Any of the following are characteristics of destructive groups, sometimes not apparent in the first stages of indoctrination. Followers are secretive or vague about their activities and beliefs. The group tries to separate you from your family, friends and society. The group interferes with your private contemplation and independent thought-inhibiting your ability to question. There is sexual abuse and child abuse.
Leaders use fear of or actual punishment to keep members in line.
Therefore, you need to be cleansed by the group. New and special meanings are given to familiar words and phrases. The group takes over your very vocabulary. The group claims or implies that they have the only right answer to a specific question or problem. The group requires strict adherence to trivial rules.