THROUGH UNTRUE
The word "cult" is often associated with extreme religious sects, but the psychological dynamics that drive these groups can also be found in various sectors and institutions in our society.
The most obvious characteristics of a cult include an almost total conformity to the group's rules and norms, unquestioning obedience to a leader perceived as powerful or charismatic, interacting only with fellow members that leads to an exclusivist "us-versus-them" mentality, intolerance of criticisms, and a belief system that legitimizes and protects the group's vested interests.
These traits are easily observed in many emerging religious organizations and movements, whose followers, gripped by intense group narcissism, are overly focused on their numerical strength, influence, and promises of eternal salvation. They display servile obedience to their leader, who offers them instant healing, peace, and prosperity, though with little guarantee of fulfillment.
The Catholic Church is also often viewed as cult-like due to its rigid enforcement of doctrine, discipline, and rituals. Critics see it as an institution intent on discouraging dissent and personal autonomy. These critics find additional ammunition in the actions of church leaders who abuse their authority, particularly in handling internal matters such as financial embezzlement and clergy abuse scandals. The prevailing culture of secrecy further fuels suspicions of manipulation, a hallmark of cult behavior.
Philippine politics is similarly plagued by a cult mentality. Political dynasties multiply rapidly, exploiting the personality cult prevalent among Filipinos who vote based on media mileage or publicity. The direct effect of this on voters' consciousness is “instant recall” of a name or a face. An electoral process that relies heavily on instant recall would benefit movie and TV personalities as well as political dynasties with extensive PR machinery. Not even sex scandals, graft, or corruption can sway the voters' loyalty to these dynasties and famous personalities whom they regard with cult-like subservience.
You must have known by now that the government is a breeding ground for cultic behavior. Many government officials display this phenomenon through "groupthink," a psychological occurrence in which like-minded people prioritize loyalty and cohesiveness above all else. Their near-fanatical commitment to their group's interests creates an illusion of strength and invincibility. They overestimate their abilities and underestimate the possibility of error. When their misdeeds or crimes are made public, they resort to rationalization and justification.
How about large businesses, food chains, and media conglomerates? They, too, thrive on cult mentality. They amass enormous profits by producing and advertising products that generate faddish support among their customers, particularly the youth.
Similarly, social media platforms and the entertainment industry have successfully packaged otherwise untalented individuals into "stars," garnering a cult following among their fans and devotees. Every day, the media and advertisers spin a web of rumors, tales, audio-visual spectacles, and pseudo-investigative write-ups, vlogs, and blogs to catapult previously unknown individuals to celebrity status.
Elitist schools also foster a cult mentality in our country. Studying in a school with high tuition fees has become a status symbol, a badge that students wear like expensive dental braces. Mostly hailing from wealthy families, students in these elitist schools develop a sense of exclusiveness, privilege, and entitlement. The network of influence, maintained by alumni, offers significant opportunities for social and economic mobility, reinforcing the idea that attending an elitist school is essential for success. Unfortunately, this elitist cult breeds individual smugness and social indifference, two destructive attitudes towards nation-building.
Perhaps it is time to find ways to combat the insidious effects of cultic behavior that are rapidly eroding the moral and spiritual values on which a healthy society is built.