10 Signs You're in a Cult

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According to the BITE model, these are the ten biggest signs that a group is a cult:
1. The leader is the ultimate authority
2. The group suppresses skepticism
3. The group delegitimizes former members
4. The group is paranoid about the outside world
5. The group relies on shame cycles
6. The leader is above the law
7. The group uses “thought reform” methods
8. The group is elitist
9. There is no financial transparency
10. The group performs secret rites
More info: • Disturbing Rules Mormo...
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Опубликовано:

27 сен 2020

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Комментарии : 343

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Support us on Patreon and get access to bonus videos! www.patreon.com/zelphontheshelf

@jahrasta4907 3 года назад

Not knowing WTF's next after death, if anything at all will happen, is hard for people. Believing totally unprovable ideas helps some deal with the anxiety... but ultimately BS is very dangerous.

@billyjack3596 3 года назад

Please stop acting like leaving the church is a personality trait, it’s a bit out of touch and makes it seem like you’re shamelessly craving some sort of validation for going your own way...Also why should anyone pay you for this, you must just be flushed with cash since you’re not paying tithing now amiright?!?!

@vinster9165 3 года назад

6:20 the term is called defooing, pronounced dee fooh ing

@kenramirez5782 2 года назад

I don’t know how much hurt the Mormon church done to you I’m not a Mormon coach can be extremely damaging I have looked into the subject a little from time to time what made me look at your program was my investigation of how antifa and black lives matter have strong parallels to Jim Jones peoples temple in Guyana where they had mass murder and suicide of 914 people mostly black you seem like a nice couple and I don’t know if it’s because you’re so young but you also seem a little naïve sorry for the strong wording there but Trump was not all that bad he never wanted to jab people with syringes and there is a good program that might help you in the future it is called the Academy of ideas on RU-vid he talked about A lot of subjects that you might be interested in Is predominantly secular in nature even though I am a strong Christian I do think it’s worth looking at God bless take care and if you want to contact me I would be more than willing to talk

@LilBishOnYoutube 3 года назад

I love how Tanner turns his whole head to look at Sam while she's talking - it just feels really respectful and conversational and I appreciate it!! Appreciate you too Sam :)

@vladtheimpalerofyourmom-ag5112 3 года назад

“Not as many robes as you’d think”...Lol my cult had lots of robes, chefs hats too

@angeldream1 3 года назад

Have you seen that Moses chef hat meme?

@vladtheimpalerofyourmom-ag5112 3 года назад

aubrey I have not

@andrewenderfrost8161 3 года назад

@@angeldream1 i had to look it up. It was great.

@Jill-ih9dq 3 года назад

Gotta hide them behind the morality paywall

@michaeltaylors2456 3 года назад

Mine left a rope like impression on my forehead, daughter saw the lengthy divot and asked what that was from daddy ? I couldn’t tell her. 🤦🏻‍♂️She is free now from TSCC. She made it out even after being veiled and bowing her sweet head and saying yes. Thank goodness

@braidedgoatee 3 года назад

The simple answer why the missionaries look like business men is because it is more of a business than a religion.

@talesafterdark376 3 года назад

Yessssss! This is sooo true! Corporate finance is what brought me to Salt Lake City and I’d never in my life seen anything more commercialized than the LDS church besides maybe like Pepsi... oh wait 😉

@Richard.Atkinson 3 года назад

I’d say if you’re standing around in a circle holding hands, wearing white robes, green aprons, and 👨🏻‍🍳 baker hats, and chanting mantras three times... you might be in one?

@katiepearlgirl 3 года назад

This is a very superficial comment.... but I love both sweaters so much...

@bendiede7982 3 года назад

That Winnie The Pooh takes me back. 😍

@nectarina3891 3 года назад

I was an apprentice with a ballet company that fit most these critea. 1. The leader is the ultimate authority - The artistic director could never be wrong, even when she contradicted herself (she was also starting to have memory loss in her old age which made this worse), and every detail of every costume and dance had to be approved by her. 2. The group suppresses skepticism - constant undermining of any legitimate concerns or questions from the dancers, we had to know our place 3. The group delegitimizes former members - the leaders constantly trash talked almost all former dancers. and comparing how bad they are to how good the current ones are, just by nature of being with the company. 4. The group is paranoid about the outside world - told many young dancers that if the took any classes at other studios that their training would be permanently ruined. didn't allow company dancers to take masterclasses or open classes from other studios because it would "ruin" their ablilities. 5. The group relies on shame cycles - would fixate on any small mistakes and exaggerate them. berate dancers if ever late because unexpected traffic and tell dancers they aren't committed if they get a fever and won't come to class. added to this was the flip where the leader would praise you excessively out of the blue, never predictable 6. The leader is above the law - leader was often late or absent for teaching duties, didn't have to have a prepared lesson plan like other teachers, etc. 7. The group uses “thought reform” methods - exhausting dancers, denying them breaks or food, asking them to restrict eating, keeping them in rehearsal until 1am. and then feeding them group idealogy and leader superiority. 8. The group is elitist - leaders thought the group was the only dance company in america teaching the best version of the vagonova ballet technique and that no one else could know better 9. There is no financial transparency - yep, they would surprise us with last minutes fees and costs all the time and couldn't justify them to us. I preordered dvds of our shows and paid for them but they were never made! 10. The group performs secret rites- I don't know that there were secret things but definitely exclusivity for higher ranks of dancers and the would demote people on whims and promote people on whims. Cultish elements are pretty common in ballet schools and companies. We did have good costumes.

