Please Read Responsibly
Posted on November 16th, 2005 by Reformed Pope into the Uncategorized, City Boobie Church categoryI wrote this as a comment under the last post, but thought that it deserved a closer look. I am providing a link to The Rick A. Ross Institute for the study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements. Now just to clarify, Rick may study “Cults”, but I am only interested in his work with “Controversial Groups and Movements”(wink). If you would like to check it out yourself go to http://www.rickross.com/.
Let’s look closely at what Rick has to say about “Controversial Groups and Movements”. I’ll write the warning sign in black and then rate City Business Church in red based on the following scale of 1-10 with 1 being Completely Safe and a 10 being Definitely Unsafe. At the end we will look at their score and decide if CBC is a “Controversial Group or Movement”.
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. 8
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. 10
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement. 6
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions. 7
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil. 10
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances. 10
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader. 2
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough". 10
9. The group/leader is always right. 10
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible. 4
If your group/leader scored:
1-25: Your group/leader is basically safe, and you should continue to listen and learn from them. However, you are looking at this test so there may be some reason for concern. Always use your best judgement when following a religious group.
26-50: Your group/leader probably won’t be making you drink any cool-aid soon, but probably isn’t the greatest person to follow. Begin considering other options for fulfillment, and keep out a watchful eye.
51-75: Your group/leader is dangerously close to unsafe. You will probably begin noticing them ask for large sums of money, and perhaps even rolling out a “plan” to look to the future. Be very concerned about the direction of your group and NEVER give then any money.
76-100: Get out now. This group/leader is not using concerned about you or your family. They only care more about themselves and their personal goals. Do not go to them for advice, they words will likely be misleading. If at any time they talk of mass growth, report them to the proper authorities immediately and NEVER EVER give them money. For immediate help please seek professional care at a website such as www.citybiblewatch.blogspot.com.
According to my results CBC scored a 77. They are definitely a “Controversial Group”. Get out now…
Disclaimer: The ranking system was created by City Business Church and has no affiliation with Rick A. Ross or the The Rick A. Ross Institute for the study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements. City Business Church is a fictional organization. Any resemblance to a real group/organization is completely coincidental. At no time during this post were the writers accusing anyone of being a cult. The CBC blog should not be read by pregnant women or anyone operating heavy machinery.
Please Read Responsibly.
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November 16th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
I just applied this test to my old boss, and she scored 100 out of 100. I’m currently alerting the authorities and asking them to get people of her office NOW!
November 16th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
Great post. Good thing we all got out. I would give item #3 an “8.” Otherwise, I agree with your scores, catalyst. CBC is definitely a “c” word, either controversial or cult. Neither deserves loyalty or admiration. I sure wish those I love who are still there would SEE that place for what it is!
November 16th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
A while back I was fortunate enough to hear a lecture/sermon given by somone who runs a facility for those recovering from Cult abuse.
I was disturbed to find that through my experience with PBC/CBC I saw that they exhibited MANY of the characteristics of “Cult-Like” behaviour. I also found that I had suffered many of the same symptoms in my life as those who had broken away from more obvious Cult environments.
Once I read some interesting material titled: “Narcisstic Personality Disorder and Group Leaders.” Very enlightening.
I know for certain that no-one there sets out to do harm to people, but it is the system that hurts people, and all the people there are in the system and unknowingly (or knowingly) perpetuate the system.
I don’t think anyone is going to be driking poison cool-aid or engaging in Polgamy anytime soon but…..to say the least, it is NOT a healthy enviorment for anyone, let alone young impressionable easliy moldable folks drawn there via PBC.
November 16th, 2005 at 1:15 pm
I’m not really sure why people keep using the word “Cult”.
That was never my intention.
November 16th, 2005 at 2:06 pm
I’m pregnant and since the disclosure was at the end I’m not sure what kind of harm I’ve placed my child in by reading that post. Having read it though, it has been my experience that #1 should have been scored as a 10.
