Social Psychology: Cults

A detailed Summary of Social Psychology: Cults

**All events in this essay are fictional.

I have learned that sometimes it is better to want something you don't have as opposed to having something you don't want. My experience as a member of The Ministry has taught me that lesson. My story is an all-too-common one of vulnerability, hope, confusion and terror.

My high school years were marked by active involvement in soccer, student ministry, and various clubs such as Amnesty International and Student Council. Though my high activity level allowed me to interact with many classmates, I still felt incomplete with a nagging low level of depression. During my senior year, I decided to attend college at Boston University far away from my hometown, although I knew I would miss my family. But, I desperately needed a new beginning and I realized that staying home would only assure me dependency on my parents with a continuing low self-esteem.

That Fall I started with an intense class schedule. I was afraid of letting my grades drop and disappointing my parents, so I concentrated on work and school only - no extra curricular activities. As a result I made the Dean's List, which thrilled my parents, but I missed the sense of commitment and fulfillment generated mainly by Amnesty Int

ernational and volunteering. Also, because of little involvement with the school, I met hardly anyone that semester. During the Spring Student Organization Fair, I was approached by a girl who invited me to a retreat for The Ministry, an organization with which I was unfamiliar. She expressed to me her happiness with her membership, the friendships formed because of it, and her increased sense of well-being. I shyly accepted, and that evening we met at the local coffee shop on campus and left together for the retreat.

My parents didn't like the idea of The Ministry, calling it a waste of my time. I stood firm - this time I was making my own decisions and I would call them after the weekend. For the first time in months, I felt total happiness, and that weekend confirmed my wish to become a member of The Ministry. We barely slept, but I assumed that everyone was just too excited to sleep. Rev. Holmes spoke to us longer this time. His vision seemed so simple; he seemed to have the answers to achieving happiness, self-acceptance and a greater sense of well being. I was one of five guests there, and we had little to no time to second-guess his assertion that we were special and God's "chosen ones." He wanted us to joint the older members and him on the path to salvation, and he assured us that The Ministry was the only way to achieve salvation and happiness. I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement when Sara squeezed my shoulder and smiled. Next, Rev. Holmes led us on a guided imagery of walking down the path into the arms of God, which is the last thing I remember of that night. The next morning I woke up at 6:00 a.m. We spent the day getting to know each other. The members each told us what The Ministry has done for them. Each guest, however, was prompted to disclose personal information about negative events in the past. Surprisingly, I felt comfortable talking about family pressure, scarce friends, and confusion about my place in this world. Afterwards, I was told how brave I was to endure my fami

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1359
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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