Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, Page 15
leadership, with mechanisms to replace leadership when necessary. The transcendent
reality remains as transcendent to a living leader as it does to devotees—all can fall, all can
rise equally, all can find inspiration, none are ―God.‖ After writing an earlier draft, I came
upon this same concept by authors David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen (1991) in their
analysis of abuse in Christian churches. Their illustration has the same democratic
relationship that leaders and members should have with the transcendent (Jesus in their
illustration) and with one another.7
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Cultist’s
ultimate
experience
remains
here, below
the leader.
You might be sad,
happy, hurt, or
bored. Magically, a
new purpose
attracts and alters
your life as you
emerge from the
old, unenlightened
self and world.
The seeker feels the
urge to move quickly
and decisively or
lose the opportunity.
Social surround/perils
The cult member’s
rut or pit
Leader’s
domain
Cult member experience as seen from surround or by
outsiders
Exit perils Exit perils
leadership, with mechanisms to replace leadership when necessary. The transcendent
reality remains as transcendent to a living leader as it does to devotees—all can fall, all can
rise equally, all can find inspiration, none are ―God.‖ After writing an earlier draft, I came
upon this same concept by authors David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen (1991) in their
analysis of abuse in Christian churches. Their illustration has the same democratic
relationship that leaders and members should have with the transcendent (Jesus in their
illustration) and with one another.7
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Cultist’s
ultimate
experience
remains
here, below
the leader.
You might be sad,
happy, hurt, or
bored. Magically, a
new purpose
attracts and alters
your life as you
emerge from the
old, unenlightened
self and world.
The seeker feels the
urge to move quickly
and decisively or
lose the opportunity.
Social surround/perils
The cult member’s
rut or pit
Leader’s
domain
Cult member experience as seen from surround or by
outsiders
Exit perils Exit perils
