Ah such a great point! While a talented, charismatic leader is often the early draw, it is the lovely people inside a community that keeps many inside. When I left "ES" I reached out to over a dozen people and none answered. Thankfully a few others have stayed in touch, but that can be rare. There is much heartbreak over division policies in communities.
U r 2 much, Anastasia! And to have such a faithful canine....
Yes on the underestimation of cult numbers. Perhaps all the features you named are reducible to the instinct of bowing to authority.
On second thought, also the instinct of loyalty to one's fellow group members.
a fave of mine from Rudyard Kipling:
"Like the ivy that girdles the tree trunk,
The law goes forward and back.
For the strength of the pack is the wolf
And the strength of the wolf is the pack."
Yes…we just need healthier groups!
Ah such a great point! While a talented, charismatic leader is often the early draw, it is the lovely people inside a community that keeps many inside. When I left "ES" I reached out to over a dozen people and none answered. Thankfully a few others have stayed in touch, but that can be rare. There is much heartbreak over division policies in communities.
Yes, to discern cult involvement one must truly look at the relationship between internal vs. external authority...xx Yes Sparky is a trouper!