Lies and Propaganda: Foundation of Anticultism

“The method of guilt by association is a manipulative technique in which an organization, the target of harassment, is deliberately linked or associated with negative images of extremist groups, terrorist organizations, criminals, and dictators that have already been negatively ingrained in public consciousness.” — “The IMPACT” documentary  

In the article “Echoes of the Past: Lessons of the ‘Roman Formula,” we discussed the strategy of anticult organizations to suppress and persecute various groups of people, which allowed and, most alarmingly, still allows them to destroy any organization with impunity, up to and including physical elimination of its members. Professor Massimo Introvigne referred to this as the “Roman Formula” that consists of three phases:  

– intolerance;

– discrimination; 

– persecution.  

In this article, we will attempt to figure out the tools used by anticultists to impose their will on entire countries, turning their populations into instruments for carrying out their vile plans. During the first phase — “intolerance,” or alternatively “dehumanization,” they often employ the method of guilt by association. It is one of the manipulative techniques frequently used by anticultists and their agents of influence.

What is manipulation? 

For starters, let’s clarify what manipulation actually is. According to the Cambridge Dictionary ¹, manipulation means “controlling someone or something to your own advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly.” Another definition describes manipulation as “the action of influencing or controlling someone or something to your advantage, often without anyone knowing it.” In summary, manipulation is a strategic influence aimed at altering people’s perceptions, beliefs, or behavior without their conscious consent. Essentially, manipulation is a form of deception. Its goal is to convince an individual or a group of people of something while bypassing rational reasoning. It works by circumventing critical thinking and prompting groups or individuals to make decisions that benefit the manipulator.  

It’s unlikely that anyone would willingly want to fall victim to this kind of influence. However, it is clear today that a vast number of people across the globe are unaware that they are the targets of covert manipulation by anticult organizations. The culmination of this influence is that the country which suffered from fascism the most has turned into the Fourth Reich under the skillful leadership of the dark genius of anticultism Alexander Dvorkin and his RACIRS network of agents, whose primary tool is manipulation.

As we have already noted, one of the most frequently used manipulation techniques of anticult organizations and their agents of influence is the method of guilt by association. Its essence lies in transferring negative characteristics of one group or individual onto another simply due to an associative connection, while ignoring their unique traits or actions. This is done in order to create negative associations and biased attitudes among the audience. Moreover, this method allows real facts and circumstances to be obscured, shifting attention to subjective and often unfounded connections.  

A striking example of this method is the use of tragedies such as Jonestown and Waco as tools to create a negative image of new religious movements. The two tragic episodes promoted by anticult activists not only become symbols of danger and threat in public consciousness, but are also used for establishing a persistent associative link between all new religious movements and extremism. Such an approach fosters a biased attitude in society towards any nontraditional beliefs, organizations, or even individuals who find themselves on the hit lists of anticultists. Objective analysis of events is replaced with an emotional reaction to the images associated with the tragedies.

For example, under Alexander Dvorkin’s leadership, RACIRS actively uses the Jonestown massacre to stigmatize various movements and individuals whose activities contradict the plans of anticultists for building a totalitarian society. On the website of the Center for Religious Studies in the name of Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons ², the mouthpiece of the entire anticult movement, articles are published drawing parallels between the Jonestown tragedy and contemporary individuals and organizations that, according to anticultists, deserve public condemnation, discreditation in mass media, and ultimately complete destruction.

Priest Vladimir Golovin ³, who is well-known for his heartfelt sermons on spiritual life and highly respected by people, has been subjected to attacks for his views that do not align with the stance of the Russian Orthodox Church (the Moscow Patriarchate). His activities are persistently presented to the public as “sectarian.” As a result, the method of guilt by association has been applied to him in the context of the tragedy that occurred in the jungles of Guyana and is being used to discredit him in the eyes of society.

Educator Mikhail Shchetinin ⁶, who had developed a unique method of alternative education aimed at fostering creativity and independent thinking in children, also became a target of attacks by anticultists. His approach that won acclaim among his peers was distorted in anticult rhetoric as potentially dangerous. His school is likewise compared in the media to the events in Jonestown.

