Destructive cults are among us

When most people think of cults (or sects, though there are differences in meaning), their minds conjure up small groups with a narcissistic cult leader. The leader is always right. He can do no wrong. Sometimes, the cult leader wants to take his followers to some other place or dimension which is likely a form of heaven. I don’t need to tell you what his disciples must do to get to heaven. We’ve seen that story play out several times, if not more.

But there are all sorts of destructive (not all are destructive) cults, sects, and deranged people on this planet, especially today, in 2025. Look at Holocaust denial. It’s rampant. It’s not just concerning, it’s alarming. It’s vital to develop a sense giving you a profile of who you come in contact with. It’s absolutely essential for your survival. No hyperbole.

Now, cultists, zealots and fanatics might not be immediately obvious. They might even tell you openly they belong to a particular group. ”Well, if they are open about their allegiance, then clearly it can’t be that bad?” That depends. Bear in mind no cult members, whatever the size of their cult, are going to just drop their masks. Professional cult deprogrammers point to the fact that cult members are often taught how to interact with the outside world. To put on a mask of sanity, if you will. They are going to seem reasonable, they are going to be friendly, they are going to be helpful. They will do what they can to show you the best aspects of their cult (they won’t call it that, of course) and – that’s vital to understand – make it seem as if it’s your choice to want to learn more about the group. That’s how clever cults work. You don’t feel pressured at all, so how can you be manipulated? Clever.

What’s your financial status? Please be honest with yourself, because cults are after affluent people. The reasons are obvious. If you think cult leaders want poor people with no influence and skills, people who can’t represent the group well, think again. Dangerous cults, not harmless groups posing as influential, don’t care about someone who has nothing to offer. This much ought to be obvious. Cults want money, cults want exposure.

Cult members are likely going to pretend this isn’t so, that they are against all the money-worship (they might even quote the Bible, why not, whatever works) but it’s all for show. They are telling you what you want to hear. Their agenda is clear: convert you, and turn you into an asset. Meaning: gain access to your finances and more rich and influential people.

Now, if it turns out that you’re too smart for their mind games and you won’t be the new recruit, member, convert, call it whatever you want, expect the mask to drop because they no longer need to keep up the charade. You’re unlikely to be confronted directly, but expect comments from random accounts, sock-puppet accounts, and so on. These random comments you’re going to get are the true face of cult members you’re interacting with in the ”real world” when the mask drops. You’re likely going to read about going to hell and similar such pleasantries. You’re nodding, I see. Yep. I’m glad it resonates. If you’re a linguist, you might even enjoy the challenge of identifying the ”anonymous” authors. It won’t be hard if you’ve exchanged views or written messages with them. Their style is likely going to be the same when ”undercover.” Cult members are often arrogant, they believe they can’t be outsmarted, because they are the ones going to heaven, while everyone else is going to hell. That’s their weakness. If you get messages from some random accounts about going to hell, congratulations, you win.

High intellect doesn’t make you immune to cult mind games. Remember.

Consider the following scenario. You come across someone who seems like an alright person. A good person, even. But that person belongs to a religious group that, maybe not all members but some influential members most certainly, are fervent Holocaust deniers.

That person makes no secret of the fact he or she belongs to that group, except he or she absolutely condemns Holocaust denial.

”Does this person stay in the group or leave it?” Key question that tells you a lot about who you’re dealing with.

Would that person still be on your friends’ list, so to speak? Or no contact ever again? Not out of hate. Out of decency. Why associate with someone who has no problem being in a Holocaust-denying group? Cutting contact looks like the only sensible option.

You see, the problem is, that even when individuals seem alright, they are still heavily influenced by the group – so heavily, that they are likely unwilling, indeed, unable to think outside of the paradigm imposed on them by the group, often from birth. Would such people have a problem lying to you about their real stance on the Holocaust? Of course not. You’re an outsider, and such groups often even enjoy lying to outsiders. It amuses them. It’s like a spectacle. Individuals who were born into such groups find it perfectly acceptable, even expected, to lie about Holocaust denial because that’s how it’s done in the group. Cult members know they can’t drop their masks at work, for example. They know what you want to hear and they’ll put on a show so convincing, you’re going to be sure they despise Holocaust deniers.

Or maybe they really are telling the truth about condemning Holocaust denial. Use your best judgment.

The whole cult situation gets much more dangerous when fanatics, religious or otherwise, gain access to influential positions, such as national-security-level jobs. That’s a huge problem and it’s best to get out of any country where religious radicals have access to security service apparatus (yes, like Iran, but not only, there are way more nations like that than it seems).