Cult of Reason

On March 29th, 1997, 39 men and women took their own lives in the belief that they would travel to a space ship hidden in space. The "Heaven's Gate" cult planted this belief in its members minds members, resulting in a mass suicide. The members of this cult took an anti-seizure medication, mixed with a spoonful of applesauce, and washed down with a glass of vodka. Additionally, they tied plastic grocery bags over their heads in order to induce abnormal breathing. Some authorities found those 39…

Whenever a person hears the word cult, they will either be frightened or not think much about it. The word cult, is nowadays often used to describe a group of people that believes or does something out of the ordinary. Its original definition however, is a “ritual observance involved in worship of the supernatural or its symbolic representations” (Cult). While most cults have died out, many are still active today or have influenced modern cults. People may know these cults by name but they may…

The History of the Jonestown Massacre Many different cults have existed for many years. Some cults are peaceful while other cults can be violent and intense. One cult that ended in severity was the Peoples Temple based in Jonestown, Guyana. This particular cult was led by a man named Jim Jones. Jones had strong views on equality and wanted to create a place where people of all ages, races, and sexual orientations could live together in peace, therefore he started the Peoples Temple. The…

understanding how cults can affect faith…

“Cults are religious groups who express their similar and sometimes “unique” beliefs together”("Religious Violence"). Characteristics of a typical cult include a leader’s continuous efforts to gain influence and control over members thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. “Anti-cult activists and scholars have all come to describe cults as groups that physically, mentally, emotionally, and materially exploit and manipulate their followers” ("Suicide Cults"). The members show extreme loyalty and…

Jonestown Jim Jones was born in 1931; he was from Crete, Indiana. In the 1970’s Jones was a popular cult leader, and claimed himself to be the leader of the Peoples Temple religious cult. Jones promised a utopia to his followers that were dedicated disciples. “On November 18, 1978, in what became known as the Jonestown Massacre, Jones led more than 900 men, women and children to their deaths in a mass suicide by cyanide-laced punch.”(Editors).When Jim Jones promised a racially integrated utopia…

A group of people who think the same way, wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, purchase the same products, and dream the same dreams—according to Lasn, these are the criteria for a people who are members of a “cult.” If this is the definition of a “cult,” then a cult that I recognize I am most definitely a member of would be Christianity. Although there is much variety within the lives of each member of my church, we all strive (or should strive) to live by the same standard: this…

Of the many cults that have arisen throughout the past century, the cult which was led by Charles Manson, and labeled the Manson Family Cult, is arguably one of the most infamous. One of the definitions of a cult at dictionary.com is “a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader” which describes the group led by Charles Manson (Dictionary.com). Formed in the turbulent…

Social Psychology: Free will vs Autonomy. Understanding Formulation of Actions: A Cult Case Study. The formulation of truth as a psychological process is vastly homogeneous, meaning that there are universal truths and beliefs. Social absolutes exist in the form of consensus understanding of right and wrong; common decency is an expected phenomenon and value is placed upon the action in a social setting. It could be argued that humans rely on others for confirmation of their actions (Asch 1956)…

social disorganisation and change. NRMs are new religious movements which are an overarching idea that embraces both cults and sects; the term was coined by Barker as a neutral term as cults and sects are usually portrayed negatively by the media which can cause moral panic so sociologists such as Barker and Wallis came up with NRMs. However, Hadden and Bromley point out the concepts cult and sect, used by sociologists, have precise meanings and therefore are free of prejudice so there shouldn’t…