Cults are one of the most fascinating phenomena in our society. We love to watch documentaries about them, listen to crazy stories from former cult members, and thank the forces above that we have never been tricked into joining one. Currently, there are about 10,000 cults in the U.S., at least according to cult expert Steve Eichel.
The International Cultic Studies Association estimates that about one percent of the American population (about three million people) have been in a cult at some point in their lives. Around 50,000 to 100,000 people possibly enter and leave every year.
It's not easy to recognize when someone is trying to get you into a cult. But Bored Panda recently came across a thread where former cultic group members were sharing the major warning signs. "At what moment did you go, 'Oh [wow], I'm in a cult'?" one Redditor asked. And people's answers proved what cult experts often say: the fact that only gullible people get recruited into cults is a myth, and sometimes cultic groups are lurking where we least expect them.
#41
When I realized I was buying a new phone only because the new one was supposed to be ‘better’. When my friend bought a laptop as good as mine for half the cost. When I ran out of cloud storage and I realized the next tier up was three times the cost and amounted to nearly $200 a year. I could go on.
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14points
#42
When I wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t enough that I showed up, paid money and contributed to the group—there was always this hint of disappointment that I couldn’t bring in more people, through subtle hints like, “You can bring other people if you’d like! We’d love to be able to save your loved ones,” to, “Why don’t you ever bring people in? Your loved ones deserve to be saved!” And people who were socia and outgoing were described as the most desirable people to invite into the church. My pastor straight out said, “We aren’t going for thenloners you see sitting alone at lunch. We need to go for the social kids with groups of friends all around them. It’s our goal to save as many people as possible so we need to go for them!”.
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#43
I can’t remember an exact moment but things started to click when I wasn’t allowed to go home by myself anymore and my parents refused to have anymore involvement so they tried to make me go live in Georgia with total strangers. I got out not long after.
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12points
#45
My parents were in this religious cult that always ask for crazy amount of donation. It even send families out to pioneer for the religion. We were one of the family.
Then coming to Canada and we had financial/immigration issue. The organization immediately distanced us. Only then did we realize this was not what we thought it was.
The way they motivated people was like any cult I have heard of.
Then coming to Canada and we had financial/immigration issue. The organization immediately distanced us. Only then did we realize this was not what we thought it was.
The way they motivated people was like any cult I have heard of.
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12points