Why are people so fanatically committed to groups and organizations of all kinds?
Synthesized from Source
definition
"People cling to groups out of fear, seeking certainty and identity in borrowed beliefs rather than embracing the risk and responsibility of their own intelligence."
According to Osho, people cling fanatically to groups because the ‘idiot’ layer of mind—our oldest, herd-like inheritance—dominates the gentle voice of intelligence. Belief systems, especially religions, suppress the brain’s nourishing cells for thought, demanding obedience over inquiry. Lacking cultivated intelligence, individuals seek certainty, identity, and safety in collectives, preferring borrowed conclusions to the risk and responsibility of seeing for themselves.
We stick to groups because the louder, lazier part of our mind wants easy beliefs and safety instead of doing the quiet work of thinking for ourselves.
Why this matters practically
- Notice when you choose belief over inquiry; practice questioning and reflection.
- Create challenges (puzzles, dialogue, learning) to grow your ‘thinking muscles.’
- Build identity from direct experience, not herd approval, to reduce fanaticism.
- Create challenges (puzzles, dialogue, learning) to grow your ‘thinking muscles.’
- Build identity from direct experience, not herd approval, to reduce fanaticism.
AI Confidence Score: 72%
Read Original Discourse →