Why do people join cults?

Monday 21st April, 01:00 AM JST

Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

papasmurfinjapan at 04:22 PM JST - 21st April

Actually I just noticed the ad at the top.

Am I the only one that finds it quite amusing that an advertisent for the church of scientology is at the top of a thread talking about cults??
outofmydepth at 06:56 PM JST - 21st April

people who join cults have no direction, no personality, really not much in their lives. they think by joining a cult their lives will have meaning. yeah, just look at how much meaning costs for most of these cults - monetarily, mentaly, spiritualy, moraly - i could go on. it is a heavy price to pay for "belonging." For me, I wouldn`t want to pay the heavy price. Just look at AUM, the branch Davidians, and now the polygamists in Texas and Colorado. people have lost their moral compass and are looking outside themselves for salvation. just look into yourself and practice the golden rule and you will be alright.
AdrianinDallas at 11:09 PM JST - 21st April

ALL religion is a "cult." No gods have ever existed; it's all wishful thinking on the part of adults who haven't grown up (while insisting they have).

Those not suffering from the mental illness that is religious "belief" know that purposely infecting children with the virus that is such "beliefs" is child abuse. Cults are havens of child abusers. (Hello, Catholic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter Day Saints (Mormons), et al!)
papasmurfinjapan at 09:17 AM JST - 22nd April

just look into yourself and practice the golden rule and you will be alright

Amen
Cos at 10:32 AM JST - 22nd April

Frankly, I've always had more fun at cults than at gaijin bars. You meet all sorts of people, all ages, there are parties, you play games. I could even practice hypnosis and talk to ghosts. In Japan, it's one of the few things you can do with all your family, attend a cult. I agree that cults and religions don't differ, and most of them exist at two level, the first one is a quite positive social circle and mutual support, the second is about fanatism and brainwashing.

I've always considered the speech was theater. That God exist or not is not the question problem, I'm certain that no God asked ask cults to be organized nor told the gourous to control others. The problem is when you let the cult think instead of yourself.
telecasterplayer at 12:21 PM JST - 22nd April

I joined for the all-you-can-eat Friday Night Chinese Buffet. Stay away from the Kool-Aid, though..
whynothow at 02:09 PM JST - 22nd April

people who join cults have no direction, no personality, really not much in their lives. they think by joining a cult their lives will have meaning

People join cults for the the same reason they spend hours everyday on news sites, commenting, debating with a buch of faceless geeks.
whynothow at 02:10 PM JST - 22nd April

bunch
Nessie at 03:08 PM JST - 22nd April

Dear God,

Why do people join cults?

Yours in faith,

Jesus Christ
capone at 05:46 PM JST - 22nd April

shouldn't this question have been directed towards people who actually joined cults ?
Everton2 at 05:54 PM JST - 22nd April

For the same reasons people join the KKK, Catholic Church and the Republican Party
MichaelJP at 07:23 PM JST - 22nd April

Is Scientology legal in Japan??? I need to start my own cult. Chicks dig cult leaders.
umbrella at 07:23 PM JST - 22nd April

because they desire to give away their cash?? To get some sex??
Triple888 at 09:27 PM JST - 22nd April

Human rights! Any human can choose what they believe in! So such thing as a cult! Authorities should not interfere with peoples' personal lives.
Everton2 at 12:33 AM JST - 23rd April

Triple888 Cult leaders are simply skillful manipulators. The road to cultism is littered with the bodies of those who have fallen victims to doctrines that have encouraged suicide and civil disorder on a mass scale. I don't have to point out the many examples because i am sure you are fully aware of them. To say that these people should be left to their own devices is at best dangerous to all of us. This is why we have laws to protect those who are unable to recognize the intrinsic con that is contained in some teachings, that may lead us to do things that are contrary to our natural tendencies.