Cults, and Extreme Groups/Systems

your missing my point about the terrorism im saying the muslims that believe they are going to heaven and stuff for what theyre doing in punishing the infidels ect

Our Avenged Jules:

-Are there any ways to prevent cults from beginning, especially in teenage years?

I'm not sure. I mean, yeah I guess you can educate people about cults, etc. but if someone's determined to do/join the group, they most likely will.

Trying to force them to see the negatives, often compells people to want to join more.

When someone says "Don't do [insert action here]" I tend to have a little feeling inside me, wanting to do the action they've just told you not to do. Does no one else experience that?

I mean, I'm not saying that because of that I'm going t go join a cult in the future.

I just don't think that Education's that great an option. I have no idea what would work. But I don't think it's the solution.

-Are there any ways to prevent cults from beginning, especially in teenage years?
I'm not sure, really.

-What do you think appeals to people to join such cults, or groups with extreme beliefs?
Most often it's the images, beliefs, and especially messages that cults give off.

-Is it possible to maintain a regular, average life, while being in a cult?
Not all cults are completely evil or dangerous, so I'm sure it's possible, depending on the cult concerned.

-Is there a way to help people find their way out of cults?
Try and show them the bad and dangerous things about being in a cult.

-And do all cults/extremist groups pose a threat to the people involved, their lives, loved ones, and society in general?
Like in the third question, it really depends on the cult.

I think a lot of people do it because its the only pian they can control and after a while it gets addicting. And because they're reaching out for help they want people to notice and help them.

i think some other teenagers start cults because they think it's "goth"....

[size=80]-Are there any ways to prevent cults from beginning, especially in teenage years?
I don't think so. If someone wants to do something, they will find a way to.

-What do you think appeals to people to join such cults, or groups with extreme beliefs?
I think it's the fact that they could belong somewhere. I watch specials and read books on this [no, I do not have specific citations] and they always talk about how cults tend to prey on "loners" and people who are easily persuaded.

-Is it possible to maintain a regular, average life, while being in a cult?
I think it's popular to have the facade of one, but not really.

-Is there a way to help people find their way out of cults?
I'm sure there is. I just don't know it. Highly intensive therapy would be my guess.

-And do all cults/extremist groups pose a threat to the people involved, their lives, loved ones, and society in general?
All no.
Some, yes.

i think that cult is kind of an insult. but when mikey way says it... its sounds awesome.

i think that the word cult has such a bad reputation. when people hear the word cult they think "ohdeargod, where? lock the doors!"
but a cult is just a group of people who have gathered together because of similar interests and beliefs.
you could argue that this site is a cultsite.
but when a cult does something like a suicide pact...thats when it becomes extreme and weird.
i use the word weird becasue of a lack of a better term. thats when all the charles-mansionesq brainwashing comes into play, and thats when the freak out begins.
and thats when people need to lock the doors and look carefully through the blinds.
when cults become extremist groups, thats when people get hurt. and thats when parents or authority figures need to get involved.
until then--its just a "club", its just a "group" or "religion"

People who sacrifice themselves based on belief in a Myspace site is just plain idiotic.

It's at least arguable when it's a cult/ group that has been a long ongoing thing. but Myspace? myspace is dumb.

or rather...suicide pacts on myspace are dumb.
myspace is a website. and self-sacrifice because of a cult/group could be argued as dumb.

Watch Blare Witch.. Those are cults...
satanists are considered as cults..

Waht gets teenagers to join this sorts of stuff is curiousity...What's more to life than religion.. We seek answers for some questions we don't fully comprehend..

I study THE CRAFT.. and it's not a cult.. We existed even before Christianity did..
And yet, I am a catholic and love god..

Muslims, aren't that awful.. They are just so sensitive.. Which triggers their possibility of causing violence and inflicting harm..

NOt all cults are bad.. adn speak of death and self-sacrifice or suicide... Thatr, I assure you...

I think cults might be more appealing to younger people because they can believe that they can fit in or "Find a family". Gangs also use that stigma to recuit people too. Hey maybe some people can be normal in one, but I think most people in cults aren't mentally balanced.

-Are there any ways to prevent cults from beginning, especially in teenage years?
preventing people from having access to such cults is basically the only way to prevent cults from beginning, but that's never going to happen. People are always going to follow someone that seems to have authority, especially if they can convince you that they have a good idea.

-What do you think appeals to people to join such cults, or groups with extreme beliefs?
I think that a lot of the time it is charisma that makes people join cults, because the leader talks to them in a way that makes them feel special, and eventually that person thinks that what the leader says is true, especially if they can provide some evidence to their cause.

-Is it possible to maintain a regular, average life, while being in a cult?
yes. A lot of people are in cults, and they carry on as normal. Take a look at Scientology. It is technically a cult, as it was created by one person, and you have to pay to enter. Scientologists can often seem like normal people, who hold down normal jobs, whilst at the same time they think that is a woman screams during birth, Xenu will eat her baby.

-Is there a way to help people find their way out of cults?
No. Once people are in a cult, they are unlikely to be able to find a way out, unless you can convince them that the leader is wrong about what they are talking about. Unfortunately if the leader has been so convincing in the first place, this is going to be a little difficult

-And do all cults/extremist groups pose a threat to the people involved, their lives, loved ones, and society in general?
Not all of them. Some cults (ie Scientology) don't hurt anyone other than their own members reputations. Some suicide cults do obviously pose a threat to the members, but I think that if you know someone is a member of the cult, if you can get them therapy, you might be able to convince them to leave, or not to take part in the mass suicide.