Well, yes. And no. Sometimes that someone at the highest level genuinely believes the sham is not a sham at all.
To me, the most insidious thing about the cult dynamic is how often (and how completely) cult members participate in (and even wholly engineer) their own manipulation. It can be comforting to be angry at a person (especially when you have so much to be angry about). Unfortunately that person may not be who you'd prefer.
[This is self-reproach, btw. Not telling you, or anyone else, how to think/feel. Just the personal experience of someone who's had to figure out some of these things the hard way.]
To me, the most insidious thing about the cult dynamic is how often (and how completely) cult members participate in (and even wholly engineer) their own manipulation. It can be comforting to be angry at a person (especially when you have so much to be angry about). Unfortunately that person may not be who you'd prefer.
[This is self-reproach, btw. Not telling you, or anyone else, how to think/feel. Just the personal experience of someone who's had to figure out some of these things the hard way.]