I have found two basic types of people that join cults (aside from those born into one – a story for another time). The first is the one that falls in love with the cult; it’s organization, personality of the leaders, charisma, energy, collective power, the supposedly miraculous, the supposed accurate foretelling of the future, the seeming clarity of life. While espousing ethereal beliefs and claiming fervently to “now having the only true religion,” their real interest lies, not in doctrine, but in the group itself. The victim perceives consciously or subconsciously that the group just happens to fulfill their own physical and psychological needs. Being a working part of the organization is the key to their mental health.  Their seeming interest in God is really taking a back seat to their own animal needs. These are the ones that will hang on to the cult for dear life. They can get out, but it will only be if they are disillusioned and lose the personal benefits (common scenario), or if they actually find another group or form of therapy that gives even greater personal returns (rare).

On the other hand, some individuals really are searching for God and are willing to listen to anything that sounds logical and meaningful, but are also willing to grow and change once given wiser, more accurate information. Often they have been loosely involved with other religious organizations in the past. They may be attracted to cults out of curiosity and the desire to learn what they are all about. Yet it is usually only a matter of time before the lying and obfuscation of the cult leadership shows through, and the spiritual adventurer will look for something better. Since they are really searching for ethereal truths, a controlling organization will stifle their spiritual growth and feel stale in time, offering diminishing returns. Cult mind control has much less effect on them, as they have less to lose in exiting the group than the first type mentioned above.

Either way, an intervention works basically the same way.