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Whoah! That is so interesting, thanks for sharing!

@andrewenderfrost8161 3 года назад

I want the costume without the cult

@Jill-ih9dq 3 года назад

This sounds eerily similar to my experience in a theatre company with an emotionally abusive director. Scary how often this kind of thing happens in insular art spaces

@chriswiebe1375 3 года назад

This is not my account but my husbands, so this is from a woman's perspective. I am studying music with a program director at a Bible college where it seems quite obvious to me that all of the music students are basically participating in a cult. Whenever I have tried to break away, I was immensely stressed and told I was being selfish. Currently I am in the middle of trying to have piano lessons with someone other than the prof's wife, and that stresses me out because they always try to make as much money off the students by pressuring them to take piano from his wife. All of their friends will also pool money to give to them when we do a production that was not funded by the school, even though we have a budget already. There is a clear sense of hierarchy where the more talented students get special treatment even though they are quite lazy, and I get no recognition for trying at all. I was once assigned a paper due the same day, as a punishment for them, even though I did not deserve it. I confronted our prof and was told it was not appropriate, and was also told that I was misunderstanding the situation and that I should be greatful for the criticism. I think this is quite obviously something I do not want to get into. Right now I am focusing on finishing the last year of my degree and avoiding seeking the approval of the prof and not measuring myself up to his favorite students.

@chriswiebe1375 3 года назад

Also, the prof convinced his two best students to go to a super low level college to get there master's degrees even though they were both accepted at multiple universities. My husband and I conjecture that he is actually going to start working there and that they were manipulated into going there because he is going to be working there. Basically people's lives get ruined because they do anything to please him.

@janApen 3 года назад

I am in a cult 🙃. Still living here at home pretending I am Mormon until I can figure out how to move out. There is a dangerous amount of anxiety that comes with leaving so it’s really hard not to. Oh I also am in a less Mormon populated aria so that is pretty good at least

@Anniloves21 3 года назад

It will all work out. Hang in there

@Cate7451 3 года назад

entangled with a mind , have a plan and see if you can get a financial cushion. Are there people who can help you. Take care.

@janApen 3 года назад

@@Cate7451 I have like a year worth of money saved up right now so if things do go south I have it. As for people who can help, probably. I have quite a few friends who may be able to help but my anxiety can still be crippling. Actually going through quite a bad spell of that and depression right now 🙃.

@janApen 3 года назад

@kiwibrown good question... has to be about a year and 3/4ths? Never a set date but like that’s generally when I heavily started questioning

@ramonanaya6236 3 года назад

Hope you stay safe and can get away

@aspenfrench2515 3 года назад

Did y’all hear that guests pastor on Fox News who said: “Law enforcement officers are ministers of God sent to punish evildoers and to resist law enforcement is to resist God himself.” I think that might meet some culty criteria.

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Wowowow

@mothermovementa 3 года назад

Why are they both so attractive tho.....

@naomihannig9823 3 года назад

Having followed for years... still working on that one lol

@NumberJenn 3 года назад

It makes it easier for us to join their cult ; ) lol

@jessicacummings3469 3 года назад

Because Mormons are gods chosen people so they are the most beautiful 🙄

@jessasmith2349 3 года назад

haha the definition of a bisexual panic

@ms.laurenv8738 3 года назад

I think it’s so very sad that people can be manipulated so completely. How heartbreaking to see the hypocrisy in so many organized religions and groups, and yet so many believe there way is true and just and holy. How many children are growing up in a mormon household, being taught that their very bodies and natural thoughts are shameful?

@oboequeen22 3 года назад

Next video: How to get out of the cult once you realize you’re in it

@dausonstimpson-gagnon4426 3 года назад

The temple deconverted me in one session. Seriously. Left the endowment ceremony afterwards, went to a bar, and literally began writing my resignation letter. It was so f'd up.

@vinster9165 3 года назад

Dauson Stimpson-Gagnon what was the ritual like? What was the process? What did you do during it?

