LIBS (Cults and Terrorism) Module 5 Notes

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Sheridan College *

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1970

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Philosophy

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Feb 20, 2024

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M ODULE 1: D EFINING THE C ULT P HENOMENON How do we perceive cults? Research shows that the majority of cults are focused on:  Nature and healthy living  Human rights  Philosophy and knowledge  Religion  Scientific discovery  Friendship  Sense of belonging Common misconceptions popular in the media and entertainment industries include:  Human sacrifice  Witches or devil worship  Abuse  Death Although there have been some deaths as a result of groups that have been named ‘cults,’ these are extremist groups and they are relatively rare occurrences. What is a Cult? Defining a cult has been a complex task undertaken by academics and researchers from across many disciplines. Sociologists, anthropologists, historians, religious and political leaders/scholars and the media still debate the definition today. This is because there are many different types of cults, and no two are exactly alike. Definition For this course, we will use a broad definition for a cult that encompasses commonalities observed across the different disciplines. This will give us a good start for investigating the cult phenomenon. A cult is a group that breaks from the traditions of the society in which it develops, and it derives authority in scriptures, social/cultural influences, science, or inspired leaders. Breaking it Down This definition tells us that cults:  Have ideas or ways of living that are different from the majority of society around them  Believe their ideas or ways of living are justified by some sort of source or expert with enough power to influence followers  Can be inspired by a variety of things, including religious or political ideas, science-based assumptions, or charismatic (charming and persuasive) leaders that appear to hold knowledge

Components of a Cult  A unique system of beliefs (or ideology)  Charismatic leaders (leaders that can inspire devotion of others)  A sense of community, sometimes including initiations, memberships, and/or communal living  Rituals or ceremonies that are controversial, unconventional, or still evolving  A promise of physical, mental or spiritual enlightenment, meaning, or knowledge Cults as Social Movements What’s the Difference? As we reflect on the definition of cult, and the components of cult activity, we see from the examples in our critical thinking exercise that other social groups can have similar characteristics. So, what makes cults different from other religious, political, scientific or personality-based groups? A Look at the Continuum From Mainstream to Extreme Mainstream social institutions and social movements lie on a continuum. Social institutions are well established groups that align with mainstream expectations. Social movements are further away on the continuum, as practices differ from typical behaviour within their social/cultural context. The diagram below helps to break down the continuum. We will refer to this continuum throughout the course. Cult Movements A substantial amount of the research done on cult movements has been done by those studying religion. This is because, although there are a wide variety of cults, many take inspiration from religious teachings. We will study cults that are:  Religious  Quasi-religious  Secular

Mainstream Religion vs. Religious Movements A religion is a system of faith and worship that helps to explain the world and provides guidance for beliefs, behaviours, and actions. A religion often includes some concept of a greater being or beings (gods) (Ungvarsky, 2015). There are thousands of religions being practiced in the world today by religious groups. In this course, we will not be debating the legitimacy of these different religions, big or small. Instead, we will look at religious groups in the context of the society they are operating in to determine if they are a mainstream group that aligns with societal practices, or a religious movement. A religious movement is a social movement that tries to cause change in a system of beliefs. This could be to break away from societal norms, or to stop changes to traditional values and practices (Stark and Bainbridge, 1979, pg. 124). Types of Religious Groups To understand religious cults, we will look at 4 different types of religious groups: religious institutions, sects, cults, and extremists. For religious institutions, sects, and cults, we will use definitions provided by experts Stark and Bainbridge in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (1979).  Religious Institution A religious institution has a social structure, norms, values and activities that are aligned with the social functions of the society in which it operates. They often help to define the social norms of an environment and adapt to societal changes. They try to align with the society in which they operate and are considered mainstream.  Sects Sects are religious movements that are closely tied to a religious institution operating within the same societal context. They will hold similar beliefs to a mainstream religious institution, however they have a leader (and other followers) that left the mainstream religion. They normally present themselves as being the authentic or renewed version of the religious institution, which they believe to have strayed from the correct interpretation of the religion practiced.  Religious Cults Religious cults are religious movements that break significantly from the traditions within the society in which they operate. They may use elements of a religious institution from elsewhere in the world that are adapted for the new environment, or they may be so different from mainstream beliefs that they are considered new innovations. These are also referred to as New Religious Movements (NRM). We will talk about NRM’s in more detail in Module 2.  Religious Extremists The fourth type of religious group, religious extremists, can come from a religious institution, sect or cult. However, where religious institutions and movements often bring guidance and positivity to those devoted to a faith, these groups push the boundaries of belief systems, often resorting to illegal or violent action in the name of religion. These destructive groups are a minority, and although they may say they are tied to religious institutions or movements, they are rarely a representation of the belief systems they claim to represent.

