Fraternity Or Cult?

Another one bites the dust. Apparently there are groups where upon a member leaves, and for whatever reason, the remaining members are discouraged from maintaining contact with the exiting members who have left said group or organization.

I recently came to the realization that friends who are encountered within groups or organizations are somehow discouraged from maintaining contact with those who have left or defected from the group. Control should always be your first red flag for a cult, and more specifically, the control of how or what one thinks. The group I am talking about shall remain anonymous but it was one I believed was truly what they represented. They are not.

So, what kind of behavior or associations represents cults from the ordinary groups of say those who love labradors, or those who enjoy chess against those who seek to serve the brotherhood of man? Trust me, it seems all too clear that when someone brings the "higher self, love, and compassion" into the conversation that sadly something is amiss. Another is discouraging members from associating with those who think independently.

One of the main reasons that people join a group(s) is for a brother or sisterhood that helps keep humankind's need for acknowledgement, understanding and like minded thinking. This is also a very tricky step for both those who join and those who lead. I have found that it is essential that one truly reviews and speaks with the group's leader(s) and followers to get a sense of what is going on.

Perhaps it is naiveté on my part or simply wishful thinking but I have a great deal of life experience and it rankles me to think that I had the wool pulled over my eyes, or worse yet, I was the one who did the pulling! "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and I won't get fooled again." Oh wait, that was our former President, or was it the Who?

I bring this topic up for conversation because mankind, more than ever needs those who can help ease their pain and suffering. However, human nature rarely deviates from foul action when money, power and prestige are involved. As an Aquarian I really want to help my fellow man/woman, it's my nature, but I must be more thorough in the selection of those I will allow to represent this part of my nature.

Some may say "sour grapes" on my part, that I should have been better prepared and not so idealistic, and I say "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice and I won't get fooled again!"