@dausonstimpson-gagnon4426 3 года назад

@@vinster9165 I went through the Nauvoo, Illinois temple. This was 15 years ago now. But when you enter you go to a desk where your temple recommend is checked. At the time it was a piece of paper a little bit bigger than the size of a business card. The next step was to go for the anointing. The way I remember it, I was given a white jumpsuit type thing but was naked underneath that. (I left my underwear on) A temple worker anointed me with oil (a drop on the head) and said a blessing. Water was used but for the life of me I couldn't tell you how other than a symbolic washing. Various body parts are blessed by the temple worker, the head, the arms, basically a head and shoulders knees and toes deal. After that I was given a new name and the "sacred" underwear you hear about. It's a garment that consists of two parts, underwear with a line stitched above the right knee and a shirt that has 3 symbols on it. One over the right and left peck and one over the stomach. Then I got dressed in all white and carried a satchel that contained a green apron of fig leaves, a white sash, and a goofy looking hat. My chaperone then led me into the endowment room. The men sit on the right hand side of the room, the women on the left. Another temple worker came and gave a short talk about what we were going to go through but not in any detail and gave people the choice to leave if there wanted. Nobody did. I think so this point we moved to the Creation room. A movie starts playing and it's about the creation of man. It's basically a retelling of books out of the Pearl of Gear Price which is one of the cannon scriptures of the LDS church. Here I put on the green apron symbolizing the fall of man. I don't remember if we learned any signs of tokens (hand/harm gestures and handshakes) or if that began in the next room. Anyway, you go through separate rooms, endowment room, Creation room, Telestial, and finally the Celestial room. Each room adds something new. You learn the first tokens of the Aaronic priesthood and covenant with hand gestures you won't reveal it. You put your stupid hat on at some point, the sash which starts out on the left and then is randomly changed to the right. You learn the tokens of the Melchizedek priesthood and covenant not to reveal them. Before entering the Celestial room, you go through a bizarre ritual prayer in which you repeat, O God hear the words of my mouth. After this, you go up to a curtain where a temple worker sticks his hand through and asks for the tokens you've just learned. Another temple worker is on standby to help you get through the four tokens. And you provide your new name. Men don't ever reveal their new name but the women must tell their husbands their new name. You finally make it to the Celestial room, walking through a curtain and it's basically a glorified funeral parlor in my opinion with ridiculously expensive furniture, lavish lighting, and religious symbology. You're to remain very quiet in this room and I guess just contemplate what you just went through. I remember being thoroughly confused, complete underwhelmed by the experience and felt nothing of a spiritual nature whatsoever. The experience deconverted me. I'd recommend checking out the RU-vid channel NewNameNoah. Mike posts legit footage of what goes on in the temple.

@nsifonte 3 года назад

I hear you. It took three visits for me but was wary from the first time. The second time I was very much mistreated while on the temple store. Me being hispanic was the clear reason. A friend that was with me was royally pissed. Then the last time I was like “ok this is stupid. What am I doing? Never went back to temple and let my recommendation expire. Took me a little longer to completely disentangle myself from the clutches but honestly, corona has been helpful in that sense.

@kathrynmarquina6040 3 года назад

I think for JW’s, shunning is called “disfellowshipping.”

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Ah yes, thank you!

@linley-jane7878 3 года назад

I was also thinking excommunication.

@angeldream1 3 года назад

That’s what the church of Christ calls it too

@azlizzie 3 года назад

Your houseplants are glorious and make me want to spend more money on plants. I’m newly transforming my black thumb to some semblance of green. We planted a tree yesterday and a couple bushes. Indoor plants seem to be harder for me to keep alive. 🌱 Thanks for the nice video to listen to while getting ready for work this morning.

@Rednines 3 года назад

“Some people who know and stay in their whole lives” 😔 . Stayed silent about my unbelief since I was a tween. Was forced to stay even after my family knew I did not believe or want to associate with it. Even as an adult. The situation only altered when I moved out and then came out as trans. Much better place now. Wending my own spiritual/philosophical/ritual way. Really vibing. 93

@savannawoods4376 3 года назад

my high school sophomore year starts tomorrow and i just got in an argument with my parents y’all have no idea how much it makes me happy to see that you’ve posted a video!!!!

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Aww bless you! Sorry that happened ugh!!!!

@aizlynseely2557 2 года назад

I left a cult as well, March 8 2021. I've been depressed all my life. After I left I went down a bad path, almost committing suicide 3 or 4 times. I personally know rape victims inside my old cult, out of my old friend group I was the only one who wasn't sexual abused. Though I've been disowned, I removed myself and didn't sin my way out, in hopes of waking people up. It's destroyed my family and I'm still struggling today. Thanks for the vid, it woke up a family member of mine. I'll always be grateful for that, thank you.

@aizlynseely2557 2 года назад

Sexually abused*

@shelbysalyer5595 3 года назад

This is wild, but my college marching band ticked almost every one of the boxes, including weird/offensive secret initiation rights. They referred to people who left band as “dead” but it was super difficult to realize it was a cult at the time. They invite freshmen to come to band camp the summer before freshman year so they pretty much make band your only social net. Plus, order/authority is already very present in band. I think people need to watch out for non religious cults more, they can be harder to distinguish but very damaging.

@chriswiebe1375 3 года назад

yep, as a music student who basically only had music student friends, I can attest to that. They trap you into one mindset, and everyone thinks the same way.

@elisabettafesta5129 3 года назад

Id like to thank you both for opening My eyes, i ve in the church for more than 20 years and Just recently i started to open My eyes on many things in the church that are wrong. I started to not attend anymore and they Just all shuned me....haha ive just unfriedned them all on My fb proifile.....yikes im getting out....

@jmuniz985 3 года назад

Leave church but find connection with him, not many of the people are saints that is true but you find out if God exists on your own not by church

@elisabettafesta5129 3 года назад

Yes you can find God outside of the church and there are many beautiful paths One can take...

@mylesmarkson1686 3 года назад

@@elisabettafesta5129 Who says you need to find God? I'll never understand this idea that life is one big treasure hunt, and our job is to "find God". Anyway, good luck on your transition out Elisabetta--It's never easy leaving a cult!

@elisabettafesta5129 3 года назад

Well thats very personal, if u believe There's a higher being, then One needs to pursue It, if not then its a free world..to each their own

@jahrasta4907 3 года назад

Getting Mormon mind tricks out of your head is like eradicating bamboo. The roots in your cerebral cortex go deeper than you will ever know. Took me from 1995 to 2020 to really get it out 'completely'. Pretty gnarly. Sad because I had dozens of surfing buddies from church that eventually stopped calling me to paddle out.

