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How can I not be deceived by other cults? I don’t want to join another one. https://www.reddit.com/r/cults/s/Mh6incJZ98 Reddit thread on this question. Some insightful commentary. For me it was partially self delusion. I traded free will and compliance for an emotional sense of security, belonging, and purpose. All those 3 tangible benefits were 100 percent delusional and false. There is no security and belonging in a high control environment where questioning or presenting a different opinion results in shunning. Obviously there is tangible negative emotional impact with shunning. And any purpose was masked with the true hidden purpose of elevating certain individuals in stature and position. There are emotional lies that people buy into and trade their freedom for.

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/s/q202RXmiNV So they are starting out younger and younger targeting the kids. Here’s the Mormons with a Stake President writing letters to 11 year olds. The next generation is where the cult interest is.

NYTimes has this (apparently a gift article, because I could read it even though I don't subscribe to NYT) This report doesn't spell out Community of Jesus as a cult, but it seems to examine well, the young Mr Bushnell's mental approach. He rejected a good bit of his cult upbringing. He went to mental health therapy and encouraged a female friend with whom he apparently grew up to do the same. He had deep empathetic tendencies (which is a good thing). He WILL not immediately be forgotten, as this kind of sacrifice does get cited in news stories after the fact. My heart aches for him as I envision the ongoing good he could do by choosing to survive. Various aspects of growing up in a cult are apparent for those with experience to recognize it. Notably for me, that he was apparently neither taught nor had modeled for him by elders ways to cope with difficult ethical and moral dilemmas.