I've seen many people hit their 40s-50s, feel dissatisfied with their lives or lack of achievement, and look for a way to regain a sense of importance. Some turn to religious groups, memorize teachings, gather small circles around them, and position themselves as spiritual authorities.

The knowledge becomes leverage and the group makes them feel validated. And soon enough, that "guidance" starts to turn into control. Eventually, they take over gatherings and other events and make it about themselves and their beliefs.

Humanity is full of sick ppl, it's insane.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5834540&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310893#49668805)

A couple of people I knew pretty well suddenly went full-blown devout Catholics in their mid-40s. One took over a friend's gathering just to preach his beliefs. Another invited me over for beers one evening and decided to start playing religious videos on his TV, one was about exorcism.

When I asked him to save that for another time, he said I was "denying God," and got really aggressive. I ended up leaving without even finishing my beer.

Then there's a Buddhist guy I thought would be different. I went to one of his meditation meetings because I like meditation. One meeting turned into two, then four, and eventually he started "taking attendance" and checking on me if I didn't show up. He'd message me things like "I thought I'd see you last night, would you like me to pick you up next Thursday?"

One night, I decided to test him and asked what he thought of Catholics. He said he despised them. That's when I knew he was a hypocrite--Buddhism is supposed to be all about compassion.

All of them are the same: self-absorbed maniacs obsessed with controlling everyone around them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5834540&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310893#49675847)