I read Combating Cult Mind Control a few weeks ago. I found it quite fascinating. Not that I really learned a lot of new material. I had already observed first-hand most of the techniques he describes in great detail. A lot of posters have referenced Hassan’s books in previous topics here, so I was familiar with a lot of what he says already. What I found most interesting was the contrast that exists between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and other cults in terms of the mind control techniques they use.
For instance, Hassan talks about being occupied day after day with the business of selling trinkets to raise money for the Moonie cult, so much so that he often operated on little more than three or four hours of sleep a day. This reminds me of the countless hours JWs spend, especially regular pioneers, peddling literature. Hassan said the Moonies told their members that any negative information about them originated from the Satan-inspired Communist conspiracy. JWs are taught that negative information about them originates from the devil and his minions, the dreaded apostates. Hassan describes how potential recruits get “love-bombed” at their recruitment seminars. The same thing happens to new people who show up to the Kingdom Hall for the first time.
I checked the book out from the library, but I intend to buy a copy and go through it again. I want to highlight all of the passages that apply to JWs. I’m guessing half of the book will be highlighted by the time I’m through.
To be completely fair, the only complaint I have about the book is that Hassan mentions that he feels God tries to help people out of cults and that cult members often don’t heed His directions. This is fine as his personal opinion, but he’s a professional therapist and should confine his findings to empirical data. He risks alienating people that way. A lot of folks that leave high-control cults are leery of people who seem to want to push new religious beliefs on them.
For instance, Hassan talks about being occupied day after day with the business of selling trinkets to raise money for the Moonie cult, so much so that he often operated on little more than three or four hours of sleep a day. This reminds me of the countless hours JWs spend, especially regular pioneers, peddling literature. Hassan said the Moonies told their members that any negative information about them originated from the Satan-inspired Communist conspiracy. JWs are taught that negative information about them originates from the devil and his minions, the dreaded apostates. Hassan describes how potential recruits get “love-bombed” at their recruitment seminars. The same thing happens to new people who show up to the Kingdom Hall for the first time.
I checked the book out from the library, but I intend to buy a copy and go through it again. I want to highlight all of the passages that apply to JWs. I’m guessing half of the book will be highlighted by the time I’m through.
To be completely fair, the only complaint I have about the book is that Hassan mentions that he feels God tries to help people out of cults and that cult members often don’t heed His directions. This is fine as his personal opinion, but he’s a professional therapist and should confine his findings to empirical data. He risks alienating people that way. A lot of folks that leave high-control cults are leery of people who seem to want to push new religious beliefs on them.