What Cults Really Are

Cults do not ask people to think.

They ask people to stop thinking.

To trade self-awareness for obedience. To hand over their conscience to someone who claims to speak for God, or destiny, or "the people."

And here is the scary part:

Cults do not always look like cults from the inside.

They feel like loyalty. They feel like community. They feel like truth.

But there is a simple test:

Can you question the leader?

Can you change your mind?

Can you still act kindly, even if the leader says not to?

If the answer is no, you may already be in a cult.

That last question might be the sharpest test of all -- because cults survive by teaching you that outsiders deserve your hatred instead of your compassion.

Civilization depends on people who can think for themselves.

Cults depend on people who will not.

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Next in the series:
The Role of Unawareness

Series index:
Cults and Civilization -- Table of Contents