There is nothing I like talking about more than failed relationships and cults. I practically stalk the scientology people every time I am in clearwater. If you really think about it someone who joins a cult probably has had a failed relationship with themselves for years. Here are some reasons why people join cults
- Members do not know initially that they are joining a cult
- Low self-esteem
- Loneliness
- Young people more likely to join especially in a time of personal crisis (post break up, loss of family member, lost of job)
- Finding purpose in life, searching for answers
- Women are more likely to join cults. I couldn’t find a lot on why, but my guess is because women are usually more agreeable than men in terms of personality traits
All these elements could be applied to the cult NXIVM. NXIVM was found by Keith Raniere in 1998. The company was suppose to be a self improvement group with the goal of making people experience more happiness in their lives. Apparently some of their programs cost 2,700 dollars for a 5 day course to rewire the brain based on “science”. Smallville actress Allison Mack joined the group after a two day seminar.
She later was the co-leader of a sex-cult within the group called NAS. The group was suppose to mentor female. Part of the initiation to get into the group was to get branded. The women in the group were sleep deprived and starved on purpose.
Keith Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in year for sex trafficking. Allison Mack is sentenced for 3 years for racketeering conspiracy charges. How does someone go from acting in a popular T.V show to co-leading a sex cult. The video below provides a lot of those answers. It is basically a 90 minute conversation of Allison Mack and Keith Raniere talking about nothing for most of it. The way she looks at him, it is like she is in love with him and he could convince her to believe in anything or do anything. Like join a cult.
Other quotes by Allison Mack
I didn’t know you could spend time with someone and not be nervous
I had the job, I had the dog, I had the car, I had the boyfriend, I had everything I thought I needed to be okay, but I couldn’t spend more than two hours with my family a day.
I want to be remember for the relationships I had and for the ways I was able to increase the lightness in the world.
Something tells me that this is not how she will be remembered.
