Cults indoctrinate their members to NEVER look at critical information about the cult leader, doctrine or group policies. Keeping members “in the dark” by using Information Control is vital to the success of a cult.
If members were to see dissenting information about the leader or the cult, and think about it, it might cause this member to start researching on their own. This inevitably leads to their renouncing their involvement.
Cults indoctrinate their members with conspiracies about anyone who speaks negatively about the cult. In Scientology, anyone who criticizes is labeled a “Suppressive Person” (or “SP”). Members are taught to stay away from these people and this information which is called entheta.
We are seeing this same phenomenon play out with Donald Trump. Trump has poisoned the well so ANYTHING negative said about him is "fake news." His base then only consumes favorable messages (on Fox or Breitbart) and avoids the rest. This self-censorship is very common in cults.
Jim Jones (cult leader who directed a mass suicide of more than 900 followers at Jonestown) in his dying breath said it is "all the media’s fault. Don’t believe them.”
Healthy organizations welcome critiques. Cults do not.
Healthy organizations welcome critiques. Cults do not.
