The Censorship of Language in Cults: Control Through Words

Language is a powerful tool that shapes our thoughts, perceptions, and interactions. In the context of cults, it becomes more than just a means of communication—it turns into a critical instrument of control. One striking way this control is exerted is through the censorship of language, including the prohibition of swear words and other forms of expressive speech. I’ve experienced this firsthand in confrontations with my daughter’s cult leader, where even everyday language was policed as part of a broader effort to suppress autonomy.

In this blog, I’ll explore how cults manipulate language to maintain authority over their members, the psychological consequences of this censorship, and the wider implications it has for freedom of expression and the erosion of individuality.

The Role of Language in Cultic Control

Language is fundamental to human communication and thought. By controlling language, cults can influence how their members think, feel, and behave. This control extends to vocabulary, grammar, and even the emotional tone of speech.

Key Tactics in Language Control

1. Vocabulary Restrictions: Cults often create their own specialised jargon or lexicon, limiting members' use of common language and replacing it with terms that reflect the cult's ideology.

2. Grammar and Syntax Control: The way sentences are structured can also be controlled to promote certain ways of thinking and discourage dissent.

3. Censorship of Expressive Language: Swear words and other forms of expressive language are often banned to suppress emotional expression and maintain a façade of purity and order.

Why Cults Censor Swear Words

Swear words are a form of expressive language that convey strong emotions and can be a means of releasing tension or expressing discontent. By censoring swear words, cults aim to achieve several objectives:

1. Suppressing Dissent: Swear words can be a powerful tool for expressing frustration, anger, and rebellion. By banning such language, cults reduce the likelihood of members voicing dissent or dissatisfaction.

2. Promoting a False Sense of Purity: Many cults present themselves as morally superior or spiritually pure. Prohibiting swear words helps maintain this image by eliminating language that could be perceived as impure or vulgar.

3. Controlling Emotional Expression: Swear words often carry strong emotional weight. By censoring them, cults can limit members' ability to express intense emotions, thereby reducing emotional outbursts that could disrupt the group's harmony.

4. Reinforcing Ideological Conformity: Language censorship is a means of reinforcing the cult's ideological boundaries. By controlling what can and cannot be said, cults ensure that members' speech aligns with their teachings and values.

(Check out the Netflix series The History of Swear Words for an interesting and humous documentary about the role swear words have in communication.)

Psychological Impact of Language Censorship

The censorship of language, including swear words, has profound psychological effects on cult members:

1. Reduced Emotional Expression: Limiting the use of expressive language stifles members' ability to articulate their emotions fully. This suppression can lead to internalised frustration and psychological distress.

2. Loss of Individuality: Language is a key component of personal identity. By controlling language, cults erode members' sense of individuality, making them more malleable to group norms.

3. Cognitive Control: Language shapes thought. By restricting language, cults influence how members think, limiting their ability to conceptualise ideas that fall outside the cult's doctrine.

4. Increased Dependence: Language control fosters a dependency on the cult's lexicon and communication patterns, making it difficult for members to relate to outsiders or reintegrate into broader society.

Case Studies of Language Control in Cults

Scientology

Scientology is known for its extensive use of specialised jargon. Terms like "Suppressive Person" (SP), "Operating Thetan" (OT), and "auditing" are part of a controlled vocabulary that reinforces the group's beliefs and practices. Swear words and negative language are discouraged, promoting a sanitised and controlled form of communication.

The Family (Children of God)

The Family, also known as the Children of God, used a unique blend of religious and everyday language to create an insular communication system. Swearing was heavily frowned upon, and members were encouraged to use language that reflected the group's spiritual aspirations and moral codes, for example the term "systemites" was introduced to describe anyone who held real-world jobs, although it could be extended to anyone outside of the group.

Jehovah's Witnesses

While not always classified as a cult, Jehovah's Witnesses exhibit cult-like language control. Members are encouraged to avoid swearing and use language that reflects the group's doctrinal purity. This control extends to avoiding "worldly" expressions and emphasising terms specific to their beliefs.

The Broader Implications of Language Control

The censorship of language in cults is a microcosm of broader issues related to freedom of expression and individual autonomy. Controlling language limits critical thinking and dissent, key components of a healthy, democratic society. 

1. Freedom of Expression: The ability to speak freely, including using swear words, is a fundamental human right. Language censorship undermines this freedom, restricting personal expression and intellectual exploration.

2. Critical Thinking: Open language use encourages questioning and debate. By censoring language, cults stifle critical thinking and the exploration of alternative viewpoints.

3. Individual Autonomy: Language is closely tied to identity. Controlling language erodes personal autonomy, making individuals more susceptible to manipulation and control.

Censorship of Language in Cults

Cults' censorship of language, particularly swear words, is a powerful tool of control that shapes members' thoughts, emotions, and identities. By understanding these tactics, we can better appreciate the importance of language freedom in maintaining individual autonomy and fostering a healthy, open society. Recognising and resisting language control is essential to preserving our rights to express, question, and think freely.

👥 Recover From Coercive Control Online Counselling is available for people who have experienced religious trauma, spiritual abuse, or any issue relating to cults and coercive control.

Further Reading

• Language and thought: Aspects of a cognitive theory of semantics

• Censoring offensive language threatens our freedom to think

• Cultish: The linguistic tricks cults use