Great topic ! Thanks for posting.

I'm spiritual, but not religious. I believe in one nameless God. I would never impose my beliefs on others, but I know that there is a God in my life and in my universe. And, I know I will meet Him someday.

I'll tell you what I know about religion, and how I think it might help: Pack mentality ... wolves. People tend to feel a sense of security when they're surrounded by others who share their belief system. Also, it's really easy to connect with others who think alike. Church singles groups for example. I've met numerous couples who say they met at church. It's not hard to see why. So, religion can have its benefits.

Same thing with cults, I suppose. Shared belief systems can help form really strong and intense bonds between people, and some people might crave such bonds. One fascinating story is that of the Japanese religious cult "Aum Shinrikyo", which was responsible for the 1995 Tokyo metro attack. As a neutral observer, you might wonder why those people committed such a heinous act on their fellow citizens, but such is the power of a religious cult and the bonds it can create, resulting in a fierce loyalty to the cult.

One other thing about religion and cults that is particularly relevant to us borderlines: Identity ! When we devote ourselves to a religion or cult, we are, in essence, surrendering our personal identity (at least to some extent) to that of the religion or cult. As borderlines, obtaining a strong sense of identity externally can be very appealing. It can provide something we can hold onto, when our own identities or goals are unclear.

I occasionally fantasize about finding a cult whose beliefs match my own. I wish I could experience the intense human bonds I imagine cult members experience. I'd spend the rest of my life in such a cult.