I don't think it takes much for a cult to be a cult. Many parts

Hear the solemn words of Jerome Flynn, spoken with the weight of caution and the clarity of experience: “I don't think it takes much for a cult to be a cult. Many parts of our society are cultish, and you only need a charismatic leader and some teachings, and before you know it, you have a cult.” His saying is not the cry of a cynic but the warning of a watchman upon the walls, calling to the people to beware the ease with which hearts can be captured and minds enslaved. For the seeds of devotion and loyalty, when planted in the wrong soil, can grow not into freedom but into bondage.

The ancients knew this truth well. They saw how men, yearning for meaning, often bound themselves to leaders whose charm or vision promised certainty in a world of doubt. In Rome, emperors were worshipped as gods; in Greece, oracles swayed the destiny of nations. What Flynn reminds us is that such power does not require vast armies or mighty empires—only the magnetic force of a charismatic leader, words that seem to shine with truth, and followers hungry to believe. Thus, what is small can swiftly become mighty, and what begins as guidance can end as domination.

Consider the tale of Jonestown in the twentieth century. At first, Jim Jones was seen as a preacher of justice and equality. He offered community, belonging, and a vision of a better world. But in time, devotion to him became absolute, his teachings unquestioned, his authority supreme. What began as fellowship became a cult, and in 1978 it ended in tragedy, when over nine hundred souls perished by his command. This story stands as a monument to Flynn’s words: it takes but little for the flame of devotion to become the fire of destruction.

And yet, cultish devotion is not only found in such infamous tragedies. It can be seen in the movements of commerce, politics, and even entertainment. Companies build followings around leaders who are exalted as visionaries; political parties are carried not by principles but by adoration of personalities; even in the world of art and sport, fans can cross the line from admiration to blind worship. Society, as Flynn warns, contains within itself many seeds of the cult, for wherever men and women abandon questioning and give their will wholly to another, the shadow of cultishness arises.

Thus, O listener, take heed: the danger of the cult is not only in the leader, but in the followers. For the leader may tempt, but it is the surrender of discernment that gives him power. A people who will not think, who will not question, who will not test the truth, are a people ready to be bound. The truest guard against tyranny is not the absence of leaders, but the presence of wisdom and vigilance in the hearts of the led.

Let your spirit, then, be steadfast. Admire, but do not worship. Listen, but do not surrender your judgment. Follow, but only where truth and goodness lead. The charismatic leader may shine brightly, but test the light to see if it is true, lest you walk into the fire of destruction.

In practice, nurture the habit of questioning. Ask always: Is this teaching just? Is this leader humble, or does he seek only power? Do I follow because of truth, or because of charm? Build communities where voices are many and power is shared, for the more widely responsibility is spread, the less chance there is for cultish enslavement. Teach the young to think, to doubt, and to seek wisdom beyond personality.

So I say unto you: remember Jerome Flynn’s warning. A cult can rise swiftly, born of charm and words, but it is in our own surrender that it finds life. Stand firm, use your reason, guard your freedom. For society thrives not on blind devotion, but on truth, humility, and the courage of individuals who refuse to give their souls away.