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And why it is better not to hit them.'
The concept of "sect" is usually associated with religion, but modern sects often have nothing to do with it. The main thing in them is money and power.
Dictionaries define sects primarily as religious organizations and groups that are separated from world religions and are hostile to them. But in this article, I will refer to any destructive organizations that take money from people and destroy their lives. Sometimes they disguise themselves as a religion, and sometimes they are not connected with it at all.
I will tell you how sects differ from ordinary organizations and how to avoid falling under their influence and protect your loved ones.
You'll find out
What is a sect?
From Latin, the word secta can be translated as "school" or"teaching". But in Latin there is also a consonant term — secare, which means "to separate", "to cut off". It is he who most accurately explains the principle of operation of such organizations: they separate people from their environment and begin to fully control them. Moreover, everything or almost everything falls under control: money, real estate, and sometimes even food intake and minor household needs.
The difficulty is that there is no concept of a sect in Russian legislation. Because of this, sometimes there is confusion. For example, people were praying to officially recognized gods or reading books together, and then suddenly the police came and arrested the leaders of the organization-they said that it was a sect. People are outraged by arbitrariness, not quite understanding why someone is dissatisfied with their actions. It's more complicated here: the leaders of the association are punished for specific violations of the law — for example, for fraud, propaganda of social superiority, or for the death of followers due to strict rules.
No organization, regardless of the direction of its activity, is created immediately as a sect. And those who entered it at the first stage do not always understand what it turns into over time. Participants do not perceive it as illegal, because at first it was not.
Let's imagine a conditional organization and see at what stage it can become a sect. For simplicity's sake, let it be a religious association: in everyday life, sects are usually associated with religion, although signs of sects can also be found in other organizations, such as political ones or those that trade options, real estate, or stocks.
Let's assume that the people in our association decided to pray to other gods. 300 years ago, they would have been immediately called sectarians, but now this will not work: The Constitution of the Russian Federation guarantees everyone freedom of religion. It is not forbidden to create new religious movements, which means that our organization has not violated anything.
Public and religious associations can operate without restrictions, as long as they do not violate the law. Let's say our conditional organization is for all the good and against all the bad. She abides by the laws, which means that so far there are no complaints about her.
Leaders are beginning to attract supporters-they advertise the movement through social networks and on television. Here, too, there are no violations — only agitation that incites social, racial, national or religious hostility, and propaganda of superiority on the same grounds is prohibited.
No organization can exist without funding: you need to rent a room, pay for utilities, hire employees for cleaning, and advertising in the media is not cheap. And leaders start collecting money from supporters. This is also allowed: everyone can manage their own money as they see fit.
Having received funding, leaders start spending this money, including on themselves. Critics don't accept it: their management style is authoritarian. But the members and supporters are not against it, so there is no violation here either. And the principle of unity of command is not prohibited. Our conditional organization still hasn't become a sect.
This happens only at the moment when the leaders of the association begin to purposefully break the ties of members with society in order to use them as a resource to achieve their goals, and not always legitimate ones.
Signs of a sect
To recognize a sect, you need to know exactly how it works and why it works. This information is usually not disclosed. From the outside, everything looks like an ordinary commercial, public or religious organization. Therefore, it is necessary to assess risks based on indirect signs. The more they are recruited, the more likely it is that we are really talking about a sect.
I'll tell you about the signs that occur most often.
Leaders pretend to be what they are not. For example, the creators of sects often wear clothes that resemble the vestments of priests, but they are not related to them. Or the leader of a sect calls himself a benefactor, and a search on the Internet shows that he used to build financial pyramids. The founder of a healing sect can only mimic a doctor, and in fact, he will not even have a medical education.
Blurred promises of a perfect life in the distant future. The sects talk about a beautiful life, but all this is not fast-adepts will have to endure and suffer. Depending on the type of sect, they can promise salvation, wealth, solutions to problems with alcohol and drugs, lack of love and understanding, and lack of communication.
This approach ultimately creates problems for the police: if all the promises are only in words, there are no exact terms and conditions, then there is no evidence of a fraud crime.
The creators of the sect seek to take everything from their supporters. If a member of a regular organization can no longer pay membership fees, they are simply excluded. But in sects, it's different: when the followers ' bank accounts are empty, the leaders will re-register their property or rent it out. Or they will offer to do it voluntarily — for the common good.
If the property and money were not initially available, the person will be given a job. Often it is located in a remote area, or better - in the taiga, where there is no mobile connection. The main activity of sectarians is gardening and berry picking. In the end, a person will not see money: there is nowhere to spend it in a distant village, and the community needs it more.
If an adept is unable to work for some reason, they will collect donations in social networks or ask for money for donations from their parents.
Improbable or closed financial statements. It is impossible to estimate the real sources of income of the sect and the amount of income received. It does not maintain financial statements or falsifies them.
In most cases, the sect has income from real commercial activities — for example, from the sale of religious attributes or environmentally friendly products from taiga settlements. Most likely, it brings a small profit, which does not cover all the needs of the organization. But the management can tell new adherents: here, look, we really work, and do not sell air.
The organization doesn't care about its members. Sectarians may find themselves in a dangerous situation without medical care, and their children often do not receive an education. Most of the money goes to the personal needs of the sect leaders, and not to ordinary participants. People in such an organization are not very valuable. Adepts are a renewable resource. Disappointed people are constantly leaving, but they are immediately replaced with new ones.
The sect encourages breaking ties with loved ones. The logic here is directly related to money. The ideal adept for a sect is one who has no relatives or who does not communicate with them. Fewer relatives and friends — less spending outside the sect: you don't need to give your parents gifts for the New Year, help your children financially, or lend money to your friends. Accordingly, a person will be able to invest more in the organization.
At the same time, the sect allows you not to break ties, provided that the adept brings his relatives there. Those who have joined the organization will continue to fully communicate with each other. With those who remained outside the sect, communication will be forced to be reduced or interrupted.
A warning sign if a loved one tried to lure you to the organization and moved away when it didn't work out.
Participants are encouraged to move. The task here is the same-breaking ties with loved ones. The best option for the sect is to move followers to the conditional "city of happiness" in the remote taiga. Although many such organizations do not practice moving to the wilderness — an adept can simply change their address in their hometown. If relatives can't find a person, then they can't influence their decision.
