WiseWitch's Study Guide:

THE BONEWITS CULT DANGER EVALUATION SCALE

An unfortunate trend in the past few years has been that people use the word "Cult" to mean "religious group *I* have doctrinal differences with." The dictionary defines 'cult' as "any sect, religious group, or group devoted to an ideal', so it seems more useful to look at what makes any given group more or less DANGEROUS than any other given group, or, as some of us say, how to identify a HIGH CONTROL GROUP.

To this end, Isaac Bonewits has developed the CULT DANGER EVALUATION SCALE. One takes the 15 questions and scored the group from 1 (low) to 10 (high) on each of them and adds up the score. Generally, the higher the numerical value scored by a given group the more dangerous it is likely to be. Isaac is, of course, the ArchDruid of Ar nDraiocht Fein Druid Fellowship. And most of you out there know that the ADF is one of the religious groups I'm a member of, too. It is also true that I've been posting this scale on P* for several years before I joined the ADF, just because I find it so useful.

Here it is:

INTERNAL CONTROL -

amount of internal political power exercised by leader(s) over members.

WISDOM CLAIMED -

by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared about decisions.

WISDOM CREDITED -

to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions made by leaders.

DOGMA -

rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility.

RECRUITING -

emphasis put on attracting new members amount of proselytizing.

FRONT GROUPS -

number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group.

WEALTH -

amount of money &/or property desired or obtained; emphasis on members' donations.

POLITICAL POWER -

amount of external political influence desired or obtained.

SEXUAL MANIPULATION -

of members by leader(s); amount of control over sex lives of members.

CENSORSHIP -

amount of control over members' access to outside opinions on group, doctrines, or leader(s).

DROPOUT CONTROL -

intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts.

ENDORSEMENT OF VIOLENCE -

when used by or for the group or its leader(s).

PARANOIA -

amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies, perceived power of opponents.

GRIMNESS -

amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or leader(s).

SURRENDER OF WILL -

emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions.

Wicca 101: Choosing & Being Chosen by Groups

WISEWITCH:

Okay, dears, class is beginning. Let's see if we can do greetings in IM......

Red Deer:

WW, I'll greet everyone in IM who comes in new

SnoMonkey:

MM Zen

Red Deer:

Usual rules - exclusion?

Pixelite:

MM Sno -- Been to the BB to get the notes for lesson!

Zenmastr:

BRB

WISEWITCH:

Sure Red Deer.

WISEWITCH:

Tonight we'll be looking at groups - how to select one (or more), how groups can screen prospective members. And as in most things, the place to begin is with yourself. The more you know yourself, what you want, your strengths and weaknesses, the easier it is to find the best group for you. For example, are you best served by a small or a large group? And, BTW, 'best served' does NOT necessarily mean which are you most comfortable in! Do you want a leader who is more like a parent (warm and fuzzy and accepting) or one that pushed you?

NewTime:

could you answer thay WW?

WISEWITCH:

Do you want/need a group that works with your strengths, or one that challenges your weak areas? Do you want a magickal group, or one that focuses on celebrations, a polytheistic group or duotheistic or monotheistic, do you want scholarship or arts or Pathworkings. . . . ? Answer what, new Time?

NewTime:

which group is better?

WISEWITCH:

It will depend on what you want and need, New Time. What is most important is that you are honest about what you are looking to join.

NewTime:

does not your strength stand in numbers?

Annwyn:

Wise would you like us to hold our questions until you are through?

WISEWITCH:

I'm talking about personal strengths. like, is it easiest for you to be spontaneous? If so, then maybe you want a spontaneous group, or maybe you want the challenge of a group that plans. No, Ann, if there re too many then maybe. . .

