against their judgement, no way out without losing everything the members have accomplished in the cult. The shadow guru, meantime, behaves above the law they profess to administer, above the vision they expound. They set their needs above those of everyone else in the group. They apply a law but count themselves above it. Such leaders have to be regarded as perfect and right, because the followers’ selfrespect depends on it. The more bizarre the doctrine, the more they have to believe it or lose everything, so they often defend the leader without knowing the facts. The leader has to be right. Newspapers sometimes expose so-called ‘spiritual leaders’ that live the life of utmost luxury while their disciples are delighted to give up what little they have for their leader. In the worst and most tragic circumstances they can even be persuaded to give up their lives.
