Cults and Mental Defect

[Saigon]

Do you feel that a person that is in a cult, suffers from a sort of mental illness or defect?

Such as the members of:*

Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown led by Jim Jones)

the FLDS (Fundamental Latter Day Saints led be Warren Jeffs)

the Order of the Solar Temple (led by Luc Jouret)

Heaven's Gate (led by Marshall Applewhite)

Branch-Dividians (led by David Koresh)


*These are examples, they do not constitute the only cults included, and are considered cults by government papers.

[Saigon]

[Eye]

No actually, I do not. I believe that ANY one who is looking for something more, and then is offered it can be persuaded in any direction...


Kind of like, sometimes I think I'm brainwashing myself by listening to too much talk radio! LOL! Ok, I know I'm mental, but you get what I mean.

[Midge.T]

Mental defect? No.

I think it's human nature to want to be lead, belong to a group and have something to believe in strongly.

If anything people who begin and run cults like the ones you mentioned merely take advantage of people who lose themselves in wanting those things.

[Geotech]

Originally Posted by Saigon Do you feel that a person that is in a cult, suffers from a sort of mental illness or defect? Such as the members of:* Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown led by Jim Jones) the FLDS (Fundamental Latter Day Saints led be Warren Jeffs) the Order of the Solar Temple (led by Luc Jouret) Heaven's Gate (led by Marshall Applewhite) Branch-Dividians (led by David Koresh) *These are examples, they do not constitute the only cults included, and are considered cults by government papers.

Are you saying I suffer from some sort of mental defect? As you yourself is a member of the cult of Geo.

[Saigon]

Originally Posted by Geotech Are you saying I suffer from some sort of mental defect? As you yourself is a member of the cult of Geo.

I said members, not leaders

[Amber]

Sometimes, perhaps. But for the most part, I'm not sure.

[Mrz. Robinson]

Originally Posted by Midge.T Mental defect? No. I think it's human nature to want to be lead, belong to a group and have something to believe in strongly. If anything people who begin and run cults like the ones you mentioned merely take advantage of people who lose themselves in wanting those things.

I agree

[Geotech]

To answer the question no it is not a defect, generally people who join cults do so at weak times in their lives, cult leaders, and those that recruit for cults, look for this situations in people, and prey on them. The sense of belonging that they project to the furture mirror is obviously alot of smoke and mirrors.

[Amy]

No, I don't. They're looking for something- as we all are- and find a religious group that meets their needs.