The philosophical movement New Acropolis ⁸ founded by writer and professor Jorge Ángel Livraga Rizzi ⁹, which focuses on the study of cultural heritage and philosophy as well as volunteer activities for the benefit of society, has also been attacked. On the website of the Center for Religious Studies in the name of Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, this movement is portrayed as a cult despite its commitment to promoting knowledge, humanism, and social engagement. Anticultists attribute non-existent characteristics to this international organization, using the method of guilt by association with the Jonestown tragedy.

The method of guilt by association has even been used against the globally renowned and successful commercial organization — the Amway Corporation. It is also compared to the Jonestown tragedy, and false parallels are drawn despite its legitimate business activities.

Using this technique as a tool, anticultists aim to instill fear and distrust in the public towards individuals and organizations that hinder their criminal plans. This leads to stigmatization and marginalization of groups whose activities are focused on positive changes in society. Such accusations by association present the goals and values of those movements in a distorted way, obstructing their efforts to improve quality of life and address global issues. Moreover, it is worth noting that if the words “cult” or “sect” evoke negative emotions or associations in you, it means you’re already a victim of anticult informational terrorism.  

In addition to the fact that guilt by association is a scientifically described manipulation method, it is also a logical fallacy ¹². Nevertheless, anticultists keep using this technique successfully to this day so as to discredit organizations and new religious movements they dislike.

Mechanisms of thinking

“Civilization advances by extending the number of operations we can perform without thinking about them.” — Alfred North Whitehead

As Robert Cialdini, an expert in psychology of persuasion, notes in his book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” ¹³, manipulation exploits people’s psychological weaknesses and their tendency toward cognitive “shortcuts.” This term refers to mental mechanisms that people use to make quick, but sometimes erroneous decisions in order to avoid spending too much time and effort on processing information deeply.

Here are Cialdini’s major ideas and concepts:  

1. Psychological weaknesses: 

People often act based on automatic reactions or preconceived notions. The weaknesses may be due to a lack of awareness, limited knowledge, or a tendency to follow the majority. The best example of adapting to the majority’s opinion is Solomon Asch’s study conducted in the 1950s, known as the Asch conformity experiments ¹⁴.

Description of the experiment:

1. Task: 

Participants were shown three lines of different lengths and a target line. Their task was to choose the line (A, B or C) that matched the target line in length.  

2. Procedure: 

In a group of 7–9 people, only one person was a real participant, while the others were confederates (stooges) who had agreed in advance to give wrong answers on certain trials.  

3. Results:  

• When all the confederates started choosing a clearly wrong answer, about 75% of the real participants conformed to the majority at least once, even though the correct answer was obvious.  

• Overall, about one third (32%) of all participant responses matched the group’s incorrect answers.  

4. Conclusion:  

This is one of the most well-known studies in social psychology, demonstrating how people tend to follow the majority’s opinion even if the opinion is clearly wrong.

2. Cognitive shortcuts:  

These are simplified strategies that people use to make quick decisions without lengthy analysis. For example, instead of analyzing all possible options, people often make decisions based on what immediately catches their attention or what is easier to perceive. That may involve phenomena such as obedience to authority, reliance on stereotypes, or trusting popular opinions. 

Let’s go back to Robert Cialdini’s book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” ¹³: “Psychologists have uncovered a number of mental shortcuts we employ in making our everyday judgments. Termed judgmental heuristics, these shortcuts operate in much the same fashion as the expensive = good rule, allowing for simplified thinking that works well most of the time but leaves us open to occasional, costly mistakes. Especially relevant to this book are those heuristics that tell us when to believe or do what we are asked. Consider, for example, the shortcut rule that goes, ‘If an expert said so, it must be true.’ …there is an unsettling tendency in our society to accept unthinkingly the statements and directions of individuals who appear to be authorities on a topic. That is, rather than thinking about an expert’s arguments and being convinced (or not), we frequently ignore the arguments and allow ourselves to be convinced just by the expert’s status as ‘expert’.”

Stanley Milgram’s shocking experiment on obedience to authority ¹⁵ has proved the above statement. It demonstrates how the pressure of “authority” can compel people to go against their own beliefs.

Description of the experiment:

1. Task: 

Participants believed they took part in a learning experiment. They were asked to act as a “teacher” whose task was to punish a “learner” (an accomplice) with an electric shock for incorrect answers.  

