Sociological Cult Essay
What is a cult? That is a question that has two different points of views and definitions. A Sociological Cult according to Ronald Enroth, is consideration of such factors as authoritarian leadership patterns, loyalty and commitment mechanisms, lifestyle characteristics, and conformity patterns (including the use of various sanctions in connection with those members who deviate). The Theological Cult definition is a particular group of beliefs and/or practices are considered unorthodox that is in conflict with the body of essential teachings of the movement the group compares itself to. Religious conflicts which is discussed in Chapter 15: Violence, War, and Terrorism.
Cults are a major problem in society because cults causes people to create and start wars, which stirs up violence. Cults cause people of a mass group to do things that can be considered dangerous or immoral. Cults plays an intricate part to society because if there are no cults there are no wars, no violence, and no military servants. Everything feeds off of one another to make up the functions and jobs of society. …show more content…
One day, 900+ people wind up dead in what is said to be America’s biggest mass suicide.
Are the fatal actions of 900+ people unexplainable, or was there a reason they were all lead to believe that they should kill themselves? This is the infamous incident of the cult of Jonestown, in 1978. The word cult is defined by Merriam Webster as “a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous” (Merriam-Webster). Cults have been accused of controlling their members through brainwashing, causing the followers of cults to commit treacherous acts, and thus prompting anti-cult
movements.
In the article, “Cults brainwash their members,” author Michael Haag makes the reasonable argument that the only reason many people will do crazy things at the command of a leader is through brain-washing. Although Haag has found that brainwashing has no legal or professionally psychological grounds, he believes that it is one of the only explanations that cause cults to do what they do (Haag). Haag explored Robot Theory, which is “the idea that people can be made into robots, such that they will perform the most horrendous acts or behave in ways completely at variance with their prior beliefs and values” (Haag 2). He makes the case that this is the reason the cult followers “drank the Kool-Aid” that killed them, at Jim Jones’ command. Additionally, a more known version of Robot Theory is commonly referred to as Stockholm Syndrome. Stockholm Syndrome “refers to the powerful ability of captors…to create in their victims a loyalty and identification that defies reason” (Haag 2). The “captor” in the case of Jonestown is the leader, Jim Jones, who creates a feeling of security and wisdom—leading his followers to believe that what he says is in their best interest. Brainwashing is a powerful tool that cult leaders use to get their followers to obey them and commit horrific acts of terror against themselves or others.
My favorite perspective to use is the Functionalist Perspective throughout the course but doing this research paper I have chosen to switch it up and view these articles through a Conflict Perspective. The Conflict Perspective was the best perspective to use, because it points to a somewhat different view of violence. It is a tool that any group might use to protect or enhance its own interest. According to Sullivan, dominant groups use violence whenever a subordinate group begins to threaten their position. This is exactly a reason why there are cults. People create cults to be dominant different people and groups.
Brainwashing cult members often leads the members to engage in harmful activities. Previously mentioned, the incident at Jonestown— in which over 900 people committed suicide because their cult leader told them to—is a great example of harmful activity against themselves that cult members sometimes experience. However, cults do not only harm themselves, they also commit terroristic acts against others. “On March 20, 1995, a cult, then dubbed Aum Shinrikyo, released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway system… 12 people died and approximately 5,000 people were left with permanent health problems…” (Olson 2). Sarin is a gas that attacks the nervous system and can cause lethal damage in a short amount of time. The Aum Shinrokyo is also responsible for a similar kind of attack in 1994. The cult members released the same gas in a neighborhood that housed judges presiding over a real estate case involving the cult. The cult members released a cloud of sarin gas over the neighborhood, killing seven people and leaving 500 others hospitalized (Olson 2). The Aum Shinrikyo cult believed that the apocalypse was near and that they were the chosen people to witness the post-apocalyptic world (Olson). The cult still exists today, with over 700 of their members living on their cult campus. “Mind control is still a part of the cult’s package. Cult members can be seen in Aum-owned houses wearing bizarre electric headsets, supposedly designed to synchronize their brain waves with those of the cult’s leader” (Olson 4).
