How do cults form... what are the building blocks for a cult?

by AK - Jeff 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  OnTheWayOut

  ...cults often 'evolve'. The people at the top who want to control others begin to adapt to what seems to work to accomplish that - perhaps subconsciencly, and the control becomes 'tactical' without even trying over time.

  That would explain why so many have a hard time saying that WTS is a cult. Nobody was trying to
  make a cult. It evolved into one. JW's (and people in general) tend to believe that a cult is formed
  intentionally by an unscrupulous "leader." It also helps people to understand why a cult like WTS
  doesn't fit all the classic definitions of the cult- many things about the doctrine and structure were
  developed by sincere believers in the religion.
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  writetoknow

  Sounds like all the tools big business uses toget people hooked into buying and giving their souls to money!

  Perhaps people have their own motives for getting involved with an cult religion and cult religion uses those motives to meet their ends? And perhaps people hold some accountablity for being mislead as well?
• 

  Ancient One

  Mostly it is no different to any business, if there is a niche market, a "need" that no one else fulfills or at least does not fulfill in expected manner then soon enough someone will come along to take advantage of it. Like many businesses cults can also start as somebody's passion, a hobby they entertained only privately but as they started talking they found out there are willing souls ready to follow suit. Soon enough a critical mass is created and you have self-propelled cohesive unit that identifies with newly established world view.