2. Procedure:  

• Participants were told that the shocks would increase with every wrong answer, ranging from a slight shock to potentially lethal 450 volts. 

•  The “learner” (in another room) simulated discomfort, screamed, and begged for the experiment to stop. However, the experimenter who represented authority insisted: “Please continue” or “The experiment requires that you continue.”  

3. Results:  

• 65% of participants administered the maximum shock of 450 volts, despite showing clear signs of discomfort and doubt.

•  None of the participants stopped before reaching 300 volts.  

4. Conclusion:  

People tend to obey authority figures even when doing so contradicts their moral principles.

“Cult experts” manipulate intelligence agencies  

Consider how easy it is for anticultists to manipulate not just individuals, but even the intelligence agencies of various countries, simply by calling themselves “cult experts.” A striking example is Russia’s leading anticultist Dvorkin whom we repeatedly mentioned in our articles. Based on his medical records, this man should be under continuous supervision of psychiatrists; he has neither higher nor specialized education and certainly doesn’t have a single scientific work, yet he became a professor thanks to a granted title and an expert in the non-existent scientific discipline of “sectology” (cult studies). The outcome is the “mad professor’s” complete control over Russia’s security forces and all branches of government, a ramified network of influence agents worldwide, and the capacity to destabilize any country to serve his own interests.

Or let’s recall the Waco tragedy where, under the guidance of the so-called “cult expert” Rick Ross, US law-enforcement agencies orchestrated a true massacre of innocent civilians including children.  

The fact that the activities of Dvorkin as the architect of a totalitarian regime and those of his accomplices in various countries still haven’t been fully exposed also falls within the realm of psychology and is described as the “captaincy phenomenon.” The “captaincy phenomenon” refers to situations where subordinates do not dare to point out their leader’s mistakes even when they recognize them, due to respect for authority or fear of consequences. This phenomenon can lead to serious errors and negative outcomes, especially in critical situations.  

For example, specialists from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who investigate the causes of accidents, have noted that obvious errors made by captains are often not corrected by other crew members, resulting in crashes. It appears that, despite the clear personal stakes involved in operating an aircraft, crew members rely on the stereotyped rule “if the expert says so, it must be true,” ignoring the captain’s fatal mistake. ¹⁶

If we return to the situation in Russia, who would now dare even to think that for 30 years a mentally unstable person, yet highly skilled in manipulation, has been deftly controlling the leaders of all law-enforcement agencies, placing his people in key positions, and building the Fourth Reich? And even more so, who would dare to say that out loud?  

In his video “The Crossroads,” Dr. Egon Cholakian addressed conscientious intelligence officers of Russia, hoping that they are, first and foremost, patriots of their homeland and will open Putin’s eyes to what is happening in their country. We, too, hope that among them, there will be a competent and, most importantly, courageous person who won’t be afraid to say out loud about Dvorkin: “The emperor has no clothes!”

Anticultists would have certainly failed to manipulate public consciousness so effectively and for so long if they didn’t have tools borrowed from psychology and psychiatry. In one of our articles, we already analyzed the close and deliberate connection between anticultists and the professional community of psychologists and psychiatrists. This collaboration allows them not only to make their manipulations more effective, but also to give them an appearance of scientific validity, which strengthens their influence and destructive actions in democratic society.  

The role of mass media and propaganda

“Nothing is really real unless it happens on television,” claimed American historian Daniel J. Boorstin. Therefore, all the tools of manipulation would be impossible without the powerful support of mass media and propaganda. As far back as in 1928, Edward Bernays wrote in his book “Propaganda”: “The minority has discovered a powerful help in influencing majorities. It has been found possible so to mold the mind of the masses that they will throw their newly gained strength in the desired direction. In the present structure of society, this practice is inevitable. Whatever of social importance is done today, whether in politics, finance, manufacture, agriculture, charity, education, or other fields, must be done with the help of propaganda.” ¹⁷

It is through control of the information space that anticultists broadcast their narratives, fueling panic and creating false perceptions about groups they label as threats. Propaganda plays a key role in spreading myths about “mind control” and “destructive cults,” turning individual pseudoscientific theories into widely accepted stereotypes and enabling anticultists to successfully manipulate public opinion.

