reprint
from the Sep/Oct 1995 Free Minds Journal
The Armageddon Syndrome
by David L. Harvey
Since
our common era began, every turn of the century has seen its share of
apocalyptic prophets announcing the end of the world or "Armageddon."
They claim to have special knowledge revealed to them alone. The term apocalypse
is from the Greek and means "revealed" or "unveiled."
"Armageddon"
is mentioned only once in the Bible- at Rev. 16:16. This Greek word translates
"mountain of Megiddo." The ruins of Megiddo (Tel el-Mutsellim), an
ancient Canaanite city, occupy about twelve acres of a small plateau overlooking
the Plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon). This plain was the scene of many decisive
military victories throughout history. As there is no literal "mountain of
Megiddo," the term "Armageddon" is most likely symbolic of God's
great and final battle at the End Time. Entire theologies have been built around
this single verse.
A
number of abusive churches create a fear
of Armageddon, reinforced with guilt
in order to dominate and maintain membership. Cults use this as a tool of
emotional control. By implanting fear and creating guilt, abusive groups
manipulate their members into performing free service.
Fear
is the major motivator. It binds in two ways: (1) It creates an outside enemy
who threatens or persecutes the member. This results in the "us versus
them" world view, and (2) fear of failing the organization or fear of
discovery and punishment by the leaders if you are lax in doing your job. What
job? Why, serving the organization, of course! "Are you REALLY doing all
you can to serve God?" (A typical introduction to guilt.)
Guilt
is a good enforcer, but it won't work unless you can make people feel guilty about
something. Note this subtle example: "Now that you have an
understanding of God's purpose wouldn't you like to share it with others? We
know God will destroy all wicked people shortly. Since we have knowledge of this
we have a responsibility to warn others. If we don't do this God will find us
bloodguilty at Armageddon. You wouldn't want to be held bloodguilty, would
you?"
Cults
need a bogeyman. The Watchtower's bogeyman is Armageddon. Fear of eternal
annihilation and fear of being found bloodguilty by God at Armageddon assures
the continued service of the "faithful." Such fear adversely
influences plans for marriage, college, careers, and the pursuit of happiness.
It robs one's peace of mind and destroys one's quality of life.
Fear
is effectively used to attract new members as well. A little Bible prophecy,
some statistics and current events, a few dates and the trap is set. Once the
new convert buys into it, out jumps the
bogeyman to motivate and manipulate.
Cults
don't offer a choice. The only choice
is theirs. (Is sink or swim really a choice?) Groups using the Armageddon Syndrome
sometimes even get physically dangerous. They may not wait for the apocalypse,
but attempt to accelerate it, creating their own.
Jim
Jones' "People's Temple" began as a normal Christian church, yet it
later degenerated into an abusive cult that ended in 1978 with over 900
murder/suicides deep in the South American jungles.
David
Koresh's "Branch Davidians" met a fiery apocalypse on April 20, 1993
with 79 murder/ suicides at Waco, Texas.
Luc
Jouret's "Order Of The Solar Temple" experienced 53 murder/ suicides
in Switzerland and Canada in October 1994.
Shoko
Asahara's "Aum Shinri Kyo" is under investigation in Japan for the
recent nerve gas attack in Tokyo's subway station that left 11 dead and 5,500
sickened.
Of
all groups, however, the Watchtower Society is perhaps best known for its
Armageddon Syndrome.
Charles
Taze Russell, first president of the WT Society, predicted Armageddon for 1914:
"...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty', which will end in AD
1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already
commenced." The Time Is At Hand,
1911 ed., p. 101.
Russell
thereafter altered his viewpoint and said the end might not come until 1916-
surely no later than 1918: "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the
churches wholesale and the church members by millions, ..." The
Finished Mystery, 1917 ed., p. 485.
The
end came, but only for Pastor Russell-he died in 1916.
Joseph
"Judge" Rutherford succeeded Russell as president and predicted the
end as well. He said post-Armageddon reconstruction would begin in 1925 marked
by the resurrection of the patriarchs: "Therefore we may confidently expect
that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful
prophets of old...." Millions Now
Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89, 90.
Did
Rutherford give up when the prophecies failed? No, in the true style of false
prophets he forged ahead with new light. In 1931 he wrote: "His day of
vengeance is here, and Armageddon is at hand and certain to fall upon
Christendom, and that within an early date." Vindication I, p. 146, 147.
