At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
What if your very good friend got sucked in by a cult, but that friend doesn't realize it?
I would do my best to get them out of it and then tell them why it is a cult. Kidnap them if I have to.
ReplyDeleteBetty
I would probably try desperately to get them out.
ReplyDeleteBut what if they don't want to go?
DeleteI don't think I would argue with them about it since that would only make them cut off contact, which I'd want to keep open for when they're (hopefully) ready to leave.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the tweet showing up on the blog page is very appropriate for the question today.
I'd tell them and hope they'd understand what was really going on.
ReplyDeleteIdeally... But the point of a cult is those that get sucked in don't realize they've been brainwashed. They believe that everyone else is out to get them.
DeleteI'm a pretty bossy, cult-busting friend. I might burn the whole thing down behind me.
ReplyDeleteAh, but your friend believes in the cult. Your friend might object.
DeleteI would do all I could to encourage them to leave. There are cults that have their own compounds and then there are those that are actually accepted by society as a mainstream church! Most of all I'd keep them covered in prayer.
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to stay with them Star Trek was viewed was a cult in the 70s because it became a mainstream hit, reruns conventions etc. So if I had a friend that viewed a "star trek" cult like a religion which it was, I be there and find out what was going on. If it was a scam Id ask big questions which generally works.
ReplyDeleteI assume you are wanting to know how I would handle that, what I would do. I would talk to them, try to get them to see what was really going on. It would be hard if they did not care to listen to me and at that point, as much as it would hurt, I would have to go and let them live their life.
ReplyDeleteThat would be hard. Hopefully the cult isn't hurting them.
DeleteI would tell them what I thought then avoid them. Especially if that cult involved Tupperware or that replacement super food powder mob. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, those are the most dangerous cults ;)
DeleteUnless the cult is breaking the law, there isn't really much you can do about it other than try to convince the person they're making a mistake. Maybe offer to pay for a psychologist or counselor if they're willing to go. I think most people join cults because they feel alone and they want to be a part of something different.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is true (from what I've read). Good point.
DeleteWith all of these "what ifs?" I would think you'd have a slew of novels written by now! I love this premise.
ReplyDeleteThat's assuming that I'm actually writing anything... Yeah, well, um...
DeleteIsn't that always the way? My friend since childhood is the type to fall for it, too. I don't know what I'd do to help her, honestly. Jennifer is right. Interesting premise.
ReplyDeleteIt is a hard one.
DeleteEh. This is when I'd be down with a kidnapping. lol
ReplyDeleteThis is a tough question because I would want to "kidnap" my friend and bring him/her to a place to be de-programmed. Some friends and/or family meet a person and that one person can bring disaster. In the end, one may have to let them go but have them know the door is open for when they return
ReplyDeleteYeah, the kidnapping could backfire so easily...
DeletePerhaps I would be condemned because I wouldn't be trying to kidnap them. You can't talk people out of this type of situation. I think the most I could do was let the friend know I will be there if she changes her mind - and then let her go. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIt's hard when someone won't change their mind even though what they're doing is destructive.
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