Most cults are not suicidal or violent in any way. Most cults will not come straight out and tell you some of their beliefs. And that's just the basics. The whole process a new member goes through is another story. It begins with being recruited.
Members often approach students on campus who are alone or appear vulnerable and lost.
All of a sudden people you hardly know will want to spend enormous amounts of time with you. Being loved usually isn't dangerous, but it can be when it is transformed into a strategy for obtaining new recruits. Once someone has shown interest in the group, a special meeting or Bible study occurs where members proceed to convince the new member that they are weak in their faith and will not be saved spiritually unless they follow the group's beliefs. Once committed to the group, there are several conditions or rules that members are expected to adhere to achieve salvation. The expectations and demands run high, and to not meet them is a blow to that member, who would then be considered weak or bad at heart, Kwan said.