November 16th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
The Rick Ross site should indeed be informed about the CBC/MFI institutions. I think enough evidence of their control and harm to people merits a listing and investigative writing such as in the similar other destructive movements (TBN, Potter’s House, YongiCho, etc) that are listed on that site. I move that the blog captains and other main bloggers contact them for the possible listing and reporting. Thanks.
November 16th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
What is MFI, please?
November 16th, 2005 at 5:51 pm
Ministers Fellowship International
November 17th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
thanks
November 18th, 2005 at 11:29 am
Authoritarianism without accountability….
No tolerance for inquiry…
No financial disclosure….
Unreasonable fear…
No reasonable dissent….
What happens if we apply this test to George W. Bush and his administration/policies?
Just a question.
November 18th, 2005 at 11:36 am
You communist bastard.
How dare you question a “Christian” president.
November 18th, 2005 at 12:51 pm
RP–you are too funny!
November 18th, 2005 at 1:59 pm
Sorry….it’s all the vegetarian goulash. And maybe that contract I signed to Mephistopheles written in my blood…
November 21st, 2006 at 4:08 am
Thank you for this text, I am a little bit more peacefull with my self now cause I recognized that on your test level my ex/leaders (not everybody) have big problems and start to get wrong way. I ;m quit with this church but sad that everything comes that way, because when it was started there was realy Holy Ghost leadership but now they go very deep in wrong decisions. Almost every point that you put on the test can have 10 . I’m from Croatia, thank you again, and God bless you…
November 21st, 2006 at 4:25 am
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:40 am
Ken Malmin’s Shocking Comment about BT/PBC Potential Similarity to a Cult:
When I worked for Ken Malmin at Portland Bible College (PBC), one of my responsibilities for awhile was to search out and screen good films to play for PBC chapels. I really enjoyed previewing the films. Some of the films that I previewed were: John Hus; How Shall We Now Live? by Francis Schaeffer; and Ron Carlson on the Cults.
During my previewing, I came across what I considered to be a very excellent film on the cults. I cannot remember the name of the film off hand, but it was produced by Mel White (who, years later, came out publicly as a gay evangelical. Mel’s possible homosexuality at the time had nothing to do with the production or content of the film.)
I came into Ken’s office one day and shared with him my feelings about how insightful Mel’s film was in its defining the various characteristics of what a cult really was. I recommended the film very highly to him as very worth viewing for all of the PBC students. I will never forget what Ken said to me in response to my recommendation: No, I don’t think that we should show Mel’s film on the cults in chapel: The PBC students may think that we are a cult, too!
November 22nd, 2006 at 7:43 am
Well if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck…….
November 22nd, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Soon after Jimmy Jones and the Kool-Aid drinkers did their thing, I believe it was also Ken Malmin who gave a sermon on why that could never happen at BT….not all of us were convinced. Me thinks he protests too much.
Good to hear from you David…I enjoy reading your comments.
(Liz from the really old days!)
April 18th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
I want to know the conference in 2007
April 19th, 2007 at 7:00 am
RP: Rick Ross on Cults and Movements…
RP, etc: One of my responsiblities while I was teaching at Portland Bible College (PBC) was to screen movies for the PBC Chapels. Ken Malmin, the academic dean, had me go to Christian Supply and preview movies on Church history (e.g., by Francis Schaeffer), Martin Luther, John Hus, the cults (by Ron Carlson), etc. One day, I told Ken that I had come across an excellent film on the cults. I told him that the thing I liked about it was that it gave a very clear listing of all the various characteristics of a religious cult. To my surprise, Ken told me:
“No, let’s not rent that film: some of the students might think that Bible Temple was a cult!”
April 19th, 2007 at 7:05 am
David Mackin said (Quoting Ken Malmin):“No, let’s not rent that film: some of the students might think that Bible Temple was a cult!”
Just to clarify, that was Ken Malmin’s opinion and not anyone on this blog. We would never say that Bible Temple was a c*lt.