Because of terroristic acts like these, as well as reports of child abuse, etc., anti-cult movements have formed. The purpose of these anti-cult organizations is to attempt to “de-program” the members, and win them back to regular society. The official anti-cult organization is known as the Cult Awareness Network. One of the first organizers of the de-programing movement was Theodore Patrick, Jr. After some of his family members were almost inducted into the Children of God cult, he became a spokesperson for the awareness and disbandment of American cults (Lewis). “…He began to experiment with the tactic of abducting members, confining them, and then questioning religious choices and trying to convince them that they had been brainwashed and manipulated by their religious group. In 50 percent or more of the cases, the members did leave their new faith. Thus the practice of deprograming was born” (Lewis 18).
Although originally seemingly a good thing, deprogramming has come under a lot of criticism. Most deprogramming was not facilitated by trained or licensed psychologists. The former cult members who underwent deprogramming were generally kidnapped and forced into the anti-cult culture. Theodore Patrick, Jr. himself admitted, “Deprogramming is the term, and it may be said to involve kidnapping at the very least, quite often assault and battery, almost invariably conspiracy to commit a crime, and illegal restraint” (Lewis 32). Previously backed by Christian churches and organizations, many sponsors started pulling their advocacy for deprogramming because of Patrick’s suspicious methods. The Citizens Freedom Foundation commented that they did not support kidnapping or holding a person against their will, but that they would continue to advocate for voluntary deprogramming—if a cult member decided to leave and seek help on their own (Lewis).
Studies have found that the success rate of deprogramming is less than desirable and the methods to be shady, at best. In fact, former cult members who were forced to leave the cult tend to comment on how terrible and torturous their membership was in their past religion. But, people who left the cult willingly were more likely to comment positively on their time in the cult. Lewis implies that deprogramming actually consists of a type of re-brainwashing. Instead of the ideology the cult had previously instilled, deprogramming pumps former cult members with anti-cult ideology and stereotypes of their former religion. Lewis resolved, “The conclusion to be drawn from these findings is that deprogramming is not the therapeutic intervention it has been portrayed, but rather, an intensive indoctrination process in which the abductee’s religious faith is systematically destroyed…” (Lewis 34). All in all, one-third to one-half of all deprogrammers return to their previously affiliated religions after their deprogramming.
The implementation of learning about cults can greatly reduce violence and war by being sensible and everyone thinking for themselves instead of being brainwashed. Cults has become somewhat senseless. In China, at a McDonald’s restaurant, a man by the name of Mr. Zhang Fan and his daughter Zhang Lidong was sentenced to death due to an evil cult they were a part of that caused them to attack a lady in a different belief. The father and daughter told court reporters that the woman was evil and was the red dragon. The father and daughter was sentenced to prison for seven years. I will use the Conflict Perspective because in this article the father and daughter was attacking because they believed that the woman was evil so they attacked.
Violence and cults are all around the world. In eastern Ohio, Samuel Mullet Sr. is serving a sentence of 15 years for sowing fear in Amish people and cutting their beard as well as the hair on their heads. He was a part of a cult that caused him to go on a hair cutting spree of Amish people. Cutting hair in the Amish culture is a reminder to repent of sins. Mr. Mullet was considered the mastermind and the leader of the cult. He didn’t physically cut off the Amish hairs but he corrupted the members of the cult to do such violent act.
The implementation of peace and freedom to be an individual can greatly reduce violence and cults by agreeing to listen to people ideas and thoughts. Cults can be destroyed by individuals knowing the signs of cults and when you are becoming a part of one. Determine if the organization is solely govern by one individual.
