Understanding Cult Behavior |
One of the greatest strength and weaknesses of the human race is the ability to rely on others to store information for us. Our brains can not hold everything we need to know to survive individually and we rely on others to figure things out for us. When we drive our cars on the streets we trust that the people who do the traffic lights have it figured out and we stop for red lights and go for green lights. Because of this trust and reliance on others, the human race has developed far beyond other life forms on this planet. But - there is a down side to this interdependence. What if the information we rely upon is wrong? What if people take advantage of us by making us rely on wrong information? How do we know if the common knowledge is real or fiction?
What makes people believe in things that are irrational? What flaws does the human brain have that can be exploited and how do you protect yourself and your family from being exploited? How does brainwashing work and how can you tell if you are the one brainwashed? How do I know that my religion, political party, or my country isn't a cult? How do I know if I'm being exploited? How can I determine if something is true or a lie?
Mental manipulation is common. It's rather easy to create a religious experience and make people believe that God is talking to their heart and that they should start forking over vast quantities of money in order to save their eternal soul from the fiery pits of Hell. In order to pursue reality the way it really is we should understand how people obscure reality and manipulate people and trick them. By understanding these tricks and educating others we can free people to explore reality the way it really is. It is therefore important that understanding of cults become a Church of Reality project so that we can prevent the cults from further taking control of the world.
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