re: #22 Dr Lizardo

It’s actually the result of the interweaving of religion with a political ideology. It creates a dangerous fragility, where if the threads are pulled from one end, the whole fabric - politics and religion - starts to unravel entirely.

That is where their minds are right now; challenging the legitimacy of Trumpism is no different than challenging the very legitimacy of their scripture…and having to confront the harsh truth is nothing short of an existential crisis.

That is the very definition of a cult.

Back in the 90s, I was on the “Cult Beat” and had to spend time with & interview people who had fled Scientology, Branch Davidians, the Mormon polygamists, etc. etc.

Commonality: the people who fled the cults had started out by getting puzzled by some inconsistency in the doctrine, and started questioning things. LIttle by little, the doubt grew … until it all just came crashing down.

It was very painful for them. They felt so stupid and ashamed.