...Cults are intriguing and arouse curiosity in the minds of people who have accepted life in society and joined humanity the way it is. It is amazing to think that people leave their life of normalcy to put their trust in something that is alien but promises them something in return or will save their souls from whatever will harm them. There are many causes that affect people s minds to make them join cults. Cults are very promising, can be very eye-opening, and may be the only option left for some people because of what has happened to them in their life or the mental state they are in. Cults, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, are systems or communities of religious worship that may include obsessive devotion to a person or ideal. In our society, cults are common and have the potential to be destructive. This paper will focus on the factors such as education, stake in conformity, turning points, and strength of local religious organizations that may cause people to join cults, as determined by Stark and Bainbridge. It will also discuss the methods used by cults to influence new recruits and current members. Cult leaders employ tactics such as information deprivation, extinction of former identities, and scarcity in order to maintain their authority. All these techniques combined create an environment that can be classified as a cult. Traditionally, cults have formed after or during turbulent periods of history, when people are most vulnerable. However, not...
Words: 1899 - Pages: 8
...Cults Cults are often seen as an alternative religion. “A cult is defined as a religious or secular group that employs unethical and extreme measures of manipulation to recruit, control and retain its members” (Study Resources). Most cults are started because someone doesn’t like the way the world is and want to create what they feel the perfect world is. Then this person strives to make others believe as they do so they will join. There are somewhere around 3,000 to 5,000 of these cults throughout the United States, but only 75 to 100 are documented (Study Resources). The most commonly known cults are Reverend Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, Heavens Gate, and Charles Manson and the Family; these cults were able to drag people in and make them willing to do horrible things to themselves and others. In the early 20th century, Allistar Crowly, AKA “The Black Pope”, started modern Satanism (Satan Worship). It is said that Anton Lavey brought Satanism to the United States; Anton believed that he was the reincarnation of the “Black Pope”. He set his church up in San Francisco in 1966. By the end of the first year, Anton’s cult grew to more than 200,000 members (Satan Worship). Anton then went to Hollywood to help make movies about Satanism. The movies, such as Rosemary’s Baby, glamorized the Satanic lifestyle and drew people in. Satanism was the jumping point for the modern cult movement. Reverend Jim Jones was the leader of The Peoples Temple. Jim thought of himself...
Words: 1273 - Pages: 6
...Churches are large organisations often with millions of members. Sects are usually a break away from a church usually because of disagreement and cults are new religions such as Scientology. The view that sects and cults are more important than the church may be due to the fact there are many of these new religious movements gaining status and becoming well known in certain societies. The reason they may be seen as more important than the church may be due to the fact the church is losing members and attendance is low whereas new religious movements are gaining more members and are becoming more socially accepted. People these days are now more individualistic due to modernity. They do things that benefit themselves rather than society for example young people believe in spirituality as it aims to improve the individual. Stark and Bainbridge say sects offer other worldly benefits such as a place in heaven and cults offer worldly benefits in this life. This could be a reason that they seem to be more important than church as people rather follow the new religious movements as opposed to the church because they are fulfilling the individuals need to feel they may have a better life now and after death . This could also be showing that people feel so oppressed in this life that they need to follow a new religious movement like a sect as it gives them comfort knowing in the afterlife they will be saved and free of the oppression they are faced with in today’s...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...Candace T. Cults: A Dangerous Devotion “The most dangerous lie is that which most closely resembles the truth” - Jan Groenveld This quote above is by Jan Groenveld an Australian who has her own experiences as a former member of the LDS Church which deals with Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses and was featured in Richard Guilliatt’s book Talk of the Devil. Her definition of a cult is any group that has a pyramid type authoritative figure with all teachings and guidance coming from the person at the top. The group will claim to be the only way to God and will use thought reform and mind control to keep their members. Unfortunately, after 15 years in a cult she finally realized that she was being controlled rather than controlling her own life. She wanted to let people know about her experiences in order to help others. She is so hated by the church of scientology for exposing them that her name is not even allowed to pop up under scientology on Google. In the United States, it is estimated that there are 5,000 cults that are actively recruiting people, no matter the age and walks of life. Jan Groenveld made it her mission to help people recognize cults, spiritually abusive behaviors and how to defend them from persuasion. Because the beliefs in cults are so believable people become locked into a “thinking box” which makes them unable to see the world around them. The topic that I chose to analyze is religious cults. I chose this because I thought...
