Prevention Of Cult Research Paper

The word “Cult” has not always had such a negative connotation attached to it. Many religions would’ve been considered cults when they first began. By the end of the 19th century many visionaries had revealed radically new religious systems, claiming immunity to the impurities of the old ones (Powers, 1997). These were no more than a group of people organizing themselves in worship and devotion for a person, object, or movement. They practiced rituals different to other “mainstream” religions, and were therefore considered cults.

The church of Scientology has been the subject of controversy since its inception. Its methods and beliefs have attracted the attention of scholars from around the world. The church has been under government investigation and has endured a countless amount of lawsuits (Reitman 14). It is also a hot topic by the media with several endorsements by some of the most recognized Hollywood celebrities. However, the main topic of debate regarding the Church of Scientology is its status as a religion. Some members claim that the church has helped them overcome their struggles and that they are happier people, while others condemn it as a dangerous cult (Sweeney). The church of Scientology is a religious group whose purpose is to retain their

Cults have existed throughout history since the beginning of time. A cult is defined in Webster’s dictionary as a “system of religious worship with a devoted attachment to a person, principle, etc.” Over the past thirty years numerous religious cults have caused “ tens of thousands to abandon their families, friends, education’s, and careers to follow the teaching of a leader they will never meet”(Beck 78).

“Maybe it’s an insanity test, Haggis thought- if you believe it, you’re automatically kicked out. He considered that possibility, but when he read it again, he decided ‘This is madness’.” Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright (copyright 2013 ) takes an inside look at Scientology, with interviews and accounts from former Scientologists such as Paul Haggis and Mark Rathbun, important church officials such as David Miscavige and Tom Cruise, and the founder: Ron L. Hubbard. Scientology is a religion which claims to lead one’s spirit on a path to eventual enlightenment and understanding of one’s spiritual nature.Going Clear details the horrors and unveils the mysteries surrounding this church. Going Clear is separated into three parts: Part One- which divulges the story of the founder L. Ron Hubbard, and the organization he creates, Part Two- Hollywood- which deals with the important celebrity connections and how important the celebrities are to the church, and Part Three- The Prison of Belief : an exposé on the harsh conditions many members face, the bullying and corruption within the organization, and the sense of helplessness and entrapment one feels when trying to leave the church. The author makes an very effective argument and achieves his goal of exposing the corruption within the church by providing first-hand accounts and legal records, contrasting views and official statements from the church, various rhetorical strategies as

The beliefs of the church show cult-like behaviors by the reincarnation, that Scientology will be salvation, and that Hubbard is a superior being. While reincarnation in itself is not cult-like, as many religions believe in it, it the fact that Scientology uses it to make a one billion year labor contract. In order to join the sea organization, a one billion year long contract must be signed. The contracts says that if the contract is broken, the person responsible will be declared a suppressive person, and will be excommunicated from the church (Behar “Prophets”). Many people feel the need to sign the contract as well, as they can longer afford auditing, and being in the sea org provide free-auditing in exchange for billion years of labor (Wright 2013). If auditing is no longer option, and the only way to do auditing if by joining the church. The third reason one might join the sea org, and sign the billion year contract would be to prove one’s loyalty to the church. Since the sea organization is technically the clergy for the church of Scientology, joining would prove one’s loyalty to the church (Wright 2013). Also, joining the sea org would show that they believe in Hubbard’s teachings of reincarnation. As mentioned earlier, while believing in reincarnation is not cynical, using a beliefs to make a labor contract that practically enslaves people for

Scientology was founded in 1954 by science-fiction writer, Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, commonly known as L. Ron Hubbard or LRH. Scientology has obtained nearly 11 million followers worldwide. This new religion promotes itself by advocating self-improvement techniques constructed by Hubbard. A Scientologist’s spiritual goal is to reach one’s full potential. This process is carried out through the practice of Dianetics and auditing. Since the 1950’s, Scientology has gained attention for its high celebrity involvement, including A-list stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Celebrity Scientologists act as beneficiaries of the church. They draw in new members and increase the religion’s status. However, many former celebrity Scientologists have left the group, and have spoken out about its dangers. Numerous individuals who have escaped or left Scientology reported allegations of abuse within the organization including physical violence, involuntary confinement, and violation of child labor laws. Scientology has been accused of separating families and banning familiar contact with non-Scientologists. Those who leave the organization are given the title “S.P.,” which stands for “suppressive person.” Scientologists are forbidden to have contact with any individual who has been labeled an S.P. Scientology has only been recognized as a religion in the U.S. since it received tax exempt status in 1993. However, this was largely due to the 1,200 law

