Prophets, Cults and Madness

by Anthony Stevens

How is it possible that cults continue to exist despite their history of disintegrating under the strain of their own mad ideas? In this entertaining study of the very thin line that separates cult leaders from full-blown madness, Stevens and Price argue that the answer lies in our gene pool. The sexual charisma of cult leaders--from Hitler, Koresh and Jones on one side of the spectrum and Jesus on the other side--play a vital role when groups waver and split. The authors create a controversial argument that will make anyone look at groups and religions in a whole new light.

Genres: Psychology, Religion

248 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2000

About the author

Anthony Stevens is a well known Jungian analyst and psychiatrist who has written extensively on psychotherapy and psychology.

Stevens has two degrees in psychology and a doctorate in medicine from Oxford University. He studied for a time under John Bowlby. He is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Independent Group of Analytical Psychologists. He lectures regularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland and elsewhere.

Stevens is the author or co-author of many books and articles on psychology, evolutionary psychiatry, Jungian analysis and the significance of archetypal imagery.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Clark Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thin partition between madness and evolutionary necessity

I picked up this book to research our next book, and was drawn in by the compelling central thesis. The authors, both psychiatrists, look to evolution to try and explain why schitzotypal behaviors are passed down through the generations; preservation, they argue, presupposes some sort of species-specific advantage. Their theory is that these mental disorders can generate charismatic cult figures with radically different (often purely irrational) belief systems that attract susceptible followers who are tired of or oppressed by the status quo. These new groups then break free and strike out on their own, thus creating new opportunities for genetic dispersal and, since they will be moving to new locales, finding new resources, thereby freeing up resources for the society they left behind.

It’s an interesting argument, and one they readily admit is unprovable (there are no metrics, no tests, for evolutionary psychiatry) and an enjoyable read overall that winds between notable cult figures large and small. Lines such as, “It is as if a mazeway resynthesis in a charismatic guru can perform the same compensatory role for a moribund culture as can a dream or an unhappy or maladjusted patient,” can be a bit off-putting, but the details and case studies and insights and random nuggets related to cults and prophets throughout the centuries are fascinating.

It was my good fortune that a previous reader was especially angered by some of the thinking and marked up the margins in rambling paragraphs of black ink about how Christianity and capitalism were the REAL cults. My hope is that this person was able to attract a few followers and set out on their own.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you make a prophet?