This law assumes all humans possess the acute need to believe in something, making us innately gullible (especially in group settings). Those who exercise this law gain a tremendous amount of power and wealth through the 5 steps of cultmaking.
1. Keep It Vague; Keep It Simple. Use ambiguous and obscure words, but keep it simple or lose your credibility.
2. Emphasize the Visual and the Sensual over the Intellectual. Make an appeal to the senses, or risk losing your following over boredom.
3. Borrow the Forms of Organized Religion to Structure the Group. Great societies are characterized by order. Organize members in a hierarchical structure.
4. Disguise Your Source of Income. Live luxuriously as proof of the truth and success of your claims, but keep your methods of acquisition disguised.
5. Set Up an Us-Versus-Them Dynamic. Provide a sense of exclusivity and fabricate an ‘us against the world’ mentality.
In the 1600’s, this law proved effective when Francesco Giuseppe Borri proclaimed that he had the power to see people’s souls, and would discover the controversial philosopher’s stone; all of which, were revealed to him in a dream by archangel Michael. Promising “to those who follow me all joy shall be granted,” he gained a great following and accumulated a fortune through deception.
Strongly resembling one of history’s famous charlatans, Marcos promised the Philippines a brighter future. Treated like a saint in certain regions of our country and with a cult following to this day, defending him, "He didn't steal, he simply kept the fortune they accused him of stealing. But the time will come when all the money will be recovered and used for the development of our country" says spokeswoman Sunni Artegaron, could he be the noveau master of the art of cultmaking?
Elise Noelle Anne Adriano Lim
II BS Communications Technology Management
History 18 Section L
Professor Andrea Jalandoni
Works Cited:
1.) Willis, David. Philippines Cult Idolizes Marcos. BBC News Asia. 8 December, 1999.
Retrieved December 15, 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/555789.stm
2.) Greene, Robert. Law 27 Play on People’s Need to Believe a Cultlike Following: 48
Laws of Power. Profile Books Unlimited. 1999. 215-226.
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20 comments:
having a cult with many members can definitely be powerful. in order to gather members, one must seem very believable in the first place. people have to see how they will benefit in joining the cult and how they will achieve their goals. in recruiting people, one has to really exert effort in making his or her offers enticing and tempting. that person must also be perceived as someone trustworthy. i think that it's really about how you carry and present yourself to others. but then again, one must be able to produce when asked for results. making promises for the sake of making them might not work. one has to avoid making lofty promises that he eventually won't keep. that is why planning and careful execution also matter in the success of having a strong cult.
-Philip Albert T. Verde
Hi18 K
Yes, I agree with you that this had been used countless of times; especially #3 of the 5 steps of cultmaking. I've read somewhere that one example of this is the Christmas tradition. We celebrate Christmas on December 25, but it was not the actual birth date of Jesus. I've read that the Christmas date as we celebrate it now was just integrated into an already existing pagan celebration, to make Christianity easier to accept.
It was also done here in our country, I think. When the Spaniards came with Christianity they built their churches on places where our native religious rituals were being practiced, so it would be easier for us to take the transition.
~Sydney Earl A. Arbilo
II-AB Com
HI18-L
@Sydney: I was also thinking about how the Spaniards captured a virtually pagan pre-colonial society and convert them to Catholicism in an instant. If I'm not mistaken, the Spaniards first converted the Filipino religious leaders, then established churches RIGHT NEXT to the pagan shrines. To me, that was a brilliant tactic and also a good example of this law applied in history.
To give a more modern example, the cult of Scientology applies the 5 steps that Elise presented above. What started as a science fiction novel (literally) is now a billion-dollar industry with a cult-like following. The leaders of Scientology know how to structure the religion's image well enough to gain new believers and followers. And at the rate that it's growing, Scientology is fast rising to becoming a noteworthy institution in American society.
Chio Cebrero
Hi 18 L
"People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they?re afraid it might be true. Peoples' heads are full of knowledge, facts and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool."
- From the Wizard's First Rule
Exactly why cults thrive.
Dyl V, L
i guess it's kind of like el shaddai (not that they're a cult). you need to feel like you're part of a group (maslow's 3rd level in his hierarchy of needs: a sense of love and belongingness). it gives you a sense of security, whether it's false or not.
ocampo 18-k
@Dylan's quote
that's a very interesting quote and i totally agree. I think i'll post a quote too:
"You can fool some people all the time and you can food all the people some of the time. But you can't fool all the people all the time."
- A. Lincoln
I think Mr. Lincoln was just giving a word of caution to those cultmakers. I also couldn't help to think of the Klu Klux Klan and how their power spread far in the Southern United States....
