Are the Dissident Republican Parties really Cults??

I'll start by saying, (unsurprisingly), im not in political party, a nationalist, or any of that. Ii simply want people who may have joined, are still a member, or just curious, to answer the following questions and have a think about it.

I the reason i wanted to do this came from a friend who has joined one of these groups in the past few months. I noticed a change in him in the last while. take something like the PSNI. Now if you google it you will see there is corruption. It quite easy as anyone will tell you this group was highly corrupt back in the RUC day but things are gradually changing for the better thankfull. its only natural like any group which has to to bring two clashing sides together. probably the most obvious change is the increase in catholics from 1% in the beginning to over 20% or above now. However please dont comment on this subject. What my friend is concerned about is all the bad press. Because that supports the way he has been made to believe things are. If i tell him that its been mostly catholics that have been killed by the disidents he doesnt care and says 'they knew what they were getting into when they joined' a normal person blood would boil at that. yes buts its not right that young lads are getting killed doing their job. anyway this is sort of cult mentality, he will answer with a slogan. (below is a questionaire on cults which asks this)

On another issue he will play old irish music, sothing he has never been interested in, again i like some of that music but i like it for my reasons, he likes it because 'they' the people he will protest with like it.

In the case of the queen coming i tried to tell him that even if he says he has nothing against the english people (yet, but we will see if that changes) i meantioned a show called Britains got tallent and how everyone wants to perform for the queen, because a major population love her and see her as the a identity of who they are, if he protests, which he has a right too, the english people over here will see it as they have a dislike of them. he doesnt seem to get this and rants on about the tyranny and the history of the past. I studied history, i know this, but i dont think he can get around his head what his group are saying and what is fact. (question 5)

He has taken on this superior way to him, thats i dont really understand the cause, that Ireland should be united. That ireland is a state conditioned into thinking the north is not ours. I tell him id love a united ireland, i think most of britain who pay three billion a year to fund it, would be delighted with the extra cash. I tell him that solgiers in the Uk dont want to be on the belfast streets watching their backs. Its just a fact that in a democratic state the majority of the people are unionist and see britain are their home and until that changes nothing can change. We all have to live in peace and get along. This superior thing isnt him at all, but like cults (question 4 below)

look they are lots of other things i notice that are cult like and i wanted to hear from you guys think after going through the questions below, how many are yes and no from what you have seen. If someone is a nationalist i dont mean to offend you and please look at this as a friendly debate. I would be delighted if you can reassure me that what he is joining is harmless and healthy for him.


1) Does your group claim to be the only "Way"?

2) Are you told there is no alternative?

3) Are you told leaving means certain degeneration, death or relapse?

4) Do members see themselves as different from society, special, chosen pioneers or on a mission?

5) Do you feel strong pressure to conform?

6) Do dissenters face rebuke or isolation?

7) Are there answers, clichés, quotes & slogans for everything?

8) Is your main social life within the group?

9) Do you spend huge amounts of time in group activities?

10) Are you expected to make regular confessions of private issues?

11) Do you ask the group for advice on life decisions before acting?

12) Are there many "clones" in the group?

13) Do you have a personal mentor, sponsor or inspector?

14) Does the group claim to be ultra democratic?

15) Are there favorites, cliques and secret circles, hidden hierarchies?

16) Are there rituals, initiations, proclamations, charters, ceremonies?

17) Does the group offer certainty over uncertainty; absolute truths, black and white answers in the name of religion or science?

18) Is a living or dead leader venerated?

19) Do leaders flatter, cajole and rebuke to manipulate members for control, power, money and/or sex?

20) Has the leader ever been the member of another political, social or religious sect?

21) Are other groups ridiculed or lied about?


i got the questionaire from here: http://www.gospelassemblyfree.com/facts/questionaire.htm

i saw another ten questionaires on cults , but they all ask the same kind of questions. If someone has any books or links that discuss politics and cults please let me know and id be happy to discuss, if im able of it! thanks for reading this rather long post.