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I would recommend that you check out the concept of "Love Bombing" and how cults utilize this concept to manipulate and control their members.
I would also recommend you read Battling Mind Control by Steven Hassan to have a better understanding of the psychology of indoctrination and coercion.
Hi good day!
Yep, I would recommend "Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies~ Investigating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ/ A new Transdisciplinary Approach.
By Andrew Loke
Here's the link from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Investigating-Resurrection-Jesus-Christ-Transdisciplinary-ebook/dp/B087YT8YDW
I haven't finished reading this yet but it's a good book about Critical Thinking in Religion...
I do have a free copy of it (since it's quite expensive), feel free to DM me if you want a copy of the book!
A book serve its purpose when being shared. 😉
Ehrman two thumbs down. Bruce Metzger much better. https://www.amazon.com/Text-New-Testament-Transmission-Restoration/dp/019516122X/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=14C1M1F7VPIHZ&keywords=metzger&qid=1659250744&sprefix=metzger%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-4
In response to praise for Bart D. Ehrman below: Misquoting Truth: A Guide to the Fallacies of Bart Ehrman's.
"Misquoting Jesus"Misquoting Jesus
Also google anti Bart Ehrman
Also good Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking https://www.amazon.com/dp/0801093457/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_DYMQN2F7B3TT7N5EG9HW
Great chocobear post as always.
I would also recommend this book for your healing process as well. Steven Hassan is a former Moonie, which is another Korean cult, and he dedicated his life to exposing the psychology that high control / destructive groups use to maintain and control their members. Reading his book helped me process and heal.
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology: Abridged Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310256208/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_B7SPAK9DZQWKP3HNSXTP
Good price. Get abridged. Unabridged multi volume and pricey.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, SCJ helped me to realise that the Bible and the entire Christianity is flawed.
Same as you, brother, one of the main reasons I stop believing in Christianity after leaving SCJ is due to the central line in the New Testament where everyone believes that Jesus's 2nd coming will arrive within their lifetimes. Even Jesus made such a prophesy during his first coming.
A book that I read is https://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Visions-Prophecy-Politics-Revelation/dp/0143121634 which talks about the history of the book of Revelation and how it always get re-interpreted in every generation to refer to their time, ie. every generation keeps believing that Jesus is going to return within their generation!
>Many people think of mind control as an ambiguous, mystical process that cannot be defined in concrete terms. In reality, mind control refers to a specific set of methods and techniques, such as hypnosis or thought-stopping, that influence how a person thinks, feels, and acts.
Based on research and theory by Robert Jay Lifton, Margaret Singer, Edgar Schein, Louis Jolyon West, and others who studied brainwashing in Maoist China as well as cognitive dissonance theory by Leon Festinger, Steven Hassan developed the BITE Model to describe the specific methods that cults use to recruit and maintain control over people. “BITE” stands for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control.
Sourced from this article from Dr Steve Hassan's website.
Recommended further reading: Combatting Cult Mind Control by Dr Steve Hassan.
I think I recall Steve Hassan in his book saying that most cults distort time by having a world-changing event or some form of 'great turnaround' event happen in ~2.5 years time (if i recall correctly), which is close enough to have an emotional punch for new members but far enough for cult leaders to be able to change the doctrine when the great turnaround event never happens (and it never does).
He also said that means that after a few cycles of false promises (so 2.5-5 years maybe), older members will get jaded, whilst newer members who have not seen the repeated failure of 'prophecy' to fulfil stay. From what I've seen, my guess is 2.5 to 5 years but I have no idea the actual average - I'd also love to see some data on this.
Here is a List of doctrine inconsistencies (not exhaustive).
Also, one thing I have noticed with a lot of members (including myself at one point) is the tendency to disregard all inconsistencies or minimize them. I think it's important to ask WHY this is the case?
Groups that use the BITE model of authoritarian control manipulate the way their members think on a subconscious level. One of the effects is that members of cult groups minimize any cognitive dissonance at ALL costs.
For example, if someone has been systematically conditioned to think that believing in a particular doctrine is a matter of literal life and death (a technique cults use called 'phobia indoctrination'), then do you think that person is able to be truly objective when interpreting information that their brain thinks would lead to their death?
The scary part is that ALL of this happens outside of their conscious awareness.
This is just one of MANY ways our we are easily compromised.
I would highly recommend informing yourself of how this works, through a book like this - after informing yourself, at least you can know you are thinking more objectively, irregardless of your decision to leave or stay.