The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them by Daniella Mestyanek Young and Amy Reed
Many thanks to Otterpine and NetGalley for providing me with
an advanced copy of The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them by Daniella Mestyanek Young and Amy Reed. I’ve noticed more and
more books focusing on cults, examining them from different perspectives. Not
just the lurid, true crime or primarily academic type books that seemed to analyze
some of the more notorious cults from the past 50 years or so (The Manson
Family, The People’s Temple); rather books like Amanda Montel’s Cultish
(which Mestyanek Young and Reed frequently reference) and Jane Borden’s Cults Like Us take a more nuanced approach to examining the issues of cults and
how many groups and institutions in our lives closely mimic cults. Borden’s
book argues that America’s founding was itself based on the cult of the Protestant
Ethic, among other religious beliefs that have gradually become part of many
American’s identities. Mestyanek and Reed make similar claims while developing
their own aspects of group dynamics, drawn from research and scholarship, to
investigate and examine the practices of various groups and institutions. As
the authors acknowledge, its sometimes hard to determine what a cult is, and
with Mestayanek’s own personal experiences growing up in a destructive
religious cult and serving in the US Army, she identifies elements of these
group dynamics in both. Furthermore, I appreciated their advice to readers to
move beyond binaries, looking at whether a group is a cult or not, or thinking
about good or bad outcomes, with a call to think about the complexities of belonging
and more importantly leaving these groups. What costs might members entail with
exiting the group, whether they are social, financial, or professional. Also
like Borden’s book, Mestyanek and Reed also reference the more recent political
and social events in America to examine how instability, lack of connections
and relationships, and mistrust and resentment can fuel the rise of cults as a
means of filling a void for these connections and beliefs.
Both Mestyanek and Reed use real world examples from well-known
cults, institutions and groups, as well as lesser-known examples, to highlight
and identify the ways these groups align with their group dynamics.
Furthermore, both authors include their own personal examples of participation
with cults, institutions and groups to provide further evidence of the seeming
benefits and potential drawbacks of membership within these groups. I also appreciated
how the authors make use of both scholarly sources and more popular literature
like Montell’s book, as well as other first-hand accounts from cult survivors
and escapees. It lends a sense of authority and expertise, while also making
the content relevant and accessible to a general audience. Furthermore, despite
a rather dark and tragic topic, the authors use humor and sarcasm at appropriate
times to lighten the mood. The book is filled with many relevant examples that
help to highlight the specific practices of these groups and institutions to
attract and sustain members. I think it is interesting to see how fine a line
the nature of members is for some of these groups like the military and
Alcoholics Anonymous, groups which typically are held in high esteem, but also
display elements of cult-type membership and potential high-costs for members
leaving. I can also understand the pushback that the authors received, but I
think they are raising important points about the nature of the groups and
their attempts to sustain members, not necessarily arguing that they are inherently
bad. However, in reading these examples, we can see how others may misuse or
misconstrue some of the elements of these groups to make false promises or to
build on more familiar institutions to attract followers and those who are in
need of some kind of change or future goal. In particular, Chapter 6, “Distinguishable
Vernacular,” was one of the more fascinating sections since it deals with the
language of cults and groups. While this was the focus of Montel’s book, Mestyanek
and Reed examine some different examples and show how shared language can alter
our sense of identity and belief, creating a unique bond among members. I think
this is true of almost any group, whether it is a friend group who shares specific
slang or a work group that may use specific acronyms and terms to define and
solve problems in the field. I know that whenever I’ve started a new job,
acclimating to new language, specifically to acronyms, takes almost as much
work as learning software or systems.
Mestyanek and Reed examine how often the beliefs that groups
adhere to can often spiral into extremism, and how technology like social media
and the internet can accelerate belief to action through disinformation and
isolation. Mestyanek provides an example from her ex-husband’s radicalization,
along with reminders of Q-Anon and the January 6th Insurrection to
further show how seemingly regular people, our neighbors, community members,
and friends can all be susceptible to the tricks and deceptive practices of cult
leaders. However, this book provides an awareness of these practices, along with
some useful checklists and references to “culty things.” I think, though, that one
of the most important takeaways in the book is reframing our thinking around
cults, shifting from binary, either/or thinking, to examining ideas of
membership and belonging in a more complex and holistic manner. In one of the
final sections written by guest author Rebecca Slue, also known as The White
Woman Whisperer, “The distinction between ‘group’ and ‘community’ is a matter
of foundational values and relational truth. Groups are built to be functional,
often around a cause, a mission, or a leader.” This last section was also
incredibly important in not only reaffirming our sense of belonging to communities
and not just groups but also affirming our sense of agency in seeking out these
communities and ensuring that they remain communal and democratic. While
sharing decision making and responsibilities (and accountability) can be time
consuming and tiring, it is essential for the health of the community to
involve all. Although frequent references to more notorious groups and cults
are found in this book, the authors also frequently reference how more and more
work situations can become cult-like, blurring the boundaries between work and
belonging. Furthermore, they note how some careers are considered a calling and
offer members a strong sense of identity and belonging. While I feel grateful
to have a career where I don’t necessarily experience that level of creeping
cultiness, I have had jobs where there has been that kind of pressure to work
outside of proscribed hours, and I feel like this book offers an important
message to many people, not just those interested in cults, psychology, or
current events. Rather this book has important insights and ideas about
belonging, community, and working, and shares these ideas with research and anecdotes,
making the ideas and insights more accessible and understandable. Highly
recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment