Cults Essay Research Paper I Brief Introduction

Cults Essay, Research Paper

I. Brief Introduction

Recently during our in class discussion we where introduced to the definition of a

cult. So unbenounced to myself I was unaware of the fact this paper was due. Which is

entirely my fault. This in turn peaked my interest to learn more of the cult and where this

term originated. So The past week I attempted to read many articles on such things as

Waco and the like.

The controversy surrounding new religious movements seems to be foremost

concerned with whether or not the members of these religions come of their own freewill

or if they convert as a necessary and inevitable response to coercion, or brainwashing

techniques employed by the cult leaders. I previously stated this in one of my Journal

entries. It seems that there is always one man in charge with all the power . With this

power he can inevitably induce a form of brainwashing .

The concept of brainwashing came into popular existence in the 1950 s as the

result of attempts to try and explain the behavior of some American GI s who defected to

the Communists during the Korean War (19 Oct 1999). Many people, including some

professionals, found brainwashing to be an acceptable explanation for the otherwise

unexplainable behavior. However, the brainwashing theory did nothing to explain why

hundreds of other captured GI s chose to remain true to their country even at the risk of

being tortured. It could not accurately account for the behavior of a select few GI s when

it did not offer any explanation for the behavior of the majority. This also ties in with

something we discussed early on in the quarter called shell shock . Many times

throughout history we tend to seek an easy answer for that which we do not understand.

Or rather that which we DO NOT want to understand. It is much easier for us as humans

to dismiss such things to brainwashing or shellshock rather then to seek the truth.

Since the 1950 s, the concept of brainwashing has faded in and out of public

consciousness with a tendency to flare up again in the face of public controversy. In the

1960 s and 1970 s the brainwashing debate again took center stage, this time in an

attempt to explain the behavior of so-called radicals who left behind a normal life and

opted instead for a cult existence. I believe James would have questioned this. What is

a normal life . He stood on the grounds of, (in Lamens terms) to each their own. Who

are we to say who is right and who is wrong? If this cult life where to better a person

and do good for a community who are we to judge?

Although scholars of new religious movements would agree that religious groups

often have substantial influence over their followers, they would also argue that the

influence exerted in “cults” is not very different from influence that is present in

practically every arena of life, (19 Oct 1999). Mainstream religions also exercise

influence over their members concerning matters such as lifestyle choices, familial

relations and monetary donations. Furthermore, most social scientists concede that some

degree of influence is inevitable in each culture and facet of life even outside the arena of

religious choice.

Despite the fact that there do not appear to be any studies that conclusively

provide evidence of brainwashing as a legitimate explanation for joining, and in spite of

the many studies that have refuted that brainwashing defense successfully, the

brainwashing theory continues to be debated regularly. Although we tend to put this

concept to rest at times, it shall inevitably rear its ugly head. Then once again we must

question and dispute is it brainwashing or rather a free choice? The concept of

brainwashing is still often relied on to account for behavior that is otherwise culturally

unjustifiable.

If brainwashing is not an appropriate explanation for the conversion of people to

NRM s than what is? A common theme on the anticult side of the conversion debate is

the argument that members are, to varying degrees, predisposed to becoming cult

members. This supposed predisposition is commonly thought to be a product of

depression, grief, loneliness and a life filled with successive failures. Often these cults

are funded by its followers giving their worldly goods . Although I can not quote this In

one of the many articles I read in one such case where a successful business man was a

main contributor to the cult. However, as recent studies have shown, this is not entirely

true. Although many people who seek out NRM s are suffering with depression or have

realized some setbacks the same could be said of some that seek out mainstream

religions for the same reasons, namely to feel better about themselves and to find purpose

and meaning in life. Once again I must reiterate James s thoughts. His judge no others

concepts often put these views into question.

Shelley Leibert, an

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