I enjoyed this episode.
After 20 years of infection, post apocalyptic living and constant fear of death, most people are not going to be well educated rational thinkers. When someone says "I have the way" and mostly delivers why wouldn't people go along? Then that leader finds men that are willing to get the job done in order to protect their own. Which means killing others in order to survive. America and its government are gone, groups have become tribal.
Even Joel and his brother fit this mold. They have killed and taken in order to survive. It's stated repeatedly.
The party of 4 that was out scavenging, away from the eyes of their wives and children, will do whatever it takes to get through another day. Another week. And they already know this winter is harder, colder and longer as their food supplies dwindle. To that end, it's resulted in cannibalism, they had 3 other bodies already strung up ready to be butchered.
Starving people being fed probably aren't going to ask too many questions.
A solid series to read is called "1 Second After".
aTm '99