Each year, hundreds of North Americans join one of the.
increasing, estimated 3000 unorthodox religions that exist.
across North America. The increasing number of cults, to date.
in North America, is due to the fact that cults are a social.
movement that attempts to help people cope with their perceived.
problems with social interaction. Cult recruiters target those.
who perceive themselves as different from the rest of society,.
and give these individuals the sense of belonging that they.
crave. Cult literature lures potential cult members by.
appealing to their desperate need to socially fit in. Cults.
provide a controlled family environment that appeals to.
potential cult members because it is a removal from the.
exterior society. Cult recruiters prey on those who see.
themselves as alienated from the rest of society, and give.
these people the sense of conformity that they desire. A common.
method of recruiters, to obtain new members, is through chat.
lines on the internet. A recorded conversation between a member.
of the Divine Light Mission, Fire-Shade, and an 18-year old boy, Jay.
18, was obtained off of the site, IRC Teen Chat.
Jay18: I am a really great poet, but all of the kids in my.
class are pretty warped about it. I basically hide it from them.
because I don't need that hassle.
Fire-Shade: My family has a great respect for the artist inside.
us all. I know you live in Michigan, and our family could.
always use new operatives all over the world. You have to.
understand what our family is about, it is about always fitting.
in and never hiding the truth to be liked or cool. Are you.
interested?.
Jay18: Well maybe.
Fire-Shade: Give me your phone number we really shouldn't.
talk about this here.
Jay18: I would rather not give my phone number out. You give.
me yours, I won't be able to talk for long though.
Fire-Shade: Trust is very important in our group.do you trust.
me? You can't call us, unfortunately because we are not in a.
position to be accepting phone calls.