The more outrageous the belief and the more aberrant it is from the beliefs of surrounding cultures, the stronger the social bonds within the group and the stronger the loyalty of members to the group. We see this play out again and again in cults, which, when threatened by outsiders or concerned family members trying to spread quote-unquote truth, will adopt even wilder ideologies. And when a cult isolates itself, it once again becomes a solo act, bereft of cooperation from neighbors, surrounded by foes and fearful of attack.
