Category Archives: Cults

Why Do People Join Cults?

Leave a reply

Have you, or any of your loved ones, been involved in a cult? If so, what happened? Did he/she/they get out of the cult? Or, are they still involved in it?

Since I was raised Jehovah’s Witness, I find the subject of cults interesting. This is a good video that tells why people join cults.

I’ve often thought about doing a series about someone/some folks in a cult. I’d tell how each person got out of the organization. Not sure if I’ll ever write this series, but, it’s in the back of my mind.

So, have you ever known anybody who was involved in a cult? Please share details.

In The Midst of It All

2 Replies

In the Midst of It All

In The Midst Of It All by Tiffany L. Warren

Do you know anybody who’s involved with a cult? Have you ever joined a cult?

Zenovia has always been a loner. She has a schizophrenic mother, and she must watch her mom closely, hoping she doesn’t have one of her “spells” while in the company of others. She can’t have friends because explaining her mom’s condition to others just proves too difficult – plus, they would simply not understand. Things change for Zenovia when her and her mom receive some visitors from a church called The Brethren. Zenovia’s life makes a huge change when her and her mom are befriended by this unconventional, friendly congregation.

This book took me back in time, a long time back. So many things that the Brethren practiced, their weird beliefs, reminded me of my childhood, back when I was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness religion. The things that Zenovia and her mother faced, even the cavalier attitude of the Brethren regarding mental illness, was very realistic. This book is quite truthful in the way that a cult twists scripture and instead of having salvation by grace, they believe that salvation is granted by the heads of their church, which is totally wrong.

If you want to know what it’s like, being in a cult, then this is an excellent book to read. I highly recommend this novel.

So, have you ever been in a cult? Do you know anybody who has been involved in a cult? If so, what happened? Were they able to leave that toxic religion?

Grounds To Believe by Shelley Bates

4 Replies

Grounds To Believe by Shelley Bates

Have you ever been involved in a cult, or, known someone who’s been involved in one? What happened when you (or whomever) was involved with that group?

Ross Malcolm has a young daughter and he’s desperate to find his child. Years ago, he was involved with a woman (the mother of his child) who ran away with his daughter to join a cult. Ross has not seen his child in years, and wonders about her fate. A Christian, Ross is determined to investigate cults, hoping to stop their unreasonable practices.

Ross is alerted to investigate a cult when a pattern of mysterious children’s deaths becomes suspicious. When he rolls into town on his motorbike, he meets Julia, a member of The Elect, the cult he’s been called to investigate. He finds himself attracted to the beautiful plain-dressed woman. His ruse requires him to act as if he’s interested in becoming one of the Elect – the Elect feel that they are the only saved ones on this earth – all other religions are worldly and influenced by Satan.

I really loved this book because I saw several elements that were familiar in the cult environment. For example, The Elect don’t believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus – their salvation depends upon their Shepherd and his rules – God only speaks to them through their Shepherd and he decides their fate, not God. Also, they watch one another, if one rule is broken or bended, you could be Silenced, scorned for life, doomed to a life of Hell. Makes me wonder how one can stay enmeshed within a cult for so long – but, I suppose after being in it for so long and it’s all you know, you become close to the other members, and they’re like your family. It’d be kinda hard to give all that up if you don’t have others in the world in which to turn. The members of the Elect kinda reminded me of the Amish and the Shakers with their judgmental attitudes.

This was a good read over all! So have you ever been involved in a cult, or known someone who has? What happened? Tell me about the experience by leaving a comment!

http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/johns-quest.jpg

Need a good, emotional romance? Try John’s Quest, on sale now for 99 cents!

~Cecelia Dowdy~