Words: 4429 - Pages: 18
...When you think of a Religion most would never think of it as a Cult but, I ask the question “Could a religion actually be considered a cult?” A few religions that we have studied in class have actually been considered a cult at one point in history, either many years ago, or very recently. What intrigues me about this is: the definition and characteristics of a cult or religion, what groups/religions have been considered to be a cult, and why do we think that a cult is not considered a religious group. Some characteristics of a cult are: that the leader of the cult becomes the person worshiped instead of a god, there is more control and power from the leader over the cult, and third, the cult can contain sexual exploitation and abuse....
Words: 849 - Pages: 4
...Psychology May 26, 2012 Conformity To Cult Behavior In the early 1960s, psychologists in the United States interviewed several U.S. soldiers and American Prisoners of War returning home from combat against North Korea. Their main focus in particular were on those who had suffered an extreme change in their personality. These young soldiers had experienced being brainwashed under the communists. Psychologist have later realized that people involved in cults may have experienced similar psychological changes. Cult leaders use the same structure known as, mind control or mind reform. The book "Combating Cult Mind Control", by Steven Hassen explains that mind control is more refined than brainwashing. Cult members are considered to be a good friend and righteous people. As a result, the person being indoctrinated offers less defiance and contention than if they being forcefully coerced. Through compliance with the process of mind reform, the victim slowly begins to surrender over his personality and accept the doctrines of the cult as biblical truth. Mind control does not involve physical abuse but it is limited to certain hypnotic processes to create a compelling effect of precepts (Cephas, 2010). Many of the individuals who are deceived are not just naive people, but they are often successful educated people. There are several methods of mind control which are not considered harmless. People who find themselves getting deep into cults need to be aware of this. There are...
Words: 874 - Pages: 4
...Why Individuals Conform to Cult Behavior Jesse A. G. Oakes Social Psychology ~ Fisher College Why Individuals Conform to Cult Behavior When answering the question why and how do individuals conform to cult behavior, one will perhaps better understand this scenario along with how it takes place by remembering and referring to the fundamentals of persuasion. Accomplished through not only the Central Route of persuasion, containing the critical content, but also the Peripheral Route lending to the acceptance and trust of the individual viewed as the leader, messenger, through superficial cues. In association with these fundamentals, it is important to realize the individual being drawn into a cult, more than likely has existing personal circumstances, which places them in a fragile state, which allows them to be more easily preyed upon. When speaking of the word “cult”, as individuals we each have a personal opinion of the word and what it means. However most if not all make a judgment and apply it to a group generally in regards to belief and/or practices in the realm of religion. Another reference, specifically, Merriam-Webster.com the word “cult” is defined as formal religious worship, a system of religious beliefs and ritual, great devotion to a person, idea, object, or movement. Research conducted by Margaret Singer, Ph.D. and reported in Psychology Today (January, 1979), encompassed individuals who were involved with cults, and later left either on their own...
