their possessions to
give money to the leader. They think if this is not done, the leader will
throw them out of the cult.
Low class members are often asked to perform unbearable tasks and are often
the recruiting team
for the leader. All people are degraded to low-class members of the society.
The leader is the
only high class member.
Authority is only possessed by the leader. All other members have no
authority over
anyone else. If a new member with no authority joins, other members might
take advantage of
him or her. This member will conform easily to the leaders demands.
Gender plays an important role. The leader is usually male while females are
used for
sexual objects who nurture their sexual partners and children. Males are
often the dominating
Page 10
ones within a family. The males feel they must procreate in order for the
leader to find the ?divine
child?.
The Catholic Church has many characteristics of a cult. When people start to
believe that
church is like a cult, many members will presumably leave their practices.
The church does not
necessarily prey on others against their will, but members from the church
will frequently preach
their beliefs to others.
Conflict theorists agree that poor economics, social class, no authority
within one?s life,
and gender play a role in people?s behaviours about joining cults. Cults
impair ordinary
judgement and create a regressive pull on members of cults.
Beyond heightening awareness, there are specific ways to reduce cult
behaviour in society.
An effective way would be to promote anti-authoritarian education.
Authoritarian leaders
stimulate the leader/follower experience. By giving up the authoritarian
education, society allows
for a leader/leader experience. If this is not promoted, possibly many more
adolescents will join a
cult. People should see the fantasy of a cult as a lie. Cults are deceptive
and persuasive. Reality
of peoples lives may be hard to deal with, but a cult in no escape. With
decades of research to be
read, the full realization of cults and why people join cults are hopefully
realized.
Page 11
End Notes
Singer, Margaret (1995). Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our
Everyday Lives. P.16
Deikman, Arthur (1990). The Wrong Way Home: Uncovering the Patterns of Cult
Behaviour in
American Society. P.26
Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. P.
32
McMahon, T.A (1985). The Seduction of Christianity: Spiritual Discernment in
the Last Days
P.64
Singer, Margaret (1995). Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our
Everyday Lives. P.30
Dawson, Lorne (1998). Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious
Movements P.42
Allen, Steve (1982). Beloved Son: A Story of the Jesus Cults. P. 55
Hoggart, Simon (1995). Bizarre Beliefs. P.65
Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P.15
Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P.21
Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. P.
72
Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P.21
Singer, Margaret (1995). Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our
Everyday Lives. P.80
Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P.23
Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P.21
Dawson, Lorne (1998). Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious
Movements
P.139
Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. P.
74
Page 12
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