@Teelo_Green 3 года назад

One of y'all's most concise, hard hitting videos. Love y'all and the work you do ❤️🙏🏻

@Cryptameria69 3 года назад

You are so awesome! Hope you are well and thank you!!! I have been going through this and you hit the nail on the head.

@KitKat-gw4rh 3 года назад

Even 10+ years after leaving I still can't seem to find the spirituality/ community the mormon church provided. It's frustrating.

@jaywebb5570 3 года назад

Much love, from a former cult member (as well). I love those examples! Also, I love that leather couch in the background! Great taste of critical thought, sweaters, beliefs, and interior design!

@BigManTate7364 3 года назад

Definitely needed to hear this! I love your grounded, level-headed approach to things. That's the only way to not be brainwashed by all the BS out there 👌

@stevenricks1703 3 года назад

My temple experience was much as you described. I was so primed for it to the this amazing thing, so when it was just weird, I thought I really needed to get more spiritual and try harder to understand it.

@roseivy5956 3 года назад

Me: my evangelical youth group wasn't THAT bad Also me, getting to the end of this video and realizing there isn't a single point on this list that doesn't fit like a glove: hmmm

@sarahviktoria8494 2 года назад

Well said 😌

@LittleMissLion 3 года назад

1. If your church is called the church of Jesus Christ of .... Well, you know the rest.

@Kawamura2 3 года назад

I never said that when I was in it. I always called myself Mormon or LDS. Who the hell wants to say "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" all the time? Too wordy lol

@LittleMissLion 3 года назад

@@Kawamura2 oh, I wouldn't have bothered saying the whole thing, either. I always thought it was too long.

@Summer-zu7mo 3 года назад

Love Sam's sweater!!! (also the video as always)

@cgeisler3 3 года назад

You're both very attractive. Yes, physically...but really i just mean overall vibe-wise. I love y...i mean...

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

🥰🥰

@Tinkify16 3 года назад

I left church because I stopped believing the bible and declared that I was a lesbian. I made a post about it on Facebook. I was told that the church had to do “damage control” because my being gay isn’t okay 😒

@autosadist 3 года назад

lmao, poor babies

@Tinkify16 3 года назад

@@autosadist lol, right. I’m not going to stop being a lesbian, and being attracted to women is not wrong, not morally or otherwise. I spent too long suppressing who I am. I refuse to continue.

@LittleMissLion 3 года назад

Being gay is actually so great. (I'm bi, but yeah. It's fabulous).

@Tinkify16 3 года назад

@@LittleMissLion cheers to being fabulous 😎

@iowaguy6470 3 года назад

As a gay man I'm in the process of writing to Salt lake telling them I no longer want my name on the membership roll.

@personofinterest8731 3 года назад

Excellent. Love your podcasts. From South African 🇿🇦 ex cult member 💜

@rosesim1300 3 года назад

“I’m just like a person!” -Tanor

@anaruiz6036 3 года назад

My Apostolic parents told me I wasnt allowed to see my brothers when I left the church. Of course I ALWAYS picked then up when they called and needed me, mostly when they were being verbally abused.

@drwhoaudios5260 3 года назад

I speak out regularly about a cult hidden within a theatrical group where I live. Their “leader” installs a sense of perfection in its performers that breeds a toxic and frankly unhealthy arrogance. These people cannot take criticism or anything that may belittle their utter conviction that they are the best…even to the point of hurting others (emotionally) to maintain their strength. It’s quite scary to watch really ! Found this video very interesting and helpful. Intend to send this to all those who have left the group and to some within to spread the word. I always though I was being dramatic when I called them a cult, turns out I was close to the truth .

@Kawamura2 3 года назад

I was a Mormon for about 2 years, was a convert, and I slowly bowed out because of the fact that they want to make the church your entire existence. Definitely a sign that they're a cult, and it was just too exhausting for me. I was lucky, because other converts I met while in the church as far as I know are still active, and that was about 18, almost 19 years ago now that I left. . I was hounded by my branch president (who later became bishop), all the time to get my family to come to church. I lived with my mother at the time, and I knew she wasn't interested, and no matter how many times I told him they weren't interested, he still insisted that I invite them. I eventually got angry when asked once, and not so politely told him to mind his own fucking business, that they weren't interested, period. He stopped at that point, and I am surprised that I wasn't excommunicated for that. I eventually got my name taken off their member rolls, and received a formal letter afterward saying that I was officially not a member anymore, and that was very refreshing.

@michaeltaylors2456 3 года назад

You wouldn’t e excommunicated if you punched him square in the nose and screamed fu in his face. If you did something that was public and it embarrasses the church, like get caught stealing from the homeless, you’re out. Glad you are out by the way.

@elemirion 3 года назад

Hey could you do a video where you talk about the mormon concept of the Three degrees of glory and also about the idea of Mormon hell? I think most Christians don't get that Mormons believe something very different, or maybe they don't now, I've been away a while and things seem to be always changing.

@Snazjazz17 3 года назад

11:21 was mind blowing. i’ve never thought about it quite like that before.

