How do people join cults and missionary groups?
“Joining” is a gradual process that starts with a personal contact by an appealing, friendly individual. Recruiters look for lonely, depressed, confused, vulnerable people. They offer help, friendship, love and “quick answers” to complicated problems. The vulnerable may feel that their needs are being met and come to depend upon this new source for support. The one-on-one relationship expands to an entire group. For a lonely person, instant acceptance by a friendly group of people is very entic
Zalman Kravitz