The sect severs the connection of its members with the state. The logic is that a person has nowhere to turn for help if they decide to leave the sect. For example, in the 80s and early 90s, I met members of one organization who refused to register the birth of children in the registry office and did not receive passports. And those who entered there burned their documents.
A popular way to separate a person from society is to make them an accessory to a serious crime. It was for this purpose that the Aum Shinrikyo sect organized mass killings: after that, its members could no longer ask for help from the state.
The Russian sect "The Noble Order of the Devil" * practiced sex with minors among its adherents. Sometimes organizations that have adopted the methods of sectarians provoke their members to participate in mass riots.
The organization requires constant participation in its activities. It is not enough just to be a follower and, relatively speaking, to pray on holidays. This will have to be done on a daily basis, and even not at home, but where all members of the organization should gather. There are often penalties for refusal. Involvement gradually increases and goes beyond reasonable limits: the sect takes up almost all of a person's time.
The follower stops thinking independently. Every time you ask a person a question about the work of the organization and its goals, the answer begins with the words " so-and-so says that...". The leader always thinks for the followers.
Responsibility, according to sectarians, is also always borne by someone else: the spiritual leader, the leader, the supreme deity. But in the end, a person will have to answer for his actions himself.
The sect gets into personal life much more strongly than is customary in ordinary associations. It's one thing if a non-governmental organization that specializes in this field helps you find your wife: that's what the person came there for. It is quite different if it is a conditional broker. It is normal if the legal community helps solve problems with the law, and suspicious if the religious community helps.
The leaders of the sect pretend that they will come and settle everything. For example, they will help with housing — although sometimes it will be a house without amenities in the middle of nowhere. Find a wife or husband-of course, from the sect. If a follower has problems with the law, they will hire a lawyer, pay fines, or even get him out of jail. But more often the help comes down to consultations — and this is at best.
The organization encourages actions that cause harm to a person. The members of the sect themselves are not likely to believe that something abnormal is happening: in their community, this is a common practice. At the same time, it is easy to see from the outside that the organization's rules harm the health of followers, spoil their reputation and career.
The type of necessary suffering is chosen by the leaders of the sect — for example, they announce that everyone must fast or adhere to a strict diet. To join the Eunuch sect, castration was mandatory, both for men and women. And in some organizations, mandatory deprivation includes bringing to administrative responsibility for offenses.
At the same time, the number of sufferings endured changes the position of a person in the organization: the more they are, the higher the status. But this almost never affects the distribution of material benefits in favor of the sufferer.
What types of sects are there
Many methods of sects began to be used by ordinary organizations. Because of this, it is often difficult to determine what exactly is in front of us.
Sometimes sects are classified according to the external characteristics that form the basis of their ideology. Next, I will list the types of sects that can be distinguished if we consider them in this way.
Religious — created based on your own interpretation of religion. Although there were cases when the traditional interpretation turned into a sect. Unlike the usual new religious movements, such sects violate human rights, may lose their property, and may be subjected to torture.
Psychological issues. They are formed on the basis of personal growth trainings. Unlike normal trainings, no knowledge is given here — only gradually develop loyalty to the leader.
If at the training they first convince you to change the format of communication with your family, hand over all the money and write reports every day, and then move to the taiga altogether, then most likely this is a sect.
Healing services. Of course, not every treatment-related group is a sect. People come together to discuss the diagnosis, their experience of living with the disease. Or they wait together to develop a new method of treating a serious illness, and support each other.
In the healing sects, everything is different. Medical research is not studied here — on the contrary, they say that it is profitable for doctors to hide the developed methods of treatment. But, of course, there is a person who will share the secret knowledge. Allegedly, if you follow the instructions of the sect leader, you can cope with incurable diseases or even resurrect the dead.
Environmental issues. Adepts will not stay at home to sort garbage, but will break all ties and go to build an eco-settlement.
Economic, commercial, or corporate services. They are based on the cult of making money. Pyramid schemes are often referred to as such sects, although this is not always justified. There are both similarities and differences between them, and I'll tell you more about them later.
This division of sects is very conditional. There is no clear classification: their leaders usually mix religion, healing, economics, and all other aspects of life.
Are pyramid schemes considered sects
Sects and pyramids are similar in their methods of attracting adherents and agitation. Every member of a sect or pyramid is a potential agitator. A person who has not yet received anything will prove that he has already bought two houses in Yalta, three imported tape recorders, and eternal happiness and enlightenment of the spirit have descended on him. Although in fact, he has only invested money, spent time and effort.
According to my observations, the most active agitators are often those who have invested the last and who have nothing more to lose. They convince not so much others as themselves: that the pyramid will work, even though it was recognized as a pyramid, and the sect will build the city of the sun and eternal justice. But they convince you publicly — and this attracts new members.
Another similarity is that the goals of pyramids and sects are unattainable by the methods used there. And it is difficult for participants to get out of these structures, and it is very difficult for relatives to influence the person who got there.
Despite the similarities, pyramids and sects have many differences. Here are the main ones:
Examples of famous sects in Russia
There is no exact data on the number of sects in Russia. The point is in the specifics of the legislation: state registration of religious associations is not required, it is only necessary to obtain the status of a legal entity.
It is impossible to list all the sects in the article, so I will tell you only about some of them.
Old Believers, Old Believers, schismatics. One of the oldest and most numerous sects. It was founded in 1656 as a result of the church reform. As of 2018, 379 Old Believers ' religious organizations were officially registered in Russia. The total number of adherents in Russia alone can be about 400 thousand people.
For a long time, the Old Believers had all the signs of sects listed above:
Now most associations of Old Believers do not pose a danger either to others or to their own adherents. For example, the settlements of Old Believers in the upper reaches of the Yenisei River are considered one of the safest places in the region, and community leaders do not come into conflict with the authorities and do not call for offenses.
However, the court recognized some organizations that formally identify themselves as Old Believers as extremist. For example, this is the Old Russian Yngli Church of Orthodox Old Believers-Ynglings, which promoted, among other things, racism and anti-Semitism. This is exactly the case when the name itself does not mean anything. A man with a full beard, who introduced himself as an Old Believer, in most cases will turn out to be a respectable citizen who did not violate the law. But it may also be that his organization is classified as extremist.
The religious sectEunuchs, they are also "white doves", "lambs of God"., whose adherents considered castration the only way to save the soul — for both men and women.
