acknowledgment of conflict and choice. The first sub-stage states that right and wrong are based on social constructs and norms. The second sub-stage is based on universal principles that are not determined by the need to conform (Paloutzian, 1996, p. 93). There are integral in 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…
Cults: The Real Threat More than 30 people are killed violently each day in the United States in a variety of ways and in multiple areas regardless of the socioeconomic status of those areas. Right now in our country, guns, racism, and poverty are blamed for much of the violence. However, most of our society overlooks another cause of violent activity in America. Cults. Over 100 cults are here in America, and they conduct mass suicides and other acts of violence creating danger to our country.…
the word cult, they think of people in dark cloaks worshipping Satan or bald monks who live in mountains as hermits. That is not always the case though. It is not as easy as one may think to spot cult members as they come from varying walks of life. The purpose of this paper is to define cults, to explain why people join cults, and to apprise the danger that cults pose. Although most religions start as cults, there are many qualities, criteria, and traits that separate cults from religions.…
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…
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…
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 be new terms for it, but this is not always understood by the general public and therefore we…
threats some hold to innocent human beings. Cults. We must strive to raise awareness of harmful cults in our society. Harmful cults have the ability to take away basic human rights and brainwash people to such an extent that they begin to believe what they are doing will make them a better person and improve their lives. Everyone would like a chance at a new life, right?, so if a harmful cult offers a shot at a new one, it's near impossible to turn it down. This is the trap many fall into and…