What is a Cult?
A cult is defined as a system which venerates one particular individual, ideal or object. They can be a select group of fanatics, or a group of misguided outsiders whose ideals have segmented them from the norm. Many cults don’t begin as dangerous sects – and in fact, if asked, those involved with them wouldn’t describe their group as a cult at all. However, many cults have sinister or extreme agendas that are so far outside they norm they become dangerous. This manifests in mass-suicides, brainwashing, extremist behavior, attacks, abductions, extortion and vandalism. Here are 10 of the most dangerous religious cults of all time.
Why would someone join a cult?
People often join a cult not to join a cult. They join an organization because they are looking for friendship, connections, identity, or an opportunity to make a contribution.
Are all "Cults" the same?
There are many different cults. They may be religious or racial, political or mystical, self-help or pseudo-psychological but they do however have the same recognizable characteristics: Here are a few:
A cult is defined as a system which venerates one particular individual, ideal or object. They can be a select group of fanatics, or a group of misguided outsiders whose ideals have segmented them from the norm. Many cults don’t begin as dangerous sects – and in fact, if asked, those involved with them wouldn’t describe their group as a cult at all. However, many cults have sinister or extreme agendas that are so far outside they norm they become dangerous. This manifests in mass-suicides, brainwashing, extremist behavior, attacks, abductions, extortion and vandalism. Here are 10 of the most dangerous religious cults of all time.
Why would someone join a cult?
People often join a cult not to join a cult. They join an organization because they are looking for friendship, connections, identity, or an opportunity to make a contribution.
Are all "Cults" the same?
There are many different cults. They may be religious or racial, political or mystical, self-help or pseudo-psychological but they do however have the same recognizable characteristics: Here are a few:
- Powerful and exclusive dedication/devotion to an explicit person or creed.
- They use of “thought-reform” programmes to integrate, socialize, persuade and therefore control members.
- A well thought through recruitment, selection and socialization process.
- Attempts to maintain psychological and physical dependency among cult members.
- Cults insist on reprogramming the way people see the world.
- Consistent exploitation of group members specifically to advance the leaders goals.
- Cults nearly always go in for milieu control signals: a different,unfamiliar setting with different rules, terms, behaviour patterns.
Most Cults begin by their induction by trying to stop both individualistic and critical thinking like the army their job is the first to break you than remake you as one of them. This involves the introduction of a “sacred creed” that members may have to live by. Through open confession and subordination of the individual to the doctrine the cult ensures control and “purity”. Cults deliberately induce powerful emotions like fear, guilt but also pride. They tend to develop their own language, dress and signals which shows their specialness.
Those that join cults are not always gullible or those that will follow just anyone, they can be led in unwillingly and will often find out too late what they have involved themselves in.
The next page will give you a look into a few different groups that have been around and some are still functioning and have many followers.
Those that join cults are not always gullible or those that will follow just anyone, they can be led in unwillingly and will often find out too late what they have involved themselves in.
The next page will give you a look into a few different groups that have been around and some are still functioning and have many followers.