Going Clear is a wonderful book https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_Clear_(book)

I loved the break down of how Scientology finds people. The simplicity is stunning.

People need connection, they need to feel important and that they have agency. Feeling "smart", better than, a member of... feels good.

Promises of a simple, easy, known path to getting what you want will always be appealing.

Figuring it out for yourself will always be harder.

It's no surprise that people take the easy route.