In Reply to: Re: Jesus the Anarchist posted by moonshiner on June 18, 2006 at 14:21:31:
If I were to join the Nazi party knowing what it stands for and embracing its doctrines I would be responsible in part for the atrocities carried out by it. At some point as I became aware of atrocities and felt it justified according to the state in spite of overall world opinion I would face some responsibility for that.
Cults RECRUIT. They target vulnerable people or people at vulnerable stages of life. Most teens I know that were old enough or almost old enough to get involved in the day lacked maturity and life experience to be able to discern what motivations leadership could have. Instead most were very naive and trusting and easily exploited.
I am surprised at what seems to be PC in viewing people that "joined" as youth. imo and looking back I would say that most people I knew that were recruited had the same naivete.
Most were idealistic and oftentimes lonely, searching for purpose in life. Many were disillusioned with the war and with their peers even as the seventies devolved into destructive drug useage.
I can remember before I was recruited that I was a teen in the "summer of love". My experience of that time period meant there were free concerts, people struck up conversations and got to know others easily, some sought a sense of greater family in communes and smoking pot was a normal past time for youth of all types.
Later I watched as a guy I knew came back from VietNam with a bad heroin habit and the scene shifted to violence associated with drug habits. People at free concerts began to rip each other off. At this same time I was seventeen and waking up to the reality of the world around me while seeking to escape the world of my family of origin.
The family presented itself as a Christian commune based in sacrifice and greater good of the world and a safe place providing all the answers. I would never in a zillion years have guessed what DB and his ilk were doing behind the scenes.
By the time I had some inkling I was totally convinced that red flags and conscience were the devil. Things were introduced in increments and with a lot of psychological reinforcement.
I left before any camps or anything were created and I felt I was wrong for leaving for some time afterwards.
I thought God was going to kill me or someone close to me for leaving.
I figure I have already been to hell and it was -The Family.
I won't condemn anyone for having "joined". What some don't seem to realize is ANYONE can have a vulnerable time in their life when they could be susceptible to cult recruiting efforts and ANYONE could have their psyche rearranged as a result of getting involved.
What seems to be forgotten at times is that after leaving, that psyche can get straightened out via a return to sanity or an introduction to sane living for the first time.
For that I am grateful.