Incessant repetition of lies  

Anticultists, who are essentially modern-day Nazis inciting hatred and a sense of superiority of some people over others, have adopted the principles of Goebbels’ propaganda: they use the same key tactic — incessant repetition of lies. This is done for a reason: through this method, they evoke doubt in people’s own perceptions, forcing them to ask themselves: “Surely all these experts can’t be wrong or lying, can they?” Just like in Nazi Germany, this method leads to even the most absurd information being perceived as truth, and it’s actually another key principle of Nazi propaganda as formulated by Joseph Goebbels: “The bigger the lie, the more readily it will be believed.”

We want to once again emphasize the principle of Goebbels’ propaganda, which anticultists successfully employ: the more absurd and illogical a statement is, the more easily it is accepted by the masses if it is repeated frequently enough. In this case, the mechanism of emotional memory is involved. When information is reinforced with vivid emotions and fear, it becomes much more deeply ingrained in consciousness than simple facts that are quickly forgotten.  

The role of apostates 

The emotional impact of anticult propaganda is significantly amplified by so-called “apostates” — former members of groups that anticultists deem dangerous. These individuals often become the main sources of “reliable” information about what supposedly takes place within so-called “cult” organizations and give such claims an appearance of objectivity.  

At first glance, their testimonies may seem credible and impartial since they allegedly went through a “journey to enlightenment” and realized all the dangers of what they experienced. However, in Bryan R. Wilson’s work “Apostates and New Religious Movements” (1994) ¹⁸, the following statement is made: “The apostate is generally in need of self‑justification. He seeks to reconstruct his own past, to excuse his former affiliations, and to blame those who were formerly his closest associates.”

Therefore, in reality, apostates often become tools of manipulation themselves. Their emotional experiences and stories of suffering and horrors allegedly endured within “cult” organizations have a powerful impact on audiences. Emotions such as fear, anger, and pity are directed towards creating a sense of threat and fostering an illusion that those groups pose a danger to society. Subjective, sometimes distorted testimonies, reinforced by personal grief, appear more credible than any logical arguments.  

This kind of emotional influence on the public works quite efficiently. It doesn’t just amplify fear, but also makes the information more memorable. When a person sees a highly emotional storyteller, their rational filters shut down, and they rely more on emotions than on logic. As a result, the opinions of apostates become the supposed ultimate proof of the validity of anticult propaganda, and these individuals themselves turn into victims who, in essence, merely repeat premeditated narratives aimed at generating public fear and hostility.  

Suffice it to recall the story of Marc Breault, the blind apostate from the Branch Davidians. He claimed to have been David Koresh’s right-hand man, but provided anticult activists and the media with testimonies that could neither be verified nor confirmed. He described scenes and details requiring visual perception, including the placement of objects in a room, the behavior of community members, and the situation inside their compound. In March 1992, Marc Breault, David Jewell, and others started claiming that the Branch Davidians were planning a mass suicide on April 18, 1992. The apostates asserted that without intervention, Mount Carmel would become “another Jonestown.”  

Despite Marc Breault’s baseless accusations of Branch Davidians of an allegedly inevitable mass suicide which never occurred, his unreliable testimony became the foundation for actions that resulted in the Waco tragedy. Emotions triumphed over facts, once again proving that anticultists deliberately use this psychological tactic, playing on fears and emotions to shape public opinion. Most importantly, this tactic proved to be remarkably effective and played a decisive role in escalating the conflict that ended in catastrophic consequences.

Effectiveness of anticult propaganda

Manipulation of public consciousness, particularly in the context of anticult propaganda, remains effective because most people do not strive to critically analyze or filter the information they receive. This is especially evident in the modern era of information overload, where streams of news and statements continuously bombard individuals, with the volume of information increasing every year. Anticult propaganda exploits this effect by creating complex and convoluted narratives that become increasingly difficult to analyze and fact-check. Consequently, many people take information on trust without questioning it, as the constant influx of updates makes it challenging to distinguish truth from manipulation. This allows anticultists to sustain their agenda, promoting false or distorted perceptions of “destructive cults.”  