To get involved in the sect, they first used voluntary castration. Then there was the practice of castrating minor relatives and forcibly castrating random people — after which they were deprived of the opportunity to start a family and were forced to come to the sect. Adepts could not have heirs, and all their possessions remained within the organization after death.
The sect was liquidated in the 30s of the 20th century.
The sect of Grigory Grabovoi. It is named after the leader-creator of the doctrine "On Universal Salvation and harmonious Development". He claimed that he could use psychic techniques to check the technical condition of aircraft and resurrect people. Promised relatives of those killed in the Beslan terrorist attack to revive children for money. In 2008, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for fraud.
The Sect of Vissarion, or the Church of the Last Testament. It was established in 1991. Many of the followers sold their property to move to the Krasnoyarsk Territory for the construction of an eco-settlement-the Monastery of Dawn,alsoCity of the Sun.
Adherents were forbidden to get vaccinated, give birth in hospitals, and receive medical care in medical institutions. Medication was allowed only in extreme cases. Meat, fish, salt, sugar, mushrooms were not allowed to be eaten. As a result, this led to the death of several members of the organization — including a newborn child. They tried to hide their deaths.
In September 2020, the FSB detained the leader of the sect, Sergei Torop, and two of his deputies. They were accused of leading an association that causes harm to the health of citizens, fraud, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition.
At the time of writing, the criminal case is being considered in the Novosibirsk court. The verdict hasn't been passed yet.
Anastasians, or "Ringing cedars of Russia". The movement was founded by a certain Vladimir Megre and described in his books. One of the main ideas is the relocation of adepts to the "family estate". It is a plot of land of at least one hectare, on which a family with love can build a house, plant a family tree, own a forest, set up a garden and vegetable garden, equip a pond. But, according to the teaching, the estate is not intended for work, but for "man to rule the world."
According to reports, the settlers were actually given land for construction, but it was not used for its intended purpose. The adepts did not receive medical care, and their children did not go to school.
Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Watchtower Society. They practice, among other things, a ban on marriage with a person who is not from a sect and on blood transfusions.
To recruit adherents, apartment-by-apartment rounds were widely used, offering to discuss issues of faith at home.
"Falun Gong "or"Falun Dafa". A sect that originated on the basis of Chinese qigong gymnastics and elements of several religions. They practice refusal of treatment and ritual suicide.
"Citizens of the USSR"*. One of the political sects. There is no single organization. This name usually unites several dozen groups, including those that compete with each other. The general idea is that the Russian Federation is outlawed, and the USSR did not disappear in 1991 and continues to exist. Adherents are urged to overthrow the government by force.
The organization is supported by donates of adherents, who are promised to reimburse expenses and pay multibillion-dollar compensation after coming to power.
In their activities, "Citizens of the USSR"* they used all the methods typical of sects: breaking ties with the state and relatives, and depriving people of their property. The gap occurred, among other things, through participation in mass riots. They tried to intimidate dissenters — for example, they threatened to shoot them after coming to power.
What sects are banned in Russia
In Russia, there is no separate list of banned sects, because, as I have already written, there is no such concept in the law. Sectarians themselves often do not classify themselves at all and can work without registration. But from the point of view of the law, their organizations can be divided into two types:
Here are some examples:
The prosecutor's office in the lawsuit did not call the organization a sect. But the representative of "Citizens of the USSR"* confirmed in court that at the time of consideration of the claim, it is positioned as a sect. And its actions are extremist in nature, connected with fraud and directed against the authorities. As a result, the organization's activities were banned.
But you need to understand that even if an organization is not on the banned list, it can still turn out to be a sect.
Why do people become sectarians
Joining a sect looks like a bargain from the outside. The organization and its management gain control over the person, his property, money and labor results. From the adept at the initial stage, they require a little: to comply with the conditions, behave well, attract other people and not break the rules. It is easy to meet such requirements.
The sectarian, in turn, gets the opportunity not to think about the future — they will be provided with all the minimum necessary things. In the sect, he can choose not to make decisions and take no responsibility for his actions. In addition, the organization gives adherents the illusion of justice within it and promises to solve all problems.
But in reality, this is a deception: a person gives his labor, property, money for something that will never happen. None of the sects in history has ever achieved the goals they claimed.
How not to get into a cult
I've seen a lot of tips in articles, but they don't work well. Sometimes there is a feeling that their authors represent the sect in a simplified way-as an office where they collect money from adepts, with a schedule of ritual sacrifices on the door and a record for zombification. This illusion is supported by disappointed adherents — it is they who most often use words such as "zombified" and "deceived".
But in fact, sects do not deceive anyone at the stage of their emergence: people are offered something that is close to them. The easiest way to find out why this happens is by studying court documents.
For example, take the banned religious group "The Noble Order of the Devil", recognized by the court as extremist. It was founded in September 2004, and since then its leaders have promoted Satanic sermons, rites and rituals, and encouraged adherents to drink alcohol and have group sex.
It sounds crazy, but it's not forbidden by law. Therefore, there were no formal barriers to joining the sect-provided that the adepts shared the views of other participants.
The leader of the sect broke the law when he began to give instructions about the physical punishment of those who do not share this ideology. And at the first stage, it would be very difficult to prevent joining the organization.
The court decision mentions that more than 20 people were involved in the sect. At the same time, there is no word that people became members of the organization due to deception or zombification. In most cases, this was a voluntary decision of adults — with the exception of one minor who, due to his age, did not fully understand what he was doing.
Demanding that someone leave such an organization is also difficult: there is no reason to do so at the initial stage. And the belief will not work until the person himself understands that in the sect he loses more than he gains.
For example, I myself encountered a similar situation when a friend contacted an organization that practices sectarian methods. She refuses to talk about this organization: she claims that to do this, you need to be on the same page. If there is no one wave, there is nothing to discuss.
Why do people join new religious movements
From the point of view of scientific and secular religious studies that are not related to religious organizations, it is correct to use the concepts of "sect" or "cult" only in the historical context. These words have a strong negative connotation. At the same time, quite orthodox religious movements that differ from the dominant ones in a particular region, and even groups of people that are simply objectionable to someone, were called so at different times. Therefore, the word "sect" is more of a language stamp that promotes hate speech, and it is not customary to use it in the scientific community.
Instead, they use more neutral definitions: new religious movements — NSD, new religions, alternative religious groups, religious groups and movements, religious movements, small religious movements, religious minorities, and the like.