@angeldream1 3 года назад

I love your channel I was so happy to see another upload. I wanted to share that I believe in some conspiracy theories, but personally It isn’t because I want to know things everyone else doesn’t and I don’t feel elevated or anything like that. I know it’s like that for a lot of people though. For me, it’s about not trusting certain things that don’t add up to me, and just kind of wondering what else is going on. I try to keep myself balanced so I don’t get paranoid or suspicious of people or situations, but sometimes they aren’t just conspiracies. For example epste*n’s island like you mentioned. I’m pretty sure he didn’t want too many people to know about that. I love your shirts in this video. The cult I left had a lot of these. It disgusts me how many sermons I sat through listening to them tell me I’m going to hell for being “homosexual” even if I don’t act on it. I never came out to the church, I just tried to hope Jesus would forgive me for wanting to be with a woman instead of a man. Now I’m married to a man and I’m happy. I never officially came out and I’d like to, but I don’t even know if it matters. Thanks for all your helpful information❤️.

@angeldream1 3 года назад

Also sermons about being submissive and modest and the dress code and all of that. It was so strange. And I thought it was what god wanted. The sexual sermons were so disturbing and inappropriate for minors. They definitely controlled a lot of things there. I left when I was 30.

@angeldream1 3 года назад

I’ll also share I have a cousin who believes we have a sun simulator. So yea it can go too far 😐

@angeldream1 3 года назад

Lmao “give me a robe” that’s a good idea for the costume

@alisaerickson7073 2 года назад

Wish more cult members could listen to this and genuinely evaluate the harmful systems they participate in and perpetuate.

@punkasslily 2 года назад

I was in a (sorta) cult, the people were amazing and most of these don’t apply to them, but some of the leadership had attacked me while making bylaws (I was some of the lower leadership), they believed beards were required of men due to evidence in our “scripture” that wasn’t there. I left out of conflicting ideals, the bylaw problems, and some of them were rude. Not to mention lots of racists and criminals tried to join because they were “pagan”.

@rebeccadaniel2560 3 года назад

the group i was a part of at least sort of did 1, feels like 3and 8 for sure, definitely 10 secret rites - batizados - maybe others as well. i am drawn to it and want to rejoin. i dont know why

@derpkipper Месяц назад

6:33 I think the layman term for that is "shunning"

@christopher6082 3 года назад

11:20 religion creates the problem so it can provide the solution - great perspective!

@dande3139 3 года назад

Joseph Smith: "Look, I know you're a 14 year old girl, and I really don't want to, but God send an angel with a flaming sword, and said unless we get married in secret right now, he's going to kill us both. Oh, my wife, Emma? Yeah, she's totally fine with it."

@ShyShy0 3 года назад

Me as a 16 year old in a cult. 😔 I’m currently in seminary at the moment. It’s living hell, i’m gagging in my mask every five seconds 😳

@ShyShy0 3 года назад

Right now I’m learning about the lives of all the Quorum of the Twelve. My teacher is constantly mentioning the fact that they all went to prestigious schools... No wonder why they managed to get to the leadership of a cult.... It’s almost like they were privileged when growing up....

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Eeek I’m so sorry!

@jacobopstad5483 3 года назад

Yay! I'm viewer number 666! That makes me happy!

@kevinslyter 3 года назад

Talking about Sex and Masturbation one of my friends is a very anti-sex Christian and he doesn’t masturbate he is mostly likely Ace/Rom-Ace or has low sex drive. I think that you have to either be Ace or have a low sex drive in order to NEVER masturbate or have sexual thoughts especially as a young person. But I have another friend that is anti-sex with a high sex drive and wants to get a girlfriend and get married ASAP so he won’t disappoint his pastor parents, yeah he’s kinda brainwashed.

@mylesmarkson1686 3 года назад

Oh, I'm sure your friend "gets off" one way or another. It's unhealthy not to.

@ninaasf-ck 3 года назад

What's with all the people in the comments getting cranky about you using Trump as an example? Aren't they just proving your point by defending and denying and saying things like "well progressive stuff is also a cult!"? Arguments like that sound eerily similar to some of the things that I've heard Scientologists say like "well Catholics are in a cult". Even if there's a debate to be had about that, doesn't make your thing any less a cult. Edit: on that note, I think that's a great video idea... there's some batshit crazy culty groups over on the extreme left that might be fun to cover. "Fun" may not be the best word...

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Honestly would love a good progressive cult I could join right now. ;) But I cant trust any one leader enough to suppress my skepticism haha. Love that idea!

@jenster29 3 года назад

@@ZelphOntheShelf in my opinion the corona mask wearers are similar to cult members. All dressed the same,. Ignoring the evidence that they don't work. I live in a country that doesn't have mandatory masks, but everyone is fine. My family live in one where they have to in most places but if you haven't got one on at all times , they're publicly shamed. They're suddenly trusting the government who are currently in the middle of a healthcare scandal which left people dead and many still dying. It's EXACTLY like a cult.

@edgarina3324 3 года назад

I grew up in a Christian sect that hits most of these points, except that the bits about having a leader get a bit complicated. There isn't really a single leader for the two by twos, as far as I know. Instead there are a bunch of regional leaders who seem to work together to maintain the illusion of homogeneity.. they do seem to get treated like cult leaders somewhat, but it's confusing. Is this one cult, or a bunch of interconnected cults?

