I missed one possible reason for our attraction to such things ... accepting groupthink is a way of being part of and accepted by a tribe.
Although the attraction of the feeling of being superior has to be part of BKism, I wonder if for some it just acceptance into a smaller tribe with a simpler credo and a more tightly defined code of conduct than the outside world?
For many, the outside world is too big, to contrary or confusing, and they are too small and impotent within. For example, I am thinking of Indian BKs in the West for whom BKism is a simplified and perhaps even more elegant form of Hinduism, a 'familiar rock' amongst the storm of Western culture. I am thinking for others, often Westerners amongst them, it could be 'being a big fish in a small pond' ... I am wondering how much, in our time, it was because we got special attention because we had something they wanted and added value to their business as "Missionaries"?
May be as PBKism has not developed so it is a little the same ... does Virendra Dev Dixit tell Western PBKs that they are special and get a special karmic deal like they did in the BKs?
That was a really funny joke. They used to tell us that Western BKs got a special ... I forget what percentage ... 25% added extra 'benefit' because of the extra efforts they had to make and the loss of hearing the Murli in its native tongue.
That's a trick straight out of the markets of Karachi and Hyderabad ... telling the memsahibs they were getting an extra special bargain, when actually they were being ripped off 400 or 500% more than the locals.
I agree, Button is not stupid ... but then it's been written time and time again in studies on cults that it's not stupid people that get caught by cults.
I am still not sure how we are caught ... more research needs to be done on it.
Although BKism in the West appears, at least on the surface, to be becoming diluted into some kind of executive New Agey business with some very comfortable venues for esoteric musing ... and the average BK reduced to be becoming a servant fo the Kirpalani Klan as they entertain their welathy and powerful guests ... I think what any sincere spiritual seeker needs to do is demand and set a firm deadline for the sign of some big manifestation, e.g. Destruction.
I believe that currently, 2018 is meant to be a big date for PBKs. Two years and then if nothing happens ... would you consider a Plan B, Button? Or will you carry on until you die.
Hold old will you be in 2036?