People join such movements because they are not satisfied with the beliefs and practices of the dominant religious groups in their society and start looking for an alternative. Everyone has their own reasons, but they are the same for all religious movements and denominations.
Here are a few of the most obvious ones:
As a result, the "deprogramming" method was created. Parents paid for the services of "deprogrammers" who abducted their adult children who were followers of NSD, isolated them, chained them to a bed, used physical violence, and psychologically tried to change their religious beliefs. This method was officially banned when survivors of such "treatment" filed lawsuits against the deprogramming psychologists themselves, their organizations,and their parents, who ordered it all.
Modern secular religious studies do not confirm that "brainwashing" and "mind control"were practiced in any religious movements. In addition, if something like this existed, the spread of NSD would be much more significant. While in practice, not so many people take part in the missionary events of these movements and join them. And half of neophytes leave NSD within the first two years.
Some religious groups, both new and historical, use active missionary practices that are more akin to aggressive sales methods. But this does not deprive people of the ability to make conscious decisions. In addition, the number of parishioners in such groups is not constantly growing on average — which casts doubt on the effectiveness of such methods.
How to tell if a person has joined NSD
If a person experiences religious conversion-whether within a historical denomination or a new religious movement-their behavior can actually change, and this is normal. For example, a person's wardrobe changes, or they give up their usual entertainment, considering it "sinful," or start following a certain diet or following the rules adopted by NSD.
Sometimes it can be difficult to talk to a new convert: the person believes that they "know the Truth" and wants to convey it to those who are important to them. There is even a humorous expression "neophyte syndrome" or "convert syndrome" - when a person is eager to share an experience even when he is not asked to do so. It's all very natural.
In the end, a person may want to devote himself more deeply to the religious path — for example, go to a monastery. For his relatives, this can be extremely unpleasant news.
But it should be understood that all these signs are the same for all religious movements. Only the details change: the clothes can change to a long skirt, or maybe to an Indian sari. Someone starts praying, and someone starts meditating and chanting mantras. And an ashram is the same monastery, only in Hinduism.
What should I do if a loved one has joined NSD
Globally, there are three possible options:
Keep in touch with your loved one. Don't give them ultimatums: your task is to show that you still love and respect the person, are interested in their life, and want to maintain a relationship with them. This will, among other things, help them maintain contact with the public and gain access to an independent point of view from which to evaluate NSD's worldview and values. Don't be afraid to visit the traffic center with a loved one or visit them there.
Maintain a good relationship. Even if the person changed after joining the movement and you don't like it. Let your loved one know that you do not agree with the beliefs and customs of the religious movement, but respect their right to make independent decisions. This will make it much easier to get out of the traffic without losing your dignity. However, if your relationship was already strained before joining NSD, it will not be easy to fix it.
Get as much accurate, balanced, unbiased, and up-to-date traffic information as possible. Consult reputable sources related to scientific religious studies, such as the English-language sites Inform or Religion Media Center.
In Russian, I recommend the books "New Religious Movements: A Practical Introduction" by Eileen Barker and "New Religious Movements: a Textbook for Universities" by Igor Kanterov.
If you read what its opponents write about the movement, keep in mind: their main goal is to intimidate and incite religious xenophobia. Such information will not help you calmly discuss NSD with your loved ones and will only push them away.
Learn more about your loved one. Try to find out what attracts them to the movement and whether they are trying to avoid unresolved problems in this way. The better you understand their point of view, the better you will assess the situation and plan your future actions more accurately.
Listen to what he says. If you try to convince a person that they've been brainwashed and that their NSD is actually wrong, sinister, and dangerous, they won't hear you. This will only push him into a defensive position and prevent him from considering other points of view. Instead, try to understand how they perceive the situation.
Discuss with the person their new beliefs. In a supportive manner and without pressure, tell us what you have heard or read about this issue to NSD. Perhaps we will talk about some disturbing aspects or potential dangers. Suggest that you seriously consider them from the point of view of the person involved in the movement.
Use "what if" questions: "What would you do if you found out..."or "How would you feel if you were asked...". If a person, for example, before joining NSD believed that it was unacceptable to collect money fraudulently, then it is highly likely that they will refuse to participate in such activities if the movement asks them to do so.
At the same time, be prepared to sincerely admit that the movement can actually offer a certain value to a person — even if only for a short time.
Contact the police if you see a danger to a person's life or believe that they are being drawn into criminal activities.
Help the person adapt to their usual life. If a person leaves NSD, they will need time to process their experience, both good and bad. Provide loving support and take your time. Offer to participate in a mutual support group for former followers of a particular movement or different ones.
Interaction with a religious movement can lead to religious trauma syndrome, a type of PTSD caused by experiences of spiritual violence in the context of religion. A psychologist or psychotherapist will help you cope with this. But you should beware of anti-sectarian psychologists, because communication with them can lead to retraumatization
The concept of "sect" is usually associated with religion, but modern sects often have nothing to do with it. The main thing in them is money and power.
Dictionaries define sects primarily as religious organizations and groups that are separated from world religions and are hostile to them. But in this article, I will refer to any destructive organizations that take money from people and destroy their lives. Sometimes they disguise themselves as a religion, and sometimes they are not connected with it at all.
I will tell you how sects differ from ordinary organizations and how to avoid falling under their influence and protect your loved ones.
You'll find out
- What is a sect?
- Signs of a sect
- What types of sects are there
- Are pyramid schemes considered sects
- Examples of famous sects in Russia
- What sects are banned in Russia
- Why do people become sectarians
- How not to get into a cult
- Why do people join new religious movements
- How to tell if a person has joined NSD
- What should I do if a loved one has joined NSD
What is a sect?
From Latin, the word secta can be translated as "school" or"teaching". But in Latin there is also a consonant term — secare, which means "to separate", "to cut off". It is he who most accurately explains the principle of operation of such organizations: they separate people from their environment and begin to fully control them. Moreover, everything or almost everything falls under control: money, real estate, and sometimes even food intake and minor household needs.
The difficulty is that there is no concept of a sect in Russian legislation. Because of this, sometimes there is confusion. For example, people were praying to officially recognized gods or reading books together, and then suddenly the police came and arrested the leaders of the organization-they said that it was a sect. People are outraged by arbitrariness, not quite understanding why someone is dissatisfied with their actions. It's more complicated here: the leaders of the association are punished for specific violations of the law — for example, for fraud, propaganda of social superiority, or for the death of followers due to strict rules.
