People join cults mainly for three reasons. One, they just search a nearby community against their own loneliness. And if it’s not a club, party or NGO etc, then it’s quickly becoming a cult, because also the cult needs growth , money and followers. Two, people still don’t understand many things in nature or science, so they replace the missing links of knowledge with something powerful and almighty, mostly a god or a communication skilled new religion leader. Three, people don’t like to accept the fact that their life is over one day. They want a reason for their existence, want to live longer, be honored and remembered, want a wonderful place in eternity. Of course that’s impossible. Do you know where your 30th generation before ancestors are buried, know their name, remember them through books, stories etc and honor them? Of course not, they are simply dead, forgotten, nowhere else then again in atoms or molecules anywhere.
Sven gave a lot of good points, and here's my two cents. I know someone who joined a cult for about a year and left abruptly. What she told me was her current faith felt not enough and wanted to explore other ways to explain the unexplainable. I realized that considering Japan has a pantheon of Shinto gods, it is only expected that people will try to form groups that will worship one entity that is usually founded by someone who felt that they were touched by that said deity, whether that be true or false. I'm a Catholic and there are lots of cults in my faith, especially in the countryside of my home country. I remember a Theology teacher teaching us that new religions are formed through the following cycle: Thesis (status quo of established religion) - Anti-thesis (someone disproves the status quo) - synthesis (the anti-thesis gains a following) - Thesis (establishment of new status quo).
Do you know where your 30th generation before ancestors are buried, know their name, remember them through books, stories etc and honor them? Of course not, they are simply dead, forgotten, nowhere else then again in atoms or molecules anywhere.
Their message is in me and has been passed through me. “30th generation”? Why choose as an example so recent a generation?
There's the Cult of the Liverpool KOP and their Cult of Klopp. Does not have to be religious to be a cult but the KOP is like a religion to the fans. KOP & KLOPP.
What people join are not "cults." That's what other people call them who despise them. It's like the "N" word. People of colour don't use it. It's used by people who wish to put them down.
As for why people join "cults", whatever we want to call them, they join because they are looking for answers in life. Whether they find answers or not is another thing. Who's to tell? They may not be our questions.
What people join are not "cults." That's what other people call them who despise them. It's like the "N" word. People of colour don't use it. It's used by people who wish to put them down.
Religions, political parties, multi-level marketing schemes, nations in a way, are ALL 'cults' where there is a central belief system and an hierarchical structure and the people on the 'bottom', often through some sort of system of coercion or enforcement, support the parasitic cadre at the 'top'. THAT last is their only real 'purpose'. They all have recruiting ability, 'convincing' and mind capturing concepts, and offer an 'identity' to people for whom just being themselves isn't enough. And, as BertieWooster above points out, the word 'cult' is a pejorative used mostly by people in other cults. One of the most famous 'cult' leaders in Imperial Rome, for example, was Cephas (aka Peter) and time has demonstrated the danger of 'cults' by this one example alone. 'Cults' are perhaps Mankind's greatest flaws and strongest contradictions to the idea of 'Human intelligence'.
I just got to finishing Netflix's documentary, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, about the FLDS, and my takeaway is:
a) theres this deep-seated need to belong, to have purpose in a community, whatever that may be
b) they were deceived in their quest to better themselves and contribute to society - promised one thing but got another but at then are either brainwashed enough and/or too scared to leave
c) the "normal" system failed them and they're looking for an alternative form of care and support
They need to feel they're part of something that's bigger than them or are too scared to die (who isn't?) or what's after dead.
Or need to find some kind of answer to the universe and they'll believe whatever someone who's good at talking fantasies tell them.
I have family members who belong and are deep into the cult La Virgen Del Pozo, founded by Angel Collado. Supposedly Virgin Mary appeared to him when he was a kid and showed him what hell is so we pray and believe in Jesus and stuff.
I love them (family members) but I've seen and heard them talk/do some crazy stuff for the last three decades. They're bananas crazy.
There is a nice Japanese lady who lives in my area. She's nice but kind of a Spacey Tracy type. Anyway, she was telling my better half that she was attending religious meetings and about how nice all of the people were and about how nice the group leader was. And then one day, after a few months of these meetings, the nice group leader proclaimed, "I'm Jesus Christ!" At that moment, Spacey Tracy's jaw dropped and she knew she was mixed up in a really weir religious group.
Why do people join cults?
Maybe it gives some people a sense of purpose and also a chance to meet other people, but be careful where religion is concerned.
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Sven Asai
People join cults mainly for three reasons. One, they just search a nearby community against their own loneliness. And if it’s not a club, party or NGO etc, then it’s quickly becoming a cult, because also the cult needs growth , money and followers. Two, people still don’t understand many things in nature or science, so they replace the missing links of knowledge with something powerful and almighty, mostly a god or a communication skilled new religion leader. Three, people don’t like to accept the fact that their life is over one day. They want a reason for their existence, want to live longer, be honored and remembered, want a wonderful place in eternity. Of course that’s impossible. Do you know where your 30th generation before ancestors are buried, know their name, remember them through books, stories etc and honor them? Of course not, they are simply dead, forgotten, nowhere else then again in atoms or molecules anywhere.
