A person was seeking security and meaning or would not have joined in the first place - leaving that can be hard.
A person susceptible to such groups probably seeks acceptance - leaving that kind of acceptance can be hard.
A person joining probably burned a lot of bridges with family and friends, and was probably quite strenuous as to how right they were and how wrong everyone elsewas - going back with an implicit admission they were wrong can be hard.
Those are some reasons. Another is that the initiations can be embarassing. If you stay, the initiation was holy and cool. If you leave, then you degraded yourself for nothing.
Always remember, though - if you can leave it, it wasn't a cult. It was a New Religious Movement that you just didn't agree with after all.
Leaving cults can be difficult because members are often emotionally and psychologically manipulated to believe that leaving would have severe consequences or that the group is the only source of truth and community. Additionally, individuals may fear losing their social support system, facing stigma or rejection from loved ones, or not knowing how to navigate life outside of the cult.
Cults themselves are not illegal, but certain activities or practices that cults engage in may be illegal, such as fraud, abuse, or manipulation. Authorities may intervene if cults are found to be engaging in criminal behavior or violating laws.
It is difficult to provide an exact number as cults come in different forms and sizes. Estimates vary widely, but there are likely thousands of cults operating around the world, each with their own beliefs, practices, and number of followers.
Cults have existed for centuries, with notable examples dating back to ancient civilizations. The modern concept of cults began to emerge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming more prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s with the rise of new religious movements and charismatic leaders.
Cults typically manipulate and control their members through deceptive practices, isolation, mind control techniques, and charismatic leaders to achieve power and influence over them. They often aim to exploit their followers for financial gain, to satisfy the leader's ego, or to fulfill a particular agenda. Cults create a sense of belonging and purpose for their members while imposing strict control over every aspect of their lives.
Religion and cults are distinct concepts. Religion is a system of beliefs and practices shared by a community, often with widespread acceptance and legitimacy. A cult typically refers to a more extreme or authoritarian group with manipulative or controlling practices.
Of course there are cults in Canada. There are cults anywhere!
Find out why they wish to leave so that you can get better understanding of their situation. If possible stay with them when cult members may call upon them. If there is any harassment then call the police. When to time comes for them to attend the cults meetings be there to help the resist the temptation. But do not force them to stay away, just be there for them.
Deadly Cults has 248 pages.
Cults - band - was created in 2010.
The ISBN of Misunderstanding Cults is 0802081886.
Cults of Unreason was created in 1973.
Cults - album - was created in 2010.
Cults Academy was created in 1967.
Cults in Our Midst was created in 1993.
Cults of Unreason has 257 pages.
Recovery from Cults was created in 1995-06.
Recovery from Cults has 432 pages.