Since the second half of the 20th century, there has been a rise of cults in America. The 1960s were a period when many cults were growing, and it was a time of experimentation marked by great change in the country. 

Adam Kunz, an assistant professor of political science at UW-Eau Claire, organized a talk on Constitution Day with national cult expert Janja Lalich to explore this phenomenon in more depth. 

Lalich is a sociologist and researcher specializing in cults and extremist groups. Her career in this field started as a consequence of her leaving a political cult in the ‘70s. She has been a business media and legal professional and has worked with current and former members of organizational groups.

Kunz’s personal experience, having escaped a religious cult himself, inspired his interest in the topic. After leaving the Mormon Church, the professor became interested in the boundaries and exceptions the American Constitution provides for religions. 

“How much does the Free Exercise Clause give you a blank check to do whatever you want?” Kunz said. “Groups such as the Heaven’s Gate cult use praying as a way to commit ‘atrocious acts.’”

The professor wants people to start questioning how far organizations bend the Constitution for their own benefit to cover their actions.

“So we kind of have to ask ourselves the question as a public: ‘Are we ok with this? Do we want our laws, our Constitution to be able to give free rein to these organizations?’” Kunz said. 

The talk was held Monday, Sept. 16 in Centennial Hall. It was planned to celebrate this year’s Constitution Day. 

Eric Kasper, professor of political science, said it’s a good day to raise these questions on what the Constitution is and whether or not it needs to be changed. 

To this, Kunz agrees constant questioning is crucial. Just this July, he published his book “To Hell with Heaven,” which shares how important it is for everyone to challenge beliefs and question if the concepts we think are dogma are really true. 

The ‘60s and ‘70s are marked by the influence of Eastern philosophy and ways of thinking. Due to the change in immigration laws, it was easier for people from Asia to come into America.. 

“People in America had no real understanding of Eastern religion,” Lalich said.

Today, sects might look like multi-level marketing schemes or online groups promising to connect you to spirituality. 

Lalich defines cults as groups with a charismatic authoritarian leader who offers a transcendent unbreakable belief system that provides “The Answer:” a solution to every question you might have about the group, to the extreme of making it unquestionable. It is this belief system that alienates the rest of the world from the cult. It creates an “us versus them” mentality, according to Lalich.

“We’re the elite, we’ve got the answers. The rest of you are essentially non-people,” Lalich said.

Most belief systems are based on fear. Dr. Lalich shared her experience living 10 years amongst the Democratic Workers Party.

“You’re scared all the time. You’re scared you’re going to make a mistake, and you’re anxious. And you’re really relieved in a way when someone else gets in trouble and it wasn’t you. It’s the most horrible way to live,” Lalich said.

The purpose of it, as Lalich’s cult mentor said, is to attack the self. With this, victims slowly change their whole identities to fit in with the group. She recalled her attitudes during her time in the cult. 

“You have to change, you have to transform in order to be eligible to be on the path to the salvation that I’m offering you,” Lalich said. “I modeled myself after the leaders, I did really bad things.”  

Lalich explained cults thrive in a context where people feel isolated and unloved. The role of a cult, then, is to offer a community that will give them that sense of belonging someone might be seeking. Kunz said when cult-like behavior shows, that is the point where the community that once felt safe starts alienating any other external voices.

“So when you start to notice that, when you notice your group telling you you can’t be around your friends, you can’t be around your family, you can’t be around the people that love you, that’s when you start to ask yourself, ‘am I in a cult?’” Kunz said.

A good infrastructure, Lalich points out, is another key element when observing these types of groups. If the leader dies, their charisma and authority pass to be a concept held in a council or system, which is crucial to make cults so lasting throughout the years. 

Lalich also talked about what she called “cult apologists.” Some scholars of religion and sociology were opposed to the usage of words such as brainwashing, or cult. 

“They became very influential. Most of them are professors; they write books, they write each other’s books, they quote each other all the time. So they got into all the textbooks,” Lalich said.

Nowadays most textbooks indicate certain words are not allowed, making it difficult to have a conversation around this topic. 

On the topic of the First Amendment, Lalich highlights the importance of following the laws of the land, despite whatever religion anyone might be.

“I think where it’s gone wrong is that it’s been used as a way to not hold religions accountable,” Lalich said.

To ensure someone is truly safe and surrounded by people who truly care about them, Lalich once again pointed out the importance of asking questions. 

“66% of people get recruited by a friend, a family member or co-worker,” Lalich said. “No matter what you do, no matter what you’re getting invited to: ask questions. And if your questions get turned back on you, if your questions aren’t being answered, run the other way.” 

Orozco can be reached at [email protected].