Cults are regarded as crazy, dangerous and oftentimes scary. People join cults as a form of religion in order to feel a sense of security that is instilled by the cult leader. Although many do find that security and comfort in a cult, they lose their individuality and let their leaders think for them. Cults are able to be cultivated by brainwashing, which causes cult members to commit devastating crimes, and which has also led to the rise of anti-cult organizations that specialize in deprogramming former cult members.
Cults are a major problem in society because cults causes people to create and start wars, which stirs up violence. Cults cause people of a mass group to do things that can be considered dangerous or immoral. Cults plays an intricate part to society because if there are no cults there are no wars, no violence, and no military servants. Everything feeds off of one another to make up the functions and jobs of society. …show more content…
One day, 900+ people wind up dead in what is said to be America’s biggest mass suicide.
Are the fatal actions of 900+ people unexplainable, or was there a reason they were all lead to believe that they should kill themselves? This is the infamous incident of the cult of Jonestown, in 1978. The word cult is defined by Merriam Webster as “a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous” (Merriam-Webster). Cults have been accused of controlling their members through brainwashing, causing the followers of cults to commit treacherous acts, and thus prompting anti-cult
movements.
In the article, “Cults brainwash their members,” author Michael Haag makes the reasonable argument that the only reason many people will do crazy things at the command of a leader is through brain-washing. Although Haag has found that brainwashing has no legal or professionally psychological grounds, he believes that it is one of the only explanations that cause cults to do what they do (Haag). Haag explored Robot Theory, which is “the idea that people can be made into robots, such that they will perform the most horrendous acts or behave in ways completely at variance with their prior beliefs and values” (Haag 2). He makes the case that this is the reason the cult followers “drank the Kool-Aid” that killed them, at Jim Jones’ command. Additionally, a more known version of Robot Theory is commonly referred to as Stockholm Syndrome. Stockholm Syndrome “refers to the powerful ability of captors…to create in their victims a loyalty and identification that defies reason” (Haag 2). The “captor” in the case of Jonestown is the leader, Jim Jones, who creates a feeling of security and wisdom—leading his followers to believe that what he says is in their best interest. Brainwashing is a powerful tool that cult leaders use to get their followers to obey them and commit horrific acts of terror against themselves or others.
My favorite perspective to use is the Functionalist Perspective throughout the course but doing this research paper I have chosen to switch it up and view these articles through a Conflict Perspective. The Conflict Perspective was the best perspective to use, because it points to a somewhat different view of violence. It is a tool that any group might use to protect or enhance its own interest. According to Sullivan, dominant groups use violence whenever a subordinate group begins to threaten their position. This is exactly a reason why there are cults. People create cults to be dominant different people and groups.
Brainwashing cult members often leads the members to engage in harmful activities. Previously mentioned, the incident at Jonestown— in which over 900 people committed suicide because their cult leader told them to—is a great example of harmful activity against themselves that cult members sometimes experience. However, cults do not only harm themselves, they also commit terroristic acts against others. “On March 20, 1995, a cult, then dubbed Aum Shinrikyo, released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway system… 12 people died and approximately 5,000 people were left with permanent health problems…” (Olson 2). Sarin is a gas that attacks the nervous system and can cause lethal damage in a short amount of time. The Aum Shinrokyo is also responsible for a similar kind of attack in 1994. The cult members released the same gas in a neighborhood that housed judges presiding over a real estate case involving the cult. The cult members released a cloud of sarin gas over the neighborhood, killing seven people and leaving 500 others hospitalized (Olson 2). The Aum Shinrikyo cult believed that the apocalypse was near and that they were the chosen people to witness the post-apocalyptic world (Olson). The cult still exists today, with over 700 of their members living on their cult campus. “Mind control is still a part of the cult’s package. Cult members can be seen in Aum-owned houses wearing bizarre electric headsets, supposedly designed to synchronize their brain waves with those of the cult’s leader” (Olson 4).
