Cults

Recently I have been studying some cults and cult-like organisations. Most of them have serious issues, and this is why they are cults.

Cult, (definition from the Cult Awareness Network, now taken over by Scientology after bankruptcy brought on by Scn litigation). A serious problem exists in our society as a result of the emergence of groups, popularly called cults, using mind control (undue influence) and unethical means to recruit and retain followers. Association with these groups can be harmful to followers and disruptive to families, friends and society. MARKS OF A DESTRUCTIVE CULT:

Mind Control (undue influence): Manipulation by use of coercive persuasion or behavior modification techniques without informed consent.

Charismatic Leadership: Claiming divinity or special knowledge and demanding unquestioning obedience with power and privilege. Leadership may consist of one individual or a small core of leaders.

Deception: Recruiting and fundraising with hidden objectives and without full disclosure of the use of mind controlling techniques; use of front groups.

Exclusivity: Secretiveness or vagueness by followers regarding activities and beliefs.

Alienation: Separation from family, friends and society, a change in values and substitution of the cult as the new family; evidence of subtle or abrupt personality changes.

Exploitation: Can be financial, physical, or psychological; pressure to give money, to spend a great deal on courses or give excessively to special projects, or to engage in inappropriate sexual activities, even child abuse.

Totalitarian Worldview (we/they syndrome): Effecting dependence, promoting goals of the group over the individual and approving unethical behavior while claiming goodness.

These definitions of cults are quite negative, and imply shady dealings and abuses of character.

The problem is, you see, that its looking like more and more of my ideas would require a willing body of people in order to implement. It wouldn't be implemented as a cult, but rather an organisation with clearly stated goals, and no financial aspirations. What I'm afraid of though, is how such an organisation would be treated in the lime-light. Would it be torn apart, laws written to deny its existence - or could it attain such seclusion that it would be viewed as an independent gorverning body afforded the same rights as other independed states? (Provided, of course, that human rights were not being violated -- which I would never permit...)

It's a delimma I must face down.