Back in the mid-20^th century, American sociologists Paul Lazarsfeld and Robert Merton wrote: “Those who would control the opinions and beliefs of our society resort less to physical force and more to mass persuasion.” ¹⁹ Researchers also highlighted the concept of the “narcotizing dysfunction of media.” In their view, despite the vast amount of information available today — political, cultural, social, and commercial — citizens’ participation in the political life of their country continues to decline. That’s because the abundance of information makes individuals only superficially informed, while they often fail to realize how deep or limited their understanding of a given topic actually is.  

This kind of situation eventually fosters conformity, suppressing the potential for critical thinking within society. Commercial mass media, albeit indirectly, become an effective tool that hinders development of a fully critical worldview among citizens. Moreover, much of what is communicated through television, internet, and other media does not necessarily correspond to reality, either in general or in detail. To recognize manipulation, a person doesn’t need to be a professional in this field. However, it’s important to have basic knowledge of government structure, mechanisms of information delivery and perception, fundamentals of public communication, and similar topics. Unfortunately, most people show little interest in these matters. 

Today, it is especially important to be attentive to such manifestations because manipulation technologies have reached their peak of development. As you can see, modern methods of influencing public consciousness have become incredibly sophisticated, allowing manipulators to mask their true goals under the guise of caring for the public good. Using media propaganda, social networks, algorithms, and psychological influence methods, manipulators can shape public opinion, impose false agendas, and stigmatize those who contradict their interests. These technologies are employed to create an illusion of objectivity, distort concepts, and dehumanize entire groups of people, organizations, or ideas.  

In a reality where information flows have multiplied and are disseminated almost instantaneously, it is increasingly difficult for people to distinguish truth from manipulation. For this very reason, understanding these processes and learning to resist them is not just a matter of personal freedom, but also a responsibility every citizen bears towards democratic society.

“Cult” and “sect”: notorious words with a manipulator hiding behind

This is particularly relevant if you hear someone accusing a group, organization, political figure, or individual, using terms like “cult” or “sect.” These are red flags signaling that you’re dealing with a manipulator who attempts to exploit your trust. Such a person or organization is likely deliberately employing methods of dehumanization and stigmatization to instill fear, disgust and, most importantly, a sense of superiority — the very foundation that once shaped Nazi ideology. Thus, the manipulator manages to replace objective discussion with stigmas and biased accusations, blocking your ability to independently analyze the situation. 

Moreover, such actions are not only manipulative, but also dangerous, as their proponents are modern-day continuers of Nazism — the ideology that uses hatred and division to seize control over society. By accusing someone of belonging to a “cult” or a “sect,” manipulators essentially try to create an enemy image to justify their own authoritarian actions and restrict your freedoms. They act as accomplices in the destruction of democratic principles, using propaganda as a weapon to consolidate their power. Such manipulators are criminals against society because their goal is to suppress free thought and establish totalitarian control under the guise of caring for the public good. 

It is crucial not to fall for these kinds of manipulations, to learn how to analyze information, ask questions, and verify facts. Most importantly, remember: anyone who tries to instill hatred or fear in you through dehumanization and labeling doesn’t care about you — they care only about their own power.  

Exposing global anticultism

Today, society greatly underestimates the real influence of anticult organizations on the global political landscape through lies, disinformation, and manipulation. Playing on people’s fears and preconceived notions, those organizations actively contribute to the destruction of basic freedoms and prepare the ground for the establishment of totalitarian regimes.

The Russian pro-religious association RACIRS which acts on behalf of the ROC (MP) and under Dvorkin’s leadership is particularly dangerous.

Like an octopus, it has infiltrated all spheres of society and, under the pretext of protecting against “destructive cults,” undermines democratic values, which in fact leads us to destruction of the world. Their actions, disguised as safeguarding society, actually exacerbate global conflicts, threatening to bring about a complete division of humankind.  

In order to prevent this scenario, it is crucial to effectively counter the manipulation methods of anticultists, expose their propaganda, and dismantle the false stereotypes they base their accusations on. In this context, “The IMPACT” documentary plays a significant role, vividly illustrating how propaganda and manipulation alter public perception and influence mass consciousness.

This film helps viewers uncover the hidden mechanisms of influence and teaches them how to recognize manipulation in real life. We strongly encourage our readers to watch this groundbreaking investigation in order to increase their awareness and protect themselves from the dangers posed by anticult movements.

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