Alexander Borisovich Neveev is an expert on cults, sects and destructive training, an expert on cognitive distortions, a popularizer of science and psychology. The interlocutor of the "Russian Planet" is actively involved in educational activities, telling citizens how they are deceived by all kinds of pseudoscientists and masters of miraculous trainings.
Religions of the "new age"
In your publications, relying on scientific data, you analyze in detail the "philosophy" of non-traditional confessions existing in our country, destructive trends and trainings for personal growth. How large is the proportion of Russians involved in these destructive trends? And how has it changed over the past 10-15 years?
- Of course, there are no statistics as such. Nobody conducts it, however, based on scientific research, several conclusions can be drawn. The number of people mired in sects, full-fledged adherents of non-traditional beliefs, is not so much. There are many more people who, to one degree or another, are passionate about all kinds of teachings: that is, they are on the way to eventually becoming sectarians.
By the "teachings" that are widespread in Russia, I mean the most diverse forms of New Age that have come to us from the United States, the so-called "new century" religion. This is a collection of mystical currents and movements, usually of an occult and esoteric nature. People believe in bioenergetics, karma in the fact that all this can be "cleaned", and in case of any problem - you need to run to a psychic. Also, New Age adherents believe the miraculous properties of homeopathy, dietary supplements, astrology, etc.
Indeed, a lot of people believe in all this. A whole galaxy of charlatans who call themselves coaches, coaches, psychologists, mentors, and teachers make money on their naivety and illiteracy. The most famous authors around the world, whose books you can easily purchase: Vadim Zeland, Eckhart Tolle, Louise Hay, Osho, Castaneda, Igor Vagin, Sinelnikov, Levi, Litvak, Napoleon Hill, Sviyash, Luule Viilma and so on. Book publishers know very well that esotericism is an insanely popular trend after detective stories and women's novels. Just take a look at the store shelves …
This is a big problem. And the reason is the violation of the family tradition of transmitting religiosity, when a person from an early age gets used to the primordial spiritual culture and learns to distinguish “ours” from the alien. This tradition was lost as a result of the 75-year domination of atheism. Today, the resulting spiritual vacuum is still not overcome. People are throwing themselves at all bad. They prefer to solve serious problems with the help of esoteric and karmic "techniques" that charlatans happily sell them.
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- According to my personal observations, personal growth trainings and business success strategies are gradually evolving towards esotericism and occultism. An even greater impact is exerted on the subconscious of a person …
- It's a little different. What you are talking about just grew out of esotericism. Personal growth trainings that help you “find yourself” and “find happiness in your personal life” are essentially the same psychic courses. People are also explained that there are “chakras” that can be influenced “energetically”, that a true leader exudes a certain kind of energy. Here we are talking about the fact that the American New Age has acquired a new form in the form of pseudo-psychological teachings.
People hear the word "training" and think that these are not courses of "cleansing karma" and "tightening chakras". Let me give you a concrete example. There is a female “coach” Pavel Rakov. He tells, if I am not mistaken, about the sex chakra, which must be opened in order to enjoy sex. Less educated people will take courses in yoga, tai chi, qigong, "energy normalization". More educated citizens will fall for some psychological term: "training of harmonization", "training of the development of self-awareness" or "training of expansion of consciousness." Charlatans are cunning and cunning people. They understand how best to present the "product" so that it is in demand.
Nevertheless, many people claim that after undergoing training, going to a psychic and “clearing the chakras,” their lives have improved markedly. Businessmen began to earn more, single people found friends or a soul mate, and those "immersed in spiritual search" talk about the received charge of cheerfulness and energy. It looks quite sincere. How to explain this effect?
- At one time, I was concerned with the question: why are people convinced that they were helped by some kind of psychic or personal growth training, which ultimately destroyed their marriage and career. Modern science has accumulated an impressive knowledge base on this topic. The fact is that certain components are "sewn" into the human psyche that make us make mistakes. For example, if we like a concept or theory, then we tend to see confirmation of its truth in literally everything.
These mechanisms are called "heuristics" and "cognitive biases". Of course, people who have fallen under the influence of a sect or training can be one hundred percent sure that “training” helps them. They immerse themselves in an illusion, deeper and deeper … And then they can no longer get out on their own. Real psychologists explain to a person in trouble: “Look, before the training you had a job, a family, a husband, children who were not taken away by court. You have been running after your “coach” for three years and now you have nothing but precious training. " Then they ask the victim: "And do you consider yourself a leader?" And she exclaims: “Yes! Sure!".
The sectarian is distinguished by blinkered thinking. It is useless for him to explain anything. He is not able to hear counterarguments, adequately respond to them and draw logical and reasonable conclusions from the facts that are offered to him for consideration.
Religious surrogates
- Could you list specific personalities who teach people miraculous "techniques"? After all, "coaches" often convince that well-being in real life directly depends on the "problems" that a person in the other world decided or did not solve. A person is often offered some ways of communicating with deceased relatives and souls of people.
