Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 59
the student body. The ―uniform‖ of black coats and their behaviors all spoke to their feeling
of being united, however loosely, with other ―outsiders‖ in an attempt to control their
situation. In the Columbine case, they were asserting their sense of being ―somebody‖
their sense of power and control as they shot their schoolmates. What tragedy a cult
leader could develop with such angry and estranged youths!
Other youths are idealists and have become impatient with and critical of established
institutions in our society. The cults appeal to that cynicism with the assertion that they
have the answers to the world‘s ills (Hunter, 1998). Many of these young people are
alienated from their families, and may not have had a strong relationship with their father
(or a father figure) (Schwartz, 1998 Schwartz &Kaslow., 1982). That may be even more
true today, when there are so many single parent families, than when we surveyed ex-cult
members some 20 years ago. Psychological stress, identity diffusion, rootlessness, inability
or unwillingness to make choices, and lack of consideration of long-term consequences of
decisions made are other factors seen in those successfully recruited. The early all-
enveloping stages of being in the group, of being told how special you are, and of having
someone else make decisions for you can be very seductive to some of these youths.
When it comes to cult leaders, we have a different picture. I doubt that even Levine was
aware when he wrote his article that there would be twin 12-year-olds leading a ragtag
army composed of fundamentalist Christians -named ―God‘s Army‖ -in a largely Buddhist
environment through Thailand and Myanmar in an attempt to right wrongs that they
perceived, particularly against their co-religionists. The swagger that these cigar-smoking
brothers have emerged even in still newspaper photos, and the charisma they must convey
to have hundreds of males adolescents and adults following them obediently, is
remarkable
Indeed, their followers ―believe the twins have magical powers that guarantee victory and
ward off harm‖ (McDowell, 2000). They are also believed to be invulnerable to bullets and
otherwise invincible. They are no different than other charismatic cult leaders who must
have a certain ―something‖ to attract and keep a devoted following – usually comprised of
late adolescents and young adults. Even this little army had some of the characteristics of
cults: the self-perception of being ―special,‖ commitment, communal passion, almost super
energy, intolerance of outsiders, a goal to be attained – combating violently wrongs
perceived as having been done to them. When they surrendered to the Thai Army early in
2001 (Associated Press, 2001), the boys admitted that they had no supernatural powers
and expressed a desire to be reunited with their parents, then living in a refugee camp in
Thailand.
In terms of those who become cult leaders, one might well watch the development of one
traveling evangelist in Pennsylvania. He is bearded, wears a long white robe, and preaches
the Gospel as well as offering solutions to his listeners‘ spiritual dilemmas. Some residents
of one community in the Northeast corner of Pennsylvania have already accepted Carl J.
Joseph, who seems to prefer being known as ―What‘s Your Name,‖ as a personal emissary
of Jesus. In appearance, he certainly looks like the drawings of Jesus seen in some religious
books (Florio, 2000). He claims to have been a traveling preacher for nine years, although
there is no indication of how he supported himself in this period. Depending on one‘s
orientation, he might be perceived as just that a traveling preacher or as a possible
future cult leader if enough people see him as a miraculous healer, or perhaps as a
reincarnation of Jesus, among other possibilities. The potential for development of a sizable
group of adoring and obedient followers appears to be in place. Indeed, an editorial in the
Philadelphia Inquirer in mid-February 2000 warned Joseph of the possible impact of media
celebrity in these words: ―His season of temptation has begun.‖
the student body. The ―uniform‖ of black coats and their behaviors all spoke to their feeling
of being united, however loosely, with other ―outsiders‖ in an attempt to control their
situation. In the Columbine case, they were asserting their sense of being ―somebody‖
their sense of power and control as they shot their schoolmates. What tragedy a cult
leader could develop with such angry and estranged youths!
Other youths are idealists and have become impatient with and critical of established
institutions in our society. The cults appeal to that cynicism with the assertion that they
have the answers to the world‘s ills (Hunter, 1998). Many of these young people are
alienated from their families, and may not have had a strong relationship with their father
(or a father figure) (Schwartz, 1998 Schwartz &Kaslow., 1982). That may be even more
true today, when there are so many single parent families, than when we surveyed ex-cult
members some 20 years ago. Psychological stress, identity diffusion, rootlessness, inability
or unwillingness to make choices, and lack of consideration of long-term consequences of
decisions made are other factors seen in those successfully recruited. The early all-
enveloping stages of being in the group, of being told how special you are, and of having
someone else make decisions for you can be very seductive to some of these youths.
When it comes to cult leaders, we have a different picture. I doubt that even Levine was
aware when he wrote his article that there would be twin 12-year-olds leading a ragtag
army composed of fundamentalist Christians -named ―God‘s Army‖ -in a largely Buddhist
environment through Thailand and Myanmar in an attempt to right wrongs that they
perceived, particularly against their co-religionists. The swagger that these cigar-smoking
brothers have emerged even in still newspaper photos, and the charisma they must convey
to have hundreds of males adolescents and adults following them obediently, is
remarkable
Indeed, their followers ―believe the twins have magical powers that guarantee victory and
ward off harm‖ (McDowell, 2000). They are also believed to be invulnerable to bullets and
otherwise invincible. They are no different than other charismatic cult leaders who must
have a certain ―something‖ to attract and keep a devoted following – usually comprised of
late adolescents and young adults. Even this little army had some of the characteristics of
cults: the self-perception of being ―special,‖ commitment, communal passion, almost super
energy, intolerance of outsiders, a goal to be attained – combating violently wrongs
perceived as having been done to them. When they surrendered to the Thai Army early in
2001 (Associated Press, 2001), the boys admitted that they had no supernatural powers
and expressed a desire to be reunited with their parents, then living in a refugee camp in
Thailand.
In terms of those who become cult leaders, one might well watch the development of one
traveling evangelist in Pennsylvania. He is bearded, wears a long white robe, and preaches
the Gospel as well as offering solutions to his listeners‘ spiritual dilemmas. Some residents
of one community in the Northeast corner of Pennsylvania have already accepted Carl J.
Joseph, who seems to prefer being known as ―What‘s Your Name,‖ as a personal emissary
of Jesus. In appearance, he certainly looks like the drawings of Jesus seen in some religious
books (Florio, 2000). He claims to have been a traveling preacher for nine years, although
there is no indication of how he supported himself in this period. Depending on one‘s
orientation, he might be perceived as just that a traveling preacher or as a possible
future cult leader if enough people see him as a miraculous healer, or perhaps as a
reincarnation of Jesus, among other possibilities. The potential for development of a sizable
group of adoring and obedient followers appears to be in place. Indeed, an editorial in the
Philadelphia Inquirer in mid-February 2000 warned Joseph of the possible impact of media
celebrity in these words: ―His season of temptation has begun.‖
