This is a series. Letters here reflect the author’s opinion and not necessarily the opinion of MySaline and staff. See the archive and submit your own letter at www.mysaline.com/letters.
Benton man researches historic cults; Feels similarity to current government
By Chris Caldwell
We’ve heard the word “cult” thrown around a lot when talking about the MAGA movement. I’ll be honest, I’ve said it too, and I believe that’s exactly what it is. Let’s really break this down though, right here, right now.
What is a cult? Merriam-Webster defines a cult as “(1) a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious,” and “(2) great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work.” Wikipedia defines cults as “social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals.”
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In my opinion, far too often, we think of cults ONLY in terms of religious groups. Granted, historically, most of the most famous cult leaders have used religion as a form of control over their members, but that doesn’t mean it was a religious group.
Charles Manson distorted and exploited religious and spiritual ideas to manipulate his followers. He cultivated an image of himself as a guru or Christ-like figure, convincing his followers that he possessed a unique understanding of spiritual truths. Some of his followers even saw him as “the closest thing to Jesus.”
Jim Jones strategically used religion to attract followers and exert control. Initially, he presented the Peoples Temple as a Christian church that embraced elements of Pentecostalism and the social gospel. This involved incorporating practices like faith healings. Over time, he eliminated the Bible and Biblical teachings and leaned more into politics.
David Koresh claimed to be a prophet with direct contact with God and used apocalyptic interpretations of the Bible to justify his actions.
Marshall Applewhite claimed to be Christ and convinced followers to commit mass suicide to board a spaceship and escape an impending apocalypse.
These are all examples of a mortal using religion as a means of manipulation and control.
Why is religion the tool most often used by cult leaders to manipulate their followers? Many individuals seeking spiritual guidance or a sense of belonging are in a state of vulnerability due to hardships, social issues, or unmet emotional needs. Cult leaders prey on this, offering a sense of community, purpose, and support that may seem appealing.
Cult leaders distort or selectively interpret religious teachings, scriptures, or doctrines to justify their actions and control their followers. They use religious principles to promote obedience, restrict autonomy, or induce feelings of guilt or shame. They often project themselves as possessing unique spiritual insights, divine connections, or special authority, establishing themselves as indispensable figures in their followers’ lives. In a sense, they use the power of persuasion to prey on the weak, or those who are looking for a leader.
As we’ve already established, sometimes the word “cult” is misused. For the sake of this article, let’s then use the term “destructive group.”
How can we determine if a group is constructive or destructive? Here are some characteristics of a Destructive group (cult) according to Candace Fleming, in her book, “Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown.”:
- It demands submission to leadership. These leaders are highly charismatic, persuasive people with authoritarian and narcissistic streaks motivated by money, power, sex, or all three.
- It holds a polarized worldview. The group and its members believe they are the only good thing, everyone and everything outside is bad. Whatever it is being promised can ONLY be found within the group.
- It values feelings over facts. Emotions, intuitions, divinations, prophecies, and self-perceptions are considered more important than substantiated facts or rational conclusion based on fact and logic.
- It uses tactics to manipulate feelings. Leaders create false narratives and events to stimulate emotions in their followers including fear, mistrust, anger, devotion. They often employ group sessions involving gaslighting, love-bombing, overloading of information meant to disorient or confuse, guilt and physical punishment (or threats thereof) to control and coerce followers’ responses.
- It denigrates critical thinking. The leader, and ultimately the group characterize independent thought as selfish or anti-group. Individual opinions are forbidden. Questioning is not tolerated, and criticism is punishable. Followers must stick to group think- those values and beliefs commonly held by the organization.
- It believes that the end justifies the means. Both the leader and followers believe any action or behavior is justifiable if it furthers the organization’s goals. This includes illegal acts. Since the leader is believed to be absolute, and thus above all human-made laws, they may command followers to commit illegal acts for the good of the group.
- It values the group over the individual. The group’s needs supersede any one person’s goals, needs, aspirations, and concerns. Conformity is key.
- It warns of severe or supernatural consequences for defectors. Leaders use fear, intimidation, and lies to keep followers in the group warning that bad things will happen if they leave. Those who try to escape are made an example of. Those who do get away are often harassed and intimidated.
