Noted consultant Dr. R.W. Tramin has helped hundreds of cult leaders find purpose for their organizations. The book The Purpose-Driven Cult grew out of Dr. Tramin's thousands of hours of experience as a motivational consultant for cult leaders, gurus, psychics, fringe Christian group pastors and others. Tramin Enterprises, Inc., is headquartered in the Cayman Islands, with holdings in Zurich. Dr. Tramin holds an earned Ph.D. This article was adapted from the forthcoming book The Purpose-Driven Cult.

It can be tough being a cult leader these days. The pressures of amassing a following, selecting a proper style for your appearance, purchasing property for your cult headquarters and coming up with a system of odd-ball beliefs, can get to you. That's why you need the forthcoming book The Purpose-Driven Cult: Growth and Stability Without Prosecution. Yes, The Purpose-Driven Cult is the perfect companion and guide for busy cult leaders.

Using the Word "Cult"

Tired of having people refer to your group as a cult? The Purpose-Driven Cult can help your image. Sound advice on positive and negative outcomes of using the word "cult" in reference to your organization is included in the book. If you'd prefer avoiding the word, you would benefit from Appendix C: Friendly Synonyms for Cult, Heretical Sect, Aberrational Movement and Other Terms. This section includes numerous innocuous and pleasant alternatives to derogatory terms including options such as New Religious Movement, Alternative Religion, and Emerging Religious Expression.

Sources of New Revelation

Out of ideas when it comes to stating where your new revelations come from? Chapter three ("Where'd I Get My Revelation?") includes a section on possible sources of your new revelations. The list includes such popular sources as visions, angelic beings, secret but lost writings, ethereal records, extra-terrestrials, psychic revelations, channeled texts, etc. Creative alternatives include receiving new revelation from nature (trees, rocks, holy places, etc.) or even by communicating with animals.

What, No Mission Statement?

Has your cult lost its original zeal and direction? The Purpose-Driven Cult will help you regain control, direction and increased funding. If your cult does not have a mission statement, it's time to roll up your sleeves and create one. Your cult needs a unifying and simple purpose. However, you'll want to avoid the dangers of having a poorly constructed mission statement, as people may actually expect you to adhere to your mission. The Purpose-Driven Cult will help you use the latest buzzwords that have swept the business field to your advantage. You'll learn how you can form strategic alliances, create synergy, and form new paradigms.

The Prophetic Role of Your Cult

There are a few options to consider in positioning your cult as a prophetic voice. One track involves making predictions on a grand scale (the end of the world being a perennial favorite) scheduled for the immediate future. This approach can backfire, naturally, if the world does not end as planned. However, on a positive note, there are benefits. If you frighten people enough, they may be moved to sell their possessions and give you the profit.

Another option is to make a grand scale prediction that will take place in the distant future (preferably after you have retired or passed on). For example, stating that the world will end on midnight on December 31, 3004 as a result of nuclear meltdowns in Albuquerque, is a relatively safe prophecy.

But what do you do if you make an immediate future prophecy and it doesn't come to pass? Don't fret! The Purpose-Driven Cult will provide you with a variety of ways to explain your way out of your predicament. One solution is to claim you never made such a prophecy. If this approach is easily revealed as false, you could state that you are being persecuted for your beliefs or that you did not mean the prophecy in the sense that it was interpreted.

Your Very Own Dictionary!

Every cult needs its own terminology. A simple method to begin is to adopt existing terminology and inject the terms with your own particular definitions. Atonement, for example, can become at-one-ment, while Trinity may consist of you, your new revelations and your followers. The possibilities are endless! This method has the advantage of confusing your members as well as critics bent on exposing your cult enterprise.

In addition to redefining existing terminology, it is also helpful to create your own terms. By continuously creating new terms used uniquely by your group you will give your members a feeling of belonging and esoteric insight, while at the same time keeping your critics busy as they attempt to determine what exactly you are saying.

