real sin or abuse issues?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT MORALS, HEALTH AND CONSCIENCE
Are you dependent upon the “approval” of your leaders for what you do (i.e. what you eat, what you wear, where you go, what you say, who you spend time with, who you marry, the music you listen to, etc.)?
YES / NO
Do you feel as though your life (or ministry) is being ‘micromanaged’ by others?
YES / NO
Do your leaders add unnecessary pressure to your decision making?
YES / NO
Are your leaders cruel, vindictive or overbearing?
YES / NO
Do any of your leaders justify sexual immorality by telling you something like, “God told me it is OK!”
Have you ever been instructed, led, or forced to partake in any type of sexual activity with any of your group’s leaders?
YES / NO
Are you or have you ever been commanded, forced, coerced, extorted, or manipulated into financial giving, tithing, sowing your seed-faith offering, etc.?
YES / NO
Are you being physically injured in any way (molested, raped, abused, whipped, beaten, tied up, slapped, heavy handed ‘intimacy’, etc.)?
YES / NO
Does your church, group or organization employ sleep deprivation, deprive people of a balanced diet, or utilize dehydration as a means to being more ‘spiritual’)?
YES / NO
Have you been forced, manipulated, coerced or pressured into making any moral and ethical choices against your own will and conscience? If so, what? If so, by whom?
YES / NO
If you address a valid issue or concern regarding problems in leadership that are clearly unbiblical, do your leaders backpedal, blameshift, or insist that they are right and you are wrong?
YES / NO
When confronting a leaders(s) with a valid issue or concern, do they turn the whole thing around to the point where now YOU have become the problem, not the issue that needs to be dealt with?
YES / NO
Do your leaders or ministry helpers ever lie to you?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT MAKING PERSONAL CHOICES
Do you feel that you are manipulated against your own desires when making personal choices about diet, clothing, time commitments, service, tithing, friendships, dating, spouses, purchases?
YES / NO
Are choices ever made by your leaders that go against and burden your own conscience?
YES / NO
Do authority figures within your group ever demand answers from you or use threats to get their way?
YES / NO
Do your leaders or the ‘group dynamic’ in your group make you feel as though you cannot come and go as you please (i.e. you feel as though your expected to be at all or most of the meetings)?
YES / NO
If you are experiencing abuse in any way, are you scared, afraid or nervous about leaving your group, church or organization?
YES / NO
Do your leaders, or the group itself, make choices to involve you in things that you don’t like or would prefer not to be a part of?
YES / NO
Are you pressured or manipulated into making decisions – any decisions at all – regarding anything?
YES / NO
Do you feel guilty or dirty after making decisions because… “That is just what our group does.”
YES / NO
Do others in your group make any decisions for you? If so, what are they?
YES / NO
Is pressure put upon you, in any way, to avoid ‘other outside information’ about your group?
YES / NO
Are you fearful that if you make ‘a wrong choice’ your leaders will punish you?
YES / NO
Have you ever been punished or abused in any of the following ways: Physically abused, out-loud verbal shaming in front of others, given the non-verbal silent treatment, coded non-verbal abuse (the look), financially mistreated or extorted and, as a result, suffered financial repercussions, sexually abused in any way, emotionally manipulated, purposefully betrayed, sexual inuendos, etc?
YES / NO
Are there spoken or unspoken “dress code rules” in your group, that if broken, will lead to “discipline”?
YES / NO
If you are a woman, are you taught or commanded that you must wear long skirts, have long hair, avoid all make-up, and wear a head covering in order to please God?
YES / NO
Will your leaders or the group you belong to chastise you or refer to you as “carnal,” “less spiritual,” “unsubmissive,” or “in rebellion” if you do not wear long skirts, have long hair, wear a head covering and avoid all make-up?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS ABOUT REGISTERED SEX-OFFENDERS BEING ALLOWED AROUND CHILDREN
Does your church, group, or organization allow registered sex offenders to be involved in children’s or youth ministry?
YES / NO
Do your leaders break the law by allowing registered sex offenders to be anywhere in the vicinity of children?
YES / NO
If it is known by your leaders that a registered sex offender is attempting to visit (or is consistently attending) your group or church service, and is in the vicinity of children, do your leaders kindly remove the registered sex offender(s) from the premises in order to protect the children (and the offender from breaking probation)?
YES / NO
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT FINANCES
Are you allowed to enquire and ask valid questions as to how money is handled, where money is spent, and who is accountable with your church or group finances?
YES / NO
Is your group secretive about where its funds go?
YES / NO
If you were to enquire about “Who counts and handles the money?”, would your leader(s) show contempt towards you or look down on you with suspicion?
YES / NO
If your group is a church and/or holding services, and monies are received, does just one person or one married couple count and handle all the finances?
YES / NO
Have you ever been told by your leader(s) that no financial board is needed?
YES / NO
If your group is a church and/or holding services, and monies are received, do the leaders AVOID filing annual tax documents with the Internal Revenue Service and Franchise Tax Board?
YES / NO
When money is received through offerings, collected through offering boxes, etc., do you see that there is a lack of accountability with counting, processing and depositing funds?
YES / NO
If you have ever enquired about the financial accountability procedures in your church, group or organization, have your leaders been defensive?
YES / NO
A FEW MORE QUESTIONS
Is there a high turnover rate of people coming and then leaving your church or group?
YES / NO
Do you often hear stories of strife, bitterness, and controversies within your group or its leadership?
YES / NO
Does your group consistently condemn people and churches outside your group as being “of the devil,” “Satanic,” “servants of Satan,” “worldly”, etc.?
YES / NO
Does your church have the “We Are The Only True Church” mentality?
YES / NO
Do you experience cruelty or abusive attitudes from leaders in your church or group?
YES / NO
Are the leading men in your church, group or organization too busy to spend time with their own families?
YES / NO
Is your group engaging in any of the following forms of mystical, New Age, occult, or consciousness altering methodology: chanting, mysticism, contemplative “centering” prayer, yoga, meditation, uncontrollable laughter, “babbling in tongues”, consciousness altering practices, visualization, guided imagery, reiki, therapeutic touch, transferable anointing, shaking, jerking, heat in hands, electrical jolts, shocks and currents through the body, carpet time, “Holy Laughter,” group hysteria, spontaneous yoga poses, etc.?
YES / NO
Just one last thing. If you are in tears right now, filled with grief, sorrow and pain, please know this: There is freedom ahead and there is a God in heaven who desires to break the chains of abuse, pain, and the hardship you have been through. He sees your silent tears, He understands your grief, and He is willing and available to comfort your pain and distress.
Sources:
The Collection of Posts about Understanding Cognitive Dissonance from the Under Much Grace Blog
ALSO FROM:
INDEX OF POSTS DEFINING SPIRITUAL ABUSE
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