Statement from Steve Hassan on the
Tragic Events of Sept. 11, 2001
September 11, 2001
Terrorists? CAUTION: Resist Jumping To "Evil" Conclusion
"When trying to understand today's horrific events, it might
be helpful to understand cult psychology," cult expert and
author Steven Hassan says.
"Members of terrorist organizations are in fact members of
a destructive mind control cult. The use of influence techniques
to create a fanatic are essentially the same. There are many similarities
between the way people are programmed in a cult which can result
in an act of suicide bombing. Many people while in a destructive
cult, including myself, can tell you that we were ready to die for
the cause, if necessary."
How can a human being reign horrific death and destruction, as
they have today? Are they evil?
This is a question people are likely to be asking themselves on
this darkest of days in most American people's lifetimes.
"Thinking of the perpetrators merely as evil people may be
a mistake," says Hassan, "as it is exactly that type of
simplistic thinking that ultimately can lead to this type of behavior."
"Part of the cult mentality is that people see things in terms
of black and white. Everything gets reduced to extremes belief of
'good versus evil' and 'us versus them.' Cult members are indoctrinated
to exercise strict blind obedience to the charismatic figure atop
the pyramid structure of their group. They are in a form of trance.
"Basically it's mind control. The recruit is given a new identity
(in the diagnostic manual of the American
Psychiatric Association, it is referred to a Disociative Disorder
NOS 300.15). Destructive mind control cult members often change
names and take on a new language system; they have different beliefs
and usually different clothing. Reality is redefined; for instance,
the Heaven's Gate followers didn't believe they were committing
suicide, they thought they were just leaving their vehicles behind
and traveling to a waiting spaceship.
"Cult members believe that they are part of an elite few,
that they are chosen by God for a special purpose, that they will
always be remembered as heroes for what they have done."
Suicide bombers go through an intense indoctrination: they are
put into a coffin and buried, and told that they are dead already.
Then they have no choice but to follow the plan; they believe that
they are already dead. They're in a trance, confident of their redemption
as they die, along with all the victims of their actions.
Contact: Florence Tambone (781) 643-3295
—————————— ABOUT STEVE
HASSAN
Steve Hassan has been involved in educating the public about mind
control and destructive cults for more than twenty five years. He
is a licensed Mental Health Counselor and holds a Master's Degree
in counseling psychology from Cambridge College. For more information
about Hassan's background, please click
here.
In addition, Hassan
is the author of two books dealing with cults, including Releasing
the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves (Freedom
of Mind Press, 2000), detailing his more sophisticated approach
to cult intervention, the Strategic Interaction Approach, a goal
oriented, therapeutic course of action that can be used by relatives,
friends and anyone who wants to help.
Freedomofmind.com fully supports religious
freedom and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The fact that a person’s name or group appears on our website
does not necessarily mean they are a destructive mind control cult.
They appear because we have received inquiries and have established
a file on the group.
The Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc. was established by cult expert Steve Hassan.