Finding the Right Look

If you are a doctor (earned, medical, dental, honorary, mail order or other), you'll want to decide on a professional lifestyle look. This might include the driving of elegant and expensive sports cars (Jaguar, Ferrari, etc.) and wearing custom-tailored suits. If you prefer more of a "guruesque" look, you may opt for long hair, a flowing robe and sandals. Depending on your location and travel schedule it may be helpful to procure a private helicopter, jet or other expensive means of transportation. Having a second or third home will also come in handy. Convince your followers that such extravagance is for their benefit and that it would not be proper for you to travel with unenlightened commoners.

As for your followers, what cult member wouldn't want to feel part of the team by looking like every other member? Eye-catching jumpsuits (say, in orange, for example) are sure to capture the attention of non-members. Amulets may also be worn, but be sure the amulet features your photo or other identifying image. If you or your members are on a tight budget, consider other less-expensive means of distinguishing yourselves. Shaved heads, long hair worn in a particular fashion, matching t-shirts with your cult logo on them (you do have a cult logo, don't you?) are a few examples of starter looks.

Harnessing the Power of the Press by Making Outlandish Claims

Contrary to the beliefs of many cult leaders, the press is not their enemy. Learning to deal with the press is something that will take time, but every cult leader can harness the power of the press. One method is to freely admit your bizarre beliefs, but you must do this with a straight face. Making outlandish claims based on current topics of interest is an easy way to gain the attention of the press and, consequently, gain free publicity for your cult, headquarters or, if you have one, your theme park. A current topic to consider includes human cloning or any form of genetic manipulation and research.

The Proper Use of Litigation, "Hired Goons" and Other Strong-arm Tactics

If your cult is prone to a variety of attacks, several deterrents are available to you. First, you may opt to litigate in the extreme. Any time your cult is spoken of in a negative sense, pursue litigation. In many cases you will find that even the threat of litigation will squelch the voice of your enemies. Sometimes it is helpful to have "experts" on your side (see below). Second, though the term itself is somewhat cliché and even a misnomer, you may want to have some "hired goons" on hand. It is probably better to call them your security detail. Your security detail may deal with troublesome matters in many ways. Try to avoid direct conversations about what your security detail is up to. Instead, have an intermediary address the matters. Security details are also helpful to assign to any celebrity members your cult may have if they are in need of such assistance. Other strong-arm tactics, such as disseminating false and derogatory information about your enemies, are addressed in "The Purpose-Driven Cult." It may also be helpful to have your members, if they are foolish enough, sign various non-disclosure agreements before being allowed into the inner-circle and workings of your cult.

How To Cover Up Embarrassing Evidence

No matter how organized and careful you think you are, inevitably your cult will have to deal with embarrassing evidence. The Purpose-Driven Cult will provide you with several helpful tips on how to deal with such situations. Topics covered include addressing claims of historical revisionism, false prophecies, contradictions in your revelations, and so forth. No matter how badly you or your cult has faltered, your cult can always be saved!

Preparing/Selecting Your Sacred Text(s)

No cult is truly complete without sacred texts. An easy starter approach is to utilize one or more existing texts. The Bible is a favorite, but don't limit yourself-feel free to expand and use Eastern texts or others as well. However, using the Bible will help legitimize your group even though you may not believe a word of it. Creating or receiving revelation in order to compile your own unique sacred text certainly takes more effort, but in the end your cult will benefit greatly from such an endeavor. If you are pressed for time or not exactly a refined wordsmith, it may be helpful to "borrow" some existing text and incorporate it into your work. Yet another option is to state that you have no official sacred texts, but are open to various streams of wisdom and tolerate numerous interpretations and approaches. Finally, if your cult is based on the Bible, you may opt for the use of archaic language in your sacred texts, such as Old English. Copying entire passages from the King James Bible, for instance, is a favorite choice.