NewTime:

makes sense

WISEWITCH:

And, of course, you also need to know what the God/dess/es want of you in these and other areas! So, having clarified what you are looking for, you start formally looking. I'm assuming that you will find groups in your area to choose from somehow, and not covering that here. So, having found a group that looks intriguing, you start with the Outer Court. Can you attend some open classes, or open rituals? Hey, does it HAVE an outer court? I've never approached any groups that didn't have open things for me to attend first - I don't look at oathbound materials without SOME knowledge of the group. But then, I'm more into Mysteries than secrets myself. . . others may be different. But I don't do perfect love and perfect trust with strangers! After the totally public things, i'd ask to be in 'private' ritual or class. And then you start formally interviewing the group - oh, I'd be asking questions all along, of course, but the questions get more structured as I get more serious! And, they'll interview you, too, as we'll get to later.

NewTime:

and what does it take to attend a private meeting?

WISEWITCH:

Find out about their structure. Hierarchical? Consensus? Somewhere in the middle?

Annwyn:

Do you take a middle ground on this WW?

NewTime:

are there different levels of awareness?

WISEWITCH:

NT, some rituals are totally public, some are 'invitation only' (kind of like weddings in a church) some are totally in-group, like initiations.

NewTime:

Oh, thank you

WISEWITCH:

I believe that all groups have a hierarchy, Annwyn. I like a group with a formal one, so you know who's who and what's what and such - less hidden agendas.

Devopop:

where does one learn about groups in their area?

WISEWITCH:

That depends on your area. Check at metaphysical bookstores, Unitarian Universalist churches may know of groups, etc. Do they work sky-clad, robed, or something else? Look at Isaac Bonewits's Cult Danger Evaluation Scale - I posted it on the Wicca BB (and both the Cult BBs) this evening. use that as a tool!

Red Deer:

An excellent one, WW.

PAniteowl:

Good one WW

Devopop:

thank you

Pixelite:

Yes, first time I've seen it, but it looks very useful.

WISEWITCH:

Find out how much of the teaching is oath-bound. As I said, I'm more into mysteries than secrets, so i know what I'd look for there! I've no problems with being oathbound on personal things in group (short of protecting criminal activity) but what other things would be? And on what basis are things declared oath-bound?

NewTime:

A good point is to know who is around you.

WISEWITCH:

Absolutely, New Time. I'd study and practice with a group for the traditional year and a day before joining it.

NewTime:

Good , as not to be misled

WISEWITCH:

I'd ask about the typical amount of time/$$$ members put into the group, how intimate the group is - not just Great Rite stuff and skyclad vs robes, but- do all share ALL in their journals? And in some groups the HPSS has the right to enter your home ANY time to inspect your Altar! I'd not join that, myself. What do they base membership and rank on? Do they have study plans? What is their stance on racism/sexism/etc? ALL sorts of questions - what would you ask if you could choose your family? For let's face it - a really good working group IS like family!

NewTime:

what is in it for the group?

WISEWITCH:

In what, New Time?

PAniteowl:

sense of community? ? ?

Annwyn:

able to share learning

PAniteowl:

validation of beliefs

Annwyn:

Increased by each other

WISEWITCH:

I'm coming to how groups screen in a few minutes, new Time. But it may be that your question will touch on things large than I'm planning on doing this evening - magical issues such as what Isaac Bonewits calls 'the Switchboard'. . . . .

NewTime:

I will then catch you another time to discuss in-depth WW.

WISEWITCH:

Well, every group has a focus. Again, some are oriented more towards magical workings - to change the world. Others more towards just celebrating the Gods. . . ADF, the group i'm now in, has particular clear-cut printed policies on rank and discrimination and study program and such. The covens I was in had zero printed matter! Now, way back when I was looking for groups as a beginner, there were two covens in town that I knew of (and a less formal study group that I started)In theory I thought that an all- woman group would be great for me. . . . but then i looked at the members, and realized that I WORKED with them and didn't do that well with them.

PAniteowl:

what do you mean WW?

WISEWITCH:

I didn't join that group - I joined a group that went in a very different direction than I had been taking. It expanded my knowledge base much more that way, and no people-problems. It means that we worked in the same agency, and we didn't get along at work. I decided that I couldn't join imperfect love and perfect trust, PA.

