July 20, 2026 · Rowan Beaird

Rowan Beaird on the Enduring Allure of Cults in Times of Uncertainty

In my research, I found that people are most likely to join a cult when they’ve experienced loss. When they leave a church, leave a home, leave a marriage. When a foundational structure in their life is collapsing, they look at the rubble surrounding them and wonder, where can I find shelter?