Denis Flores
hi 18k
Morality aside i agree that this may be an effective way to power and wealth. But not all people are stupid enough to believe every word that comes out of the mouth of someone else. I don't believe that everyone is innately gullible. In fact most people are the skeptical type. Many can see through lies and deception in this world has its consequences which could result in elimination of power and prestige.
Gliza Marasigan Hi18-L
Honestly, I think this law could not only lead to absolute power but also towards great leadership. I think once people heavily believe in you and what you stand for, its is more likely that these people would be under your control.
I quickly got reminded of the current US president Obama and how he influenced most of the US citizens. He pushed them to have a mind set towards change.
Although with this ability to lead a cultlike following, one must always be responsible and not abuse this power for his or her own self.
Richard Hahn
L
I agree that this is about deception. As a matter of fact, this law is studied and applied by today's politicians. They repackage their images to give the people a fake identity of themselves. The politicans simply want to be loved that's why they say what the people want to hear.
I would like to contest what was said by President Marcos, because most of the provincial roads that we use today were planned and done by his era. It is true that he may have stolen money, but let us not brand him as a bad person, because I would like to believe that he is one of the greatest presidents, because he had such a great mind, but this doesnt mean that I am part of his cult. It is just that I have great respect for the person.
Laurine Fabul, L
I could say that I agree with Philip. These five steps to creating a cult- like following have definitely been proven time and time again. Indeed, they are a great means of fooling people into believing your promises, whether empty or whole-hearted. However, along with the repetition of such, comes peoples growing consciousness and awareness to it. People learn from their mistakes. Because of which, they are not so easily fooled. In this sense, it could be said that along with these steps, consistency with regards to ones promises would also be essential.
-Angelo Mendoza, Hi18-L
It is evident that making people hold on to your promise is hard. A lot of people nowadays would speculate on the motive of such a promise. Indeed, after reading through the five steps indicated, they may turn out to be really very effective especially the first one. Personally I find it hard to trust a promise that is explicated at length. Something succinct is more believable and powerful.
Rhea Entuna
Section L
Wow, I didn’t know Marcos had (or still has?) a cult. I’m not so sure if he’s a good “cult-maker,” but I do know he followed steps 3-4 very closely…
I think this is a good law because it makes sure the person who follows it will have supporters – which are necessary if you want to stay on high ground. These people, the cult, will be the ones to lift you to the top. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a cult, but it would be much easier to stay on top if you were in solid ground which is just like what the cult followers are. They all root for you, and as along as you please them, they’ll stay “solid” so you will not fall, and they’ll even lift you higher.
i agree with angelo that you need consistency in fulfilling promises. Then, people will continue to trust and support you. So you should make your promises kind of vague...
Chris Macalinao
Hi18 – L
To Philip: I agree with you, one needs to exercise utmost caution from the very beginning of the planning stage in order to smoothly execute it.
Elise Noelle Anne Lim
Hi18 Section L
To Laurine:
Thanks for addressing my question. :) I did not claim former president Marcos to be completely bad. I don't think anyone can be labeled as such nowadays. I respect what you said, but i also have my own opinion about him. Yes, i agree with you when you say that he is one of the greatest presidents of the Philippines, definitely a household name, and will never be forgotten. I just can't help but wonder how our living conditions would be had he not stolen from our country.
Elise Noelle Anne Lim
Hi18 Section L
To Angelo:
I agree that now, more than ever, people are growing more and more critical of themselves and what is happening around them. However, there are still quite a number of people who remain gullible, don't you agree? Why do you think this is so? If it weren't for this gullibility, numerous cults today wouldn't thrive, and yet, they do.
Elise Noelle Anne Lim
Hi18 Section L
I think the most powerful thing about a cult-like atmosphere is the fact that people really DO take in everything you say, however ridiculous, because they believe they're helping you change the world. The cult behind the Tokyo subway sarin gas poisoning in 1995 was the Aum Shinrikyo, and those under Shoko Asahara's control were beaten, made to wash in his dirty bathwater and drink water boiled with his hair, and wear electric caps that were programmed to shock any disobedient followers. Still the constituents worshipped Shoko fervently and believed him to be the savior of Japan while their money was being looted and their ties with family and friends cut off.
Peep Warren
Hi18-L
From what I've read, Marcos was an effective leader until Martial Law. He was trying to point out something but It just got out of hand. I agree that in order for a cult to be effective it should have many members and in order to do so, one must be very believable. And being a member of something provides the people with security. It's very alarming that there are gullible people who take and do what the leader has asked of them. Sneaky and sometimes effective.
Czarina Kathryne Masagca
Hi18-L
It'll be easy to convince people to join something like this. Promises and security are the way to reel them in. Just like what Bea said, people need to feel secure. It's a very "strength in numbers" type of situation.
Krizia Javate
Hi18K
Pretty astonishing that most people read this very litterally. A cult is any organization. That includes the company one works for and believes in.
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
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