Toshihiro
Sven gave a lot of good points, and here's my two cents. I know someone who joined a cult for about a year and left abruptly. What she told me was her current faith felt not enough and wanted to explore other ways to explain the unexplainable. I realized that considering Japan has a pantheon of Shinto gods, it is only expected that people will try to form groups that will worship one entity that is usually founded by someone who felt that they were touched by that said deity, whether that be true or false. I'm a Catholic and there are lots of cults in my faith, especially in the countryside of my home country. I remember a Theology teacher teaching us that new religions are formed through the following cycle: Thesis (status quo of established religion) - Anti-thesis (someone disproves the status quo) - synthesis (the anti-thesis gains a following) - Thesis (establishment of new status quo).
Anonymous
Their message is in me and has been passed through me. “30th generation”? Why choose as an example so recent a generation?
Aly Rustom
because society does not offer them a sense of belonging.
Yrral
The mass want to be deceived,so let them be deceived,
wallace
There's the Cult of the Liverpool KOP and their Cult of Klopp. Does not have to be religious to be a cult but the KOP is like a religion to the fans. KOP & KLOPP.
It also happens at many other clubs.
Maybe the question should be "what is a cult?"
rcch
Imho the two main reasons are escapism and ignorance. Both are directly connected to the fragility of the human mind and human stupidity.
noriahojanen
When joining a cult, most people are not aware that it's a cult. That's why the cult problem is serious and complicated.
Algernon LaCroix
They want to belong to something, and find meaning in life, but with easy answers. Cults provide these, but with a heavy price to pay.
blvtzpk
“I’ve been involved in a number of cults, both as a leader and follower. You have more fun as a follower, but you make more money as a leader”
Creed BrattonYrral
Cult are unlimited to religion,it can be racial , political and cultured driven
ushosh123
definition of a cult -
So, in a world of individuality and not conforming to established standards, and the mere existence of religion, means people will be in cults.
Strangerland
So the difference with religion is only in size.
BertieWooster
What people join are not "cults." That's what other people call them who despise them. It's like the "N" word. People of colour don't use it. It's used by people who wish to put them down.
As for why people join "cults", whatever we want to call them, they join because they are looking for answers in life. Whether they find answers or not is another thing. Who's to tell? They may not be our questions.
GuruMick
Well I'm bored today and would be open to any cult recommendations .....over to you my fellow bloggers
Speed
For a sense of belonging, a sense of community and support. Just like your major religions.
Strangerland
Yes, the adherents call it "religion".
William Bjornson
Religions, political parties, multi-level marketing schemes, nations in a way, are ALL 'cults' where there is a central belief system and an hierarchical structure and the people on the 'bottom', often through some sort of system of coercion or enforcement, support the parasitic cadre at the 'top'. THAT last is their only real 'purpose'. They all have recruiting ability, 'convincing' and mind capturing concepts, and offer an 'identity' to people for whom just being themselves isn't enough. And, as BertieWooster above points out, the word 'cult' is a pejorative used mostly by people in other cults. One of the most famous 'cult' leaders in Imperial Rome, for example, was Cephas (aka Peter) and time has demonstrated the danger of 'cults' by this one example alone. 'Cults' are perhaps Mankind's greatest flaws and strongest contradictions to the idea of 'Human intelligence'.
Ptolemy-lives
They are disjoined from family and desperately seek to be part of some group.
purple_depressed_bacon
I just got to finishing Netflix's documentary, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, about the FLDS, and my takeaway is:
a) theres this deep-seated need to belong, to have purpose in a community, whatever that may be
b) they were deceived in their quest to better themselves and contribute to society - promised one thing but got another but at then are either brainwashed enough and/or too scared to leave
c) the "normal" system failed them and they're looking for an alternative form of care and support
Garthgoyle
They need to feel they're part of something that's bigger than them or are too scared to die (who isn't?) or what's after dead.
Or need to find some kind of answer to the universe and they'll believe whatever someone who's good at talking fantasies tell them.
I have family members who belong and are deep into the cult La Virgen Del Pozo, founded by Angel Collado. Supposedly Virgin Mary appeared to him when he was a kid and showed him what hell is so we pray and believe in Jesus and stuff.
I love them (family members) but I've seen and heard them talk/do some crazy stuff for the last three decades. They're bananas crazy.
John-San
The first and main fact is loneliest.
stormcrow
There is a nice Japanese lady who lives in my area. She's nice but kind of a Spacey Tracy type. Anyway, she was telling my better half that she was attending religious meetings and about how nice all of the people were and about how nice the group leader was. And then one day, after a few months of these meetings, the nice group leader proclaimed, "I'm Jesus Christ!" At that moment, Spacey Tracy's jaw dropped and she knew she was mixed up in a really weir religious group.
Why do people join cults?
Maybe it gives some people a sense of purpose and also a chance to meet other people, but be careful where religion is concerned.