The Cult

Cults are defined as a group of people having religious beliefs or practices viewed by others as strange. There are many cults in America, more than actual churches. The group is usually isolated from the rest of society which is believed to be destructive. These cults create their own worlds and limit any outside influences. They form their own society with a religious leader controlling the group. These groups use physiological persuasions to recruit and brainwash their members. In our…

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…

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…

The Cult of The Dead Cow. (Manion et al., 2000). Hacktivism can be defined as the seemingly clandestine act of…

understanding how cults can affect faith…

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)…

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…

Professor Josh Pryor Eng. 110-04 05/05/15 Cults and Charismatic Leaders What is normal for you might be insane for me; as for cults and religions many of their acts and interest are of normality. For someone on the outside of that religion or cult might seem like an absurdity. As humans we do not have the right to judge upon their religion or cults way of life, they do what they do for a reason either to protect or praise in whom they have faith. As for cults we know many are notably positive,…

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…

book titled "The Man Who Saves You From Yourself" Cults do exist, but no one ever admits to joining such a group or affiliation. One only joins a nonprofit organization that promotes animal rights, green technology, or transcendental meditation, as they would admit. However, regardless of how much these members of a cult deny it, cults do exist. In fact, cult groups live among unsuspecting members of their society and continue to carry out their cult activities and rituals without raising…