Many Americans believe the dangers of cults have faded, but nothing could be further from the truth. The People's Temple and today's cults have much in common, including the deliberate breakdown of a person's individual personality in order to enhance the egos and the financial coffers of leaders. And everyone, regardless of religious background, is vulnerable to the sophisticated recruiting techniques involving deception, mind manipulation and emotional seduction. The political cults are fanatically ideological. Some of the commercial groups pose as management training programs that are sold to companies with the promise of increasing employee productivity and corporate profits.
Therapy cults claim to help people solve their personal problems and fulfill their human potential.
Cult members are no longer just college-aged young people. Middle-aged men and women are being aggressively recruited into cult groups. And in some cases, entire families join. Thousands of children are born into cults or brought in by their parents as new members. Sadly, some children in cults are deprived of proper medical care, adequate nourishment, quality education, and parental love.