How To Interpret Sacred Texts Convincingly

While we are on the topic of sacred texts, it is important that you, as the cult leader, interpret these texts convincingly. Several approaches are available to you. Two favorite options include taking everything in, say the Bible, literally or taking everything figuratively. You may also opt for esoteric interpretation. Tell your followers that only you have been given the keys to particular passages of Scripture. Your revelation has provided the new and true interpretation of the passage in question. You may also master the techniques of inaccurately quoting passages or failing to provide references to the alleged quotations. Most followers are too lazy to think for themselves and will simply accept what you have said at face value. If you have even just passing familiarity with languages such as Hebrew or Greek, use your limited knowledge (and the even more limited knowledge of your followers) to your advantage. Twist foreign words to mean what you want them to mean. Another favorite method is to completely ignore the context of a passage. By pulling it from its context, you can make a passage say something very different than intended. Later, as you master some of these techniques you can combine them. For example, you might misquote a passage, state that such and such a word really means something else in Greek and add that you have received esoteric knowledge about the passage. Remember, sacred texts can be used to your advantage. Twist them to suit your cultic purposes!

Money Matters and the Modern Cult

Face the facts. At the end of a long day of brainwashing, twisting sacred texts and melting under hot studio lights while wearing your glorious robe, you, as cult leader, hardly want to worry about getting out the check book and figuring out how you are going to pay the bills. That may have been what your life was like before you started your cult, but not anymore! In short, you and your cult will need money-lots of it. The Purpose-Driven Cult will show you how to get it-lots of it. This topic is so important that my next book will be titled "Money Matters and the Modern Cult." The Purpose-Driven Cult will give you the basics of how you can legally (and otherwise) funnel and protect your funds. Learn about offshore accounts, investments, cash donations and more.

What to Do About Friends and Family Concerned About their Loved Ones

Inevitably a friend or relative of one of your members will become concerned about the well-being of their loved one. At this stage, you have two basic options: 1) Shun them or 2) Strive to pacify and convert them. If you select the first option, you will need to take preliminary and ongoing measures to convince your members to shun their friends and family members. A variety of psychological and sociological techniques are at your disposal including intimidation ("God will punish you if you do not completely sever ties with your past," for example), isolationism (locate your compound in a remote area and sequester your members for lengthy periods of time), keep your members from thinking independently, create a sense of paranoia of the outside world in your members, and utilizing outright deception. More extreme cases may require more extreme measures.

If you choose the second option, you will want to take steps to pacify friends and family and ideally convert them to your cult. Make sure you go to great lengths to convince them that you are a legitimate religious organization (you probably will not want to use the word cult around them). Tell them you are officially registered, have a mission statement (see above) and let them know that you even have your own logo.

Using Sexuality for Your Advantage

Don't neglect the importance of using sexuality to your advantage. You may opt for making your followers abstain (you, of course, have attained a higher level of enlightenment and need not abstain) or for promoting the opposite: promiscuity. You may even decide that as cult leader you require more than one companion. Sex can also be used to lure and retain new members. Whatever you decide, the benefits to your cult will far outweigh the negatives.

Get Some Experts On Your Side

Trouble with other religious groups and critics? The Purpose-Driven Cult will walk you through the steps to safety. One helpful approach is to attract expert supporters who will defend your cult practices and beliefs through any number of approaches. Remember, just because someone is viewed as an "expert" does not mean that they are qualified or even intelligent enough to see through your schemes. Some so-called experts may actually be on your payroll, be members of your cult or maybe are just misguided simpletons. Whatever the case may be, follow the advice of The Purpose-Driven Cult and get as many of these experts on your side as soon as possible.

Is Retirement Right for You?

What, you say you've been a cult leader for going on twenty years now and don't know how to get out of it? Let The Purpose-Driven Cult show you how you can make a graceful, yet wealthy, exit. Obtaining new revelation stating that it is time to appoint a new leader is one option. Whatever approach you take, The Purpose-Driven Cult will show you how to make the best of your retired cult leader years.

You and Your Purpose-Driven Cult

You and your purpose-driven cult will learn these things and much more in the forthcoming book "The Purpose-Driven Cult." This article only scratches the surface of what you can learn and do to make your cult prosper for years to come!

By Robert Velarde