PAniteowl:

Oh,. . I see.

WISEWITCH:

So, you ask your questions. You look at all the data you collect, and if you like it you see if you can join/study. meanwhile, they are inspecting you, too. So, what do groups do to screen candidates? Well, here's what a friend in the OTO had to say (Paul Hume, of the William Blake lodge here in DC). Rule #1 - until they meet the group, smile and suggest patience when they want to join right up, get initiated, etc. We hold open meetings every few months. If someone is very gung ho and seems simpatico, I or any other member may invite them to a private meeting, as long as it doesn't involve oathbound material, or include a working intended only for initiates. Rule #2, if they can't go 10 minutes without explaining how you SHOULD be doing it the fit isn't very promising. What Paul doesn't add here, but I will, is that such a person may be a GREAT magickian or whatever, but just not destined for THAT group. OTO is very. . . . OTO.

PAniteowl:

? ? ?

WISEWITCH:

Rule #3, if they haven't heard of Aleister Crowley, he hand's 'em the book of the Law - better they run screaming before they join!

Zenmastr:

hehe

WISEWITCH:

OTO is ceremonial magick, Niteowl. They are very structured.

PAniteowl:

thanks

WISEWITCH:

And you ask the person questions - do they believe in literal Gods and Goddesses - some groups do, and some don't. Ask most of the same questions I suggested for self-awareness and to ask the group - what the magickal group needs is to get members who are 'with the program'. I assume that the group already had structure and purpose, and that all new members really should fit that structure and purpose, else no one will be happy. Some leaders will ask open ended questions, to find out how you think. one suggested was 'what would you do if your daughter was raped'? No right or wrong answers, but wanted to hear you reason it out. So even if the person didn't have a child at that time, the question would be just as valid.

PAniteowl:

So you suggest for the wanna be's & established groups, make a shopping list for your particular needs?

WISEWITCH:

Exactly, niteowl, needs and wants and God/dess input. Many group will ask you about your personal life, having found that such things have great impact on the group. They will ask about drug use. About whether your spouse knows you want to join/are joining. All this is to assure a 'right fit'.

PAniteowl:

and is necessary to protect the craft as practiced by each group

WISEWITCH:

This is about the end of my notes, except for a LONG piece which i really don't want to type in! [g]Now, for a magical group I'd screen more carefully than for a study group or classes or meditation groups or whatever.

PAniteowl:

Your comments make a lot of sense WW, thanks for defining those thoughts.

WISEWITCH:

You're welcome, niteowl. And, since the issue is current here on PRODIGY, I don't know if one can really screen either a cybercoven or prospective members for a cybercoven. . . But on-line study groups are more easily screened - they leave printouts or other things you can read.

PAniteowl:

Well, the Cyber Coven was sure a learning experience WW

WISEWITCH:

Aye, niteowl. . . And the lack of ability to screen well on-line is why I rarely join the FMR. I'm really picky about who I work magick with.

PAniteowl:

Yes, I agree as RD knows . WW . . . groups that tend to form because of Magic rather than law . . your comments please

WISEWITCH:

I don't have problems with them, niteowl. Well, what do you mean by law/

PAniteowl:

I guess I feel a responsibility with the craft, magick is secondary to me & I feel uncomfortable if that is the primary goal.

Red Deer:

Aye.

WISEWITCH:

It will depend on the group, but even the 'atheist' kabbalistic groups are focused on The Great Work. I might not join such a group, but others may be great for one.

DCLXVI:

and what is the great work?

WISEWITCH:

That may depend on the group. For most it's development of the soul or self or impacting society.

PAniteowl:

as a nature worshiper, there are recognizable laws I adhere to, and some magicks try to circumvent. . .

WISEWITCH:

And as long as those groups don't claim to be nature worshippers, that's not a problem for me.

PAniteowl:

Otay

WISEWITCH:

Anything else? Well, class is just ending. . .

Red Deer:

Excellent, WW! A thousand thank yous.