Nine
years later he felt impelled to write: "The Kingdom is here, the King is
enthroned. Armageddon is just ahead." The
Messenger, 9/1/40, p. 6.
I
attended my first Assembly at St. Louis, MO in 1941. On "Children's
Day" we each received a copy of Rutherford's new release, Children.
It was written up in The Watchtower of
Sept. 15, 1941: "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to
them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided
instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before
Armageddon." (p. 288)
For
the next twenty five years the WT Society continued to warn of the nearness of
the end. In 1966 they published the book
Life Everlasting In Freedom Of The Sons Of God, where the year 1975 was
pegged to mark the beginning of the Millennium. Watchtower publications
continued to hype 1975 right up to the final hour: "...God's heavenly
kingdom will rule over the earth for one thousand years after the end of this
system of things." Awake!,
10/8/68, p.14.
also,
"...there
are only about ninety months left before 6000 years of man's existence on earth
is completed.... The majority of people living today will probably be alive when
Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are
destroyed then." Kingdom Ministry,
3/68, p. 4.
"In
view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this system of
things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous." Kingdom Ministry, 6/69, p. 3.
"Reports
are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish
out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly
this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's
end." Kingdom Ministry, 5/74, p.
3.
The
Watchtower Society has always attached great significance to their "anchor
date" 1914, promising that the generation of 1914 would still be alive at
Armageddon. That generation has passed. Now they must re-define the significance of 1914. Which ever way they go, you can
be sure that the threat of Armageddon will continue to be in the forefront of
their theology.
On
the other hand, the Bible says: "Now as to the times and the epochs,
brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves
know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the
night." (1 Th. 5:1,2)
Any
person or organization claiming to have special or exclusive knowledge is a charlatan--a
false prophet. The Armageddon Syndrome is an identifying feature of many cult
groups. The grief, misery and death they mete out to their member/ victims is
immeasurable. Flee from them! We have God's living Word.
THE
INS AND OUTS OF THE CULT PROCESS
MYTH:
People
in cults are brainwashed.
Brainwashing implies the unwilling indoctrination of alien
principles or beliefs, which are enforced through overt as well as subtle
control mechanisms. Typical of Communist Chinese and Soviet military techniques
used during WWII and thereafter. Once
removed from this environment, one returns to a default set of beliefs, though
not completely due to confusion and disillusionment. A violent form of mind control rarely used in cults today.
If
I know my Bible well, I can help someone out of a cult.
Since the cult problem is not generally a doctrinal problem,
this approach is very limited, since one can only prove their belief wrong or
non-traditional, but may not be equipped to help them discern the nature of
their indoctrination and where they went astray. The Bible is rarely effective as an initial approach, due to
programmed responses in the cult member. Try
getting to know them and starting to dissolve the walls of communication first!
Authority issues second, then doctrine when they can reason correctly or
logically.
Cults
are the unpaid bills of the Church.
While many churches are negligent in providing education about
cults, and programs to get people involved in community activities, there are
other reasons people get involved in cults. Though cults often provide the means of satisfying one's
loneliness, sense of community responsibility and self-worth, they also provide
a fulfillment of certain desires that the church should not meet, such as
elitism and exclusivism, pride, power over others, and self-determination.
Cult
members are generally uneducated.
This premise ignores the fact that people are selective in
what area they apply good sense and critical judgment.
A rocket scientist may take dangerous risks in driving home; a chemist
may use harmful drugs; an honor student may associate with the wrong crowd. A
cult member has suspended judgment in one are of their lives, for whatever
reason.
Cults seek the idealistic and well-educated above all, for
they are looking for leaders ("assets"), not the slow to learn or
handicapped ("liabilities"). Only
the churches tend to seek the unwanted little people.
Once indoctrinated, however, cult members are dissuaded from
any form of "secular" higher education, for fear they will become
aware of their own selective indoctrination. Intelligence and leadership
qualities are welcome as long as they are used for the cult's own purposes.
Certain
types of people are predisposed towards cults.
While it is true that those untrained in critical judgment are
more vulnerable to the reasoning of the cult ideology, that doesn't mean their
needs will be fulfilled by the cult involvement; it just means that they may
seem more or less convinced by the arguments. Whether or not they are motivated to actually get involved is
another issue entirely. People do
not get involved in cults primarily due to ideology. True idealists rarely find a cult satisfying due to its
inconsistencies in thought or practice, as well as their own independent nature.