The United States has had its share of cults, religious, and non-religious alike. Behind all of the cults I will be talking about are charismatic baby boomers. David Koresh formed the Branch Davidians. Koresh was born in 1959, names Vernon Howell. He first became a member of the Church of the Seventh Day Adventists, but was later dismissed because of his fundamental views. Some of his radical views include that he thought he was a messiah and that women should be his spiritual wives. Located in Waco, Texas the Branch Davidians, believed that Koresh spoke the word of God, and that the end of the world would be in their lifetime. While the world didn’t come to an end, it did end for those in the cult. In March 1993 failed raid by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms lead to a 51-day siege of the compound that resulted in the death of 77 Branch Davidians including 20 children. Another baby boomer, Jim Jones founded the Peoples Temple. Jones’s propagandizes appealed to many African-Americans from the 1950s to the 1970s, because of his progressive views on racial equality. In 1977, the New West Magazine published an expose of Jim Jones and his cult that resulted in mass suicide with 900 members of the Peoples Temple drinking poison. Scientology was started in 1952 by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard.

“Did you know there are roughly five to seven million people who are in a cult or cult like group in America? As of July 31, 2013 there were an estimated 316,330,350 people in America alone." One way cults attract there members is by using psychological techniques to make young people in America want to join them in their holy journey. But are the leaders really insane? Some would argue yes others not so much, but how could someone who thought they knew everything there is to know about a book, written thousands of years ago, not be questioned on their sanity. Cults can affect many people as a society or individually, the effects cults have on certain people can be a great one due to they take away all your rights and give you certain rules to follow. The reason cults are shameful to society is because they control individuals and manipulate them into what they see as beneficial for a whole group not individually.

Once in a cult many members of such cults aren't allowed

What is a cult? The purpose of a cult is so an individual and/or group claiming to be sent by God, to rule the one true religion. To become a cult member you must believe the exact same things in the exact same ways with no room for differences. Entering a cult is a lifetime commitment. Systems of intimidation are used to veer the people from ever thinking about getting out. More specifically, a cult by the name of Aum Shinrikyo, was a Japanese doomsday cult founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984. The attack launched by this cult was seen to be terroristic

To forget all pleasures and possessions. To replace family and friends with someone else's obsessions. Fulfilling this tall order is a prerequisite to ascending through the ranks of the wicked cults from the bygone era. Luring in struggling individuals with grandiose promises of spiritual healing and self-actualization, these malevolent organizations pray on the weaknesses of the desperate. Through these methods they amass an army of loyal followers and a high degree of political clout, however, we must ask ourselves, “why?” What is the psychology behind these actions? In order to fathom the true nature of cults, we must first examine the minuscule fibers that form the infrastructure of what may be defined as a cult, we must dare to dive into the psyches of the charismatic personalities that led them, we must

Through the advancement of science and technology the world has changed from a huge place to a very small one which can be navigated by simply logging in. Computers, the World Wide Web, and Cellular services are just a few of the technologies responsible for this change as billions of people can now access anything under the sun from just about anywhere under the sun. Along with these changes brought on by the technology era, a new religion has begun sweeping the world, and that religion is Scientology. Although Scientology has recently found itself under frequent media and legal scrutiny, many celebrities and public figures have chosen this new religious path over traditional religions, making the frenzy even greater. What is

Since from the beginning and as far as the eye can see, cults have been and will continue to be part of human life. These small religious groups can happen anywhere and have been the cause of much debate and interest. For humans have an innate need to know why things are the way they are. Cults for one have done some rather unmoral things that lead the people to ask, "Why did they do it?" The People 's Temple, Aum Shinrikyo, and Ku Klux Klan are extraordinary examples of wicked cults that begged the question "Why?"

Throughout history, all religions have had their beginning. Religion itself has the ability to influence and shape its followers and the world. Whether religions stem from an established religion or a new religion, both are defined as new religious movements (NRMs). These new religious movements can take a scientific approach to religion, such as Scientology, referred to as a “client cult” where services are provided or branch off from an established religion like Christianity as did Mormonism with its teachings based upon the Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon. (Fisher, 2014, 459, 465) With various NRMs emerging including Scientology and Mormonism, will they endure and continue to grow, attracting future generations to their particular religion? Their similarities and differences will be examined.

The Family holds many characteristics that classify it as a cult rather than any other new religious movement, and it will hold that classification unless it undergoes some serious structural changes. By looking at this group through the lenses of different theories pertaining to cult classification, I am confident in saying that this group meets enough qualifications to put it into the ‘cult’ grouping.