Michael Morris

They surround them with people who hang on their every word and tell them they have spiritual potential and make them feel wonderful. And if they respond well, then they get an invitation to come to our group's retreat. It's in this beautiful mountain setting where cell phones don't work and where there are no newspapers and no television.

They surround them with people who hang on their every word and tell them they have spiritual potential and make them feel wonderful. And if they respond well, then they get an invitation to come to our group's retreat. It's in this beautiful mountain setting where cell phones don't work and where there are no newspapers and no television.

They surround them with people who hang on their every word and tell them they have spiritual potential and make them feel wonderful. And if they respond well, then they get an invitation to come to our group's retreat. It's in this beautiful mountain setting where cell phones don't work and where there are no newspapers and no television.

And then you have long days of getting up early, eating a low-protein diet, you know, maybe meditating, chanting, hiking together, listening to charismatic lectures, having sort of confession sessions. And this is the same routine that seminaries use to recruit priests. It's the same routine that the Muslim Brotherhood uses to recruit. You know, it's nothing...

And then you have long days of getting up early, eating a low-protein diet, you know, maybe meditating, chanting, hiking together, listening to charismatic lectures, having sort of confession sessions. And this is the same routine that seminaries use to recruit priests. It's the same routine that the Muslim Brotherhood uses to recruit. You know, it's nothing...

And then you have long days of getting up early, eating a low-protein diet, you know, maybe meditating, chanting, hiking together, listening to charismatic lectures, having sort of confession sessions. And this is the same routine that seminaries use to recruit priests. It's the same routine that the Muslim Brotherhood uses to recruit. You know, it's nothing...

cults don't have a monopoly on this set of recruitment techniques. But basically what you're doing is you're pulling somebody out of the mixed social network that they ordinarily live in. And then after the retreat, usually 10% or 20% of the people are willing to move into a cult residence. And then once they're in the cult residence, then they're told –

cults don't have a monopoly on this set of recruitment techniques. But basically what you're doing is you're pulling somebody out of the mixed social network that they ordinarily live in. And then after the retreat, usually 10% or 20% of the people are willing to move into a cult residence. And then once they're in the cult residence, then they're told –

cults don't have a monopoly on this set of recruitment techniques. But basically what you're doing is you're pulling somebody out of the mixed social network that they ordinarily live in. And then after the retreat, usually 10% or 20% of the people are willing to move into a cult residence. And then once they're in the cult residence, then they're told –

You know, you should probably cut off some of these old friends because they don't really get it about the important work we're doing here in the cult, or at least give them a break. And maybe don't talk to your family so much because a lot of families, they may seem like good people, but they're a little bit hostile to the church. And then, of course, the family gets angry.

You know, you should probably cut off some of these old friends because they don't really get it about the important work we're doing here in the cult, or at least give them a break. And maybe don't talk to your family so much because a lot of families, they may seem like good people, but they're a little bit hostile to the church. And then, of course, the family gets angry.

You know, you should probably cut off some of these old friends because they don't really get it about the important work we're doing here in the cult, or at least give them a break. And maybe don't talk to your family so much because a lot of families, they may seem like good people, but they're a little bit hostile to the church. And then, of course, the family gets angry.

because they haven't heard from you and they do things like trying to kidnap you or trying to convince you that the cult is bad. And that, that ends up corroborating what the cult has been saying. And then you get into a world where you're living in a day-to-day routine where you're

because they haven't heard from you and they do things like trying to kidnap you or trying to convince you that the cult is bad. And that, that ends up corroborating what the cult has been saying. And then you get into a world where you're living in a day-to-day routine where you're

because they haven't heard from you and they do things like trying to kidnap you or trying to convince you that the cult is bad. And that, that ends up corroborating what the cult has been saying. And then you get into a world where you're living in a day-to-day routine where you're

you're completely surrounded by fellow cult members and they look up to the cult leaders and the cult leaders basically have this monopoly on status. Nobody else in your world has status. You're not seeing deference to anybody else. And that's when it gets really dangerous because it's abnormal, you know, in normal life, even if you're a very religious person, you know, you, um,

you're completely surrounded by fellow cult members and they look up to the cult leaders and the cult leaders basically have this monopoly on status. Nobody else in your world has status. You're not seeing deference to anybody else. And that's when it gets really dangerous because it's abnormal, you know, in normal life, even if you're a very religious person, you know, you, um,

you're completely surrounded by fellow cult members and they look up to the cult leaders and the cult leaders basically have this monopoly on status. Nobody else in your world has status. You're not seeing deference to anybody else. And that's when it gets really dangerous because it's abnormal, you know, in normal life, even if you're a very religious person, you know, you, um,

You may think the Pope is a wonderful person, but you're also a big fan of Messi and you like the music of Mick Jagger. And so no one of these heroes can dominate you completely. But when you're in a cult and you're not allowed to listen to Mick Jagger, you're not allowed to watch Messi, and it's all day long ceremonies involving the cult leader, that gets dangerous.

You may think the Pope is a wonderful person, but you're also a big fan of Messi and you like the music of Mick Jagger. And so no one of these heroes can dominate you completely. But when you're in a cult and you're not allowed to listen to Mick Jagger, you're not allowed to watch Messi, and it's all day long ceremonies involving the cult leader, that gets dangerous.