What is a “Cult”?What is a “Cult”?

Cults & New Religious MovementsCults & New Religious Movements

Slide 2.

AgendaAgenda

• Attendance• In the news?• Make-your-own cult• Media attitudes• What is a cult?

Slide 3.

Preview: Studying NRMsPreview: Studying NRMs

• “Describe what a “cult” is in terms of its necessary and typical characteristics.

• How are the terms “Sect”, “New Religious Movement,” “High Demand New Religion” “Alternative Religion” “Controversial Religious Movement” different?

• What is a “cult”?• What components does a “cult” have?• What do “cults” have in common?

• Are all “cults” the same?

Slide 4.

In this class…In this class…

Slide 5.

If you started a cult…If you started a cult…

• What would it be like?• Teachings?• Rituals?• Authority?• Organization?• Daily Life?

Slide 6.

What would you call a “cult”?What would you call a “cult”?

• What qualifies a group to be called a cult?• Name some.• Necessary characteristics:• What must a movement have in order to

qualify as a “cult”?• Typical characteristics:• What do cults typically but not necessarily

have?

Slide 7.

SectSect• “Sect” usually refers to a dissident group that has

separated from another, usually mainstream, religion (often proclaiming its intent to recover principles or practices believed to have been present in earlier times but from which the denomination has drifted away), while

• a “cult” is a small, intense religious group whose ties to mainstream religion and culture tend to be less pronounced, one that often espouses a belief system not rooted in Christianity or Judaism and often under the personal direction of a single charismatic leader.

Slide 8.

Necessary characteristicsNecessary characteristics

• Fringe (not mainstream in numbers or area)

• Religious beliefs?• Recently begun?• High-demands placed on members

Slide 9.

(Stereo-)Typical characteristics(Stereo-)Typical characteristics

• High-demand• Self-sacrifice for the cause

• Encapsulation (us & them attitudes)• Charismatic leader• Peculiar scriptures or teachings• Difficult to leave?• Unreasonable?• Aggressive recruiting?• Apocalyptic?• Violent?• Sexually deviant?

Slide 10.

Differences between “cult” and:Differences between “cult” and:

• “Sect”• More established than “cult”, a branch within a larger religion.

• “New Religious Movement”• Carries no negative connotations• Not everything considered a “cult” (especially by the ACM) is

new. (e.g. gnosticism, Freemasonry)• “High Demand New Religion”

• Not everything considered a “cult” puts high demands on its members (e.g., New Age Movement, Wicca).

• “Alternative Religion”• Who decides what is mainstream and what is not?• Does it vary from place to place (Mormonism in Utah; Judaism

in Antigonish)?

Slide 11.

Biased portrayals of cultsBiased portrayals of cults

• Media portrayals• Dangerous Devotion video (0:00-5:48)

• What are proposed as cult characteristics?• Counter-Cult Movement:• Walter Martin on Christian Cults• According to Martin, what makes something

a cult?

Slide 12.

Biased portrayals of cultsBiased portrayals of cults

Dangerous Devotion video (0:00-5:48)What are proposed as cult characteristics?

Slide 13.

Biased portrayals of cultsBiased portrayals of cults

Counter-Cult Movement:Walter Martin on Christian CultsAccording to Martin, what makes something a cult?

Slide 14.

Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses

• “Children of Jehovah” video• We have guest speakers coming next

week. Be respectful and try to understand where they are coming from.

• To prepare, read the chapter on Jehovah’s Witnesses by Ashcraft and Daschke, on the Moodle site.

Slide 15.

Next Religious MovementNext Religious Movement

• Read the “Reading on Jehovah’s Witnesses” (on Moodle)

• Make notes on what you notice about what they believe about

• God• The world• Humanity• The problem• The good life• Death

• Come prepared to ask questions of our guests

Slide 16.

Next Sociological IssueNext Sociological Issue• Read Chapter 1 in

Comprehending Cults

• Write a summary and response, and paste it into Moodle at http://moodle.stfx.ca/mod/assignment/view.php?id=4546

Slide 17.

Why study cults and NRMs?Why study cults and NRMs?

• What can they help us understand?• How do they help us understand it?