Coping with the Future through Chiliastic Expectations

From "Coping with an Uncertain Future: Religiosity and Millenarianism" by Christian Zwingmann and Sebastian Murken which makes Brahma Kumarism appear as if it was written directly from "the manual" on how to start an End of the World cult.

Chiliasm is, literally, the doctrine that states Jesus will reign on a heavenly earth for 1,000 years. Chiliastic is used to relating to religious beliefs in a future millennium of peace, happiness and righteousness, the re-creation of Paradise on earth through the restoration of nature to its earliest, pristine state etc. The characteristics of chiliastic thinking are:

• the idea of a united world
• the present age is seen as a time of trial and tribulation prior to heaven on earth
• equality in the coming world society.

Coping with the Future through Chiliastic Expectations?

From a historical and sociological point of view, millenarian movements develop in times of cultural crises, when some social groups experience society at large as contradictory and conflicting. The chiliastic counterproject announces an inevitably approaching new social order and contains, inasmuch, a radical criticism of existing conditions and authorities (Brokley, 1997). Empirical research confirms that prior to contact with, and membership in, a millenarians groups, people have often experienced depression, loss, or feelings of isolation and struggled with existential questions (Dawson, 1996; Kox, Hart, & Meeus, 1991). Previous religious or non-religious problem-solving strategies have turned out to be insufficient (Festinger, Riecken, & Schachter. 1956, Pargament, 1997). The experience of a crisis seems to be an important starting point to affirm chiliastic beliefs wich are mostly considered absurd by outsiders. Can chiliastic expectations be helpful for the individual in coping with the future?

Based on the coping approach that Pargament (1997) broadened for the psychology of religion, and in particular its functional perspective, we suggest interpreting the millenarian involvement of a person as a re-creation strategy of coping, in which he/she experiences a radical transformation of ends as well as means:

- Present life is no longer perceived as a continuation of a sorrowful past, but is legitimized by a promising future. It seems to be realistic that the new goal of life, the final salvation, can be obtained because the millenium is thought to be imminent.
- Personal crises of the past no longer appear to be meaningless, incomprehensible events, but inevitable consequences of the former disharmony between this world and the next.
- Since the individual is one of the "chosen", now on the side of the good, and knows that he/she is connected with the transcendental - directly or through participation in revelation - he/she acquires a new, special importance
- The future may have threatening (apocalyptic) events in store, however, the events can be controlled and put into a context of meaning because of the availability of a "schedule of catastrophes." The threats are merely necessary transitional steps for the "chosen" on the way to the final salvation. All infidels are in danger of being punished or exterminated - in the sense of the "belief in a just world".
- The changes of perspective, as they were described here, not only offer (and require) a new start, a "second chance" in life, but also provide new means for reaching final salvation: participation in revelations, preparation of millenarian events, orientation towards the millennium and possible acquisition of new members.
- Since most of these activities are accomplished by an intra-group interaction, the individual experiences a continuous "consensual validation" of his/her chiliastic ideas and thus feel socially integrated and supported.

Thus, a functional approach suggests "that millenarianism is not inherently 'pathological' as many writers on the subject have implied". instead, central elements of chiliastic philosophies seem to convince the believer that his/her life has a meaning and a purpose despite the obvious suffering and evil in this world. The few empirical studies that have been carried out so far consequently show that the involvement in millenarian religious groups can be accompanied by an improvement of the psycho-social functioning.

In short ... the end of the world is good for you! May be I did not read it all through properly.

An old friend of mine, a silent movie actress (now deceased or in BK speak working from the Subtle Region) used to say "I love being converted, I get converted whenever I can, its such a happy time."

Where do I sign up?

Thanks ex-l for making available to us such an interesting article written by a biomed, as far as I understood, expert. I think most BKs will be easily able to relate to it and accept that both the experiences they had as BKWSO members as well as the org itself, fit into the detailed and accurate description provided by this article.

