There's broad concensus among cult experts that confronting cultists with facts, no matter how incontrovertible, is a fruitless activity. That's why it's useless to confront members of The Bob Cult with certain inconvenient questions:
Is it proper for a therapist to have sex with patients?
Is it proper for a therapist to assume control over businesses started by patients?
Quite obviously, the answers should be resounding and unequivocal: NO! After all, these people dispense advice about psychotherapy via their public-facing websites.
If they attempted to answer these questions honestly (within the context of their belief system), as opposed to the brazen whitewash foisted in Firestone's books, it would go something like this:
In general, no, it's highly improper. But Bob is different.
This would be followed by a recital of the Bob mythology with which they've been indoctrinated.
Realistically, this wouldn't happen. They would simply refuse to engage. Or in the case of yours truly (or any other defector) they would deflect by branding the messenger as a "disaffected former member with mental problems", a tactic employed by many cults.
Facts didn't have a whole lot of currency in The Bob Cult. It was all about feelings. Especially Bob's feelings.
3 comments:
Thank you for writing this blog. I found one Dr.Firestone book in university, Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion. I absolutely fell in love with the concepts, but; I always adored that this book concepts were applied practically within the 'friendship circle'. I put it in really high esteem. I even bought a used copy after graduation. I am dismayed to hear the reality of the friendship circle. As an anonymous rando I can also attest that the transcripts that you were provided are the same style and format as in his book. There are a few things that I am still curious about. One being a big boating trip with the youth of the group -I think he 'writes' that it was to build up their autonomy. Second, could you please say anything more about the songwriter. Some of this songs lyrics also appear in that book as well.
Hey. Thanks for your comments. There was a documentary about the trip that I think can be purchased at glendon.org. It is sanitized of course. It was shown on PBS once upon a time.
Thanks for you reply, Do you know anymore less sanitized stories about the trip and its' aftermath?
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