Welcome to The crystal mirror:

Salem's Downtown Rock and Metaphysical Shop

HERE'S HOW TO SPOT A CULT

It has been an unfortunate service of the Oldpath Fellowship Sanctuary to provide deprogramming to individuals who, due to lack of spiritual awareness, have fallen prey to unscrupulous individuals and cult-like organizations.

Unlike legitimate religious organizations which, to a greater to lesser degree, respect and encourage positive individual self-expression, cults require obedience and devotion to their cause or doctrine.

Cults revolve around a central figure of figures who, although quite charismatic and flamboyant, will, upon closer observation reveal their mental instability and intense drive to control and manipulate everyone and everything they come into contact with. Tragcall, people who find themselves involved with a cult eventually dicover they have been mentally, emotionally, physically, spirtually, and financially drained.

cults appear in many forms so we have included a check list ofor your perusal and referenc. Our motto is: if it doesn't feel right then it's probably not and if something sounds too good to be true, the it could very well be exactly that.

HERE ARE SOME WARNING SIGNS:

• an offer or claim to resolve all your troubles:
• feeling pressured, manipulated into accepting or to follow the cult leaders' wishes suggestions:
• having one's ersonal boundaries crowded or breached without one's consent:
• being told that theirs is the only wayand that ll the others are wrong or agents of an enemy:
• being told not to question the authority or validity of their doctrine:
• condoning or influencing one to becomeinvolved in the use of drugs or alcohol:
• being subjected to offensive language or gestures
• feeling out of touch with reality or powerless to decisions without cult members or leaders
• feeling obligaed to pressureed to provide your personal resources for cult use
• being charged exorbitant fees for courses, classes, instruction, information or knowledge
• finding oneself isolated o or out of touch with friends, family, loved ones, co-workers, etc

The above list is a reminder of the man ways cults can manipulate one into their fold. If you are involved with a group which wxhibits three or ore of these characteristics then you may wish to take a second look at the situation.

Remember, in an honestly motivated spirtual group or organization the indivdual is always encouraged to exercise free will, ask questions, and arrive at their own conclusions. If someone genuinely cares for your well-being they will not try to control, manipulate, exhort, threaten, or convince you to adopt their way of thinking

Always check out the organization or group first, go with your gut feelings and, matter how painful the realization is, understand that there is no quick fix or cure when it comes to one's spiritual development.

Oldpath Fellowship Sancturary 1994