I don't get how people always talk about how they do not like how certain religions or certain things treat people like they were mindless slaves or they don't think for themselves but in reality a lot of people do not put that much thinking into what they want to do.

Sometimes I think too much and that gets me into trouble sometimes and I've learned to control that myself (it usually leads to me talking too much). People seem to tend to find something or someone they like and they follow everything that they do. I think that people have this one-itis mentality where they just look at one thing and try to follow everything that person does and says.

I am all in favor of people having close personal bonds with each other. That's totally fine with me. I just don't like the mimicking part. Rather than trying to be themselves like people so claim that they are doing they try and act something different. Something that they are not.

I've been trying to stay away from this forum because I've been having a much more positive outlook on life but I feel like there are many things in this world that are still concerning to me. And I just can't help but being cynical about them. I guess this disproves the notion that people are only cynical because they've had bad stuff happen to them. I've had bad stuff happen to me and I'm much more optimistic... but even though my life is better than where it has been when I see people, I see two groups of peoples- leaders and followers. But the followers don't act for themselves. They just do it for the collective or because they want to be like the other people.

Anyone else feel similar lately?

whenever JW or missionaries or hare krisna converts etc invade my personal space with their obsession over "their" secular God or guru,

it's obvious people are inclined toward occult "group think" as long as there is self-servient positive reinforcement (ie, the promise of forgiveness, salvation, eternal afterlife, etc).

Depends on your definition of cult, really. First time I stepped into a catholic church for a funeral procession, it was cult all the way. "Eat and drink the flesh of our savior to attain immortal life." Turns out, all religions are cults that simply have a large following. Humans can tend toward a cult or be completely turned off by one. It really varies. Sometimes there is no organized cultic system, but there is plenty of magic and superstition. Modern science is something very unique in its ability to avoid magic completely.

I think it is a lot worse now, than it used to be. I think it is really due to the constant fearmongering that goes on. People are bombarded with fear, constantly afraid of the boogymen, think the world is so horrible and dangerous.

People turn to others,groups, and things, that make themselves feel more safe or less worried. A lot of people these days bury themselves in TV and videogames, rather than joining cults. It's a lot easier.