You are right. People are fooled all the time. That is how Jim Jones got started. It is easy to follow the wrong crowd if you do not know the Bible. In a way, Manson had the same kind of influence. His followers needed to believe in something and he was there. I have never been that needy, thank God.
I was not always an independent thinker, when I was in that previously mentioned counterfeit religion. Later, I started reading the Bible, and saw the simplicity of it all. If people don't see the truth, as simple as it is, it is because they don't want to know the truth. Why would anyone NOT want to know the truth? The mystery of sin, is just that, a mystery.
You are right about Charles Manson. I spoke with Charles Manson on numerous occasions, and he definitely has that cult mind. He is a nut with a capital N. If you think he acts weird on TV, I can assure you, that is NOT an act he is putting on. He really is that way.
Jim Jones was around in 1978, tha Navigators in 1933, other than the 45 years, what's the difference???