In a well-crafted, provocative, scholarly article, Lee. J. Richmond observes the correlation between religious cults and the effects of which these institutions have on adolescents. Lee J. Richmond, a licensed psychologist and professor of Education at Loyola College, highlights specific cults and their destructive nature on the youth. Based on his experiences, he warns school counselors how to effectively deal with the pressures of cult recruitment and the interference on the lives of adolescents. Many adolescents admonish these particular sects, but also have desires to disconnect from them. He explains in great detail the types of cults, the way these cults seem attractive to adolescents, and advice to school counselors on how to approach
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He lists examples of specific cult organizations, conveying to school counselors the danger of which some youth have placed themselves in. For example, he mentions the threat of Satanism and how crimes have been conducted been the cause of many crimes. He notes, “many people who practice the faith commit crimes in order to achieve what they consider to be supernatural experience” (Richmond 6). By providing specific examples of movements like Satanism, counselors examine that many people, especially adolescents, have the tendency to commit crimes using their belief system as means to carry it out if they associate themselves with such perilous sects. Richmond references Lalich and Singer’s book, Cults in Our Midst to argue that cults have two distinct types. The first focuses on full, long-term control of the member, while the less malignant cult aims to promote more of a self-improvement program (Richmond 1). The author continues, “religious cults are considered destructive if their intent is to control and exploit” (Richmond 1). By setting up his article with this approach, the audience becomes aware of his intentions not to scold or bash a specific cult, but rather to explain the concrete differences between a non-destructive cult with a destructive …show more content…
While any ordinary person could potentially find themselves brainwashed into a cult, they also have the capability to leave the sect. By advising school counselors to familiarize themselves with a background knowledge of general cults, they should work with parents and caregivers to ensure that adolescents stay safe in their day-to-day environment. While a school counselor observes a child’s interest and behavior, they must also exemplify respect towards that student in order to gain further knowledge and a sense of trust from them.
When one leaves a particular sect, the need for outside friends and mentors is crucial for mental healing of the student. By relying on companions, students have the ability to completely recover from their inner turmoil caused by such groups. Despite the damage to the young mind, the peculiar youth would benefit from a new, healthy spiritual norm that they can invest their time in. After going into great detail about specific destructive cults, why adolescents decide to join, and the ways in which school counselors can help those effected, Richmond displays the need for public knowledge of this precise
He lists examples of specific cult organizations, conveying to school counselors the danger of which some youth have placed themselves in. For example, he mentions the threat of Satanism and how crimes have been conducted been the cause of many crimes. He notes, “many people who practice the faith commit crimes in order to achieve what they consider to be supernatural experience” (Richmond 6). By providing specific examples of movements like Satanism, counselors examine that many people, especially adolescents, have the tendency to commit crimes using their belief system as means to carry it out if they associate themselves with such perilous sects. Richmond references Lalich and Singer’s book, Cults in Our Midst to argue that cults have two distinct types. The first focuses on full, long-term control of the member, while the less malignant cult aims to promote more of a self-improvement program (Richmond 1). The author continues, “religious cults are considered destructive if their intent is to control and exploit” (Richmond 1). By setting up his article with this approach, the audience becomes aware of his intentions not to scold or bash a specific cult, but rather to explain the concrete differences between a non-destructive cult with a destructive …show more content…
While any ordinary person could potentially find themselves brainwashed into a cult, they also have the capability to leave the sect. By advising school counselors to familiarize themselves with a background knowledge of general cults, they should work with parents and caregivers to ensure that adolescents stay safe in their day-to-day environment. While a school counselor observes a child’s interest and behavior, they must also exemplify respect towards that student in order to gain further knowledge and a sense of trust from them.
When one leaves a particular sect, the need for outside friends and mentors is crucial for mental healing of the student. By relying on companions, students have the ability to completely recover from their inner turmoil caused by such groups. Despite the damage to the young mind, the peculiar youth would benefit from a new, healthy spiritual norm that they can invest their time in. After going into great detail about specific destructive cults, why adolescents decide to join, and the ways in which school counselors can help those effected, Richmond displays the need for public knowledge of this precise