Why People Fall for Cults
by Mike James
First of all, what is a cult? A cult is a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. The term has taken on a more negative connotation over the last 50 years. Today many people think of cults as a religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. Groups like the Manson Family, the Peoples Temple, the Branch Davidians, and Heaven's Gate would fit into this second definition.
Keeping in mind the negative definition, let's consider the reasons people fall for these extremist groups.
First, some people fall in with a cult due to their intelligence or lack thereof. Some people are too young to know better or not very experienced with life. On the other hand, intelligent people who fall in with a cult may be too smart for their own good. The more intelligent cult followers think they are smarter than the average person and privy to special knowledge than the average person. Many cultic groups will recruit young people on college campuses due to the fact these kids are away from home for the first time and more open to suggestion and investigation.
Second, everyone is programmed to be part of something larger than themselves. Getting involved with a community of like-minded believers and involving yourself in ritual, song, and meditation can lead to the release of chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin in your body. These feel-good chemicals can help you stay with the group that is providing the good feeling.
Many people also have a compulsion to conform to the norm. Once you have joined a group, there are psychological reasons to stick with it. Many cult leaders are aware of these tendencies and may institute rules to make it more difficult to seek outside influence once you are in the door.
Some who join cults do so because the world around them makes them feel very vulnerable. This lack of control or fear may lead some to join a group that seems to bring meaning and order to the chaos some experience in life.
Another big reason people stick with cults may have something to do with the charisma of the leader. Survivors of the People's Temple and Jim Jones spoke about the illusion of intimacy that Jim Jones could create with people. Some of the few survivors talked about Jones's knack of "impossible charm." He was said to have a knack of relating to anyone the very first time you spoke to him. Some said you felt like you knew him all your life the first time you spoke to him. One person said, "The way that he spoke…he was a great orator…it moved you, it inspired you…I was just enthralled."
Jones studied to be a great cult leader. He used to visit churches just to see how certain preachers could move their audience. Jones was well-read, and he could feel at home with an inner-city audience or an intellectual audience. He also learned some of his techniques from people like Father Divine and Hitler.
What is interesting about Jones' ability to connect with people is the fact this is a characteristic the apostle Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Paul talks here about being all things to all people to save some. Jones knew his Bible, and I'm sure he was familiar with this verse as he perfected his ability to connect with a range of people.
Charles Manson was also charismatic to his followers. Many of the members of the Manson family were young impressionable girls (teens and early 20s) who were runaways or came from families with issues. Manson's greater life experiences, criminal background, and charisma allowed him to manipulate these young women and some men to do his bidding.
What I would like you to take away from this short blog is the importance of relying on God first. Never rely on the capabilities of men or women. Friends, relatives, clergy, coaches, mentors, and counselors can be of assistance, and we can find help from all these sources, but never forget you must rely on Jesus Christ and His Spirit (Acts 4:12).
Sources:
Cultish: The Language of Fanatacism, by Amanda Montell, New York: Harper Collins, 2021.
The Oxford Dictionary
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/cult
"Five Reasons Why 'Normal' People Join Cults—And Why They Stay," by Saba Danawala, March 26, 2018, https://thetempest.co/2018/03/26/now-beyond/why-some-humans-find-their-personal-unicorns-through-cults/.