CULTISM

I. What is a Cult? IV. Characteristics of a Cult

The term "cult" first appeared in English in 1617, derived from the French culte, meaning "worship" which in turn originated from the Latin word cultus meaning "care, cultivation, worship" originally "tended, cultivated" as in the past participle of colere "to till the soil". It is a religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. Charismatic authority is 'power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers'. II. Origins in sociology

The concept of "cult" was introduced into sociological classification in 1932 by American sociologist Howard P. Becker as an expansion of German theologian Ernst Troeltsch's church-sect typology. Troeltsch's aim was to distinguish between three main types of religious behavior: churchly, sectarian and mystical. Becker created four categories out of Troeltsch's first two by splitting church into "ecclesia" and "denomination", and sect into "sect" and "cult". Like Troeltsch's "mystical religion", Becker's cults were small religious groups lacking in organization and emphasizing the private nature of personal beliefs. Later formulations built on these characteristics while placing an additional emphasis on cults as deviant religious groups "deriving their inspiration from outside of the predominant religious culture". This deviation is often thought to lead to a high degree of tension between the group and the more mainstream culture surrounding it, a characteristic shared with religious sects. Sociologists still maintain that unlike sects, which are products of religious schism and therefore maintain continuity with traditional beliefs and practices, "cults" arise spontaneously around novel beliefs and practices. III. Formation of Cults In their book Theory of Religion, Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge propose that the formation of "cults" can be explained through a combination of four models: Psycho-pathological model the cult founder suffers from psychological problems; he develops the cult in order to resolve these problems for himself, as a form of self-therapy. Entrepreneurial model the cult founder acts like an entrepreneur, trying to develop a religion which he/she thinks will be most attractive to potential recruits, often based on his/her experiences from previous cults or other religious groups he/she has belonged to. Social model the cult is formed through a social implosion, in which cult members dramatically reduce the intensity of their emotional bonds with non-cult members, and dramatically increase the intensity of those bonds with fellow cult members this emotionally intense situation naturally encourages the formation of a shared belief system and rituals Normal revelations model the cult is formed when the founder chooses to interpret ordinary natural phenomena as supernatural, such as by ascribing his or her own creativity in inventing the cult to that of the deity.

The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). The leader dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marryor leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avataror the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. The group is preoccupied with making money. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. The most loyal members (the true believers) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group. V. Roman Catholic cultus In Roman Catholicism, cultus or cult is the technical term for devotions or veneration extended to a particular saint. The Christian Church makes distinctions between worship and veneration, both of which can be outwardly expressed in a similar manner. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy distinguish between worship which is only acceptable to be offered to God alone, and veneration which may be offered to the saints. These distinctions between deity and mediators are exhaustively treated at the entries for latria and dulia.

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VI. Cult Practice Ritual - the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by tradition or by sacerdotal decree. Ceremony - is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion (ex. Birthday, Initiation, Graduating, Awarding). Liturgy- is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions. It is a communal response to the sacred through activity reflecting praise, thanksgiving, supplication, or repentance. VII. The Beliefs or Theology of Cults A. In their world view, philosophy, or basic view of reality, there are three different categories of religious cults, although of course there is overlap:

Jesus Christ. Christians believe Christ is God's unique and only Son. He also was born of Mary as a human being. He is fully God and fully man. He has all of God's attributes, yet because He was also fully human, Jesus could substitute for us, and be punished by God for our sins. When He died by crucifixion, He was paying the total penalty for our sins. Christians also believe two other things very strongly about Jesus Christ. One, He was resurrected from the dead after three days and that He ascended to heaven where He now intercedes for us. Secondly, Christ is coming again to judge all people living and dead. At His second coming, Christ will establish God's kingdom and rule. The cults almost always de-emphasize Christ's deity and the effectiveness of His death. They say he was godly but not God, and that we have to add our work to His work in order to please God. Human Beings. Christians believe that humanity was a special creation of God to be His image. Human beings have innate dignity and worth because we are God's image. However, even though every person is in God's image, each one of us is deeply flawed because of sin. We have fallen short of God's standard and are sinful. Yet we are still objects of God's love and He seeks our worship and loyalty and a relationship with us. So Christians believe humans are wonderfully made, deeply fallen, yet greatly loved. The cults, by using techniques of manipulation, deface and devalue God's image in people. They attack the dignity and worth that each individual has in God's image. The eastern and new age cults underestimate the sinfulness and fallenness of people by urging us to seek "the god within you". VIII. Types of Cults Religious Cults. These cults come in the form of a popular religion. It could be Christianity, Hindu, Islam, etc., etc. The leaders of these groups may try to disguise or rationalize their teachings with the doctrines of their chosen cover religion, so that what they say may not seem that far off at first. While some religious cults physically abuse their followers, most others play on emotions and use sex as a way to control. The leaders of these groups tend to be charismatic and know exactly what to say to get what they want out of people. Some examples include: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple David Koresh and the Branch Davidians Shoko Asahara and Aum Shinrikyo (Sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subways in the 90s) Claude Vorilhon and Ralism (A UFO religion cult) Marshall Applewhite and Heavens Gate (A hybrid UFO/Christian Group) Commercial Cults. Some cults use commercial gain as their base. They promise untold riches using their special program or system. Their leader is cast as an example that the program/system really works. It all starts with a small investment, which grows with the completion of step after step after step. They use motivational tapes, videos, books and seminars to relieve you of your money without actually making good on their end of the bargain. What they dont tell you is that the leader became successful and rich by taking your money for bogus products that do little, if anything, of what is promised. Some examples include: Amway