@flintfoster8010 3 года назад

Immmmm in a cult Top ten anime betrayals

@actingqween 2 года назад

If you are a JW who has done something wrong, they will disfellowship you. However, if you just aren't practicing anymore, it's more like a social shunning, which, as I understand, also occurs in the Mormon church when people pull away.

@rachelleanonymous2740 3 года назад

Random unrelated comment/question - really like your Winnie the Pooh sweater! Where did you get it? It looks so cozy!!! :D

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

I got it at a flea market! I think it’s just from Disney!

@-goldenrose-2169 3 года назад

Can I email you guys? I’d love you opinions on something....

@His-Story.ForHisGlory 3 года назад

These sounds like one of my old jobs

@azukib2230 3 года назад

Just realizing most of the world falls into one or more forms of cult

@zackaryjackson4568 3 года назад

I guess that’s sorta true bro

@Alex-hw6ly 3 года назад

My last relationship fit a good bit of this criteria... Very glad we broke up.

@anthill1510 3 года назад

Yeah, narcissists try to get you to become their underling.

@Alex-hw6ly 3 года назад

@@anthill1510 Exactly. Unfortunately I didn't find until after 2 years of dating.

@anthill1510 3 года назад

@@Alex-hw6ly I´m happy you got out.

@lemueljr1496 3 года назад

Trump is a lot of really awful things, but I would argue that there's a difference between a figure within the cult of personality/celebrity culture and an actual cult leader.

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

I think that is typically true, but we’ve seen Trump become a religious leader to his base, who believes God literally sent him to save us and that deviating from him is a rejection of God himself!

@lemueljr1496 3 года назад

@@ZelphOntheShelf Eh... I'd still say it's stretch because he hasn't instituted a new religion/denomination, required his followers to forsake all associations with competing denominations, etc. Is he being upheld by the religious Right as a Messiah figure? Absolutely, but that's because pre-existing leaders have said he is. Could he become a cult leader? Mmmm... maybe if he gathers a bunch of guerilla supporters in a bunker and declares holy war on the US if he doesn't win in November. I guess I would say that I see Trump as like the Brad Wilcox or John Bytheway of the Right. They aren't leaders, they're pretty temporary in terms of significance and popularity, and they spout off the BS that their target audience wants to hear to validate their belonging to an organization that exists regardless of their involvement. Eventually Trump will be politically irrelevant again (gods willing) just like you don't hear about John Bytheway anymore, but the GOP/religious Right will live on. Cult figure, yes, cult leader... questionable to potentially. If he does reach that point, though, I guess that'd make y'all prophets and cult leaders too. XD

@lemueljr1496 3 года назад

Goddamn, watching the Proud Boys respond to the debate tonight tho... there's the cult y'all are talking about.

@Fractal_Flower 3 года назад

I love what you guys are doing! Thanks for making this! One note of feedback. It's okay to interrupt occasionally, but I think Sam could hold back on interrupting just a bit. I found myself thinking, "But what was he going to say? He didn't finish."

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Yesss I am painfully aware haha - Sam

@Fractal_Flower 3 года назад

@@ZelphOntheShelf please keep doing what you're doing! I love your content. I intentionally allowed some ads to play so that you might get more revenue.

@veronicahaney6005 3 года назад

really? i didnt see that

@adventureseeker9800 2 года назад

Let's not forget that in order to suppress critical thinking skills, Cults strongly discourage higher education.

@mailill Год назад

Not every cult, though. Opus Dei wants their members to be people with power and education.

@taylorcampbell4067 3 года назад

Holy shit I’m in a cult.

@dianaharper4190 3 года назад

I love those pillows

@talesafterdark376 3 года назад

After living in Utah for two years with my son (now 4) I have been working on an LDS Church Cult Crime series for my podcast. Being originally from Ohio I never heard much about Utah outside of famous people going there to watch movies or skiing. Thank you so much for making your content. A Reddit forum shared your channel with me and I have been loving your videos! Please let me know if you would be open for a collab. I would love to have a chat. Outside the spooky stuff you can find me on IG at @emmma_dawn if you want to connect!

@annetteslife 3 года назад

I am a former cult member. I was a member of the LDS CHURCH

@ningenJMK 3 года назад

Guys, guys, guys...I think I may have been in a cult.

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

WHAT! No way....

@ningenJMK 3 года назад

Zelph On the Shelf they got me. Those bastards.

@joetaylor8687 Год назад

Here's one definite difference between a religion and a cult: I religion will take all comers, and join with those who have common beliefs and aspirations, and forget those who don't. A cult will not abide criticism of either the organization nor the duly anointed ones, and will go to great lengths to penalize and punish those who fail to recognize this prohibition--usually making it as painful and public as possible. Social pressure is used as a great tool to keep people in line, and keep the heat on for acceptable conformity.

@maria_exe 3 года назад

Video idea: Seminary (😭😭😭), personal progress,

@merbst 3 года назад

I would like to correct a misunderstanding that Samantha has made about China's political reeducation process... This does not involve such overt or covert mental manipulation methods. They use career training and civic education to fight against far right & religious fundamentalist terrorism. Unfortunately for we who live in the land of the unending Cold War & Red Scare propaganda!

