Phobia indoctrination is a tactic most commonly used by cults to convert and control followers.

But did you know that high control religions also use phobia indoctrination with a similar intent — to convert people to their brand of religion and to then control them using fear-based tactics?

Recognizing how these tactics are being used by certain religious groups allows us to call them out for what they really are — religious cults.

This isn’t to say that ALL religious groups are religious cults… But some are!

And the goal here is to recognize the red flags of a religious cult so you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Which is why we’re talking about phobia indoctrination … because it’s most certainly a red flag of a high control religion, which IS a religious cult.

For more information about what classifies a religion as “high control,” check out: What is a High Control Religion?

Understanding Phobia Indoctrination

Phobia indoctrination refers to the deliberate and systematic process of instilling intense and irrational fears or aversions in people.

Generally, it involves implanting fears about terrible things that will happen to you unless you adhere to specific the teachings, rules and doctrines of a person or group.

Let’s break it down a bit further to help us understand exactly how it works…

What is a “Phobia?”

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear or aversion towards a specific object, situation, or activity.

This fear is often triggered by a particular stimulus (trigger) and can lead to significant distress and impairment in day to day living.

Physical symptoms of a phobia response could look like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, and avoidance.

While the fear may seem excessive or illogical to others, it is very real to you and can have a profoundly negative impact on your overall well-being.

It’s important for you to understand that a phobia is not generally something you just “get over.”

And it’s not uncommon for folks to need to seek out psychotherapy or medication to help them work through their phobias, at least until the phobias are better managed and not so overwhelming.

What is “Indoctrination?”

And then we have indoctrination.

Indoctrination is a systematic method of imparting people with a specific framework of beliefs, ideas, values, or ideologies.

In the context of a high control religion (or a “religious cult”), indoctrination involves imparting a specific religious ideology.

The goal with religious indoctrination is to advance a specific religious agenda, perspective, or viewpoint.

This form of indoctrination attempts to shape people’s religious beliefs and practices, often starting from a young age and continuing throughout their lives.

And the primary goal is to foster a deep and unwavering commitment to the specific religious teachings, rituals, and traditions of that specific religious group.

Phobia Indoctrination: Combining the Two

Phobia Indoctrination combines the intense, irrational fear that’s characteristic of a phobia with the systematic method of indoctrination.

This process manipulates your fear responses to shape and control your beliefs and behaviors.

In the context of high control religions, or religious cults, this method could be employed to enforce adherence to specific religious doctrines.

For instance — instilling a fear of divine punishment or social ostracism should you deviate from the prescribed religious practices…

It’s a powerful and effective combination because these intentionally fostered phobias can feel extremely real and extraordinarily overwhelming to the person who has experienced this type of indoctrination by a high control religion.

The Goal of Phobia Indoctrination

The goal of phobia indoctrination always begins and ends with control.

This is why we see it used so often in the context of high control religions.

With that being said, there are two ways phobia indoctrination tends to be employed — as a tool for converting new members and as a tool for controlling current members.

Let’s look at both.

Converting New Members

Religious cults often employ phobia indoctrination as a strategic tool to convert new members and exert influence over their thoughts and decisions.

You see, when people are in a state of intense fear and anxiety, they become more malleable and susceptible to manipulation.

This is because fear can shut down critical thinking and reasoning, leaving people much more vulnerable to accepting whatever information or teachings they are presented with.

In this way, phobia indoctrination acts as a powerful tool for religious cults to gain new members who may have otherwise been skeptical or resistant to their beliefs.

Controlling Current Members

For current members of high control religions, phobia indoctrination is used as a means to maintain control over their beliefs and behaviors.

By constantly reinforcing the idea that deviating from the prescribed religious practices will result in divine punishment or being cast out of the group, leaders of these religions can effectively manipulate and control their followers.

This keeps members in line and prevents them from questioning or leaving the religion, as they are too fearful of the consequences.

In this way, phobia indoctrination is a key tool in maintaining the power and influence of high control religions over their members.

In the next section we’ll look at more specific ways religious cults use phobia indoctrination to control followers, but first, let’s look at the impact of phobia indoctrination on children.

Raising Indoctrinated Children

Many people were raised in high control religions rather than converted into it.

In these cases, the phobias were wired into children’s nervous systems while their brain was still growing and developing.

This often results in a deeply ingrained fear and belief system that is difficult to break free from as adults.

And wiring in phobias during children’s developmental processes can lead many of these children to develop anxiety disorders, complex PTSD and other mental health problems, both in childhood and later as adults.

Additionally, these children are essentially brainwashed from a young age to believe that their religion is the only way and any deviation from it will result in severe consequences.

So they become trapped in a cycle of experiencing harm within the religious group but also being too fearful to leave the group.

It truly is entrapment.

How Religious Cults Use Phobia Indoctrination

As mentioned above, the goal of high control religions and religious cults is to control their followers.

And because phobia indoctrination leaves people feeling dependent, powerless, and unable to make their own decisions, it’s the perfect tactic for high control religions to use.

When the group is successful in using these tactics, they’re able to convince their followers that the only way to feel safe or achieve a sense of purpose in life is by following the strict religious practices dictated by their specific religious group.

Here are some of the specific ways religious cults use phobia indoctrination to achieve their goal.

