One thing that has always astounded me is how all those senior citizens and lower-middle-class rural MAGA folks are being duped into supporting something that is very contrary to their existence? Why don’t they understand that almost everything their leader does will eventually hurt them? Why do they cling to him so?

When I came across a post from my blogging buddy and fellow Jesus Follower over at Things That Need To Be Said I realized that I have not considered all the possibilities as to the reasons why. It is a story about a son and his seventy-four-year-old mother.

“She just believes every word out of his mouth, everything she watches on FoxNews.” he said. “I can’t reason with her. It’s like talking to someone who’s been brainwashed. She isn’t the mother I knew.”

This is how cults work. They gradually alter people’s brains, attuning them to a singular voice, and weaponizing them against any dissenting opinions. To their manipulated minds, efforts to reach them with objective truth become acts of aggression against the one they see as divine—and trigger an ever-more passionate affection toward their leader. They will defend (even to relational death with people they once loved) that one person.

America is in a cultic crisis, and Trumpism is the cult.There is no other way to approach these days.

When you believe one man above Science, above our Intelligence agencies, above former CIA directors and retired generals and revered journalists—when you believe that one man above even your own eyes and ears—you are fully indoctrinated.

Source: John Pavlovitz

Could it really that simple and yet so complicated? That got me looking at the characteristics of cults and I was somewhat startled by the similarities I found!

I personally cannot fathom the possibility that I could ever be indoctrinated into a cult. My question everything foundations and strong will would never allow that to happen, at least I don’t think it would? But, I know that it happens to many, but the reason why escapes me.

I know this topic can’t be even lightly analyzed with just one post so I will finish it up my say on this topic tomorrow.