No organization, regardless of the direction of its activity, is created immediately as a sect. And those who entered it at the first stage do not always understand what it turns into over time. Participants do not perceive it as illegal, because at first it was not.
Let's imagine a conditional organization and see at what stage it can become a sect. For simplicity's sake, let it be a religious association: in everyday life, sects are usually associated with religion, although signs of sects can also be found in other organizations, such as political ones or those that trade options, real estate, or stocks.
Let's assume that the people in our association decided to pray to other gods. 300 years ago, they would have been immediately called sectarians, but now this will not work: The Constitution of the Russian Federation guarantees everyone freedom of religion. It is not forbidden to create new religious movements, which means that our organization has not violated anything.
Public and religious associations can operate without restrictions, as long as they do not violate the law. Let's say our conditional organization is for all the good and against all the bad. She abides by the laws, which means that so far there are no complaints about her.
Leaders are beginning to attract supporters-they advertise the movement through social networks and on television. Here, too, there are no violations — only agitation that incites social, racial, national or religious hostility, and propaganda of superiority on the same grounds is prohibited.
No organization can exist without funding: you need to rent a room, pay for utilities, hire employees for cleaning, and advertising in the media is not cheap. And leaders start collecting money from supporters. This is also allowed: everyone can manage their own money as they see fit.
Having received funding, leaders start spending this money, including on themselves. Critics don't accept it: their management style is authoritarian. But the members and supporters are not against it, so there is no violation here either. And the principle of unity of command is not prohibited. Our conditional organization still hasn't become a sect.
This happens only at the moment when the leaders of the association begin to purposefully break the ties of members with society in order to use them as a resource to achieve their goals, and not always legitimate ones.
Signs of a sect
To recognize a sect, you need to know exactly how it works and why it works. This information is usually not disclosed. From the outside, everything looks like an ordinary commercial, public or religious organization. Therefore, it is necessary to assess risks based on indirect signs. The more they are recruited, the more likely it is that we are really talking about a sect.
I'll tell you about the signs that occur most often.
Leaders pretend to be what they are not. For example, the creators of sects often wear clothes that resemble the vestments of priests, but they are not related to them. Or the leader of a sect calls himself a benefactor, and a search on the Internet shows that he used to build financial pyramids. The founder of a healing sect can only mimic a doctor, and in fact, he will not even have a medical education.
Blurred promises of a perfect life in the distant future. The sects talk about a beautiful life, but all this is not fast-adepts will have to endure and suffer. Depending on the type of sect, they can promise salvation, wealth, solutions to problems with alcohol and drugs, lack of love and understanding, and lack of communication.
This approach ultimately creates problems for the police: if all the promises are only in words, there are no exact terms and conditions, then there is no evidence of a fraud crime.
The creators of the sect seek to take everything from their supporters. If a member of a regular organization can no longer pay membership fees, they are simply excluded. But in sects, it's different: when the followers ' bank accounts are empty, the leaders will re-register their property or rent it out. Or they will offer to do it voluntarily — for the common good.
If the property and money were not initially available, the person will be given a job. Often it is located in a remote area, or better - in the taiga, where there is no mobile connection. The main activity of sectarians is gardening and berry picking. In the end, a person will not see money: there is nowhere to spend it in a distant village, and the community needs it more.
If an adept is unable to work for some reason, they will collect donations in social networks or ask for money for donations from their parents.
Improbable or closed financial statements. It is impossible to estimate the real sources of income of the sect and the amount of income received. It does not maintain financial statements or falsifies them.
In most cases, the sect has income from real commercial activities — for example, from the sale of religious attributes or environmentally friendly products from taiga settlements. Most likely, it brings a small profit, which does not cover all the needs of the organization. But the management can tell new adherents: here, look, we really work, and do not sell air.
The organization doesn't care about its members. Sectarians may find themselves in a dangerous situation without medical care, and their children often do not receive an education. Most of the money goes to the personal needs of the sect leaders, and not to ordinary participants. People in such an organization are not very valuable. Adepts are a renewable resource. Disappointed people are constantly leaving, but they are immediately replaced with new ones.
The sect encourages breaking ties with loved ones. The logic here is directly related to money. The ideal adept for a sect is one who has no relatives or who does not communicate with them. Fewer relatives and friends — less spending outside the sect: you don't need to give your parents gifts for the New Year, help your children financially, or lend money to your friends. Accordingly, a person will be able to invest more in the organization.
At the same time, the sect allows you not to break ties, provided that the adept brings his relatives there. Those who have joined the organization will continue to fully communicate with each other. With those who remained outside the sect, communication will be forced to be reduced or interrupted.
A warning sign if a loved one tried to lure you to the organization and moved away when it didn't work out.
Participants are encouraged to move. The task here is the same-breaking ties with loved ones. The best option for the sect is to move followers to the conditional "city of happiness" in the remote taiga. Although many such organizations do not practice moving to the wilderness — an adept can simply change their address in their hometown. If relatives can't find a person, then they can't influence their decision.
The sect severs the connection of its members with the state. The logic is that a person has nowhere to turn for help if they decide to leave the sect. For example, in the 80s and early 90s, I met members of one organization who refused to register the birth of children in the registry office and did not receive passports. And those who entered there burned their documents.
A popular way to separate a person from society is to make them an accessory to a serious crime. It was for this purpose that the Aum Shinrikyo sect organized mass killings: after that, its members could no longer ask for help from the state.
The Russian sect "The Noble Order of the Devil" * practiced sex with minors among its adherents. Sometimes organizations that have adopted the methods of sectarians provoke their members to participate in mass riots.
The organization requires constant participation in its activities. It is not enough just to be a follower and, relatively speaking, to pray on holidays. This will have to be done on a daily basis, and even not at home, but where all members of the organization should gather. There are often penalties for refusal. Involvement gradually increases and goes beyond reasonable limits: the sect takes up almost all of a person's time.
The follower stops thinking independently. Every time you ask a person a question about the work of the organization and its goals, the answer begins with the words " so-and-so says that...". The leader always thinks for the followers.
Responsibility, according to sectarians, is also always borne by someone else: the spiritual leader, the leader, the supreme deity. But in the end, a person will have to answer for his actions himself.
The sect gets into personal life much more strongly than is customary in ordinary associations. It's one thing if a non-governmental organization that specializes in this field helps you find your wife: that's what the person came there for. It is quite different if it is a conditional broker. It is normal if the legal community helps solve problems with the law, and suspicious if the religious community helps.
