Cult

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This morning I was watching a documentary about a cult that existed in Quebec and Ontario in the seventies. One of the experts described the process of getting pulled into a cult. He said that members often tell him about a conversion experience. They feel instantly welcome and different than they have felt before. In their hearts they crave more of it. They ask for a next step. They will do anything to keep having their experience.

When I think about church I often struggle with the fact that I am not necessarily feeling an instant connection and intimacy. It is work to be part of a church. I crave the feeling of being part of the group. I want to be part of something that pulls me in. Something that makes me want to take the next step. Sound familiar? I think in a lot of ways I have been looking for an experience that would only be satisfied by a cult. How scary is that?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Isn't it amazing how deeply attached that emotion is to our soul? It's like a bell goes off in my head when I think of why cults are so alluring. The interesting point is that these longings to be accepted and loved are common threads no matter what our background. As scary as it is to want to do anything to step further in-the scarier reality is the other side-loneliness-a disconnectedness. I think cults are a scary entity-preying on the longings of what we were meant for-community-controlling-manipulating and abusing that soft place-love.
9:44 PM
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