Cults: The Geography of Religion Against the Cultural Norm

“Weirdos”

What is a cult?

It is difficult to define a cult precisely. One person’s cult could be another person’s religion. Europeans call them sects. “Cult” is a pejorative term (expressing disapproval from the cultural norm). The term actually comes from the Latin occultus or hidden. A cultic relationship is one in which a person intentionally induces others to become totally dependent on him or her for almost all life decisions.

Where are cults? • Some estimates suggest there are

over 5,000 cults in the United States alone. Estimates also suggest that there are over 185,000 converts per year. There are tens of thousands of cults found throughout the world, including several cannibalistic cults in sub-Saharan Africa and South America.

Modern Day Cults• Late 1960s-Manson Family-started by Charles Manson; “The Family” taught followers that social, racial

uprisings were coming (“Helter Skelter”), killed 7 people • 1978-Rev. Jim Jones and 900 followers, including 200 children, commit suicide in Guyana by drinking

cyanide-laced punch, belief was that this “Translation” as it was called, would allow the congregation to die together and move to another planet for a life of bliss.

• 1991-a Mexican minister and 29 followers suffocated after he instructs them to keep praying and ignore toxic fumes filling the church.

• 1993-At least 80 Branch Davidians, followers of David Koresh, perish in a fire and shoot-out with authorities in Waco, TX.

• 1993-53 Vietnamese tribal villagers commit suicide with primitive weapons in the belief they will go straight to Heaven.

• 1994-67 members of the “Order of the Solar Temple” cult are found burned to death in the French Alps in Switzerland and in Quebec, Canada

• 1997-39 members of the “Heaven’s Gate” cult, led by Marshall Applewhite, commit suicide in California. They died in order to reach an alien space craft following the Comet Hale-Bopp

• 2000-More than 900 members of a reclusive Christian doomsday cult in Africa were murdered by their leaders. Many burned to death, others were buried in mass graves.

• 2006-’07-Warren Jeffs, leader of FLDS in Eldorado, TX, convicted on counts of aggravated assault and statutory rape. Rumors of Jeffs having as many as 60 wives, documentation only proves 36.

The Family (Charles Manson), California

Branch Davidians, Waco, TX

Brainwashing, a misnomer

• People can’t be brainwashed. There is no science of brainwashing that allows people to be programmed or deprogrammed. A cult convert is a willing participant. They can be persuaded through ego-reinforcement, sleep deprivation and deception. Cults also try to control the physical environments of members by isolating them in compounds or communes.

Recruitment Techniques

• How it starts…– Target emotionally susceptible (those who have

recently experienced divorce, death of loved one, illness)

• Befriending the target…– Compliment, flattery, lure of close friendship

• Invitation to attend a meeting…– Control environment, make it difficult to leave,

isolation from worldly things• Deception…– Withholding the true identity of the group

Techniques of Persuasion

• Psychological-meditation, chanting, peer pressure, verbal abuse, confession, fear, sacrifice (personal or financial), loyalty tests

• Physical-isolation, fasting, constant prayer, hallucinations, extreme dress codes

10 Warning Signs you may belong to a

1) Living leader who demands zealous loyalty2) Focus on bringing in new members3) Preoccupied with money4) Dissent is discouraged5) Leader dictates how you feel, act6) Group is elitist7) God/gods communicate(s) directly to group’s leader8) Us vs. them mentality9) Group’s leader is not accountable to any authority10) Social encapsulation (you must live with and socialize with

group exclusively)

Watch the following video clip

1978-Rev. Jim Jones and 900 followers, including 200 children, commit suicide in Guyana by drinking cyanide-laced punch, belief was that this “Translation” as it was called, would allow the congregation to die together and move to another planet for a life of bliss.