Threats of Punishment

One of the most common tactics used by religious cults is to instill a fear of punishment in their followers.

This can be done by emphasizing the consequences of not following the group’s rules and doctrines, such as being condemned to hell or facing other forms of divine retribution.

This fear is often reinforced through religious teachings that portray god as wrathful and full of vengeance.

By instilling this fear, leaders of high control religions are able to maintain control over their followers and prevent them from questioning or leaving the group.

Risk of Excommunication

Another way religious cults use phobia indoctrination is by creating a fear of excommunication or shunning.

In these groups, being kicked out or ostracized by the community is often seen as a fate worse than death, and in some groups this can extend to eternal consequences of being cut off from family in the afterlife as well.

This fear of being rejected by their community, and, more importantly, their family can be a powerful tool in controlling the actions and thoughts of followers, as they will do anything to avoid this punishment.

Creating Fear of “the World”

Religious cults often use fear of the outside world to create a sense of isolation and dependence among their followers.

By portraying the rest of society as corrupt, evil, or even dangerous, they can convince their followers that staying within the group is the only way to stay safe.

This fear can also be used to discourage followers from maintaining relationships with family or friends who are not part of the high control religion.

One exceptionally unfortunate side effect of this type of isolation is that it prevents people from seeking help if they experience abuse or mistreatment within the group.

Amplifying Guilt & Shame

High control religions often use guilt and shame as a means of control.

By constantly reminding followers of their supposed sins and failings, religious leaders (and other members) can keep them in a perpetual state of guilt and shame.

This can make it difficult for followers to feel worthy of leaving the group or seeking help, as they may believe that they are not good enough or have done something wrong.

It can also lead to a cycle of constantly seeking forgiveness and validation from god or from religious leaders, further reinforcing their dependence on the group.

Specific Examples of Phobia Indoctrination:

End of the World Prophecies: These teachings instill fear by predicting apocalyptic events and catastrophes. Followers are made to believe that only adherence to the group’s practices can save them from such disasters.

Supernatural Punishments: Followers might be taught that any deviation from the group’s teachings would lead to divine punishments, such as death, illness or misfortune.

“Outsiders” are Dangerous: High control religions often teach that the outside world is evil or dangerous, thereby frightening members into isolating themselves from friends, family, and society at large.

Loss of Connection: Followers are made to fear expulsion from the group through threats of shunning, which is portrayed as the ultimate punishment, often equated with spiritual death or eternal damnation.

Demonic Attacks: Some religious groups indoctrinate followers with the belief that questioning the group or its leaders will invite demonic attacks or possession. There may also be graphic depictions about spiritual warfare constantly being waged on an invisible battlefield.

Loss of Salvation: Teaching that salvation can only be achieved through the group’s prescribed path, and any attempt to leave or disobey would result in loss of salvation.

Fear of Marital Failure: Strict expectations of purity can cause followers to believe that deviation from the group’s teachings will result in an unhappy marriage or divorce, which is also portrayed as a catastrophic personal failure.

How to Start Recovering From Phobia Indoctrination

Oftentimes people will feel trapped by phobia indoctrination even long after leaving the high control environment.

If this is the case for you, please know that there is hope for breaking free from these fear-based teachings.

Here are some steps you can take to start overcoming phobia indoctrination:

Educate Yourself

Learn about the tactics used by high control religions to manipulate and control their followers.

This understanding can help you see through the fear-based teachings and regain your sense of control.

I would highly recommend you start with Steven Hassan’s book, Combatting Cult Mind Control.

He also has excellent resources on his website: Freedom of Mind

Practice Critical Thinking

Religious cults and high control religions suppress critical thinking.

So a significant part of recovery is beginning to question everything and challenge the beliefs that were instilled in you.

Ask yourself, “Is this belief truly based on rational thought or is it just a fear tactic?”

Practice thinking for yourself and making decisions based on your own values and beliefs, not those imposed upon you by a high control group.

Seek Support

Reach out to friends or family who can provide emotional support and a non-judgmental listening ear as you work through the effects of phobia indoctrination.

You may also want to connect with others who have left similar groups through online support groups or in-person meetups.

You are always welcome to join my private facebook group, The Religious Harm Recovery Group, to connect with other people who also experienced phobia indoctrination within the high control religions they had been a part of.

Seek Professional Help

If you are struggling to break free from phobia indoctrination on your own, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

A therapist who has training in treating trauma and who understands mind control tactics can provide you with the tools and support needed to overcome these fear-based beliefs.

Some people also benefit from medication, at least for a while, to help them manage the intense anxiety and panic that can accompany the trauma of phobia indoctrination.

Remember, overcoming phobia indoctrination is a process, and it often takes time.

Final Thoughts

While overcoming phobia indoctrination may seem daunting, it is possible.

What I really want you to know is that the fear and anxiety you came out of your high control religion with is very valid.

I hope this article has helped to shed some on the various ways that religious cults use phobia indoctrination, and why it’s not something that people are usually able to just “get over.”

Remember, each person’s path to recovery is unique and takes its own time.

So go at your own pace, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

Recommended Reading:

• What is a High Control Religion?
• 8 Mental Health Diagnoses Often Triggered by High Control Religion
• Two of the Most Likely Reasons for Your Religious Triggers