Please, Just Tell Me What To Do
Religion. Political Parties. Cults. Gangs. Fandoms.
What do all of these have in common?
Likeminded people. We’re always surrounding ourselves with people who agree with us, who share our values, morals and interests, or for some reason, popular figures we feel obsessed with due to a kind of talent (or no talent) and inexplicable charisma.
Individuals who share the same goals. Some religions want to make the world a better place. Some religions think that mass conversion is how to do this. Politicians who want to be voted into power on assurances that they’ll do all they can to serve their constituents. White supremacists or other hate groups who want to eradicate all other peoples.
The final and most important point is a sense of belonging.
All people who commit themselves to a group or organization are searching for this. It’s the common denominator. I’ve seen recovery interviews from people who have left hate groups, cults, or gangs explain that the biggest incentive for them joining was feeling like they were part of something bigger, or part of a family. The biggest tragedy is learning that many of these people didn’t have a solid support structure with their own families, and therefore turned to the only option that was available — or the people who sought them out and recruited…