The leaders of the sect pretend that they will come and settle everything. For example, they will help with housing — although sometimes it will be a house without amenities in the middle of nowhere. Find a wife or husband-of course, from the sect. If a follower has problems with the law, they will hire a lawyer, pay fines, or even get him out of jail. But more often the help comes down to consultations — and this is at best.
The organization encourages actions that cause harm to a person. The members of the sect themselves are not likely to believe that something abnormal is happening: in their community, this is a common practice. At the same time, it is easy to see from the outside that the organization's rules harm the health of followers, spoil their reputation and career.
The type of necessary suffering is chosen by the leaders of the sect — for example, they announce that everyone must fast or adhere to a strict diet. To join the Eunuch sect, castration was mandatory, both for men and women. And in some organizations, mandatory deprivation includes bringing to administrative responsibility for offenses.
At the same time, the number of sufferings endured changes the position of a person in the organization: the more they are, the higher the status. But this almost never affects the distribution of material benefits in favor of the sufferer.
What types of sects are there
Many methods of sects began to be used by ordinary organizations. Because of this, it is often difficult to determine what exactly is in front of us.
Sometimes sects are classified according to the external characteristics that form the basis of their ideology. Next, I will list the types of sects that can be distinguished if we consider them in this way.
Religious — created based on your own interpretation of religion. Although there were cases when the traditional interpretation turned into a sect. Unlike the usual new religious movements, such sects violate human rights, may lose their property, and may be subjected to torture.
Psychological issues. They are formed on the basis of personal growth trainings. Unlike normal trainings, no knowledge is given here — only gradually develop loyalty to the leader.
If at the training they first convince you to change the format of communication with your family, hand over all the money and write reports every day, and then move to the taiga altogether, then most likely this is a sect.
Healing services. Of course, not every treatment-related group is a sect. People come together to discuss the diagnosis, their experience of living with the disease. Or they wait together to develop a new method of treating a serious illness, and support each other.
In the healing sects, everything is different. Medical research is not studied here — on the contrary, they say that it is profitable for doctors to hide the developed methods of treatment. But, of course, there is a person who will share the secret knowledge. Allegedly, if you follow the instructions of the sect leader, you can cope with incurable diseases or even resurrect the dead.
Environmental issues. Adepts will not stay at home to sort garbage, but will break all ties and go to build an eco-settlement.
Economic, commercial, or corporate services. They are based on the cult of making money. Pyramid schemes are often referred to as such sects, although this is not always justified. There are both similarities and differences between them, and I'll tell you more about them later.
This division of sects is very conditional. There is no clear classification: their leaders usually mix religion, healing, economics, and all other aspects of life.
Are pyramid schemes considered sects
Sects and pyramids are similar in their methods of attracting adherents and agitation. Every member of a sect or pyramid is a potential agitator. A person who has not yet received anything will prove that he has already bought two houses in Yalta, three imported tape recorders, and eternal happiness and enlightenment of the spirit have descended on him. Although in fact, he has only invested money, spent time and effort.
According to my observations, the most active agitators are often those who have invested the last and who have nothing more to lose. They convince not so much others as themselves: that the pyramid will work, even though it was recognized as a pyramid, and the sect will build the city of the sun and eternal justice. But they convince you publicly — and this attracts new members.
Another similarity is that the goals of pyramids and sects are unattainable by the methods used there. And it is difficult for participants to get out of these structures, and it is very difficult for relatives to influence the person who got there.
Despite the similarities, pyramids and sects have many differences. Here are the main ones:
- Promise of payments. Pyramid schemes trade in air — "dividends" are paid at the expense of contributions from new participants. The sect doesn't pay any dividends, and it doesn't even promise any. They can also talk about abundance and wealth there, but this will only be some part of an abstract happy future.
- Lifetime. The pyramid scheme organizers understand that one day investors will come for the money, and the police will follow them, at most in a few years. The principle of operation of a sect does not limit it in time, so it can exist for decades, and sometimes for centuries. Leaders collect money from participants, but it is unlikely that in a couple of years they will disappear with these investments, and yesterday's sectarians will see the light and start counting losses.
- Reasons for breaking ties with your loved ones. Pyramid schemes often disguise this with secrecy: allegedly, the income of participants is so high that they do not need to talk about it and their ways of earning money. This is motivated by the envy of others or the machinations of the Central Bank, which is trying to deprive citizens of money. Sects usually have a different motivation for breaking up: they are more likely to promise people not wealth, but justice, attention and lack of responsibility.
Examples of famous sects in Russia
There is no exact data on the number of sects in Russia. The point is in the specifics of the legislation: state registration of religious associations is not required, it is only necessary to obtain the status of a legal entity.
It is impossible to list all the sects in the article, so I will tell you only about some of them.
Old Believers, Old Believers, schismatics. One of the oldest and most numerous sects. It was founded in 1656 as a result of the church reform. As of 2018, 379 Old Believers ' religious organizations were officially registered in Russia. The total number of adherents in Russia alone can be about 400 thousand people.
For a long time, the Old Believers had all the signs of sects listed above:
- they opposed themselves to the state;
- until the 90-ies of the 20th century, they refused to receive documents and medical care, to participate in public life;
- they practiced relocating their members, including outside the country;
- up to the 19th century, and according to some sources — until the middle of the 20th century, adherents practiced ritual suicide.
Now most associations of Old Believers do not pose a danger either to others or to their own adherents. For example, the settlements of Old Believers in the upper reaches of the Yenisei River are considered one of the safest places in the region, and community leaders do not come into conflict with the authorities and do not call for offenses.
However, the court recognized some organizations that formally identify themselves as Old Believers as extremist. For example, this is the Old Russian Yngli Church of Orthodox Old Believers-Ynglings, which promoted, among other things, racism and anti-Semitism. This is exactly the case when the name itself does not mean anything. A man with a full beard, who introduced himself as an Old Believer, in most cases will turn out to be a respectable citizen who did not violate the law. But it may also be that his organization is classified as extremist.
The religious sectEunuchs, they are also "white doves", "lambs of God"., whose adherents considered castration the only way to save the soul — for both men and women.
To get involved in the sect, they first used voluntary castration. Then there was the practice of castrating minor relatives and forcibly castrating random people — after which they were deprived of the opportunity to start a family and were forced to come to the sect. Adepts could not have heirs, and all their possessions remained within the organization after death.