- The creator of this turbidity - communication with deceased relatives who, allegedly, even after death continue to influence family affairs - is the German Bert Hellinger. He was a Catholic and was sent to South Africa as a missionary. There he, apparently, became saturated with local spiritualistic cults. At his sessions, people talk with long-dead relatives. Moreover, the conversation takes place surrounded by other people who begin to suggest what the deceased wanted to say. This is a real seance and, of course, the people who practice it are malicious charlatans.
The brightest "trainers" behind whom there is nothing but esoteric "techniques" and fantasies are Radislav Gandapas, Pavel Rakov, Denis Baiguzhin, Alex Leslie, Nikolai Kozlov, Roman and Natalia Tikhonov, Mikhail Lyakhovitsky, "masters of neurolinguistic programming" Sergey Kovalev, Mikhail Pelekhaty, and, of course, Mikhail Litvak. The latter, in particular, claims that children do not need to be told Russian folk tales.
And Litvak also uses a "cunning" trick, which, from my point of view, can lead to the destruction of the family. He often asks women "wards": "How to determine that your husband or loved one loves you?" He immediately gives a "logical" answer: "If he wants you to develop, then he loves." But what does "evolve" mean? Of course, we are talking about going to Litvak's trainings. That is, if the husband starts to “excite”: where does his wife constantly leave and what she spends her money on, then this will be an indicator of a lack of love. One must part with such a person.
Scientologists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, evangelicals and other late Christian denominations have long and rather been widely represented in Russia. It is generally accepted that the United States is behind them. In confirmation, it is often stated that the headquarters of the movements listed above are located overseas. What are the goals of American sponsors in spreading the "new faith"?
- America was originally formed as a state of sectarians. People of all kinds of religious beliefs came there. Spiritual tinsel has reigned in the United States. This was superimposed on the fact that the American nation is young from a historical point of view. She continues to actively seek herself in religious experience. But the output of a spiritual search is not a religion, but its surrogate.
In addition, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States became a real Mecca for all kinds of Indian gurus. The Hindus quickly realized that the American public is very greedy for religious surrogates thickly flavored with oriental exoticism. By these surrogates, I mean the teachings that no religious discipline or membership in a community is needed: today I sat in the lotus position, tomorrow I meditated, the day after tomorrow I went to a training, then I attended a “retreat” (a pastime dedicated to spiritual practice).
In America, this is all very common. Therefore, a huge number of dubious teachings and sects start from there. In the USA, they fatten up "primary fat", and then look for where else to go, where else to launch their tentacles, their metastases, where to find new suckers from which they can pump money out. A vivid example: The Church of Jesus Christ (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses, who hide behind the image of the Lord. And, by the way, He warned about the appearance of such kind of figures: “Many will come under My name and will say that it is I; and will deceive many."
Of course, there are sects that, on the contrary, struggle with the image of Christ.
Here we cannot fail to mention Scientologists, who are not easy charlatans. They have created a very dangerous sect. Their way of interacting between adepts and with the outside world is truly inhuman. So it is not without reason that rumors circulate that at the highest level of dedication to the adept of Scientology it is reported that Ron Hubbard, the creator of this sect, is the Antichrist. And in a sense, this is true: Hubbard was an ugly, inhuman and pathologically deceitful person. In the West, such people are called psychopaths or sociopaths.
Since the 1990s, many neo-pagan movements have emerged in Russia seeking to recreate the "true Slavic culture." Their supporters, especially in the summer, love to hold "camps" throughout Russia. Moreover, there are permanent organizations. For example, the Union of Slavic Communities of the Slavic Native Faith or the sports club "Rod". A huge number of videos have been published on the Internet in which neo-pagans dance in circles, jump over a fire - they behave, albeit strangely, but quite peacefully. What, in your opinion, is the danger of the revival of the “culture of Slavic ancestors” for Russian society?
- Let's start with why neo-paganism appeared in Russia. The reason is the same spiritual vacuum and destruction of the tradition of transmitting religion, which I spoke about above. Neopagans understand the traditional values of our people in their own way. On the one hand, they recite love for the country, advocate increasing Russia's prestige on the world stage and awaken interest in their native history, but for some reason, to solve these problems, they prefer to fantasize, create some kind of chimeras, use incomprehensible syncretic mixtures of various teachings, which have nothing to do with Russian culture.
On this basis, neo-paganism arises, which, among other things, is generated by resentment against Russian Orthodoxy and the Church. In fact, the neo-pagans want to erase almost a thousand years of the history of our people and plunge into such a gray-haired antiquity, about which there is practically no reliable information. It is very funny when neo-pagans are trying to restore some ancient rituals and practices based on the works of Russian ethnographers of the second half of the 19th century. The low historical qualifications of the neo-pagans are indicated, in particular, by their belief in the authenticity of the Veles book, which, from the point of view of real science, is certainly a fake.
So neopaganism is largely self-deception. But why should we worry about this? After all, pagans dressed in kosovorotki do not show aggression, they love the Motherland, they respect nature. The trouble is that paganism and neo-paganism are based on the division of society. Let me remind you that Prince Vladimir, who baptized Russia, also worshiped pagan deities. But he abandoned polytheism and communion with the Magi in favor of Christianity. What was the reason?
