Why is this so typical?

Question

http://libertypost.net/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=207376

Notice how the leader with the original idea isn't actually there.

Why is it so many people are deluded to such a degree they will put their children at risk?

Sorry,when I said typical I meant that the leader didn't actually go in and kids got dragged along.

Answer 1

First, I don't think the asker was suggesting that it's typical to join a suicide cult, but typical of people to gather behind a leader whose motivations may or may not be exactly as said leader presents them. The fact that they may not be should give them pause if not concern. Especially when the leader "sends" his followers to do something that he or she is not going to participate in.
There seems to be a tendency in human beings to respond to charismatic unctions to take up a cause, and in many, if not most cases, adherents don't apply critical thinking to the message. They say, "Don't listen to detractors. They will only brainwash you." Who's to say the brainwashing hasn't already been performed? Why don't we carefully analyze and consider alternate views to the one we're currently focusing on?
And where in blue blazes have all those "Question Authority" bumper sticker gone to?

Answer 2

What exactly does a doomsday cult do?

I mean, once you've predicted the exact date of the End of the World, what more is there? Everyone's just kind of sitting around "May 3, huh?", "Yup", "Well...", "Hmm... bad luck that.", "Yup, yup", "So... anyone see the game last night?"

I mean, what kind of spiritual enlightenment or fervor can you work up over that?

And it always seems like these doomsday cults don't even really believe their own philosophy. I mean, if you truly believe the World will End in spring, why on Earth would you stockpile supplies and spend time digging caves?

If I truly believed that the End of the World was coming in the spring, I'd be in Vegas racking the crap out of the maximums on my credit cards, driving fast, sky-diving, and engaging in a variety of risky, short-term benefit behaviours.

I certainly wouldn't be gathering hundreds of gallons of gasoline in some frozen Russian cave.

Answer 3

Cults feed on the insecurities and delusions of others. In an odd way, they are providing a service not found in mainstream society. Consequently, there really isn't much difference between a cult and organized crime when it comes to providing a service which is outside the norm - legal or otherwise.

Sad but unfortunately true.

Answer 4

It isn't actually all that typical. As the article points out, there are very few actual followers, and a sizeable number of any cult are always helpless children who have no choice but to follow their nut job parents, until, with luck, some sane outside force prevails.

Answer 5

Another person turned into a whack job by religion. His confidence in himself as a prophet drew people to him. It isn't really hard to do. Many people are looking for someone to lead them these days. This is what happens when you depend on religion to lead you instead of thinking for yourself. Sad. Especially for the children. Wasn't Jim Jones warning enough?

Answer 6

Typical of what, exactly? Every other 'Doomsday cult' I have heard of has the leader with them

Answer 7

Russia has a really long tradition of 'prophets'. Rasputin was far from the first, and that was a century ago.

Answer 8

Typical? It is actually out of the ordinary.

Answer 9

You call so few so many. Even statistically you are way out.

Answer 10

he was waiting outside for more to arive i thought the best bit was the fct he is a scitsophrenic.