Because of terroristic acts like these, as well as reports of child abuse, etc., anti-cult movements have formed. The purpose of these anti-cult organizations is to attempt to “de-program” the members, and win them back to regular society. The official anti-cult organization is known as the Cult Awareness Network. One of the first organizers of the de-programing movement was Theodore Patrick, Jr. After some of his family members were almost inducted into the Children of God cult, he became a spokesperson for the awareness and disbandment of American cults (Lewis). “…He began to experiment with the tactic of abducting members, confining them, and then questioning religious choices and trying to convince them that they had been brainwashed and manipulated by their religious group. In 50 percent or more of the cases, the members did leave their new faith. Thus the practice of deprograming was born” (Lewis 18).
Although originally seemingly a good thing, deprogramming has come under a lot of criticism. Most deprogramming was not facilitated by trained or licensed psychologists. The former cult members who underwent deprogramming were generally kidnapped and forced into the anti-cult culture. Theodore Patrick, Jr. himself admitted, “Deprogramming is the term, and it may be said to involve kidnapping at the very least, quite often assault and battery, almost invariably conspiracy to commit a crime, and illegal restraint” (Lewis 32). Previously backed by Christian churches and organizations, many sponsors started pulling their advocacy for deprogramming because of Patrick’s suspicious methods. The Citizens Freedom Foundation commented that they did not support kidnapping or holding a person against their will, but that they would continue to advocate for voluntary deprogramming—if a cult member decided to leave and seek help on their own (Lewis).
Studies have found that the success rate of deprogramming is less than desirable and the methods to be shady, at best. In fact, former cult members who were forced to leave the cult tend to comment on how terrible and torturous their membership was in their past religion. But, people who left the cult willingly were more likely to comment positively on their time in the cult. Lewis implies that deprogramming actually consists of a type of re-brainwashing. Instead of the ideology the cult had previously instilled, deprogramming pumps former cult members with anti-cult ideology and stereotypes of their former religion. Lewis resolved, “The conclusion to be drawn from these findings is that deprogramming is not the therapeutic intervention it has been portrayed, but rather, an intensive indoctrination process in which the abductee’s religious faith is systematically destroyed…” (Lewis 34). All in all, one-third to one-half of all deprogrammers return to their previously affiliated religions after their deprogramming.
The implementation of learning about cults can greatly reduce violence and war by being sensible and everyone thinking for themselves instead of being brainwashed. Cults has become somewhat senseless. In China, at a McDonald’s restaurant, a man by the name of Mr. Zhang Fan and his daughter Zhang Lidong was sentenced to death due to an evil cult they were a part of that caused them to attack a lady in a different belief. The father and daughter told court reporters that the woman was evil and was the red dragon. The father and daughter was sentenced to prison for seven years. I will use the Conflict Perspective because in this article the father and daughter was attacking because they believed that the woman was evil so they attacked.
Violence and cults are all around the world. In eastern Ohio, Samuel Mullet Sr. is serving a sentence of 15 years for sowing fear in Amish people and cutting their beard as well as the hair on their heads. He was a part of a cult that caused him to go on a hair cutting spree of Amish people. Cutting hair in the Amish culture is a reminder to repent of sins. Mr. Mullet was considered the mastermind and the leader of the cult. He didn’t physically cut off the Amish hairs but he corrupted the members of the cult to do such violent act.
The implementation of peace and freedom to be an individual can greatly reduce violence and cults by agreeing to listen to people ideas and thoughts. Cults can be destroyed by individuals knowing the signs of cults and when you are becoming a part of one. Determine if the organization is solely govern by one individual.
Cults are regarded as crazy, dangerous and oftentimes scary. People join cults as a form of religion in order to feel a sense of security that is instilled by the cult leader. Although many do find that security and comfort in a cult, they lose their individuality and let their leaders think for them. Cults are able to be cultivated by brainwashing, which causes cult members to commit devastating crimes, and which has also led to the rise of anti-cult organizations that specialize in deprogramming former cult members.