Solar Temple Cults

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.

Peoples Temple, which is recognized as the deadliest cult in American history, was founded in the 1950s by a man named Jim Jones in Indiana. The religion, previously known as Wings of Deliverance, was built on the goal of creating a congregation society that would overcome injustices, such as racism and poverty. Wings of Deliverance was first founded after Jones and his wife left Methodism because of the religion’s racial views. Though Jones had no theological training, he was a very charismatic and persuasive speaker, which enticed many people to his cause. After creating a following in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jones moved his people to Ukiah, California in fear of nuclear war. After two years on the west coast, his congregation grew from only

Cultic activity has taken place since the practice of religion was established thousands of years ago. Since then, literally thousands of denominations have been inoculated throughout the world, especially in the United States. A cult, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary is a system of religious beliefs and rituals. By definition, this includes organizations such as Baptists, Catholics as well as Satanists and Witches. While this maybe true, cults have been popularly perceived as Separatists who are consumed by the belief of apocalyptic events, and the leader is someone who believes he or she is chosen by God or some other deity to lead those who are to follow him or her. One group that fits this description is the

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).

The four choices consisted of physical pickup, natural death, accidental death, or death from random violence, or outside persecution that leads to death and wilful exit from the human body. Toward the end Applewhite decided that they all would have to leave their bodies just as Jesus did. On March 24,25,26 all 39 members committed suicide and “graduated”. Thirty-eight members plus Applewhite were found dead. They all used a phenobarbital mixed with applesauce and used vodka to wash it down. They were all found with bags on their heads and all wearing identical clothing. Richard Ford was the one member who didn’t kill himself and videotaped the mansion. The mass death of the Heaven’s Gate Cult was so widely publicized in the media it is now believed to be one of the most massive cult suicides in

There are many different categories that a cult could be sorted into. Apocalyptic, Utopian, Spiritualistic, Satanic, and Witchcraft/Voodoo cults are just some of the more basic types. While an Apocalyptic cult would focus on the end of the world, a Utopian cult would center more on a perfect land, or in other words a heaven on Earth. Spiritualistic cults

In 1978, top-ranking members were convicted of espionage after infiltrating, wiretapping, and stealing documents from the offices of federal attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service.[14] Members framed a journalist for making bomb threats. In France, Hubbard was tried for fraud and convicted in absentia, that is, in the absence of defendant Hubbard, who had gone into hiding.[15][16]

A cult is a group of people that may follow a figure of authority, a god, or an object in an extreme, typically secretive, and radicalized way. Followers of cults are usually subject to groupthink in that they irrationally and unconditionally follow the thoughts and interpretations of one or many figures of authority, with most pledging complete loyalty and obedience to the cult through persuasive coercion. Cults differ to religious sects, as followers of cults are forced into the belief system of the cult, whereas religions are far more open, do not have a leader, and are quite often inherited. One such cult, Heaven’s Gate, was an American doomsday cult based in California, and consisted of at least 41 members. It was founded in 1974 by Marshall “Ti” Applewhite, who had convinced his followers that he was the second-coming of Jesus.

Scientology was developed by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954 (Molloy 485). He lived from 1911 to 1986 (Molloy 485). Mr. Hubbard was actually a world renowned science-fiction author, but he came up with a process that “helped people clarify their understanding of the human process of knowing” which was later turned into Scientology (Molloy 485). Hubbard also had many writings and published works (Staff of the Church of Scientology 25). He had published more than 5,000 writings, dozens of books, and over 3,000 tape recorded lectures (Staff of the Church of Scientology 25). There are many Churches of Scientology around the world and in the United States including

A cult has many different meanings. Our textbook defines a cult as a “group that is typically characterized by three things; the first being rituals and beliefs, showing devotion to a god or person, the second being a charismatic leader, and the third is isolation” (Myers, 2015). In general, when people think about cults the response is usually “why are people persuaded to leave everything behind and join a cult?” There are usually two views on cults. The first is that a cult is not different from other socially acceptable groups, however the second view is that cults use techniques different from other groups that can be considered harmful (Pfeifer, 1992).

A destructive cults calling is not one to a spiritual figure but to one of financial gain. Almost all of these cults have little to nothing to do with religion and in fact are only in it for wealth. Many totalist cults only join together with wealth or power in mind, but rely on false promises in order to obtain what they want.

To begin with, there are many different types of cults. One that we have already discussed in class is The Heaven in Space Cult. This cult was created by Marshall Applewhite because they wanted to reach an alien space craft. This group of people believed in their bodies only being vessels to move. They thought that Earth was going to be wiped clean and that everyone had to leave immediately. On heavensgate.com it says that, “all members had to give up all human-like characteristics such as family, friends, sexuality, individuality, jobs, money, and possessions.” In an attempt to experience their religion, 39 people ended up committing suicide. Applewhite believed that when they died, a UFO (unidentified flying object) would take them to “another level beyond human.” On December 21st, this group hoped that saviors would come take them away once the world was supposed to end in 2012. Most of the followers were living together in a commune in France. Even after these deaths have occurred, people still believe that there is another level beyond human life on

group sold their belongings and gave up their money to the cult leaders, as they were

The Solar Temple was founded in 1984, as l’Ordre International Chevaleresque de Tradition Solaire, however was later renamed Ordre du Temple Solaria. Now it is just known as Order of the Solar Temple or simply Solar Temple. The Solar Temple is originally tracked and linked back to 1952 when French author Jacques Breyer established sovereign Order of the Solar Temple. However, the Solar Temple that we know today wasn't legitimately founded until 1984 in Switzerland by Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret.