Cults Essay -- essays research papers

Cults have become a phenomenon in our world today. Each family "hundreds of Canadians join some of the 3,000 unorthodox religions of one type or another" (Fernell, Branswell, 189) all across marriage America. Like every organization, club or tear down in the common work place there is usually a mortal who is a figure of authority or other wise get by as a "leader" and with every leader there are al airs rules and objectives that each and every member has to do and follow. The common psychological indite and objective of a hysteria leader is usually based upon power, control, domination and subjugation. Many cult leaders use forms of mind control such as thought-reform, brainwashing and hypnosis. The effects of these mind controlling techniques often mentally scar people and it is very hard to re-gain control of what use to be their normal somebodyality, way of thinking and life.Unselfishness, kindness, gentleness and compassion should be a basic living princip le, not just an ideal. When individuals claim to be spiritually developed and put themselves in the role of a master or prophet (Hassen, 01) cult members become so subservient to their leader that they even tolerate murder (Fennel, 185). Destructive cults trust to have control and power over people and want to expand their temporal power and usually do it to make money. Leaders exist to serve up totalistic dictators, not to serve the people and desire to rule through power, not with the power of love. Charismatic leaders often stray into temptation to act upon their power over others in many dangerous ways. The cult leader often relies almost entirely on rules, procedures, aggression, denial and mimicry to hide their want of people skills. Cult leaders are able to exert a hold over people for a variety of reasons. The members sometimes feel they rifle to a group or "family" because they feel secure and have a new way of thinking and believing the "real" way the world is or should be and as the leaders actions become more bizarre, so do the cults members (Fennel, 186). Many people are thought to regard that the only type of people to become influenced or brain washed into joining a cult are those that are insecure, lonely and nieve. However, the people cult leaders actually strive for are the bright, intelligent people whom usually have 2-3 years of college or university... ... at a party or on a bus ride can be supportive. Supporting is listening and empathizing with the ex-member with out the offering of unsolicited options. Simply being there is one of the shell ways anyone can help.The hunger for spiritual guidance and religious truth is usually what drives people into exploring many of the different existing religions all over North America and in other parts of the world. Many problems tend to arise when the leaders of these cultic groups proclaim themselves to be living embodiments of this truth. The many great dangers of cults li e in the leap one must take from embracing religious truth, to worshipping a person claiming to be this so called truth. The danger of these cults increase rapidly when the person promises salvation, redemption or perfection in exchange for money, goods and services. Once a person begins giving in to the leader and the rest of the cult members, the stronger their grasp becomes upon the person and the harder it becomes to leave the group. Victims (ex-cult members) can and should be helped with both the induced and pre-existing aspects of their problem, at the appropriate points in treatment (Clifford, Goldberg p 03).