Six members of a cult organization, "Church of Almighty God", beat a woman to death in Zhaoyuan, Shandong province, on May 28 because she refused to join their order, sending shockwaves throughout the country. The tragedy has revealed the barbarity of cult groups, which seem to have grown in the country over the past few years.

Cults have always been a lingering shadow over society because apart from thriving on the ignorance of their followers, they seem to fulfill certain spiritual needs of some people.

We live in a complicated and imperfect world, quite different from what we want it to be. So it is natural for us to feel desperate and despaired in times of utter distress. In such times, we can only hope that the situation will change for the better. The problem is that, if that doesn't happen, some people - out of desperation - may take antisocial measures to fulfill their needs, both material and emotional. And a few of them could even join cult organizations and inflict damage on society while thinking they are fulfilling their mission in life.

But what seems like bravery to cult members is actually a reflection of their cowardice. Such people refuse to accept reality and wander into the world of make-believe to satisfy their material and emotional needs.

A basic social rule, though unwritten, is to make efforts to improve the imperfections of society. But while doing so people should adhere to the virtue of self-restraint and the principle of respecting others' beliefs and ways of life.

Because of the rapid development and drastic social transition in China, many people have forgotten the most basic rule of society: what it takes to be a good human being as opposed to a successful or satisfied individual. The neglect of this basic rule drives people toward extreme expressions and behaviors, which cults thrive on.

A good human being is one who learns how to effectively communicate with others and avoid extremities. And a good society is one that protects its people from being controlled by cults and other extreme organizations. Achieving this goal may be a long and arduous social project, but it is achievable even if the process is gradual.