[nodespace]

I think its because, very often, wisdom requires rewriting a fundamental assumption about the world. And people tend to tie up their identity with their fundamental assumptions.

As a result these changes can destabilize a persons identity, which causes said person to look for the closest source of stability, often the 'peophet'.

This gives the 'prophet' enourmous power over the person, not just because of the identity destabilization, but because when you change someones fundamental assumptions about the world, those changes don't nessecerily have to be truthful or helpful for the person. The person only has to think the changes do.

This identity change and stability dependence is probably what causes the cult like appearance/ behaviour.

[bboles]

Wow, very well said. Thank you for the insight!