@abbicovington8478 3 года назад

I was in 2 cults... whoops

@vinzholton 3 года назад

did you make a funny introduction to the conference

@jaim0368 2 года назад

Love y’all’s videos. A lot of what you said about the political landscape seems accurate to me but some sounds a little more like narrative. I’m pretty sure there’s some data on conservatives being more widely read on the continuum than liberals. I could be wrong, but I just try hard to check my assumptions.

@ZelphOntheShelf 2 года назад

Would love to see that data! It is my understanding that “liberals” tend to be more educated, but of course, lots of stupidity and tribalism exists on both sides! (The left just doesn’t have a charismatic strongman leader to rally around like trump lol, lots of us are extremely suspicious of Biden.)

@paperl9328 Год назад

I do think that many Qanon believers do exhibit specifically cult like tendencies. Like they said, #notallconservatives

@prayerwarrior7778 3 года назад

I'm always curious about atheists. Do you think that any religious/spiritual belief can be a cult? Or would you say it depends on if and how it limits a persons critical thinking? I'm curious for you opinion.

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

Definitely depends! Lots of religions and spiritual traditions don’t meet the criteria.

@prayerwarrior7778 3 года назад

Zelph On the Shelf that would be a great video idea. I'm very curious of your opinion. I've had my own spiritual experiences in my faith but I know spiritual experiences are not limited to my faith only. Thank you for replying by the way. I enjoy your channel.

@veronicahaney6005 3 года назад

Well no one religion has any claim on God. God transcends humanity itself bc God He/She created all of it. so yeah anyone can have a spiritual experience and not have to be a member of any church.

@narniaknight_9760 3 года назад

Journalistic integrity lol. Yall should watch @Timpool dissect media naratives.

@huettemannfamilyvlogs2703 2 года назад

Sadly the Sacred Name/ Hebrew Roots movement is the same. There are pockets that are pretty straight forward, good people who are Critical thinkers. But the majority it is VERY cultish. We were involved for 9 years and it literally screwed up my and my entire families lives.

@jn4718 3 года назад

When you guys are talking about the political affiliations being cult like you guys are showing a really clear bias. I have definitely seen cult like behavior present on the left and the right. As well as incredible lack of journalistic integrity on both sides. We are all bias but I think when commentating its important to recognize your inherent biases. Much Love ❣

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

I disagree! We acknowledged that there can be cult-like behavior on both the right and the left! (Though as we mentioned, Trump’s organization/conversion efforts have been much more successful than the left’s! We see this in republicans who were once more moderate becoming more extreme because they’ve become converted to Trump himself and begun justifying things that once went against their values.) And as we mentioned, we don’t feel any inherent loyalty to “the left” and are MORE than comfortable criticizing it!

@saggguy7 3 года назад

I’m not sure I agree with this. They are talking about Trump because a.) he’s the current president, so it’s very relevant and familiar to people right now and b.) it seems to be the clearest, most widespread and most undeniable example of cult like behavior surrounding an American political figure, at least that I can think of. But they do also state that they recognize cult like behavior on the left as well, they mentioned the blind support of Bill Clinton through the Monica Lewinsky situation and such. I don’t disagree that there is cult like behavior on every part of the political spectrum though. I was a Bernie supporter and I’ve seen plenty of concerning behaviors in his support.

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

We have NO problem calling out problematic things in Joe Biden or Obama or anyone else on the left who is worthy of criticism! We are big Bernie fans but even then, we don’t see Bernie as some perfect strongman in the way most of Trump’s base does. And we certainly wouldn’t justify things he does that go against our values or feel a loyalty to him that transcends evidence and reason and ethics.

@staceyvanderlaan1905 Год назад

Bernie Sanders the man may not be everything, but Bernie Sanders the cat is everything

@twg8176 3 года назад

Whew! I was worried being born and raised Mormon I was in a cult, but it turns out I'm in an OCCULT Church with the Inverted Pentagram on the Salt Lake, Nauvoo, and Logan Temples and on the Eagle Gate on State Street at Temple Square which was designed by Brigham's son for Brigham's Pondarosa. That was a close one!

@jcarry5214 3 года назад

I got confused reading the BITE model list, I thought it was 10 signs you vote or work for the current president. Edit: Ha, this was the first thing you brought up!

@adventureseeker9800 2 года назад

Yay, another awesome channel for ex-JW's to finally realize they were in a cult.

@theironythatismyLIFE 3 года назад

Have you guys heard of Street Epistemology? I started with Anthony Magnobosco's videos here on youtube to get an understanding. It is conversation technique to get everyday people break down why they believe what they believe and slowly over the course of the videos people start realizing that the reasons they have for believing in their religion aren't so great after all...he has two or three videos with mormons in them.

@ramonanaya6236 3 года назад

I was raised in a church i feel like is a cult (church of christ) and i am an ex member of a world wide group-- the 12 tribes--many people call a cult. However they don't follow some of these rules they are pretty transparent for the most part. 5,6,9, 10 the other ones I'd have to say they follow

@johnmay242 3 месяца назад

a criminal by the name of eva holbrook is in my home.

@Isabel-hl1jy 3 года назад

is the Bruderhof a cult?

@emmettjay1302 3 года назад

They FREELY welcome new members and existing members to leave.

@Isabel-hl1jy 3 года назад

@@emmettjay1302 yes but there is a lack of transparency with where community funds are going and if you question it you are "questioning god"

@raymondraino 3 года назад

Number 10 - temples have poorly laid out circulation. Exit signs are there to meet fire standards but don't follow them. Find an old man and ask if you get lost?