The sect was liquidated in the 30s of the 20th century.
The sect of Grigory Grabovoi. It is named after the leader-creator of the doctrine "On Universal Salvation and harmonious Development". He claimed that he could use psychic techniques to check the technical condition of aircraft and resurrect people. Promised relatives of those killed in the Beslan terrorist attack to revive children for money. In 2008, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for fraud.
The Sect of Vissarion, or the Church of the Last Testament. It was established in 1991. Many of the followers sold their property to move to the Krasnoyarsk Territory for the construction of an eco-settlement-the Monastery of Dawn,alsoCity of the Sun.
Adherents were forbidden to get vaccinated, give birth in hospitals, and receive medical care in medical institutions. Medication was allowed only in extreme cases. Meat, fish, salt, sugar, mushrooms were not allowed to be eaten. As a result, this led to the death of several members of the organization — including a newborn child. They tried to hide their deaths.
In September 2020, the FSB detained the leader of the sect, Sergei Torop, and two of his deputies. They were accused of leading an association that causes harm to the health of citizens, fraud, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition.
At the time of writing, the criminal case is being considered in the Novosibirsk court. The verdict hasn't been passed yet.
Anastasians, or "Ringing cedars of Russia". The movement was founded by a certain Vladimir Megre and described in his books. One of the main ideas is the relocation of adepts to the "family estate". It is a plot of land of at least one hectare, on which a family with love can build a house, plant a family tree, own a forest, set up a garden and vegetable garden, equip a pond. But, according to the teaching, the estate is not intended for work, but for "man to rule the world."
According to reports, the settlers were actually given land for construction, but it was not used for its intended purpose. The adepts did not receive medical care, and their children did not go to school.
Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Watchtower Society. They practice, among other things, a ban on marriage with a person who is not from a sect and on blood transfusions.
To recruit adherents, apartment-by-apartment rounds were widely used, offering to discuss issues of faith at home.
"Falun Gong "or"Falun Dafa". A sect that originated on the basis of Chinese qigong gymnastics and elements of several religions. They practice refusal of treatment and ritual suicide.
"Citizens of the USSR"*. One of the political sects. There is no single organization. This name usually unites several dozen groups, including those that compete with each other. The general idea is that the Russian Federation is outlawed, and the USSR did not disappear in 1991 and continues to exist. Adherents are urged to overthrow the government by force.
The organization is supported by donates of adherents, who are promised to reimburse expenses and pay multibillion-dollar compensation after coming to power.
In their activities, "Citizens of the USSR"* they used all the methods typical of sects: breaking ties with the state and relatives, and depriving people of their property. The gap occurred, among other things, through participation in mass riots. They tried to intimidate dissenters — for example, they threatened to shoot them after coming to power.
What sects are banned in Russia
In Russia, there is no separate list of banned sects, because, as I have already written, there is no such concept in the law. Sectarians themselves often do not classify themselves at all and can work without registration. But from the point of view of the law, their organizations can be divided into two types:
- A public association. A voluntary self-governing non-profit organization created on the initiative of citizens. People in it unite on the basis of common interests in order to realize common goals specified in the charter.
- A religious organization. A voluntary association of people created for the joint confession and dissemination of faith and registered as a legal entity.
Here are some examples:
- religious association "Altaiskaya vera Belaya vera"*;
- Orthodox religious group "In honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Derzhavnaya"";
- religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and its affiliated local religious organizations*;
- religious group "The Noble Order of the Devil";
- interregional public organization "Citizens of the USSR".
The prosecutor's office in the lawsuit did not call the organization a sect. But the representative of "Citizens of the USSR"* confirmed in court that at the time of consideration of the claim, it is positioned as a sect. And its actions are extremist in nature, connected with fraud and directed against the authorities. As a result, the organization's activities were banned.
But you need to understand that even if an organization is not on the banned list, it can still turn out to be a sect.
Why do people become sectarians
Joining a sect looks like a bargain from the outside. The organization and its management gain control over the person, his property, money and labor results. From the adept at the initial stage, they require a little: to comply with the conditions, behave well, attract other people and not break the rules. It is easy to meet such requirements.
The sectarian, in turn, gets the opportunity not to think about the future — they will be provided with all the minimum necessary things. In the sect, he can choose not to make decisions and take no responsibility for his actions. In addition, the organization gives adherents the illusion of justice within it and promises to solve all problems.
But in reality, this is a deception: a person gives his labor, property, money for something that will never happen. None of the sects in history has ever achieved the goals they claimed.
How not to get into a cult
I've seen a lot of tips in articles, but they don't work well. Sometimes there is a feeling that their authors represent the sect in a simplified way-as an office where they collect money from adepts, with a schedule of ritual sacrifices on the door and a record for zombification. This illusion is supported by disappointed adherents — it is they who most often use words such as "zombified" and "deceived".
But in fact, sects do not deceive anyone at the stage of their emergence: people are offered something that is close to them. The easiest way to find out why this happens is by studying court documents.
For example, take the banned religious group "The Noble Order of the Devil", recognized by the court as extremist. It was founded in September 2004, and since then its leaders have promoted Satanic sermons, rites and rituals, and encouraged adherents to drink alcohol and have group sex.
It sounds crazy, but it's not forbidden by law. Therefore, there were no formal barriers to joining the sect-provided that the adepts shared the views of other participants.
The leader of the sect broke the law when he began to give instructions about the physical punishment of those who do not share this ideology. And at the first stage, it would be very difficult to prevent joining the organization.
The court decision mentions that more than 20 people were involved in the sect. At the same time, there is no word that people became members of the organization due to deception or zombification. In most cases, this was a voluntary decision of adults — with the exception of one minor who, due to his age, did not fully understand what he was doing.
Demanding that someone leave such an organization is also difficult: there is no reason to do so at the initial stage. And the belief will not work until the person himself understands that in the sect he loses more than he gains.
For example, I myself encountered a similar situation when a friend contacted an organization that practices sectarian methods. She refuses to talk about this organization: she claims that to do this, you need to be on the same page. If there is no one wave, there is nothing to discuss.
