Do cult leaders really believe what they preach?
We can’t know what they really believe, but their acts speak for themselves. Many leaders of religious cults claim to be G-d’s special messengers, prophets, Jesus, the Messiah, or G-d Himself. For example, Jews believe that “the messiah” will bring about peace for mankind. This appears to be a noble and serious task. One cult leader who claims to be the messiah goes to Las Vegas and gambles huge sums of the hard-earned money that his followers collect, for 10 to 15 hours a day, on street corners. Other self-proclaimed “messiahs” sexually abuse men, women, and children in their groups. Most cult leaders have made slaves of their followers, and caused considerable damage to minds and bodies and lives. Families too have suffered great harm.
