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This month Pearse Redmond and Yuval Laor explore the issue of conspiracy theories and their power to manipulate individuals and groups. They start off by discussing the popular Qanon theory, breaking down how adherents to this and many other conspiracy theories operate within the structure of a secret society, and the dangers of being in a secret society. Yuval also discusses the concept of “argument from strangeness” and how this factors into both conspiracy theories and miracles. Later they touch on why authoritarian groups such as cults often employ conspiracy theories in order to control and manipulate their members. Finally, they close out the show by discussing the danger of dismissing all conspiracy theories, and the human need to question authority, using the fabricated Nayirah Testimony and the Iraqi WMD’s as examples to support their arguments.

Download OMOA ep 6

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Open Minds On Air, Porkins Policy Radio | Also tagged argument from strangness, conspiracy theories, conspiracy theorists, cult, donald trump, gulf war, iraq war, manipulation, media, nayirah testimony, open minds foundation, Open Minds On Air, qanon, secret society, trump, WMD's | Comments (0)

Open Minds On Air episode 5 Brainwashing and Cult Apologists

July 28, 2018 – 5:58 pm

From OpenMindsFoundation.org

In this episode, Jon Atack and Pearse Redmond speak with their good friend Yuval Laor. They start by discussing a recent article by professor Rebecca Moore entitled The Brainwashing Myth, dissecting the strange assertions Moore makes, primarily that brainwashing does not exist. They also talk about her three “scientific, neutral, and precise” terms which can replace brainwashing.

Jon and Yuval talk about the historical roots of the term from ancient China to the through reform camps of the 50’s. They also address our problems with the flawed term “new religious movement”, discussing Moore’s history defending Jim Jones and The Peoples’ Temple. They talk about her sisters, Carolyn Layton and Annie Moore, both high-ranking members who organized and oversaw the murder of over 900 people. They look at how this has colored Rebecca Moore’s books defending Jones and the legacy of the Peoples Temple. They close out by talking about the problem of arguing over semantics within the counter-cult world.

What do you think about this podcast? Do you agree? Do you have a story about brainwashing – or the misuse of the term – that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you!

Download episode

Show Notes:

The Brainwashing Myth

Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple

Understanding Jonestown and Peoples Temple

Jim Jones’ Tenured Apologist

Jonestown Apologists Alert

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Open Minds On Air, Porkins Policy Radio | Also tagged annie moore, brainwashing, Carolyn Layton, Chinese communists, CIA, coercion, colston westbrook, conditioning, Conversion, cult apologist, cults, donald defreeze, eileen barker, Jim jones, Jon Atack, jonestown, murder, new religious movements, NMR's, NRM, open minds, open minds foundation, Open Minds On Air, patty hearst, peoples temple, rebecca moore, reeducation camps, SLA, suicide, Symbionese Liberation Army, the peoples temple, thought reform, white night | Comments (1)

Open Minds On Air episode 2 – The Manipulative Power of Awe

May 22, 2018 – 8:35 pm

From OpenMindsFoundation.org

Join hosts Pearse Redmond and Jon Atack as they discuss the concept of awe and its manipulative power with Yuval Laor. They talk about the psychological effect awe can have on an individual, and explore how this can be exploited by cult groups and toxic individuals in order to gain control. Yuval and Jon also discuss how all of us can be susceptible to the manipulation of our natural sense of awe, and the importance of cultivating healthy awe experiences in our life.

Download episode 2

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Open Minds On Air, Porkins Policy Radio | Also tagged atheists, awe, cult groups, cults, fervor, Jon Atack, L Ron Hubbard, manipulation, miracles, open minds foundation, Open Minds On Air, Pentecostalism, purfication rundown | Comments (0)

Porkins Polcy Review episode 141 Exploitation of trauma and neocon psychology with Yuval Laor

May 9, 2018 – 12:31 pm

This week I am joined by Yuval Laor of the Open Minds Foundation, and one of my co-hosts for Open Minds On Air. We discuss the neoconservative movement, the exploitation of trauma, and Israel. Yuval and I start off the conversation with the breaking news that Donald Trump has decided to pull the US out the Iran Nuclear Deal. We talk about what this means for America and the prospect of war with Iran. Yuval gives us his perspective of this as an Israeli-American, and how the public within Israel is reacting to the news. Yuval and I then shift into the neocons who are obviously happy with Trump’s latest pronouncement. We look at their belief system and the psychology of the movement by using Israel as a template. Yuval talks about the continual use and exploitation of the holocaust and the trauma of it with in Israel. He discusses how this has manipulated Israeli society on a psychological level to the point where they view the Holocaust as constantly being right around the corner. We talk about the way that the Israeli state continually traumatizes its youth with regards to the Holocaust. Yuval and I then break down how this is the same method by which the neocons have sought to manipulate people here in the United States.

Later Yuval and I talk about the power of awe and fervor. Again using Israel as an example we talk about “Jerusalem Syndrome” and how it works on people who are not even religious. Yuval talks about John Kerry’s awe moment at Masada as well. We then shift into high fervor people and their inability to view the world outside of a good vs. evil black and white mentality. Yuval explains how the neocons have psychologically fallen into this mindset, and the ways in which it has effected their views on foreign policy. We also address whether neoconservationism is a cult group or a secret society. We also touch on Trump’s psychology and why he is so susceptible to manipulation, particularly by the neocons. Yuval also discusses the concept of a thought-terminating cliché. Yuval then closes out the episode with a very appropriate joke.

Download PPR episode 141

Show Notes:

Yuval Laor

Open Minds On Air episode 1

Trump Says He’ll Exit Iran Nuclear Deal and Reinstate Sanctions

Thought-terminating cliché

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Porkins Policy Radio | Also tagged awe, church of the holy sepulchre, cults, exploitation, fervor, foreign policy, george bush, henry kissinger, high fervor, holocaust, Iran, iran deal, iran nuclear deal, Israel, Jerusalem, Jerusalem syndrome, john bolton, John Kerry, masada, neocon, neoconservative, open minds foundation, Open Minds On Air, Palestine, psychology, secret society, shimon peres, thought-terminating cliché, trauma, trump, war, Zionism | Comments (0)

Open Minds On Air episode 1 What is the Open Minds Foundation?

April 14, 2018 – 12:23 pm

From Open Minds:

We are delighted to announce the first episode of Open Minds On Air. This is the official podcast of the Open Minds Foundation, hosted by Pearse Redmond, Jon Atack, and Yuval Laor.

In this episode, we introduce ourselves and give a little background on what the Open Minds Foundation is working on. We discuss the ever-present threat of the human predator, and how they infect our lives. Also, Jon and Yuval explain the methods and techniques of human predators. They talk about the tactics that these predators employ to gain control over an individual or group. We end the conversation by talking about ways individuals can combat this behavior.