Perhaps not fake. Some people get dragged into wrongdoing against their judgment.
Surprised he was still alive!
No, but some of the brighter people suspect.
They don’t read their own group’s historical material. They’re dissuaded from doing so by consequence of being in a cult
If someone is expected to adopt a worldview that is not permitted to be subjected to objective scrutiny, those advocating such an approach are engaging in mind control.
It applies here as much as anywhere else.