As far as the conclusion, I think it deserves some thought-based on experience also!

So, I will contribute on the topic later on.

Do you know if the writers themselves are/have been personally involved in some cult and found it to some extent beneficial? They seem to have such a deep insight about the subject that probably a mere outside observer would not have ...

Cheers!

What I like about this article is the viewing of cult membership as a functional adaptation: a strategy for coping. As one fringe-now-ex-BK told me when he was still active: "a lot of people who are BKs would otherwise be in a hospital." The value of chiliastic expectations is something distinct from the (inevitable?) abuse of those expectations by opportunistic individuals who filter upward to positions of authority within the group's hierarchy.

Okay, Mr. Green, surely there is some pun to be made about chiliastic.

Maybe a bumper sticker in the style of the safety advisory at the base of Abu Road, "Arrive in peace, not in pieces." (Say out loud with Indian accent.)

I USED TO BE SCHOLASTIC
NOW I AM CHILIASTIC

Ex-BKs may need a bumper-sticker, too.

I USED TO BE CHILIASTIC
NOW I AM PYROCLASTIC

Okay, Mr. Green, surely there is some pun to be made about chiliastic.

I suppose 'Chiliastic Expectations' would make a great name for a hell hot Mexican Restaurant ... or perhaps the Brahma Kumaris are really into Voodoo Chiliasm.

The idea make sense in its simplicity. "The world is bad. I cant cope with it. Therefore I chose a religion that tells me it is going to be destroyed and a heavenly dream world will take it place."

The other usual model for cult involvement is the idea that the cult personality is a mask which one adopts temporarily whilst one addresses necessary personality change behind it. Cultic religions offer a "ready made identity" for followers. Of course, the other question that raises is what do the leadership get out of it?

Also in the Library; An Account of Psychotherapeutic Work with Ex-Cult/Cule Members using the Three-Step-Model by Dieter Rohman Report Psychologie, 5.6/2000.

As an aside, from, I think, the author of Culture of Cults. Does this sounds familiar ... is the "Hubris High" of ego-utopia related to the Brahma Kumari "Honeymoon Period"?

Do Cults Produce Mental Disorders? by Mark Dunlop

Cults promote a belief system which is utopian/idealistic, and also dualistic and bi-polar in nature. Dualistic in that they see the world in terms of two opposite poles, such as good versus evil, the saved and the fallen, the enlightened and the ignorant, etc.

Cult belief systems are also bi-polar in psychological terms, rather like Bi-polar disorder or manic-depression. Cults promote a vision of an ideal 'new self', which members believe they can attain by following the cult teachings. Cult belief systems encourage the aspirant to identify with this imagined ideal new self, and then, from the perspective of this new self, to see their old self as comparatively inferior and flawed. It is ego-utopia or hubris for the new self, and ego-dystonia or shame for the old self.

Believers can experience a sort of religious mania of inspiration, when they are in the hubris phase, identifying with this idealised imaginary new self, with its perfect perception and understanding, etc. They can become addicted to this hubris high, and become dependent on the group and its leadership to validate their spiritual progress and to maintain this inspiration.

There is often a sort of collective arrogance or hubris among established cult members. They see themselves as part of an elite, and look down rather sniffily upon the mores and values of established mainstream institutions.

If members fall out of favour, even temporarily, with the group leadership, or if they begin to doubt if they can achieve the group's ideals, they may experience a sort of religious depression or guilt, over their seeming inability to free themselves from their 'old self', with all its bad habits and weaknesses and lack of faith. This depression reinforces their desire to return to the inspired state, and can reinforce their addiction to the utopian vision of the cult belief system, so there can be a feedback system going on too.

At an extreme, believers fear they will become ill or fall into hell if they leave the group.