Each Slavic village had its own pantheon, its own set of traditions and values (a similar situation can be observed in the communities of modern Rodnovers). In these conditions, it was simply impossible to create a single power. So it is to Christianity that we owe our historical unity. The princes became "God's anointed" and acquired the necessary amount of power for the normal development of the state.
With all the patriotism and peacefulness of the pagans, in my opinion, the return of the cult of the Slavic gods leads to the division of the country. Now we do not need to think about what criteria should be used to divide the Russian people. The situation in the foreign policy arena and within the country dictates the need to unite society. In Russia, centripetal tendencies should prevail. It is very important that people unite and respect each other.
Trouble does not come alone
Experts and even clergy often speak quite squeamishly about people who have fallen into a sect or other movement destroying a personality. Say, what idiot can believe in this nonsense? One can laugh at this, but after all, everything has an objective reason. Moreover, there are often stories when relatives and friends get into sects. What kind of communication should be built with a person in trouble? Is it possible to "painlessly" pull a friend or relative out of the shackles of pseudophilosophy?
- It's hard to recommend anything here. There is no 100% effective recipe. At the same time, there are many options for interacting with a person who has fallen under the influence of any destructive movement. First, there is no need to fight him and try to put pressure. It is important to maintain contact with a person and continue to love him. Another thing is that it is unlikely that this contact in itself will have any tangible sense.
Or you can ostracize a person and say: let’s choose, either you are with me, in the family, or with your sectarians. This can also change the situation for the better, but again - there is no universal recipe here. Therefore, I would recommend focusing on prevention: you need to take measures so that a person does not fall into a sect. To do this, it is necessary to closely monitor the interests of the person.
You need to worry when your loved one begins to look for easy answers to difficult questions of life, career, human relationships. The most serious reason to be on the alert will be his interest in various miraculous methods of healing, improving the body. You should also be wary if a member of your family begins to read esoterics and books by popular parapsychologists who advise how to quickly find happiness and wealth.
These are the first symptoms and you need to fight them. But how do you do it? If, for example, you yourself are spiritually illiterate and do not know anything about the foundations of the religion that your grandparents professed, then you simply cannot oppose anything to the impact of all these new New Age teachings.
Keep track of what your loved ones read and watch. A person should have an opportunity for self-realization, but at the same time he should be spiritually disciplined and not turn into a marginal. I personally advocate that there are more families in Russia who adhere to traditional values. Although, of course, today such families are a real endangered species.
Unfortunately, this is true. Let's continue our conversation on this topic. Is it worth it to enter into a confrontation with a loved one who has fallen into a sect if you understand that he is not able to understand your message? Or, on the contrary, is it better to take the pose of an ostrich, pretend that nothing is happening and continue to maintain communication at an accessible level?
- In any case, one should not hate a person for his views. The Russian Orthodox Church has a doctrine to combat sects. In accordance with it, the Church is fighting not with sectarians, but with sectarian teachings. The savage views of a member of your family are not a reason for neglect, hatred. Our task is to convince and convince a loved one, to return him to normal.
To do this, you need a constructive relationship with him, you need to know him well and be able to communicate with him. But, as a rule, if a family has all these three components, then the danger of falling into a sect is minimal. A person is susceptible to the influence of destructive teachings largely due to the problems that have accumulated in the family, which at one moment are fired at once. Trouble does not come alone.
Is there "immunity" from the influence of destructive currents on the human psyche? For a Christian, this is faith in God and participation in the life of the church community, but what is the “recipe” for an agnostic, atheist, or a poorly educated person?
- "Immunity" is the same for believers and non-believers - the development of critical thinking so that no charlatan could pass off any nonsense as the truth. I would call it a mental discipline. A person joins destructive cults largely because of his own egocentric thinking. A person should not think in logic: here the sun appeared - it shines to warm me, or to interpret all events in life as the "Sign of God."
Moreover, this problem is present even among churchgoers. Some of them are subject to superstitions, from which the priests are horrified. For example, grandmothers ask a priest to give a blessing to suck incense. This supposedly helps with problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Human harmony is based on spiritual discipline and analysis of the surrounding reality based on the data of modern science. This allows a person to understand that dietary supplements, yoga, homeopathy, astrology, trainings, esoterics, extrasensory perception, etc. will not help him.
It follows from your words that a person must have a sufficiently high level of education, which is the basis of critical thinking. However, quite often the most educated people fall into sects, I mean various business trainings and courses! How can this paradox be explained?
- Very simple. The reason lies precisely in egocentric thinking, selfishness, pride. Educated people have achieved a certain success in life, and it became important for them to receive evaluation from others, as well as motivation to "defeat enemies" or "leap forward in their careers." In some sense, "intelligence" only contributes to getting into the sect. The intellectual trusts too much of his own mind, which is prone to errors, and therefore the manipulation of charlatans.
