The Appeal of Cults to the Vulnerable

The article titled "The appeal of cults," talks about how cults lure their followers in. The author talks about how cult leaders often target people by offering them a "Free of Charge get together at a retreat," for lonely people this may sound appealing, because they are longing for some kind of connection with the outside world. The cult leader may reach out to the person by offering them friendship and companionship. According to the author, cult followers become dependent on their leader. The cult leader often tries to convince the followers that they have some kind of special gift, talent, or knowledge. The author also says that some cults use techniques such as brainwashing to help control their followers. It is said by using mind control and brainwashing the cult members become totally dependent on their leaders.

In some extreme cases, the cult members are not allowed to make any decisions without consulting the cult leader. The cult leader may also make the follower cut off all ties with their family and friends to show their loyalty to the group. Many people believe that people who join cults must be uneducated and easily manipulated, but that is not the case. For example, the Heaven's Gate cult (which ended up being a mass suicide) consisted of males and females of black, Latino and white ethnic backgrounds from all over the country. They also ranged from 26 to 72 years of age and they were all educated, most computer skilled and some even musicians. But as the author says, they were also very needy and depressed since many of them had abandoned their friends and family many years earlier.

Although many people may think that cults are only appealing to a small number of people in America, over 20 million people in the past 20 years have been involved in some kind of cult. Many people feel very lonely in American society and although they would not normally think about being in a cult, loneliness and depression can make people do crazy things. Many people in cults will do whatever they are told because they believe that is their only way of survival. Some cult leaders are so convincing, that they can sexually molest their followers, make their followers give them money and even in worse case scenarios they will make their followers commit murder and suicide.