Newsletter: Are We Headed Toward a Dystopia?
Also, online radicalization and talking to red-pilled loved ones
Dear Friends,
I continue to be alarmed at our Supreme Court. The Federalist Society's agenda is out front and center. I will be watching whether they decide with Alabama’s Supreme Court decision that embryos have full human rights. I am disappointed they claim it is Biblical. Aside from the blatant disregard for the separation of church and state, I object to people saying they are following the Bible on this point. As a Jew who has spent 25 years learning the Torah and rabbinic interpretation, my understanding is that life begins with the first breath. I am sure about this because my wife miscarried after the third month. My rabbi explained the Jewish perspective to us then. We grieved, but it was not considered the loss of a child. It would have been different if the child had been born, breathed, and then passed away. The Scripture that God breathed life into Adam was what was cited for this interpretation. Breath is central. I’ve included a short video I made below.
This week’s Influence Continuum podcast and blog post features prominent data scientist Dr. Stuart Shulman; we discuss the importance of guarding oneself against online predation and radicalization - this topic grows more concerning each day, so I’m sure you’ll want to listen in!
Dr. Bradley Onishi, a Christian scholar, interviewed me for his Straight White American Jesus podcast. We discussed the importance of reaching out to our family and friends who have been “red-pilled” or swayed by conspiracy theories. If you have a friend or family member who has gone too far down the rabbit hole, don’t give up hope; this podcast will give you some sound advice. I am happy that Christians are speaking out against Dominionism and Christian Nationalism and reminding many people that Christianity is about following Jesus’s teachings.
YouTuber Joe Scott interviewed me on his Answers With Joe podcast; this Monday, he released a video containing clips of our talk; the complete interview will be released later this month.
My most recent blog post in Psychology Today will be familiar to many regular readers. I wanted to post a version of it on this platform where many mental health professionals blog. If you know a clinician you think would benefit from this information, please forward them this critical post!
Steven weighs in on the recent news about the Supreme Court considering ruling on Alabama’s recent “Bible-based” decision on when life begins.
Analyzing online content and how people interact with that content is essential to understanding the process of online radicalization. Bad actors worldwide use social media to post content to arouse emotions and create chaos, distrust, and polarization. With algorithms instantly and repeatedly feeding similar content, it is easy to go down a rabbit hole of authoritarian creation, resulting in undue influence. Dr. Stuart Shulman is the founding Editor of the Journal of Information Technology & Politics. He holds a Ph.D. in American Politics (Oregon 1999) and is currently the founder (2009) and CEO of Texifter, a software business serving academic, commercial, and government clients. DiscoverText is a web-based text analytics platform for improving human and machine learning. His past work includes extensive teaching and leadership roles, building externally funded teams for collaborative interdisciplinary research. His projects involve qualitative, quantitative, survey, and social media data and human annotation at scale, information retrieval, and machine-learning methods.
Click here to read the blog post.
Talking to Red-Pilled Friends and Loved Ones - Steven on Bradley Onishi’s Straight White American Jesus
In this eye-opening podcast, Steven talks with host Bradley Onishi about strategies for talking to red-pilled relatives who have gone down the rabbit holes of MAGA-ism, Q-Anon, and other forms of high-control religion and conspiracy.
One of the recurring complaints survivors of high-control groups have is that too many therapists just don't understand their needs or how to start addressing their unique set of problems. Not only do cult survivors often feel frustrated, unheard, and alone, they find themselves having to educate their therapist on how destructive cults work.
Click here to read the blog post.
Welcome to the Golden Age of Cults - Steven talks with Joe Scott
Steven talked with YouTuber Joe Scott about what cults are, and how to help people get out. Joe released this video yesterday with clips of the talk; he will be releasing the full interview later this month.
Unlock the Secrets of Authoritarian Control
Have you ever wondered how apparently well-adjusted individuals can become ensnared by the grip of mind control? Are you curious about the inner workings of cults and high-control groups? If so, our new course, "Understanding Undue Influence: The Essentials," will answer those questions and more.
This course explores the concept of the Influence Continuum, based on the BITE Model, encompassing Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional Control. By the course's end, you'll have the tools to spot the subtle signs of manipulation and shield yourself and your loved ones.
Take the first step towards gaining a deeper understanding of these complex dynamics and empower yourself.
Our Facebook group is growing and YOU are invited! Join us for insightful, respectful dialogue on cults, mind control, undue influence, authoritarianism, and much more. Together we can discuss what needs to be done to make a better world for all of us. You can join by clicking here, or by scanning the QR code in the above banner. We hope to see you there!