Is NLP a Cult?

Brainwash - The NLP Cult Weapon of Choice

NLP is a cult. Members of the NLP cult will always deny the fact, arguing semantics of the definition of a cult.

Members of the NLP cult will point to the lack of a spiritual or religious element as a defence. NLP has simply replaced this with the desire for individual self-fulfilment and craving for personal wealth.

What is a cult? Cults are varied but all share most of the same characteristics, the definitions used here are from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA). http://www.icsahome.com/

• The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as The Truth.

If you have ever criticised Richard Bandler or his teachings in the presence of a believer you will have experienced the full wrath of the fanatic. All scientific evidence of the falsity of his teachings will dismissed.

• The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). 

NLP is completely unregulated and its practices free from the scrutiny of medical authorities despite its claims to be a therapeutic remedy to all sorts of psychological conditions.

• The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. 

Lured in with free seminars potential victims are then persuaded to pay up to become practitioners. The practitioners have been “programmed” to believe the “programme”, giving them the right to “programme” others.

• The group is preoccupied with making money. 

The vast array of seminars, courses and books have made NLP a multi-billion dollar word wide industry.

• Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). 

Hypnosis and meditation techniques are core to NLP. Members are made to repeat mantras.

• The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

Practitioners will say things like “We don’t believe in conventional psychotherapy”. NLP members will dismiss any criticism from the scientific world using hostility to established scientific methods of evaluation.

• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). 

Richard Bandler holds the position of Messiah and a whole structure of titles and ranks underpins him. The NLP hierarchy is rigorous, practitioner, master practitioner, trainer, master trainer, and beyond. 

• The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviours or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). 

NLP teachings include how to manipulate people through “linguistic” techniques, more commonly known as lying. Many are lured in through “Get Rich” books and soon abandon all morals to achieve their wealth.

• Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. 

NLP members soon cut off ties with family and friends, “The past is past, move on” is one mantra used. Memory altering techniques are used to simply forget the past.