[toreesi]

The Star/Asia News Network
Sunday, Aug 19, 2012

Individuals who generally exhibit dependent or compliant personality disorders need to be dealt with by a professional, not a religious leader or medium, according to an expert on Religious and Cultural Studies.

Xiao En Cultural Endowment chief executive officer Dr Ong Seng Huat, who is a visiting professor in China's National Overseas Chinese University, urges families who fear that their relatives are being lured into cults or influenced by fake mediums to get professional help immediately.

"This is a mental health issue. The mind of an individual who is constantly aggressive, tired, stressed and suffering from sleep deprivation, is at risk of being brainwashed. Having enough rest is crucial for a rational mind."

Reading books on theology to gain knowledge is better than relying on the supernatural to solve your problems, he adds.

Dr Ong , who is also a Taoist high priest, says genuine religious leaders have a duty to help their followers who exhibit certain "worrying traits" such as cult leader worship.

"Followers with dependent or compliant personality disorders must be referred to psychologists or psychiatrists. A genuine religious leader must be able to spot these worrying behavioural problems which can lead to them idol worshipping the former. The problem starts when the leaders of genuine religious groups start enjoying the adulation because it could mark the beginning of a cult," he warns.

"For example, I know of an elderly millionaire who willingly spends his time and money just to keep the members of a religious group entertained - it just does not make sense. Even his personal driver is left at their disposal and he will try to accommodate all their requests.

"So, even someone successful and highly educated can have mental weaknesses that make him easy prey of such unscrupulous religious leaders," he says.

While it's true that Generations X and Y are well educated, they don't necessarily think laterally as life to them is "compartmentalised", Penang Hospital consultant psychiatrist Dr Lai Fong Hwa opines.

"The education' is applied only to the career and work compartments but for the other aspects, the knowledge gets blocked out and they just follow the traditions passed on by their parents or grandparents.

"Education trains them to handle problems at work but not how to deal with life. This explains the popularity of mediums," he points out.

The Penang MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau can attest to this, having handled several cases involving claims of supernatural occurrences.

Its deputy chief Lim Thoon Deong recalls how a teenager was allegedly molested by a renowned medium who had many "success stories".

"The father brought the girl to be healed' by the medium because she was frequently agitated, ill-tempered and performed badly in school," Lim, who is also the Penang Hospital visitors board chairman, shares.

He says the parents refused to lodge a police report despite busting open the door to find the girl naked during one of the sessions because they were simply too embarrassed.

Another case involved the parents of a young doctor who insisted that their daughter had been "charmed" by a man who made her part with her money and have sex with him. Lim said the woman is now suffering from severe depression.

Most recently, a 24-year-old tuition teacher allegedly tried to jump off an apartment building after he was believed to have gone into a trance.

"Most of the time, the parents or victims want the bureau to act against the medium or cult they claim is responsible for the bad things that happen but there really is not much that we can do unless they are willing to lodge a police report.

"Even then, when it involves black magic, it is difficult for the police to investigate because how does one find evidence of that?

"The bureau has a network of established religious bodies we can help put the complainants in touch with but please, if you honestly believe that spirits or a cult are causing problems in your family, don't simply approach any medium to conduct exorcisms."