@kaytlinginter3163 3 года назад

what about orthodox judaism )-:

@bossendenwoodconvict 3 года назад

I think Christianity started off as a cult, but it became respectable. Stirctly speaking true Christians are meant to give up all their possessions (as Jesus Commands Luke 14:33.) Christ also said that : "He who loves [his] father and mother more than me is not worthy of me."

@veronicahaney6005 3 года назад

I think we have taken that scripture too literally. he was just teaching the law of detachment, what other eastern spirituality teachings preach. you can have those things, but dont let those things have you. some people do ANYTHING for money and do ANYTHING for family, some not good things. Those things can bar you from being closer to God. We dont have to take everything in the Bible LITERALLY.

@tsf4245 Год назад

@@veronicahaney6005 04:11 - 04:23

@theeight-roadwanderer6286 Год назад

The only thing I'll push back on (even though I loooooove this video) is that social justice warriors and a lot of the LGBT community really do behave like a cult, even if they don't technically follow the first rule of having a specific leader. But otherwise they do A LOT of the same things that Mormons do, as well as JW's and others. One of the things I've noticed is if someone doesn't agree with their doctrine/philosophy, they immediately resort to belittling/name-calling/bullying/peer pressure in order to shut down outsider information, rather than engaging in honest discussion, which is exactly what Mormons do when they call people lazy learners or anti Mormons, etc. SJW's will call you homophobic, transphobic, fatphobic, racist, bigot, etc, even when it's obvious you aren't. Instead of considering that you just don't agree with them, they immediately put a label on you that's meant to cause others in your society to disassociate with you, and they claim you're just filled with hatred and bigotry simply for not agreeing 100%. For example, I support gay people but I don't support trans people due to the fact that I don't believe gender is real whatsoever, and I only believe in biological sex. To me, all these people with their spectrum of genders is entirely an ego thing or a mental illness. Gender is entirely fictitious, there's only sex. I believe the reason people want all these genders and their own pronouns is because they want to feel special in a very narcissistic kind of way. They try to force the outside world to accommodate their internal feelings rather than working on themselves from the inside. I don't believe that personal feelings dictate truth, but scientific fact does, and scientific fact dictates that there is only male and female. But there's no hatred in me for these people, I just don't agree with them for the reasons I stated. My point is that I experience the exact same backlash from friends and family for these beliefs of mine, of which backlash has been almost identical to that of me leaving Mormonism. Mormonism is a cult, Trumpers are a cult, Republicans and Democrats are cults, LGBT is a cult without a leader, etc. They all do the same stuff, which is why I don't support any of these groups. No flags for me Anyway, I hope you get my point. I got a bit ranty. But I love this video

@kithawkinsCPSS 3 года назад

Southern Baptism coming in at a 7/10...yikes.

@nebraskamax1476 3 года назад

My parents were big into Harold Camping, the Family Radio guy who preached that the Christian god would totes def destroy the world and all of existence in 2011. My dad swore up down and sideways he wasn't following Camping, he just so happened to come to almost all the exact same convoluted conclusions. As I experienced it primarily as a kid, and then as a severely damaged adult, and as it was a decentralized sect, I don't know enough about it beyond my immediate family (most of whom won't talk about it) to tell how it stacks up against the BITE model overall. But definitely some aspects of it were cultish, like the belief that this super tiny sect were the only ones to truly understand that this was what god was planning, everyone should believe like the sect and if they don't they're probably not Real True Christians, and of course the belief in an imminent apocalypse.

@stevestarscream5182 3 года назад

Who is shutting down differing opinions in social media.??? You might want to check yourselves

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

People on both the left and the right do it.

@thuggie1 3 года назад

i find when it comes to politics the hardcore groups around any candidate tend to act very cultist at the moment i see this with both presidential candidates the hardcore fans in my opinion both are minority groups have turned it into a personality contest. really there the medium group of the electorate look at the political policy been pushed and then you have the group who votes if they have a D or R after their name.

@adventureseeker9800 2 года назад

Jehovahs Witnesses use the term _Disfellowshipping_

@MonasticSolace 3 года назад

Don't be dissing Jim Jones. That man had style and amazing shades. LOL.

@MonasticSolace 3 года назад

You're not just a person. You're a hybrid between Jared Leto and Casey Affleck. LOL.

@NicholasKlacsanzkyICM 2 года назад

This describes pretty much every religion.

@ZelphOntheShelf 2 года назад

they say the difference between a cult and a religion is that in a cult, there’s one person who knows it’s all baloney, and in a religion, that person is dead

@NicholasKlacsanzkyICM 2 года назад

@@ZelphOntheShelf Lol :)

@robbiesilverwolf 3 года назад

I applaud your ability to bring up politics so much into a religious discussion

@MoromoMusic 3 года назад

Was it trendy for the boomer generation to join a cult?

@keefbosley8315 3 года назад

Wait.... Can there be religions that are NOT cults??? I'm asking this as a recent ex-mo who's just barely realizing how weird Mormonism is

@ZelphOntheShelf 3 года назад

they say the difference between a cult and a religion is that in a cult there’s one person who knows it’s a fraud, and in religion, that person is dead. that being said there are definitely degrees of harmfulness and many religions are pretty benign compared to high-control religions like mormonism.