The religious drive and desire for spiritual attainment can be exploited if one doesn't know how to distinguish between the pursuit of Truth and the pursuit of experiencing a high. In this episode, the issue of pledging allegiance to a shaykh and a tariqa is discussed within the context of psychology and Islamic learning.

Articles discussed in this episode:

1996 Davis – Joining a “Cult”: Religious Choice or Psychological Aberration? http://andalusonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1996-Davis-Joining-a-Cult-Religious-Choice-or-Psychological-Aberration.pdf

2007 Buxant et al – Cognitive and emotional characteristics of new religious movement members http://andalusonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2007-Buxant-et-al-Cognitive-and-emotional-characteristics-of-new-religious-movement-members.pdf

2007 Murken and Namini – Childhood Familial Experiences as Antecedents of Adult Membership in New Religious Movements http://andalusonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2007-Murken-and-Namini-Childhood-Familial-Experiences-as-Antecedents-of-Adult-Membership-in-New-Religious-Movements.pdf

2009 Crowley and Jenkinson – Pathological Spirituality http://andalusonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2009-Crowley-and-Jenkinson-Pathological-Spirituality.pdf

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