Arguably, cults as well as cult behavior have tremendously spread throughout the society. In fact, it is taking people over their values and beliefs. In the 21st century, some cults are making dreadful effect among individuals in the entire globe. The society is full of problems, such as spiritual, financial, social, and political. Therefore, people cling to cult practices and behavior for spiritual enlightenment, financial fulfillment, and social achievements. Certainly, others become part of the cult because their family and friends are members of a specific cult. Individuals who are disillusioned and dissatisfied with life join cults. The research conducted among different individuals ranging from Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and other known cults. Generally, the cults reveal behaviors to a barefaced irrational degree.
Cults have specific behaviors and interaction strategies. In most cases, this cohesive groups in society share practices and beliefs very different from society mainstream groups. They form part of social groups existing due to infringement of society. Interestingly, the word cult could be used in either sociological sense or religious, but the word has a negative meaning (Abbott, 2010).
Based on research, personality view for cult behavior is exceedingly evident. Individuals who are members of the cult groups are softened up. This is one of the strategies used so that the mind of those intended to join can easily be manipulated to receive the doctrines and beliefs of the cult. In order to achieve this, the members of the cult use various methods to soften the victim (Stokes, 2008). It includes love bombing; victims and members are welcomed with greetings, love, reading paraphernalia, hugs, kisses as well as chitchat. The welcoming behaviors put its members in an off guard situation, hence, their minds cannot thing critically and question the teachings.
Behavioral control is the main way of inducing fear to an individual who seem to be questioning the doctrines of the cult. Those who behave well and follow the doctrines are praised. On the other hand, punishments can be unusually severe, mainly meant to stop individuals from socializing with family members and friends. The leaders are manipulative; he perhaps receives an ego trip, which he uses to make individuals do things against their nature (Abbott, 2010). Therefore, most cult behavior is surrounded by deeds that are against societal nature and human nature. Due to this acts, individuals are mainly driven, and manipulated by the leader to go against their natural instincts, for the sake of security and safety (Ralston & Ravi, 2003).
Undoubtedly, individual minds of the cult members have being altered altogether. The doubts of those in the cult have suppressed through mind-altering events such as speaking in tongues, debilitating work, chanting, denunciation, as well as meditation (Stokes, 2008). Hence, the group’s members become preoccupied with making money, and manipulating new people to join the cult.
Certainly, in some cases members of the cults develop maladaptive and inflexible traits and behaviors, which cause individuals to have extensively impaired occupational and social functioning. Those who have such impaired express it though altered pattern s of thinking, perceiving, as well as relating with oneself and the environment. To the opinion of those who were subjected to research, cults claim to be the only exclusive beings that do the will of God, yet in real life, what they do is totally different (Galanter, 2001).
Other manifested that cults destroy lives of people by extremely dictating the personal life of the members. For example, some cults go against divorce in marriage. This contributes to murder, and spousal abuse by forcing marred individuals who do not belong together to stay together (Ralston & Ravi, 2003). This scenario is very unrealistic. Additionally, some cults oppose blood transfusion and birth control strategies, in the opinion of many people this are murderers in one way or another.
Conclusively, people in society should be educated to understand the reality, rather than being mentally manipulated my cults (Galanter, 2001). By educating others and understanding the tricks, people in the world can be freed from enslavement of cults, and learn to explore realities of life. Hence, the understanding of cults in society should be a reality project, so that the cult practices and beliefs can be stopped from taking control of the world.
References
Abbott, S. (2010). The Cult TV Book. New York. John Wiley & Sons.
Galanter, M. (2001). Cults and New Religious Movements. London: Wadsworth.
Ralston, W & Ravi, Z. (2003). The Kingdom of the Cults. Minnesota: Bethany Press.
Stokes, J. (2008). Changing World Religions, Cult & Occult. New Jersey: Pearson.
