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Any good doomsday cult will rapidly develop enemies. People will be upset after you isolate followers from their former friends and families while mainstream religions will grow indignant at your bastardization of their faith. There are watchdog groups who persecute all cults relentlessly and law enforcement will eventually investigate any pre-war preparation. You must therefore have a good battle plan long in advance and be prepared to use every means at your disposal. Remember that you cannot use the same control methods with secular critics as one does with followers. If you declare yourself God’s Messenger and threaten detractors with Hellfire, it will be used as evidence that you are dangerous and unstable.
The best defense is always a good offense, and use people’s own systems against them. Threaten critics belligerently with legal action and lawsuits, even for the mildest offenses. Claim religious persecution at every turn, and invoke first amendment rights. This kept the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses cults viable so long and allowed the Church of Scientology to bankrupt the vicious Cult Awareness Network. Never forget that your wacky doomsday cult is protected under the constitution and that having a handful of lawyers is a better weapon than an army of apostles and garage full of C-4. It is also very handy to have cult members who are highly educated and professional to act as spokesmen, and celebrities to herald your message and plight to the media.
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