Words: 1103 - Pages: 5
...Churches are large organisations often with millions of members. Sects are usually a break away from a church usually because of disagreement and cults are new religions such as Scientology. The view that sects and cults are more important than the church may be due to the fact there are many of these new religious movements gaining status and becoming well known in certain societies. The reason they may be seen as more important than the church may be due to the fact the church is losing members and attendance is low whereas new religious movements are gaining more members and are becoming more socially accepted. People these days are now more individualistic due to modernity. They do things that benefit themselves rather than society for example young people believe in spirituality as it aims to improve the individual. Stark and Bainbridge say sects offer other worldly benefits such as a place in heaven and cults offer worldly benefits in this life. This could be a reason that they seem to be more important than church as people rather follow the new religious movements as opposed to the church because they are fulfilling the individuals need to feel they may have a better life now and after death . This could also be showing that people feel so oppressed in this life that they need to follow a new religious movement like a sect as it gives them comfort knowing in the afterlife they will be saved and free of the oppression they are faced with in today’s...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...Destructive cults defined within literature Much of what American society has come to understand or know about cults has been depicted by the media in controversial headlines and television dramas which primarily have been depicted on a negative note. Therefore, it is important to establish that not all cults are negative or destructive nor are they technically considered cults, but are rather labeled due to their unorthodox views. Over the years the definition of a cult has shifted and is used differently depending on the perspective or the context in which it is used, in North America there are three general perspectives used in relation to knowledge about cults; religious perspective, sociology and academic theology, and the mental health field, (Tapper, 2005). Based on each perspective or specialization is how the different definitions are used; in particular, religious conformists define a cult as any group or religion that deviates from traditional religious scripture, those who study cults find the term judgmental and prosecuting to those whose belief system is different, and lastly is the perspective from former cult members, their families, and the mental health professionals who treat them who do not focus on the belief of a group rather on the specific behaviors that violate human rights and cause harm (Tapper, 2005). For the purpose of this research paper, the focus will be on destructive cults from a mental health perspective. A destructive cult is defined as...
Words: 808 - Pages: 4
...“’A cult, as I define it, is any religious group which differs significantly in one or more respects as to belief or practice from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture (Martin 1997 cited Dr. Charles Braden 1954, Preface, xii).’ I may add to this that a cult might also be defined as a group of people gathered about a specific person or person’s misinterpretation of the Bible”. Cults in the United States of America fit this definition because the United States began as a “Christian” country. There are numerous cults in the U. S. that many people are join without knowing the restriction that come with it. Cult members find it difficult to leave the cult because of the controlling rules...
Words: 558 - Pages: 3
...difference between a sect and a cult?" Answer: The word sect comes from the Latin word secta, which means “school of thought.” It is a subjective term that may apply to a religious faith or denomination, or it may refer to a heretical splinter group. Sometimes, the connotation is one of disapproval, similar to the “destructive heresies” spoken of in 2 Peter 2:1, though there are no consistent or accepted exemplars to use to identify a sect. Sects are found in all religions. Islam has Sunnis and Shias, Judaism has Orthodox and Karaites, Hinduism has Shiyaism and Shaktism, and Christianity has Baptists and Lutherans. These are all examples of religious sects, and they can be thought of as “branches” of different religions. There are also non-religious sects, such as capitalists and socialists among economists, or Freudians and Jungians among psychiatrists. In contradistinction, the word cult always carries a negative connotation. There are specific criteria used to identify a cult. In Combatting Cult Mind Control, deprogrammer Steven Hassan singles out what he refers to as “destructive cults,” which he defines as “a pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control. It uses deception in recruiting new members (e.g. people are NOT told up front what the group is, what the group actually believes and what will be expected of them if they become members).” Hassan also correctly points out that cults are not only religious; they...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
...Assess view that cults, sects and New Age Movements are fringe organisations that are short lived and of little influence in society. Churches and denominations are generally seen as respectable, mainstream organisations, whereas cults, sects and NAM’s are seen as more deviant, which involve belief systems that are viewed as odd or bizarre. The terms ‘sect’ or ‘cult’ have been stigmatised, due to the mass media view on them as controlling, brainwashing and manipulative to its members. Many believe cults, sects and NAM’s are short-lived, as they will, over time, either turn into denominations or disappear altogether. For example, The Quakers originally began as a world-rejecting religious sect. However, over time they abandoned their world rejecting view and evolved into a highly respectable denomination, while others, such as The Peoples Temple, have disappeared altogether. Many sociologists believe NAM’s have little influence over society, and are just ways of showing change in society. Wallis identified three different types of these religious movements: World affirming, world accommodating and world rejecting groups. World rejecting religious movements, such as The Moonies are seen to be the most short-lived groups with little influence over society. These groups hold strict guidelines to members which demand high commitment from their members who obtain a view that the outside world is evil. There are a number of reasons that sects are destined to be short lived. Barker...
