This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
On November 5, 2019, a Catholic priest, Fr Sahaya Selvam, shed light on the psychology behind cultism, citing cases of educated individuals who have been radicalized and recruited into cults.
According to Fr Selvam, who has a PhD in the psychology of religion, poverty is not a primary reason for someone to join a cult. In fact, he notes that poor people are often resilient and not easily swayed by material wealth.
Fr Selvam points to the example of European individuals who have joined ISIS, as well as educated people who have carried out terrorist attacks. He also cites the case of Abdirahim Mohammed Abdullahi, the lead suspect in the 2015 Garissa University attack, who was a law student at the University of Nairobi and came from a non-poor family.
Fr Selvam explains that cults often promise three things: belonging, believing, and becoming. They also often exploit people's crises, whether financial, social, or career-related, and promise a shortcut to success. He notes that cults have four elements: a charismatic leader, brainwashing, exaggeration of emotions, and a promise of a reward that is not imminent.
Fr Selvam also notes that people who join cults often have a need, whether it's a desire for financial success, social status, or a sense of belonging. He cites the example of Indian gurus who have built empires around this kind of strategy.
A 2015 study by the Pew Research Center found that wealth makes people less religious. The study surveyed people in 44 countries, including Kenya, and found that 87% of Kenyans considered religion to be very important in their day-to-day lives.