Now, does this sound like anyone you can think of?
- Donald Trump demands people follow him, and only him. He demands, and has always demanded absolute “loyalty,” which has most often focused on personal allegiance rather than adherence to laws or institutions. Perfect examples of this are James Comey, Jeff Sessions, and most recently, Sen Thom Tillis. Tillis knows the MAGA machine will relentlessly destroy him for going against Trump’s horrendous Big Beautiful Bill, so he decided to retire instead of facing the Trump machine in a primary.
- Donald Trump most definitely holds a polarized worldview. Everything seems to be “us” versus “them.” An example could be his insistence on nationalism vs globalism. His followers are good and smart and tough, and everyone else is weak and evil and bad. There’s always been Republicans vs Democrats, Red vs Blue, etc., but U.S. politics have never been more polarized and more negative than they are right now, and ever since Trump came down his golden escalator in 2015.
- Everything is about feelings when it comes to Trump. Nobody can deny the lies he spouts in his rallies and debates. Even his followers admit it, but it doesn’t seem to matter because he whips them into an emotional frenzy. With Trump, the truth of the matter is truth doesn’t matter. This is exactly why so many adjectives are used in every single statement. It’s all about emotion.
- He is the Gas-lighter in Chief. It’s a never-ending string of gaslighting.
- Denying verifiable events- Trump’s then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer claiming Trump’s inauguration had the largest audience ever, despite actual photographic evidence showing otherwise.
- Creating “alternate realities”- The claims of the “stolen” 2020 election despite numerous failed court challenges, and the nonsense about Pres Obama’s birth certificate.
- Undermining the legal system and judicial independence- He has labeled judges ruling against him as corrupt and portrayed legal institutions as “enemies of the people”, aiming to erode trust in the rule of law. And it’s not just judges. Literally anyone who goes against him is labeled as bad or evil.
- DARVO strategy- This involved denying, attacking, and reversing victim and offender roles to dodge accountability, shift blame, and silence critics.
- And denying or downplaying serious issues- Exampled include his downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic and denying the severity of the Jan 6th attacks on the Capital.
- This is why he wants to erase Critical Race Theory and curriculum from public education. He wants a single, false narrative taught to everyone so that nobody questions. America is great. Everyone else is bad. Racism isn’t real. Democrats are evil. Trump is good. Gay is bad. Straight is good. Christianity is right, and everyone else is wrong. Etc. etc.
- The end always justifies the means. With the Kavanaugh hearings, he said, “We won…” “So, it’s okay.” In other words, as long as you get the end you desire, any means you use to get there is okay. Lying, cheating, etc. It’s all okay as long as Trump wins. If Trump loses, everyone else cheated and he was wronged.
- MAGA is the absolute picture of group (collective) over the individual. MAGA appeals to a sense of shared identity and belonging among its supporters, often emphasizing the interests and values of the “common folk” or “true Americans” against perceived elites or outgroups. “America First” and nationalistic policies: Policies advocated by some within the movement, such as protectionist trade measures and restrictions on immigration, are framed as prioritizing the interests of the nation as a whole, potentially at the expense of individual liberties or global cooperation. Yes, it is the job of the President to protect the interests of the USA, but NOT at the expense of individual liberties of its citizens.
- This one is certainly tied to point #1. He demands absolute loyalty, and if he doesn’t get it, you are excommunicated, and he will eviscerate you on the world stage. This list is a mile long. Comey, Sessions, John Kelly, Miles Taylor, Cassidy Hutchinson, Thom Tillis, Christopher Krebs, Bill Barr, James Mattis, Mark Esper, Gen Mark Milley, Rex Tillerson, Chris Christie, HR McMaster, John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, Stephanie Grisham, Betsy DeVos, and even his own VP- Mike Pence. All of these people spoke out against something he did, and they were then the enemy…no matter what.
People, you just cannot deny that MAGA is 100% a cult, a destructive group. It’s a scourge on society and it’s the absolute greatest threat to the American system of government in a generation or more. Prove me wrong.
Chris Caldwell
Benton, AR
This is a series. Letters here reflect the author’s opinion and not necessarily the opinion of MySaline and staff.See the archive of Letters to the Editor, and submit your own letter at www.mysaline.com/letters.
