people like Jim Jones or David Koresh to their death? What is the common denominator among these people?
2007-01-05 08:21:52 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Charisma to a fault.
Lots of fences and locked doors.
2007-01-05 08:28:16 · answer #1 · answered by <><><> 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From interviews with those who lived through such events or got out just before, the reason they became followers was because they felt lost and alone in the world and these groups promised love and acceptence. This can happen in legitimate religions also, people feeling sepperated or "different" can be turned on to almost any walk of life if they feel they can have acceptence. Even Atheism.
However, religions like Branch Davidian, Heavens Gate and the like, lack sober minded people. You may or may not believe in Catholicism, or Christianity, or Atheism, but those groups DO have educated, right minded members.
2007-01-05 16:34:31 · answer #2 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stupidity
2007-01-05 16:32:20 · answer #3 · answered by samssculptures 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like lemmings rushing to death en mass in a stream, the drive to blindly follow a charismatic leader is one area of life that requires examination on many levels.
To begin with, the charismatic leader himself is usually a delusional person who has great ability to deceive himself first, and fine honed skills to deceive others, second. The person is also usually good looking, and often well dressed. One must only consider the political mastermind of the German leader Adolph Hitler in our recent geopolitical history to see this dynamic in action.
Second, the followers usually begin with a "Core" group of people who are for various reasons, easily manipulated into being under the leader's "control." These people are transfigured by their association with the specific leader, often enjoying perks and accolades reserved (or they come to believe are reserved) only for them.
The later members are "charmed" into believing if they give more, do more or push harder, they to can earn the Leader's favor.
Finally, I have found that the type of individual who responds well to this type of manipulation are people seeking a father figure. They are most often, but not always, children who grew up in a very chaotic home, with weak and inconsistent parenting. Interestingly though, they often themselves become extremely authoritarian in their own parenting, forcing blind fealty by force of their own children to the Leader and to them as parents.
I have researched cult behavior as a lay person, motivated by a desperate and futile attempt to understand my best friend from childhood, who cut all ties with me and others after becoming a member of a fringe Christian cult which requires their members to sell their worldly possessions because the preacher deserves his jet plane, house in the Hampton’s, private ivy league educations for his kids, etc. etc. because "he's doing God's work."
Sadly, cults of these types usually exist under the banner of something good, only to have the snake in the grass to morph into a Medusa of Evil.
I myself am a Christian, with a very strong, but examined faith. I cannot imagine myself without a spiritual dimension and a church family. However, I also cannot imagine not being able to disagree, on occasion, with a particular teaching, or even leave if I find a need.
Most egregiously, the cult leader not only spiritually deeply wounds the person who is recruited, but also wounds the children of those people who are truly blindly led, who become abused and often emotionally damaged to a level we cannot begin to fathom.
2007-01-05 19:14:15 · answer #4 · answered by HipandChic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mankind has been searching for answers to questions for over 6000 years.
Some people have enough charisma to draw others to themselves.
A small percentage of the world follows those who promise more than they can deliver. When they can not give them what they promised, then the only answer is mass murder or suicide.
2007-01-05 16:29:43 · answer #5 · answered by Here I Am 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
IQ between 70 and 100. And concrete thinking.
2007-01-05 16:28:40 · answer #6 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a lack of reason logic and common sense and being weak minded helps the brainwashing process easier as well
2007-01-05 16:27:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gullibility.
2007-01-05 16:25:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
brainwashing. They used denial of basic needs and embarassment to make these people follow their every word.
2007-01-05 16:24:45 · answer #9 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
lack of self esteem is a big one. People who need attn. and love will go anywhere for it.
2007-01-05 16:28:15 · answer #10 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