Q. What have Rock Groups and Spiritual Groups got in common? A. Groupies.

The joke says it all though, doesn't it. So many ugly, boring drummers out there with gorgeous girlfriends. Same goes for senior cult members. I think at least half of the people who join these groups have lack of self worth and low self esteem. And that insecurity can be even more narcissistic and dangerous than strong self confidence. These once-I-was-lost-now-I-am-found types are the most dangerous ones in SES, the potentially psychotic abusers.
The problem is that when these insecure people are taught to 'let go' of the self, they feel as if they have been liberated from the identity that they were ashamed of. At that moment they may flip from insecurity to self-confidence. 'How exhilarating that I am no longer a worthless, friendless nerd. Now I am on a Spiritual Path with a Special Few, and now that I can Use My Full Attention I have even started to notice myself in the mirror and I don't look that bad after all.' They like the taste of their newfound power, of course - and will use it in the name of the Absolute. These people are the SS troops of SES. Watch them like a hawk. They're the ones who absolutely refuse to listen to intelligent difficult questions, the ones who accept no independence of thought and the ones who believe the ends (so-called "Devotion to the Absolute") justify the means (lying about what they think and do, mind control, sadistic psychological abuse, physical violence).
They're also the hard core that will keep SES going. They really have nowhere to turn if they leave, because they rely on SES for their personality, for their sex lives and often their careers. They'll defend that to the end. While we can help some victims leave SES with compassion and evidence, I think it will be very difficult to show the ones on the biggest ego trip - the abusers - that they are living a lie.
Ideas welcome.