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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

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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.

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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

Bibliography

Allen, Steve (1982). Beloved Son: A Story of the Jesus Cults. New York: Bobbs-Merrill

Company Inc.

Dawson, Lorne (1998). Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious

Movements.

Toronto: Oxford University Press

Deikman, Arthur (1990). The Wrong Way Home: Uncovering the Patterns of Cult

Behaviour in

American Society. Boston: Beacon Press

Hoggart, Simon (1995). Bizarre Beliefs. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd.

Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). United

States: RR Donnelly

& Sons Company

Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up.

Florida: Harcourt

Brace Jovanovich Publishers

McMahon, T.A (1985). The Seduction of Christianity: Spiritual Discernment in

the Last Days.

Oregon: Harvest House Publishers

Singer, Margaret (1995). Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our

Everyday Lives. San

Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers