Lately, we've all been focused on John Walker Lindh, the 20-year-old American who allegedly fought for the Taliban and now faces the possibility of life in prison. Until I saw the videotapes of Osama bin Laden interacting with his disciples, I thought of al-Qaeda as a political movement. While it makes Lindh's choices no less reprehensible, those tapes suggested parallels between al-Qaeda and a cult.
According to the American Family Foundation, a resource on cults and psychological manipulation, cults usually are headed by charismatic, all-powerful leaders who often believe they have a direct, exclusive line to God. They psychologically, if not physically, isolate followers from the rest of society. They use mind control to make members believe the world is divided between absolute good (the group and its ideology) and absolute evil (all else). As the foundation's guidelines explain: "The group is the 'elite'; outsiders are 'of the world,' 'evil,' 'unenlightened,' etc." Sound familiar?
Lindh's case should remind us of the extent to which this common phenomenon -- people being sucked in by a manipulative leader -- can affect politics and world stability. We should be on guard, because it can happen to all kinds of people in all kinds of families, and the results can be truly disastrous.
Look carefully at any unhealthful behaviors exhibited by those you care about. Lindh's fate is a warning to parents who might be inclined to dismiss a child's involvement with an unfamiliar sect as harmless searching or self-expression. In situations like this, intervention could save a life.