Western Cults. These have their roots in Christianity, usually claiming to be the true church. They use the Bible as one of their sources and Jesus Christ as a central figure. These are groups such as the Mormons, Unification Church (Moonies), Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christian Science. The People's Temple and the Branch Davidians would also be in this category. Eastern Cults. These do not claim the Bible or Jesus Christ as necessary in their structure, but instead they are a break off of some eastern religion such as Hinduism, Buddhism, or Taoism. Sometimes these eastern cults will claim that they alone represent eastern religion, and they also claim to be compatible with Christianity. But in essence their world view is oriental philosophy. Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the Hare Krishnas are in this category. New Age Cults. These usually try to unify eastern and western thinking. The Bible and Jesus Christ do not play a key role in the New Age Movement. Nor does it claim to be the true expression of oriental religion. It claims to be a blend of the beliefs, with the overriding theory of pantheism ("all is one," "all is God") and reincarnation. The Heavens Gate cult would be in this category. B. Major Beliefs

God. Christians believe God is personal; that is, He has intellect, emotions, and will. He has existed eternally. He is the creator and source of everything else that exists. He is holy, loving and just. He is a tri-unity (three in one); one God in three Persons, the Trinity. The eastern and new age cults deny the personality of God - he is just as impersonal force. Western cults deny the Trinity. The Jehovah Witnesses and Christian Scientists say the Trinity is of pagan origin. The Mormons say there are three Gods (among many gods). Authority. Christians believe that the Bible is the basis for their beliefs. It is God's revelation of Himself to humanity. It is inspired by God and is therefore reliable and authoritative. Catholics and Orthodox put more authority in church traditions than Protestants do, but all agree that the Bible is the only inspired book we have. Cults nearly always add extra writings to the Bible, or unique interpretations which alter the Bible's meaning. Some new age cults even claim to have a book dictated via automatic handwriting from extra-terrestrials! (The Urantia Book).

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Some door-to-door magazine subscription companies Harland Stonecipher and his company Pre-Paid Legal Trek Alliance Any of the various Pyramid Schemes Self Help/Counseling Cults. These cults often target business people and corporations and, in the case of Scientology, celebrities. Self Help and Counseling cults are very similar to Commercial Cults, as money is often the goal. They claim that by doing courses and seminars, you can be more successful and productive. Some of these groups will lock participants away in hotel rooms where they are subjected to quasi-religious indoctrination. Once thats completed, participants are told they need an advanced course or seminar, which of course, costs more. As with most cults, they specialize in creating powerful emotional experiences which are then used to validate involvement. Some examples include: Scientology Jasmuheen and Breatharianism Whitewind Swan Fisher and Friends Landing Charles Dederich and Synanon Alfonso Acampora and Waldon House Political Cults. When one thinks of a political group, the term cult is not often a word that comes to mind. Groups that advocate far left and far right political agendas are sometimes classified as Political Cults. The term cult of personality also comes into play here, where like the Religious Cults, the political movement is headed by a highly charismatic leader that holds enormous power over his/her followers. This type of group is also focused on making money, through excessive fundraisers via illegal practices. In a cult of personality situation, the groups leader is not held accountable to anyone (i.e. a dictator). As with some Religious Cults like Jim Jones and Peoples Temple, the end always justifies the means and they will try to instill an us-vs-them attitude in their followers. Black/White supremacists groups as well terrorist and rebel groups could also be included. Some examples include: Hitler and Nazi Germany Stalin and Communist Russia Rocky J. Suhayda and the American Nazi Party (a modern Nazi movement in America) Peoples Mujahedin of Iran Lyndon LaRouche and the LaRouche Movement IX. Joining Michael Langone, executive director of the International Cultic Studies Association, gives three different models for conversion. A. Deliberative model - people are said to join cults primarily because of how they view a particular group. Langone notes that this view is most favored among sociologists and religious scholars. B. Psychodynamic model - popular with some mental health professionals, individuals choose to join for fulfillment of subconscious psychological needs. C. Thought reform model - states that people do not join because of their own psychological needs, but because of the group's influence through forms of psychological manipulation. Langone claims that those mental health experts who have more direct

experience with large numbers of cultists tend to favor this latter view. Reasons why people join cults Biblical Illiteracy Ecclesiastical Scarring Church Indifference Cult Naivite Inordinate Individualism Life Transition Love Bombing Peer Pressure Irrational Worldview Persistent Evil Methods and Procedures of a Cult Give loving attention Grooming or cultivating Intensive indoctrination Action X. Leaving

There are at least three ways people leave a cult: by one's own decision through expulsion through intervention (Exit counseling, deprogramming) Deprogramming is an attempt to force a person to abandon allegiance to a religious, political, economic, or social group. Methods and practices may involve kidnapping and coercion. The person in question is taken against his/her will, which has led to controversies over freedom of religion, kidnapping and civil rights, as well as the violence which is sometimes involved. Exit counseling, also termed strategic intervention therapy, cult intervention or thought reform consultation, is distinguished from deprogramming by the fact that it is a voluntary procedure, that the follower is treated with respect, can leave any time, and that the decision to stay with the group or leave it is wholly up to the follower and will be accepted by the exit counselor.