Why do people join new religious movements
From the point of view of scientific and secular religious studies that are not related to religious organizations, it is correct to use the concepts of "sect" or "cult" only in the historical context. These words have a strong negative connotation. At the same time, quite orthodox religious movements that differ from the dominant ones in a particular region, and even groups of people that are simply objectionable to someone, were called so at different times. Therefore, the word "sect" is more of a language stamp that promotes hate speech, and it is not customary to use it in the scientific community.
Instead, they use more neutral definitions: new religious movements — NSD, new religions, alternative religious groups, religious groups and movements, religious movements, small religious movements, religious minorities, and the like.
People join such movements because they are not satisfied with the beliefs and practices of the dominant religious groups in their society and start looking for an alternative. Everyone has their own reasons, but they are the same for all religious movements and denominations.
Here are a few of the most obvious ones:
- Search for answers to existential questions.
- A supportive community.
- Specific aesthetics, such as liturgical music or specific practices of a religious community.
- The possibility of professional self-realization, when the religious community acts as a social elevator.
- Belonging to a religious group after birth, when the parents are members of this community.
As a result, the "deprogramming" method was created. Parents paid for the services of "deprogrammers" who abducted their adult children who were followers of NSD, isolated them, chained them to a bed, used physical violence, and psychologically tried to change their religious beliefs. This method was officially banned when survivors of such "treatment" filed lawsuits against the deprogramming psychologists themselves, their organizations,and their parents, who ordered it all.
Modern secular religious studies do not confirm that "brainwashing" and "mind control"were practiced in any religious movements. In addition, if something like this existed, the spread of NSD would be much more significant. While in practice, not so many people take part in the missionary events of these movements and join them. And half of neophytes leave NSD within the first two years.
Some religious groups, both new and historical, use active missionary practices that are more akin to aggressive sales methods. But this does not deprive people of the ability to make conscious decisions. In addition, the number of parishioners in such groups is not constantly growing on average — which casts doubt on the effectiveness of such methods.
How to tell if a person has joined NSD
If a person experiences religious conversion-whether within a historical denomination or a new religious movement-their behavior can actually change, and this is normal. For example, a person's wardrobe changes, or they give up their usual entertainment, considering it "sinful," or start following a certain diet or following the rules adopted by NSD.
Sometimes it can be difficult to talk to a new convert: the person believes that they "know the Truth" and wants to convey it to those who are important to them. There is even a humorous expression "neophyte syndrome" or "convert syndrome" - when a person is eager to share an experience even when he is not asked to do so. It's all very natural.
In the end, a person may want to devote himself more deeply to the religious path — for example, go to a monastery. For his relatives, this can be extremely unpleasant news.
But it should be understood that all these signs are the same for all religious movements. Only the details change: the clothes can change to a long skirt, or maybe to an Indian sari. Someone starts praying, and someone starts meditating and chanting mantras. And an ashram is the same monastery, only in Hinduism.
What should I do if a loved one has joined NSD
Globally, there are three possible options:
- Do not accept the choice of a loved one, start "saving them from brainwashing", including by violent methods. But violence is violence, even if you call it love. Studies show that forcible "withdrawal" from a religious group does not always work, and relationships with a person are likely to be damaged — regardless of whether they later leave the religious group or return to it.
- Accept his choice and do not interfere-in the hope that he will "get over it". There are reasons for this hope. According to Professor Eileen Barker, in the first 2-5 years, 55 to 90% of participants voluntarily leave new religious movements. But when inaction comes from a sense of powerlessness, it can negatively affect both yourself and your relationship with your loved one.
- Accept the choice of a loved one as a reasonable, albeit unusual act of an adequate person. "Accept" doesn't mean you agree with it if you don't like it. And it doesn't mean that you need to do nothing. Acceptance is an active attitude to maintain a good and close relationship between you. Of course, to the extent that the other person is ready.
Keep in touch with your loved one. Don't give them ultimatums: your task is to show that you still love and respect the person, are interested in their life, and want to maintain a relationship with them. This will, among other things, help them maintain contact with the public and gain access to an independent point of view from which to evaluate NSD's worldview and values. Don't be afraid to visit the traffic center with a loved one or visit them there.
Maintain a good relationship. Even if the person changed after joining the movement and you don't like it. Let your loved one know that you do not agree with the beliefs and customs of the religious movement, but respect their right to make independent decisions. This will make it much easier to get out of the traffic without losing your dignity. However, if your relationship was already strained before joining NSD, it will not be easy to fix it.
Get as much accurate, balanced, unbiased, and up-to-date traffic information as possible. Consult reputable sources related to scientific religious studies, such as the English-language sites Inform or Religion Media Center.
In Russian, I recommend the books "New Religious Movements: A Practical Introduction" by Eileen Barker and "New Religious Movements: a Textbook for Universities" by Igor Kanterov.
If you read what its opponents write about the movement, keep in mind: their main goal is to intimidate and incite religious xenophobia. Such information will not help you calmly discuss NSD with your loved ones and will only push them away.
Learn more about your loved one. Try to find out what attracts them to the movement and whether they are trying to avoid unresolved problems in this way. The better you understand their point of view, the better you will assess the situation and plan your future actions more accurately.
Listen to what he says. If you try to convince a person that they've been brainwashed and that their NSD is actually wrong, sinister, and dangerous, they won't hear you. This will only push him into a defensive position and prevent him from considering other points of view. Instead, try to understand how they perceive the situation.
Discuss with the person their new beliefs. In a supportive manner and without pressure, tell us what you have heard or read about this issue to NSD. Perhaps we will talk about some disturbing aspects or potential dangers. Suggest that you seriously consider them from the point of view of the person involved in the movement.
Use "what if" questions: "What would you do if you found out..."or "How would you feel if you were asked...". If a person, for example, before joining NSD believed that it was unacceptable to collect money fraudulently, then it is highly likely that they will refuse to participate in such activities if the movement asks them to do so.
At the same time, be prepared to sincerely admit that the movement can actually offer a certain value to a person — even if only for a short time.
Contact the police if you see a danger to a person's life or believe that they are being drawn into criminal activities.
Help the person adapt to their usual life. If a person leaves NSD, they will need time to process their experience, both good and bad. Provide loving support and take your time. Offer to participate in a mutual support group for former followers of a particular movement or different ones.
Interaction with a religious movement can lead to religious trauma syndrome, a type of PTSD caused by experiences of spiritual violence in the context of religion. A psychologist or psychotherapist will help you cope with this. But you should beware of anti-sectarian psychologists, because communication with them can lead to retraumatization
