Economics of religious cultism could explain Shakahola horror

For the purpose of bringing this discussion into the right context, two questions are emerging: Is poverty and economic deprivation likely factors to push people into cults? and, is it about time that government regulated religious activities to protect its citizens against wolves in sheep's skin?

Evidence

One of the famous attempts to relate religious fanatism with economic deprivation was advanced by German Philosopher Karl Max when he opined that 'religion is the opium of the masses'. This implies the advancement of social inequality by propagating a worldview that justifiies oppression in society.

In an article in Psychology Research titled "Cult Membership: What factors contribute to joining or leaving?" published in November 2017, M. Rousselet et al. argues that cults have evolved from psychological manipulation to addictive disorders. A cult is seen as an organised group or a solitary person whose purpose is to dominate cult members by using psychological manipulation and pressure strategies.

Rousselet and his colleagues interviewed and conducted clinical profiles of 31 former cult members. The study established there were similar characteristics between cult members and addiction disorders. Three main factors that were found to lead into or failure to leave cults were persistence despite damage, social precariousness and importance of familial support when leaving a cult.

The axes for improvement to protect community members from cultism were regulation to limit their social presence, social and therapeutic follow-up when a member leaves the cult and familial support to maintain a link with those who exit cults.

In an article on Penn Today on August 29, 2019, Tina Rodia argues that the followers of cults see themselves as believers or even disciples, but not as cult members. A different article on Course Hero (www.coursehero.com) views religion as an economic tool for exploitation of the masses.

This view is based on a historical perspective where oppression was accepted as a normal part of life on earth and considers it as a means to get everlasting reward in the afterlife among the main religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

This perspective has been exploited by the elites and middle-class in society not only to reap more resources and power, but also to maintain the unequal status quo. History records that religion impedes scientific success and development, and obstructs the use of reason.

110 bodies have been exhumed at Paul Mackenzie's farm in Shakahola, Kilifi, as of April 27, 2023. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

All you need is a smooth tongue, theatrics and alien claims to attract impressionable and gullible masses. Even very educated people lose their sense of reason to some religious charlatans. Many of the religious groups have adopted a franchising business model to plant churches, albiet with no standards or regulations. All the franchisees have to do is to find their followers and remit the agreed percentage of financial collections to their supreme father, the franchiser.

Three is the deeply entrenched societal believe that our capitalistic economic model has freebies for the poor masses. Truth be told, religious charlatans have exploited this to maximise their profits. Millions of Kenyans still belief their religious Dads and Mums have powers to prophesy prosperity in their lives without any work or effort on their part. This is in direct contravention of Biblical teachings that promises to bless the work of our hands. In fact, the Bible demands those who do not work must not eat.

Four is lack of governance structures for majority of the religious organisations. In many places of worship, the religious leaders, together with their spouses and immediate family members, are supreme royalties, neither incapable of fault nor questioning. They wield absolute power on how the finances and other resources are managed. Only saints are capable of such levels of trust with public resources, not human beings with natural predispositions to greed.

Finally, is the cancer of corruption that has permeated every sphere of our public life. The political leaders have exploited the very same religious vulnerabilities of the masses to maximise political dividends.

The more troubling question in the minds of every rational Kenyan is: who were on 'brother Paul''s payroll within the security ranks, administration, Judiciary and in the local community leadership to aid in keeping his activities secret for all these years?