Assumption, yes. Beliefs lock oneself into box thinking, where anything outside of that box is perceived as a threat. Programming, very much so, right from the beginning.
Expert is best applied in terms of the individual becoming an expert on who they really are. Self-knowledge. Self-awareness. Self-responsibility. Choosing to pay attention to what one is thinking, saying, and doing in the moment. Choosing to select a different path than the "pre-programmed" path. We all have programming that needs to be broken.
Trust is mutable. It does not stay consistently the same, irregardless of the person and/or situation. Listening to one's inner guide, being attuned that way, will light the path as to whom and what to trust. It is discernment of the kind that cuts through external illusions.
Questions have always been an insult. We aren't supposed to ask questions. I recall being told all my life I ask too many questions. Others can perceive questions whatever way they choose, I will still ask questions.
Outsiders are labelled everything under the sun, even the word "outsider" implies an individual to be rejected. The obsessing is evidence of illness, imo.
Fear of loss....we will all lose everything external, including the body when we die. We constantly gain and lose many people and things throughout life. Everything about this world is temporary. People identify too much with the external world, in whatever way, as being their "true self". The thought of losing that is a fundamental fear that must be faced to be overcome, as is the case with fear of anything.
Obsessing and the chanting of catchphrases. That's usually enough of a 'red flag' for me to know to keep my distance. "No justice, no peace" and "plandemic" for instance and in relation to current/recent social justice movements. There's a long list of examples of obsessiveness and chanting. Not one cult member ever knew they were in a cult.
This is very revealing behaviour and most definitely a red flag. You're quite right, cult members are unaware that they are part of a cult.
I'm not a believer in this "social justice" movement, from the first I heard of it several years back and thought, "What is that exactly?".
I think it's another catchphrase, which is why I used italics. As I'm studying/observing, removing/dismantling the layers or 'sides' these groups depend on, viewing them as one; same tactics are used in every case. Boiled down, every time, it's 'good vs evil'. Every single cult, ever, requires that element. Another red flag is the complete absence of self-criticism in relation to and within the groups. They often present themselves as the ones questioning an authority, as if speaking to 'the other side' as a warning, yet the message, by design, stays within the walls, creating the illusion of heroes to look up to.
I agree, it is another catchphrase. Everything you've said here is right on point. I've been observing the same things and keeping my distance accordingly.
People have been quiet about these issues. I feel confident majority of the population isn't involved; stays out of it. When a camera points and focuses on a crowd, that thing looks huge. I picked up on something odd yesterday while watching the Riders play. Sizeable crowd. Crowd shots focused on people wearing masks but most weren't covered. So that was a bit odd, but they didn't completely leave out the reality. And I don't know if you watch sports but it was really strange to see politics applied to sports this past year and a bit. Every little market is becoming infected. Are they simply following trends in order to appease and maintain their audience... or what? It's so eerie sometimes.
I don't watch sports, but some friends have mentioned some things that have been happening. I disconnect from many things, so I often miss hearing and seeing things that go on in society. As an example, Hive is my first time ever on any social media platform, to give you an idea.
There's so many bizarre things occurring. I see this around me every day. I find trends to be strange, in terms of how something develops mass appeal and why. This push to be homogeneous instead of developing oneself. It's something I'll never understand.
People are flocking to bad news and enjoying what they hear/see/read.