Membership in a religious group can provide such an opportunity. The attraction of group involvement may be stronger for those who struggle with personal meaning as individuals. In his classic analysis, The True Believer, Eric Hoffer (1951) examines the psychology of all mass movements, both religious and political. One of his conclusions is that joining a group provides new self-esteem and purpose for someone who has failed in life. When the present is spoiled, hope for the future is a seductive lure.
