People's brains work quite differently, according to temperament, experience, the requirements of a situation. Another person may spark off ideas or emotions in them. Anything really! So when I read a book one year, it may lead to thinking along different avenues from reading at another time. Other material will get added meantime. Something that seemed meaningful, can feel ridiculous later. It should be our privilege and right to think as we wish, and to change our minds. Others may wonder or ask, but not try to force us.
Cults are bigger news now, largely due to the Internet, and more people speaking or writing about their experiences, to help others and maybe prevent their being drawn into something harmful. It becomes possible to see similarities or patterns. One aspect is the personality of cult leaders, and techniques used to entice members, imposing increased measures of control. It seems a given that people higher up in a cult or type of organisation, have a basic drive to have followers, whose freewill becomes severely diminished. Some groups begin low-key, even democratic, but something can happen that reverses that.
We have an option over who we mix with, neighbours, colleagues, family members, likely partners, and so on. Some cultures, or families, have strict rules about some of this, making things difficult for those making a partial transition to a different way of life.
This Blog is continued from https://groupsandminds.blogspot.com Groups, Minds & Beliefs
