Is TM a cult?
Part 3: A definition of "cult", and finally the answer to the question!
As described in this article there are a myriad of meanings for the word "cult." That article has a long list but some of the meanings of "cult", with my response to the definitions, are:
- Roman Catholics who are devoted to a particular saint are said to be members of the "cult" of that saint. The word is completely non-judgmental in this context. Of course this isn't what I mean when I use "cult" in this web site, but it gives you an idea of the wide uses of the term.
- Some people will label any group that they think has excessively eccentric beliefs a "cult." This is not what I mean either. Yes, I think that the complete set of TM beliefs is completely nuts, but that's not what my problem is with TM. If I thought TM was just a group of people with nutty beliefs I wouldn't give it a second thought. For example, I think that support groups for alien abductees are reinforcing a delusion, but I don't consider them to necessarily be "cults."
- Any group that others think, rightly or wrongly, has a negative impact on members can be labeled a cult. I don't use the term "cult" to describe groups like this either. All human interactions, whether in a group or out of it, run the risk of having negative consequences.
So I don't mean any of the above when I use the word "cult." But I do like this definition by Stephen Hassan (I highly recommend his book).
A destructive cult is a pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control. It uses deception in recruiting new members (e.g. people are NOT told up front what the group is, what the group actually believes and what will be expected of them if they become members). It also uses mind control techniques to keep people dependent and obedient."
An example: Scientology
Let's take Scientology as an example:
- Scientology definitely has a pyramid-shaped dictatorial structure. No one ever argued with L. Ron Hubbard before his death. Everything he said was considered revealed truth. And now no one argues with David Miscavige today.
- Scientology absolutely uses deception in recruiting. Every word uttered after "Would you like a free personality test?" consists of deceptive maneuvering. No one who walks in to take a personality test knows what they are really getting into. They have no idea of what Scientology really teaches. If they knew, they'd never come in the door. This is the reason Scientology has to use deception. They can't have the targets balking, so the targets can't know the whole story ahead of time. The targets have to be gradually introduced to cult doctrine while in suggestible psychological states.
- And Scientology definitely uses mind control techniques. All of the post-personality-test "Training Routines" induce a dissociative state, as does the main "auditing" technique. Scientology indoctrination is always given while the person is in a vulnerable in-trance or post-trance state.
Ok, now what about TM?
Now let's have a go at TM:
- Nobody ever argued with Mahesh either. Ever. Every word that he uttered was considered to be revealed and perfect spiritual truth. The highest spiritual truth, literally, that the world had ever seen.
- Nobody who walks into a TM introductory lecture has any idea of what they're really getting into either. And for exactly the same reasons as with Scientology. For example, David Lynch would have a very hard time introducing TM into public schools if the school boards knew that their students might end up as TM monks or nuns. Or that the students might end up believing in demons. Or that the students might start believing that they can learn to physically levitate (play the video).
- And TM definitely uses mind control techniques, as I've discussed throughout this web site.
But Scientology and TM seem completely different!
If we focus entirely on the doctrines and practices that are taught then yes, Scientology and TM are completely different.
Indeed, the two groups' dogmas bear no resemblance at all. And TM is not "rabid" in the way that Scientology is. For example, TMers don't stand on sidewalks pushing "personality tests." The TM leaders aren't suing me into the ground for having this website. They are not leafleting my neighborhood accusing me of being a child molester.
In fact, I'm extremely happy that I was in TM rather than in Scientology.
Where Scientology and TM are the same, however, is that they deceptively exploit the exact same vulnerabilities in normal human psychology in order to recruit and retain their members. And their members incur significant psychological injury in both groups.
Ok, so finally, is TM a cult?
Well... yes.
For further study on cults
There are several suggestions for further study of cults on the
"Suggestions for further research"
page.
