Is Your Child in a Climate Change Cult?

'Climate Change and the Ten Warning Signs for Cults'

- a new article inspired by an expert on cults

(hat-tip: GWPF Newsletter 18/04/19)

Rick Ross, described as an 'expert consultant and intervention specialist', has published this list of 10 warming signs:

Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.

1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.

Pic: Childhood Cult

A writer named 'Will' has worked through this list to see to what extent they might apply to what he calls the 'climate change movement'.  See his article for more details on how this movement conforms to every item on the list.  For example, here are the first two:

'1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.

The leading advocates of the Climate Change movement are politicians, entertainers, and even children. Climate preachers such as Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio lack any formal scientific training whatsoever, and live personal lives of unparalleled luxury while prescribing carbon austerity for the masses. Yet no one is permitted to point out their scientific ignorance or call attention to their hypocritical lifestyles.

Child advocates such as Greta Thuneberg and the crudely indoctrinated children of the “Sunrise movement” are essentially sock puppets for their shameless activist handlers. Refuse to bend the knee to these tiny fascists, as Diane Feinstein most recently did, and the mainstream left will relentlessly attack you as an accessory to mass murder.

The authority of Climate Change leaders is entirely unmerited and absolute, yet no one is permitted to hold them accountable for their ignorance, inexperience, or brazen lies. Thus, the Climate Change movement clearly meets the first warning sign for unsafe groups.

2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.

The conclusions of the Climate Change movement may not be challenged or questioned under any circumstances. Those who dare scrutinize the conclusions, methodology, or prescriptions of “climate scientists” are categorically dismissed as a “Climate Denier”, an excommunicated untouchable whose opinion is no longer valid on any subject.

Questions and critical inquiry aren’t merely dismissed or refuted. The unfortunate heretic immediately experiences a relentless ad hominem onslaught of scorn and hatred from the political and media left, and is often subjected to accusations of outright murder. Simply question the effectiveness of a “carbon tax” and you may find yourself tied to a stake.

There is no tolerance for questioning the Climate Change movement, and thus it clearly meets the second warning sign for unsafe groups.'

I'm sure many readers of this blog will have more examples of their own to show a good match to these two, and the others on the list.  Here are Will's concluding paragraphs:

'The Verdict: It’s a cult

According to the established, scientific guidelines developed by cult experts, the Climate Change movement fits the bill for a potentially unsafe group.

When I looked up these established warning signs, I honestly expected Climate Changeists to meet two or three of them, NOT TEN! The disturbingly religious nature of this supposedly “scientific” movement should alarm any thinking human being, especially since the movement now openly seeks to nationalize the entire economy.

It’s time for conservatives to realize what they are dealing with, and act accordingly. Rather than debating Climate Change activists, it may be time to start staging interventions.

If someone you know is a member of the Climate Change Movement, and you are interested in intervention strategies, please visit https://culteducation.com/prep_faq.html.'

Now this is of great interest here, since finding ways to help the victims of climate scaremongering is a preoccupation of the blog.  The Cult Education link leads to this immediate advice;

'How should family and friends act when they suspect that someone is involved with a potentially destructive group/leader?

REMAIN CALM. You may be wrong. Don't be confrontational or jump to

conclusions. Instead, investigate thoroughly and discretely discover as 

much information as possible. First, check the Internet, library and public 

records for specifics about the group/leader. You might also make quiet

inquiries with local clergy, police, social services and public safety in the 

community where the group/leader is located. Organize a file for notes, 

articles and other information that you may gather.

• How should family and friends react to someone when they know that person is involved with a potentially destructive group/leader?

Be nurturing, loving and attentive, which may contrast with the treatment 

they receive from the group/leader. Don't rush to judgment. Remember that 

doing nothing is always an option. It is also crucial to maintain meaningful

 and positive communication and seek support from family and friends. 

Don't be negative and critical and remember, when in doubt, don't act. 

If you are not sure, seek out and gather more information.

Staging an intervention with a professional is another possible option, 

but be sure to make a carefully considered and informed decision 

before taking any action. Always focus on the facts and your own 

specific situation. You can also simply wait and see, or possibly discuss 

your concerns at a friendly meeting if and when the person involved

 raises some doubts about the group/leader and/or when their involvement

 raises increasingly serious issues. However, waiting may allow the 

group/leader time to increase control, which will make an intervention 

more difficult.'

Interesting stuff.  The professional intervention is an 

expensive route, with illustrative fees at $100 per hour, 

but at this stage who knows what will be required in

some cases?  We are dealing here with 'deprogramming',

that is helping people discard what seem to be deeply held

beliefs pushed into them by others.  
Care is obviously required. 

Note added 18/4/2019.  The Medium article has now been re-posted 
at WUWT where no doubt there will be some discussion of it in due 
course in the comments.