They are more likely drawn to beliefs or patterns of thoughts unconnected
with an organized religion. (see FACT:
Anyone can be a victim.)
FACT:
People
don't generally get involved in cults primarily due to doctrine.
Cults usually provide some service to the individual that they
desire, such as friends, community, absolutes to live by, security, enhanced
self-esteem, power over one's own life and that of others, etc.
Some are raised in a cult and remain in it due to family reasons, comfort
and security. Others may seek an
escape from an oppressive situation that renders them powerless, hence giving
them power over one area of their lives and that of others. (i.e., marriage mate
or child in a controlling environment.)
People
in cults are cooperators in their own programming.
"Coercive persuasion" is a term that more aptly
describes the cult indoctrination method. The
cult offers something attractive or desirable to the individual, and the
individual decides to suspend normal critical judgment in this area in order to
obtain this "carrot" representing the fulfillment of their desire.
Because this process involves mutual and willing cooperation, and the
victim views all decisions as their own, it is a more binding form of mind
control that is harder to undo. They
wanted to believe it, it fulfills a "need," and it is "their
decision." The only effective
way to undo this form of programming is to review the indoctrination process
with the individual, forcing a reexamination of the cult.
Hopefully, something greater (i.e., Christ) is seen as a replacement for
the cult involvement.
Anyone
can be a victim.
People have been known to
join Jehovah's Witnesses after years of:
¨
Slamming the door in their face.
¨
Teaching out against the Witnesses.
¨
After a real Christian conversion
experience.
¨
Divorcing a mate who is involved
DUE to their involvement.
¨
Violently opposing them at the
door, even repeatedly throwing water on them or murdering a member.
Additionally, scientists,
doctors, movie stars and even political figures have been converted.
Why?
We are not always consistent in our treatment of others, and
do not always have the energy or desire to be an "opponent."
Especially true when one's own sense of identity or control is wavering,
such as when one:
¨
Loses their job.
¨
Loses a mate, child, parent or
relative.
¨
Experiences a prolonged or terminal
illness.
¨
Relocates or one's friends move
away.
¨
Experiences new fears that cannot
be reckoned with.
During such times, one's critical judgement skills are often
suspended, and the cultist sees this as an opportunity to begin the
indoctrination process.
"The
most important thing is to get them out of the cult."
Ask yourself why
you believe this.
Is
the cult physically dangerous to the person?
Most
are not. Many concentrate on good health.
Some may foster sleep deprivation, hinder medical help or
promote inadequate nutrition, good reasons to get them out!
Is
it spiritually dangerous to the person?
Inadequate or non-existent views of Christ, salvation and
grace are common in the cults. However, getting them out does not guarantee a
change of belief or even a desire to be a Christian! Nor does cult involvement necessarily prevent them from
finding Christ or relating to Him.
Are
they wasting their life away?
Cults rob a person of their own creativity and individuality.
The most common reason for anger against a cult by a former member is the
"wasted years" that could
have
been used otherwise. Since higher
education is discouraged once one joins a cult, the likelihood of obtaining a
good paying job later in life is greatly diminished. Good lasting friendships and important family ties have been
neglected or have been destroyed over time. Good reasons to extract them early
on!
Steps
to Take
DO
NOT...
...
attack them verbally (or physically!), creating walls to communication. They
have a persecution complex inherited from the cult, believing that all
non-members are agents of Satan. Don't feed the complex! Have
a curious yet cautious attitude, striving to get them to see things from another
perspective (not necessarily yours).
... argue the Bible (the
most common mistake). Their problem
is not lack of knowledge, but the inability to process it correctly!
They must be taught how to process the facts consistently, and before you
can teach them you need to gain their confidence and respect.
A barrier erected by your own ego (i.e., the need to be right, to prove
them wrong, etc.) will almost always
prevent this from ever happening, necessitating the need for outside
intervention.
DO...
...
educate yourself in the area of cult mind control techniques, through books and
seminars. Talk to former members of
any group, as their techniques are all quite similar.
Be wise before you embark on such a risky endeavor--you may only have one
chance.
... enlist the help of
others, either professionals in the field, or by educating friends and family
members and soliciting their support. Long-time
friends of the victim are the most effective.
... pray for them.
Ask God that if it be their time to get out, He grant you the wisdom and
circumstances to accomplish the intervention, and that if it turns out they are
not yet ready, that He grant them the circumstances necessary to prepare them
for disillusionment with the group and the desire for something better.
Ask for patience and wisdom for yourself as well!
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