All this goes on within a cult members mind. A cult does not control its members by using external coercion. It is the belief system itself which is the primary active agent in cult mind control. The actual controlling of mind is done by the person themselves, as they attempt to discipline their mind and reform their personality, in accordance with the tenets of their new belief system. Effectively, a cult, via its belief system, uses a person's own energy and aspirations against them.

There is a difference between relying on prophecy and being intelligent. No matter what prophecy one embraces (and many do not do this) one still has to enter the field of cause and effect and adjust and experiment. Often prophecies that people adopt are incompatible with their own place in evolution. When I was in Madhuban Didi said to me "all these Sisters are the same." It is this "sameness" that could make one bipolar or OCD, many people all at different levels of evolution conforming and striving to become more like each other, Bap Dada at the core.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is now called bipolar. Compulsive thoughts or behaviours could be the washing of hands or the saying of "Om Shanti" to everyone you meet. Some bright spark recently wrote that Florence Nightingale was bipolar as she washed her hands many times each day. Probably she washed her hands between patients, this nowadays we would see as good hygiene.

The self inflicted brainwash that BKs indulge in is not immediately apparent to those being lead by the nose. The certainty that is promised often contrasts with the uncertainty previously experienced. One size fits all. The odd glances or use of eyes, the lack of interest in ones surroundings - it may all be destroyed tomorrow remember can often be found in psychiatric patients. The transference of energy during meditation is the BK trump card. Other people, sorry souls, can do this though most are more careful than the BK, taking their students through a thorough preparation process.

I like the people I meet, I like their different greeting glances and states of being. For one million people to write off the rest of the world as infidels is complete and utter lunacy. Reliance on prophecy makes one blind and stupid. One thing is happening but you convince yourself that something else is because of prophecy which overrides all else. I personally find that viewing whatever happens as according to law very helpful but the prophecy that one will live in the Golden or Silver Age as a direct result of giving up Christianity or Buddhism or whatever came later than Gyan, the first and original knowledge is to me a little dumb. Yes, The Knowledge teaches one to create, to become very clear of how one merges and emerges is a great skill. Shame the same examination of how one merges and emperges prophecy is not highlighted except of course in teacher training courses and I guess even then it may be taught unconsciously.

It is all in this moment, we are marvelous beings and knowledge can reveal this, the Confluence Age is when everything is visible. Often in asylums people are drugged to maintain the status quo, knowledge can be seen as a drug also but what knowledge can do that drugs do not do is make one more aware. Awareness, intelligence and energy do not rely on prophecy, why rely on it when you are learning to create your own? Remember - you are the architect of your own destiny.

Jesus Christ in returning to earth for a 1000 year rule. Those adherent to this prophecy will see gyanis as missing out and vice versa. Raja Yogis are backward in risk taking. The BK have their own little world, believe they are God's chosen and live in that world. The high casualty rate is because not everyone is compliant to brainwash. If you need a brainwash do it yourself and if you must have a prophecy to live by create your own. The number of people leaving Gyan who remain convinced that the rest of the world has nothing to offer them is one of the most heinous BK crimes.

There is something fishy going on, I don't trust the BK. Will 2500 years with Dadi Janki and the like really be heaven? Agreed she could yogically blow my brains out at any moment but is she really wise for you or is she wise for the growth of BK influence and wealth? Do you come first or second?

In Tibet there was a discipline, students had to imagine a friend being with them all day every day. Periodically the teacher would ask the student is your friend with your all day every day, there were different answers according to effort and some reported to their teacher 100% success. They got an immediate pass mark and left - with their friend, flushed with success. Many struggled for a long time to attain the necessary result with varying success, the few stragglers left (they were not allowed to communicate) went to the teacher and said "I can imagine my friend being there, equally I can imagine my friend not being there." "Good" said the teacher "Your lessons begin tomorrow."

If you are a second rater you believe in prophecy - and pay for the privilege.

Now here's what may be a tough one for you. Can you be an atheist and imagine what it is like when God incarnates - and create an atmosphere?