So true. Hubbard called it “safe pointing”.

So true. Hubbard called it “safe pointing”.

Some of these Mighty MenaGAWD make sure ALL the high-priced law firms in their sphere of influence are on long-term standby retainers. This means they cannot take any case against the ManaGAWD or his church. Any victim would be limited to second- and third-string lawyers while the church has the best lawyers (and thus verdicts) money can buy.

A lot of MenaGAWD in such positions first get the local authorities on their side. Whether by getting the authorities to join their church, recruiting off-duty cops for their security detail or becoming police chaplains themselves. All to move themselves and their church onto the “Cop” side of the “Code of Blue”, where Cop will always side with Cop against Not-Cop.

“There are those who will say what we do is illegal. Before that can happen, make sure WE are the ones who define what is legal and what is not.”
— L Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology

Sunk Cost Fallacy, the con man’s greatest friend.

Get the suckers so emotionally invested in the scam that they CAN’T back out, because they would have to admit to themselves (and those around them) that they were suckered. To prevent that, they will instead fanatically defend the con man even as the takes them to the cleaners.

Next time you protest outside of the church you should play Somebody’s watching me by Rockwell

They could possibly sue for damages if someone violates the NDA. I suspect the NDA deliberately left out potential repercussions for violations so they could threaten whatever they wanted.

I would be curious to see what the paid staff NDA looks like.

The NDA seems to be up at Julie Roys’s site (scroll to bottom): https://julieroys.com/mark-driscoll-cult-like-actions-24-7-surveillance-loyalty/

The worst they can do, by my reading of that agreement, is kick you out of the church. ?‍♀️

You’re late to the Two Minutes Hate, Ian.
I was making that comparison years ago, when I first heard of these “franchises” with nothing but a huge video screen in place of the pulpit (never mind altar) where Lead Pastor/Apostle would beam in his sermon to all his Franchises:
“Big Brother’s Face Ten Meters Tall on All Telescreens.”

Kevin Smith (the Clerks guy) has a story about how he was invited to film at Prince’s compound. An NDA was part of the paperwork handed to him when he showed up. He simply didn’t sign it, but didn’t say anything. No one checked. They didn’t realize their mistake until much later, when he talked about the experience and they tried to threaten him with the NDA. Good times.

There is a lesson here. If confronted with an NDA, and if you are willing to walk away if need be, discreetly folding up the piece of paper and sticking it in your pocket is not a bad strategy. It might not work, but then again it might. It depends on if the cult is competent enough to have someone going down a checklist on the paperwork. I’ll bet many are not.