Article:Cult Attraction Not a Problem Of Logic

[roddma]

Good article about cults briefly mentioning ATI . I saw no reason to break link

http://www.fairobserver.com/region/nort ... gic-90134/

[DaffyDill]

The paragraphs pertaining to ATI:

The structure both isolates and engulfs. Followers are “pressed together†so tightly, as Arendt stated, that there is no privacy or personal space. The US Bible-based ATI cult is currently in the spotlight due to the fecund Duggar family, part of the Quiverfull movement. As with other cults, family relationships, sexuality and reproduction are tightly controlled in this movement, which is part of a powerful network of right-wing fundamentalists, with tentacles that reach into the highest echelons of the US government.

While close relationships in the group are closely controlled and monitored, on the other hand, if within-group relationships become too close, they will be broken up in order to prevent competing with the primary relationship to the leader or group as a whole. And woe betide the follower who expresses doubts, or worse, who leaves and criticizes the group—then, as for example with the Scientology disconnect policy—they are “fair game†for threats, intimidation and shunning. Or, as with many terrorist groups, the price of doubt is death.

While the inner structure is rigid and closed, looser front groups often exist in cults for recruitment, funding and influence purposes. They are “transmission belts†between the inner world of the cult and the rest of the world.

The last sentences are interesting, as they may explain why the Bateseses appear so easygoing, likeable and personable. Perhaps they are actually a "transmission belt", and are deliberately being used to make the ATI way of life attractive to people in order to recruit more families into ATI.

[RosyDaisy]

This is exactly why the Bates appear more likeable. They are used to lure people in. And to a certain extent the Duggars were as well. There is a movement in patriarchal fundamentalism for certain families to appear not so uptight to lure people in.

[FloraKitty35]

I thought about the Maxwell's as well.

[roddma]

Im not sure the Maxwells would lure people.

[FloraKitty35]

Im not sure the Maxwells would lure people.

I was looking at the mainly from the isolation and the control perspective.

[DGayle]

Im not sure the Maxwells would lure people.

To people who know less than we do, a fairly attractive family fashionably dressed doing some family stuff on holidays can look really ideal. It's when you learn more than you get the disturbing stuff. They look better to the outside than people in frumpers do.

[DGayle]

The paragraphs pertaining to ATI:

The last sentences are interesting, as they may explain why the Bateseses appear so easygoing, likeable and personable. Perhaps they are actually a "transmission belt", and are deliberately being used to make the ATI way of life attractive to people in order to recruit more families into ATI.

That's exactly how Scientology is. The Celebrity Center exists to serve celebrities since they know that celebrities can be great advertising, and so we have a lot of big-shots from Tom Cruise to Laura Prepon openly endorsing Scientology. I remember a statement by Prepon about how she was telling cast and crew of That 70's Show about it, and they said well, she's smart, so there must be something to it. How manipulative! But these people also don't get the real experience. They're just made into the public face to distract from the realities the rank-and-file live with.

[ADoyle90815]

That's exactly how Scientology is. The Celebrity Center exists to serve celebrities since they know that celebrities can be great advertising, and so we have a lot of big-shots from Tom Cruise to Laura Prepon openly endorsing Scientology. I remember a statement by Prepon about how she was telling cast and crew of That 70's Show about it, and they said well, she's smart, so there must be something to it. How manipulative! But these people also don't get the real experience. They're just made into the public face to distract from the realities the rank-and-file live with.

Exactly. I just read the book Going Clear which that HBO documentary about Scientology was based on, and the cult's founder L Ron Hubbard knew that celebrities would be great for recruiting. Not just that, but the more famous they became, the more money they could contribute to the cult. ATI has done the same thing with the Duggars before the molestation scandal broke, and now they're using the Bates for the same reason, to make the cult appear less threatening to potential recruits.