Cults fascinate me. I’ve read about the Manson Family, The People’s Temple, the Branch Davidians, the Moonies. And I’ve watched closely a few well-known Indian ‘gurus’ who have managed to con people in a huge way.
Cults Fascinate Me
I’ve just finished watching a documentary on Discovery Plus called ‘My Daughter Joined A Cult‘, that follows the life of the controversial Indian ‘godman’, Swami Nithyananda. Watching this made me so upset, especially since I know an old colleague of mine actually went to stay in his ashram. She was lucky to get out because of a scandal that rocked the ashram soon after she joined. Other men, women and children were not so lucky. Some of them are dead and others missing.
I’ve read ‘Born into the Children of God ‘
How can one man or one woman wield so much power over so many? What makes people so open to being preyed upon? How can people stand by and watch others being abused in the name of religion, rituals, etc? What makes disciples of of these ‘gurus’ turn on the other disciples and abuse them. Perhaps the best answer comes from a cult-survivor.
People do not knowingly join “cults” that will ultimately destroy and kill them. People join self-help groups, churches, political movements, college campus dinner socials, and the like, in an effort to be a part of something larger than themselves. It is mostly the innocent and naïve who find themselves entrapped. In their openhearted endeavor to find meaning in their lives, they walk blindly into the promise of ultimate answers and a higher purpose. It is usually only gradually that a group turns into or reveals itself as a cult, becomes malignant, but by then it is often too late.”
― Deborah Layton, Seductive Poison: A Jones town Survivor’s Story of Life and Death in the People’s Temple
Cults are such a fascinating study in human nature – power, mob mentality, exploitation, blind faith – are all on display. And always cults are a reminder to me of how easy it is to give up one’s power to someone else, if you are not watchful.
Are you similarly fascinated?
May you be inspired – every day!
Corinne
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Yes, cults fascinate me too, Corinne! I’ve read a few fascinating accounts of the Jim Jones story (including “A Thousand Lives”) in Jonestown. It’s all so bizarre to me, but I know that it’s very real that people do get sucked into them.
I haven’t read ‘A Thousand Lives’ but I should. I always wonder how the cult leaders justify what they do? I guess at some point they start believing their own lies!
That Nithyananda guy, wanted for rape and murder, has fled the country and set up his own country!!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Puzzles and Creativity
I am not fascinated but I feel bad about people with good heart being betrayed. In one way, the cults take away their innocence and open-mindedness.
Yes, they are to be pitied and rescued where possible!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Stay Grateful And Peaceful
To me they seem to be a place for ‘angry’ people young and old to feel wanted, safe and loved. The ‘leader’ has a way of changing their tears to laughter and that’s all they need to enable them to say yes, I will follow you.
I often wonder if Jesus’ disciples were scorned like this…
Cathy recently posted..A Pam’s Recipe Book
S/he makes them feel good for a short while, until evil reveals itself.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..17 Seconds
Rightly said……It is mostly the innocent and naïve who find themselves entrapped. A part of the blame lies with the parents who knowingly or unknowingly lead their kids to believe that they have to follow a ‘religion’
Joe recently posted..Schaumburg Illinois
While I agree that parents are often to blame, I’ve found that many people who’ve grown up without any religion are drawn to cults too.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Puzzles and Creativity
Sounds bizarre how these cults are places where people get sucked in all too easily.
A relative of mine once fell prey to a cult group in his youth and we’ve heard horrendous tales of how difficult it was to escape the clutches after he discovered the real picture behind their motives.
It still gives us jitters when someone mentions this group.
Sad, how the gullible are taken for a ride and worse still, how these leave terrible mental scars in the victims years after they’ve come to a safer place.
Esha recently posted..A Mid-Week Free Write
I just watched the Netflix docuseries called “Keep Sweet, pray”. It is about the FLDS cult. As it is a polygamist cult, the men are allowed to have several wives. The prophet or head of the FLDS church had 70 wives and some of his wives were as young as 12 years. His father, married a 19 year old girl when he was 85 years. Both father and son were pedophiles. However, the cult members were so influenced by them that they were not ready to see their crime. Fathers willingly gave their daughters to be married to the prophets. My blood boiled watching the series.
I am so glad you wrote about this dear Cory. It’s uncanny but today this is the second piece I am reading about how cults can destroy individuals.
I completely agree.
The worst part of their scheme of things is to manipulate and get people to dole out huge sums of money, and be part of a sexual racquet. It is appalling to say the least. I have seen/heard of families disintegrate, thanks to the cult culture.
It’s sad how in the name of religion and spirituality cults/spiritual gurus spin a web of no return. People going through difficult times end up being easy victims.
Someone needed to write about this. And it’s good to see you did.
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