They use the authority of religious scriptures to appeal to others and justify their actions. We will discuss motivations and justifications for the illegal or violent activity of extremists later in this course. When the violence or extremism is not condoned by a given religious institution, it is often claimed that these groups are ‘sects’ or ‘cults’ because that institution wants to distance the acts from their mainstream practice. Using the term ‘cult’ in a negative context minimizes a group’s legitimacy, and may discredit them (Bromley and Cowan, 2015, pg. 10). Because these extreme actions are often a focus point for the media and pop culture, words like ‘cult’ become associated with extremism. This alignment with extremism is a misuse of the term; it is the reason most experts now use the term 'new religious movement' instead of 'cult' when referring to religious social movements. To Sum Up… Religious institutions, sects, and cults all have their own ways of interpreting the world and operate with a dedication to their faith. They are normally peaceful, and their major differentiating factor is how in sync with mainstream society they are. Quasi-Religions and Secular Movements Quasi-Religious Movements ‘Quasi’- means partially or seemingly. Therefore, a quasi-religious movement means that there is some reference or basis in religious text or belief, however religion is not the main focus. We will see cases later in this course that are quasi-religious. For example, we will study a group called the Peoples Temple. Although the Temple adopts passages from the bible and has a leader that preaches to his followers, the movement is not about a deity or god, but about racial and social equality. A cult or an extremist group are often quasi-religious. A religious institution or sect are unlikely to be quasi- religious. Mainstream Secular Groups vs. Secular Movements To describe something as secular is to say that it is not connected with religious or spiritual things. Secular social institutions and social movements include those devoted to political ideas, scientific-based theories, or charismatic personalities, among others. The same methodology that we applied to religious groups can be applied to secular groups – mainstream secular institutions will be closely aligned with social norms, secular movements will seek to change those mainstream beliefs, and extremist groups will use illegal or violent means for a cause that is secular in nature.

Moving on the Continuum Change Over Time Now that we understand a cult is a social movement that is disconnected from mainstream society, we can also see that a cult may not always stay that way. One thing that we can always count on is that societies evolve and change. Religious or secular social movements or groups have been known to influence the development of societies. All religions, political parties, and scientific theories were new at one point, some being accepted as mainstream within a society or societies. Remember, mainstream ideas, attitudes or activities are believed and/or practiced by most people in that society or accepted as a legitimate social group by that majority. Mainstream does not mean a belief or practice is right or wrong, simply that it is normal in a given environment. Cult Movements in Context Right and Wrong? In the same way that ‘mainstream’ does not indicate if things are right or wrong, the words ‘cult’ or ‘sect’ do not indicate if a group is good or bad. These groups can be religious, quasi-religious, or secular, and provide meaning, hope, and a sense of community to followers. In this course, we will use some of the most provocative, well-known, and in some cases, violent examples to explore the cult phenomenon. These cases are interesting to read about and, in many instances, have had the most research done to help us understand the example in more depth. However, we must always keep in mind that most sects and cults are peaceful groups that simply practice beliefs outside of the mainstream. In future modules, we will look at different cult examples as well as frameworks proposed by experts that help us to identify different types of cults. Module 1 Summary In this module, we have learned a broad definition of a cult and some typical components of cult activity. A challenge for studying cults will be the lack of a singular definition. However, we have explored how social institutions, social movements (including sects and cults) and extremist groups are defined according to the mainstream or normal practices of the society in which they operate. We have discussed how, despite the popular perception of cults, most are peaceful social movements that don’t quite align with mainstream beliefs, or beliefs widely recognized in their environment. In our next module, we will look at the cult phenomenon throughout history and you will have the opportunity to identify components of cult activity.

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