The wife of a Supreme Court justice is a former cult member.
There are questions about her alignment with conspiracy theories.
Insider was told why Thomas might be taken in by far right conspiracy theories.
The wife of a Supreme Court justice pushed conspiracy theories about voter fraud after the election.
Thomas, who was a member of Lifespring, a controversial group that was part of the "human potential movement", has surprised many people by aligning herself with far-right conspiracy groups.
Steven Hassan, a former-cult member-turned-cult-expert who worked with Thomas during her anti-cult activism days, told Insider he is not surprised by her involvement with the far-right conspiracy movement.
Anyone who has ever been in a cult is vulnerable to another cult if they haven't properly counseled and done their homework.
Lifespring was founded in 1974 to teach its members self-confidence, self-esteem, lowered job stress, a heightened sense of control in life, and a more positive and pleasurable range of events and experiences.
Thomas was involved in the 1980's. The Washington Post reported in 1987 that Thomas talked about how the group pushed her away from her family.
She became an anti-cult activist in the 1980's and 90's after leaving the group.
—Steven Hassan, PhD (@CultExpert) March 31, 2022
According to Rick Alan Ross, a cult expert who was familiar with Thomas' work during her anti-cult activism days, she worked for a Republican congressman.
She helped people who were part of the Cult Awareness Network get in touch with people who were in the political world.
Thomas spoke about leaving Lifespring at a 1986 Cult Awareness Network event in Kansas City.
When you leave a cult, you have to find a balance between fighting the cult and exposing it. Getting a sense of yourself is one of the other angles. What are the questions that need to be answered?
Many who knew her as an anti-cult activist were confused by her embrace of conspiracy theories. When her allies weren't hired onto Trump's administration, she blamed the deep state. She had claimed in text messages that Trump had watermarked mail-in ballots to track voter fraud and that politicians were being sent to Gitmo.
The key difference between a cult and a cult is that it lacks an all-powerful leader, according to Ross.
I believe that Qanon is a cult. A destructive cult usually has an all-powerful, charismatic leader that is an object of worship. Ross said that Q remained anonymous.
According to Ross, Thomas's current beliefs align with her long-held political views and should be viewed separately from her current affiliation with the current conspiracy theories.
I don't believe that her involvement with Lifespring in the 1980s has anything to do with her current politics. Thomas was a very conservative Republican before and after Lifespring.
A majority of Republicans agree with some of the conspiracy theories that she believes in.
A group of people who believe in baseless plots and secret wars have formed a community.
A group of Satan-worshiping elites who run a child sex ring is trying to control our politics and media according to a December 2020 poll.
Thomas was raised in a conservative family. She has been associated with conservative groups throughout her life, including the Tea Party movement and later the more fringe Groundswell, a group she founded after consulting with Steve Bannon, who became Trump's chief strategist.
She has become more involved in the political sphere, spouting far-right rhetoric and conspiracy theories.
Ginny Thomas has a lot of beliefs. They are not the result of brain washing. She and Clarence Thomas share the same beliefs that she held before she entered Lifespring. She is who she is
Ross says that the work that Thomas did as an anti-cult activist shouldn't be overshadowed by her current interest in conspiracy theories.
There should be congressional hearings on brainwashing, cults and Qanon. He said it's important to educate people on how someone who's very intelligent and educated can get into a conspiracy.
I know that she's been influenced into these beliefs and I have not called her stupid or crazy. He said that her brain has been hacked.
Business Insider has an article on it.
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