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Example research essay topic: Heavens Gate Cult Leaders - 1,592 words

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On March 29 th, 1997, thirty nine men and women took their own lives in the belief that they would travel to a space ship hidden behind the Hale-Bop comet. The Heavens Gate cult planted these beliefs within their members, resulting in a mass death. It is cults such as these that weave a sense of panic through society. What defines a cult?

A cult is a group that has an intense devotion to a person, object, or set of usually new ideas. Cultus is a Latin word translating into to cultivate or to plant. A seed is planted in a garden, as is an idea in a members mind, and cared for and cultivated until something, whether it be a plant or a belief, flourishes. A cult will have two main characteristics. Firstly, it often does not tell the truth about itself, or has an extremely altered perception of reality.

Secondly, by means of psychological and social control techniques, it makes its members virtually unable to resist its influence and authority. Cults are often isolationists, to gain and maintain control over members physically, intellectually, financially and emotionally. Deprivation in the form of sleep or food is often used, and is sometimes combined with constant indoctrination to alter a new recruits belief system to match that of the cults. Problems with cults occur not so much in what is taught, but the often dishonest methods used to recruit and retain followers as well as to raise funds.

Cults, because of manipulative and untruthful processes, are damaging to society. Cults endanger society because of the techniques used to attract and gain control over members. Once one is involved with a cult, often as a result of manipulation, it is extremely difficult to leave. Lastly, thought reform (brainwashing) is used, which is damaging to the individual as well as to society in general. Everyone has various needs to be satisfied. Cult leaders find ways to fulfill these needs through the cult, attracting members.

Because of this, almost everyone is vulnerable. Whether one is rich, poor, educated, uneducated, old or young, a cult leader is often charismatic and manipulative, and has ways of deceiving people into following his or her ideas. He or she will use numerous techniques to attract new cult members. These methods, though not physically harmful, lead to a misconception of reality, which may result dangerously.

A method known as love-bombing is often used. This is when positive affection is constantly offered to a new recruit through word and action. The leader will compliment them, reassure them and make them the centre of attention. Often, cults use the influence of the Bible to add validity to their philosophy.

Then, using verses taken out of context, they are mixed with the cults beliefs, creating a system members believe is valid. Another way a cult leader will recruit a new member is by gradualism, which, through repeated teaching, slowly alters ones belief system. These new beliefs are constantly reinforced by other members. In the Heavens Gate cult, the recruitment of new members was done skillfully. The group would post flyers advertising a discussion about UFOs.

They would discourage recruits from joining on the spot, and insist they come to another session before making a final decision. A way of keeping members involved in the cult was by pairing them up. Robert Rubin, who once attended a presentation given by Marshall Here Apple white (the leader of the cult) said The partner was there, if you were falling out of what you had to do, so you wouldnt fall out. It was part of the mind control.

This somewhat comforting recruitment technique gave the member a false feeling that they were in complete control, and would not have to forfeit that control to be part of the cult. Once a member has been induced into the cult, it becomes very difficult, and sometimes even virtually impossible to leave. Members become dependent on the cult and other members within. The cult meets their psychological, intellectual and spiritual needs. As a member plunges further and further into the cult, contacts to people outside of the cult are gradually reduced. This eventually results in complete isolation, and if a member had the desire to leave, theyd have nobody to turn to.

Often, a cult leader will replace an important figure, such as mother, father, priest or teacher, facilitating a strong power over the approval seeking member. Brainwashing awards the cult leader almost complete power over a member, another reason why leaving is so difficult. Sometimes the member becomes indebted financially, and despite all will to leave, the member cannot afford to live outside cult support. Very rarely, a physical threat will prevent a member from leaving but threat of destruction by God, missing the apocalypse or being judged on judgment day are presented if a member wants to leave, often causing this person to reconsider.

These tactics, used by cult leaders, are clever techniques to keep the member involved with the cult. Finally, cults use thought reform (commonly known as brainwashing) to attract and maintain members, which can be damaging to society. Brainwashing came into use in the early 1950 s, during the Korean War. Korean and Chinese military practiced an intense kind of psychological and physical torture when questioning American Prisoners Of War. The prisoner would be insulted, slapped, shouted at and beaten. He would not be given adequate amounts of food or drunk, nor sleep.

Although, on a general basis, this is not the definition of brainwashing, as used by the cult, thought reform is a very damaging process to society. In theory, brainwashed people will do anything their brainwashed tells them to. The aim of thought reform programs is to change the personality of an individual. Dr. Margaret Singer, an American psychologist, has listed characteristics of thought reform that are applied by cults to their members. The first is to gain social control over the member.

The leader will often convince them to come to more and more events being given by the cult. The member will be encouraged to attend long seminars, where there is little allowance for quiet time or time to think by ones self. The final aim is to gain control of the amount of time one spends inside ones mind. By the leader gaining this control, once a member is free from the cult, they may find that they are unable to think for themselves.

The second tactic is to reduce a members self esteem. The person will be indoctrinated until they see their own lives as less valuable, their life experiences and values as futile, and to doubt the truth of what theyve learned in the past. They will feel as though the group knows them better than anyone else. This deconstructs ones personality. Thus in the event that the member leaves thought reform may result in one of many problems someone with low self esteem are vulnerable to.

Thirdly, cult leaders reduce old ways of functioning, choosing and behaving, and induce new ways, practiced by the cult. As the individual begins to think of the cult as powerful, and as a result, themselves powerless, past ways of acting are heavily discouraged. Models of proper behavior are presented by older members, and often rewards are granted for new behavior, punishments given for failure to conform. This tactic is damaging to society because ones behavior has been entirely altered, and if a member leaves the cult, this behavior may no longer be acceptable.

Once a member has undergone these techniques, their thinking processes are reconstructed to be consistent with the beliefs and behaviors of the cult and to be submissive to its leader. Rev. Wm. Kent Burtner, O.

P. theorizes; If the ability to use ones gift of reason is what makes us human, then these groups rob their members of their basic humanity. Due to the manipulative manner in which a cult operates, such a group is very damaging society. There are five to six hundred cults in the United States alone, with an estimate total of 150 000 200 000 members.

Initially, compared to population statistics, this number appears small and somewhat insignificant. However, if one pauses to consider the families affected, and the larger amount of people who participate in some cult activities but do not join, the impact on society seems to increase. Cults have left scars throughout the world. From the mass suicide of 911 people in Jonestown to the murders of seven innocent victims by Charles Manson's Frigate Family, cults have been a disadvantage to society since their creation. The number of cults has been rapidly increasing in the past fifty years, and while some do not cause suffering and appear beneficial, the amplitude in which the cults are emerging is somewhat disturbing.

It is our duty, as part of society, to prevent others from being manipulated into joining a cult, as well as to be aware of the tactics used, as to protect ourselves. Cults: Damaging To Society For: Ms. Hatzifotis Due: December 18, 1998 HSC 3 A 1 List Of BOOKS Barden, Regard. CULTS. Florida: The Rourke Corporation Inc, 1990.

INTERNET SITES Burn, Frank. A Cults Two-Decade Odyssey Of Regimentation. New York Times Co, 1997. web Burtner, Kent. Outline For Cult Talk. Trinity Com, 1994.

web Stock, Matt J. Cults. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, 1990. carm.

org / cultic . htm Stanley, Ronald. About Cults. Catholic Center At Rutgers: 1997. www. catholic- center.

rutgers. edu/FrRonStanley / cult -rtg. coc. htm l


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