Words: 1204 - Pages: 5
...Assess the view that cults and sects are fringe organisations that are inevitably short lived and of little influence on contemporary society. Cults and sects are often hard to differentiate from one another, as a lot of them have very similar features such as a world-rejecting values and the offer of alternative explanations to traditional beliefs. According to Troeitsch, sects tend to be small, tight-knitted groups of individuals that often disagree with mainstream values and attempt to change society for the better. Cults on the other hand, are loosely knit, require a lot less commitment and do not always hold concrete beliefs. While some sects are low profile and harmless, others carry out horrific actions and rituals which have become apparent to the public through the media, such as 'Heaven’s Gate': a sect that conducted mass suicides as a way of gaining access to heaven, and the 'People’s Temple', a sect lead by the Reverend Jim Jones who famously drove a mass suicide in a jungle campsite in South America. The idea that neither sects nor cults are long lasting is an important one, with theologians such as Richard Neibuhr suggesting that sects cannot survive beyond one generation. He states that as they are often led and “held together” by one charismatic individual who claims to have some kind of “divine power”, following the death of this leader, the sect usually disappears. Furthermore, second generation members that are born into sects may not maintain...
Words: 1095 - Pages: 5
...Yana Garcia Mander 13.0 hw. Assess the view that cults and sects are fringe organisations that are inevitably short lived and of little influence on contemporary society. Cults and sects are often hard to differentiate from one another, as a lot of them have very similar features such as a world-rejecting values and the offer of alternative explanations to traditional beliefs. According to Troeitsch, sects tend to be small, tight-knitted groups of individuals that often disagree with mainstream values and attempt to change society for the better. Cults on the other hand, are loosely knit, require a lot less commitment and do not always hold concrete beliefs. While some sects are low profile and harmless, others carry out horrific actions and rituals which have become apparent to the public through the media, such as 'Heaven’s Gate': a sect that conducted mass suicides as a way of gaining access to heaven, and the 'People’s Temple', a sect lead by the Reverend Jim Jones who famously drove a mass suicide in a jungle campsite in South America. The idea that neither sects nor cults are long lasting is an important one, with theologians such as Richard Neibuhr suggesting that sects cannot survive beyond one generation. He states that as they are often led and “held together” by one charismatic individual who claims to have some kind of “divine power”, following the death of this leader, the sect usually disappears. Furthermore, second generation members that are...
Words: 1101 - Pages: 5
...few who dissented were held down by others and forced to drink, children weren’t spared the same fate, as their parents force-fed them to consume the deadly concoction. It took approximately four minutes for each follower to die in convulsions. A few escaped, and as one escapee put it, “they were drinking the poison like they were hypnotized or something” (Cialdini 152). Commonly referred to as “The Jonestown Massacre,” the events at Jonestown sparked an international interest in a more general type of organization called a cult. A cult by is an organization that uses intensive indoctrination techniques to recruit and maintain members into a totalist ideology (Crawley 1). Almost everyone is susceptible to the influence of a cult and members are usually intelligent and idealistic. Typically associated with unorthodox religious groups, the definition of a cult can pertain to any group, including military organizations, governments, families, or companies. Cults instill and maintain unwavering commitment intheir members by using a set of psychological tools that are called mind control. Ruinous mind control can be conceptualized in terms of four primary components, which together form the acronym B.I.T.E. (Hassan 1): a) Behavior Control b) Information Control c) Thought Control d) Emotional Control...
Words: 1733 - Pages: 7
