Yes, I have seen and noticed this manipulation tactic in Christian cults. Making you feel small, powerless, and doubting of yourself is a way to build dependence upon the organization. They always say that it is "god" you're supposed to be depending on but the organization speaks for god so you have to listen to and pay them.
It was one of the things that really tripped me up the first few months after discovering the truth about the scam of Mormonism. Despite everything I had learned about the history of the cult and the things they lied about and the blatant gaslighting, I was still thinking, "what if this is just pride? What if I'm falling prey to the adversary and trusting unto mine own understanding?" It had been hammered into me so hard, the need for me to trust in the metaphysical forces of the world and be humble, that when evidence was right in front of my eyes, given to me by the church itself (saying one thing and then saying another), that I just couldn't trust myself at first.
It was one of the things that really tripped me up the first few months after discovering the truth about the scam of Mormonism. Despite everything I had learned about the history of the cult and the things they lied about and the blatant gaslighting, I was still thinking, "what if this is just pride? What if I'm falling prey to the adversary and trusting unto mine own understanding?" It had been hammered into me so hard, the need for me to trust in the metaphysical forces of the world and be humble, that when evidence was right in front of my eyes, given to me by the church itself (saying one thing and then saying another), that I just couldn't trust myself at first.
