Citizendia
Your Ad Here

An Internet group that only referred to itself as 'Anonymous' held protests outside Scientology centers in cities around the world in February 2008. Issues they protested included alleged abuse of followers, and that the church is not a religion but a corporate cult.
An Internet group that only referred to itself as 'Anonymous' held protests outside Scientology centers in cities around the world in February 2008. Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially created by American Science fiction author L Issues they protested included alleged abuse of followers, and that the church is not a religion but a corporate cult. [1]

"Destructive cult" is a term used to refer to nominal religions (and other groups) which have caused harm to their own members or to others. Some researchers define "harm" in this case with a narrow focus, specifically groups which have deliberately physically injured or killed other individuals, while others define the term more broadly and include emotional abuse among the types of harm inflicted. Psychological abuse or emotional abuse is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that is psychologically harmful Use of the term has been criticized by some researchers, who assert that it is used to discredit the groups it is applied to, and unfairly compare them with historically more harmful groups and movements. Authors have also compared destructive cults with terrorism, and have used the term to characterize Osama bin Laden as a destructive cult leader. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion Osama bin Laden, with some spelling variations is the name used in English to refer to (أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن born 10 March

Contents

Physical harm

"Destructive cult" as applied to physical abuse has generally referred to groups which have, through deliberate action, physically injured or killed members of their own group or other individuals. Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation Pain, Injury, or other physical Suffering or Harm. The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance limit use of the term to specifically refer to religious groups that "have caused or are liable to cause loss of life among their membership or the general public. The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance ( OCRT) is a group in Ontario, Canada, formed with the stated purpose of "[2]

Emotional harm

Some researchers describe the term "destructive cult" more broadly, and include emotional abuse along with physical abuse as a defining characteristic. Psychological abuse or emotional abuse is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that is psychologically harmful Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation Pain, Injury, or other physical Suffering or Harm. Steven Hassan, author of the book Combatting Cult Mind Control, defines the term as such: "A destructive cult is a pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control. Steven Alan Hassan (born 1954 is a licensed Mental health counselor and an exit counselor. Combatting Cult Mind Control The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection Rescue and Recovery from Destructive Cults is a non-fiction work by Steven Hassan. It uses deception in recruiting new members (e. g. people are NOT told up front what the group is, what the group actually believes and what will be expected of them if they become members). "[3] Psychologist Michael Langone, executive director of the International Cultic Studies Association, defines a destructive cult as "a highly manipulative group which exploits and sometimes physically and/or psychologically damages members and recruits. Mental health professional A psychologist is a practitioner of Psychology, the systematic investigation of the mind including Behavior, Cognition, Michael D Langone, is an American counseling Psychologist who specialises in research about " Cultic groups" and alleged psychological manipulation The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA formerly the American Family Foundation describes itself as an "interdisciplinary network of academicians "[4] In the book Into the Rabbit Hole contributor Randall Waters cites psychiatrist Robert Lifton's Though Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, specifically Lifton's "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform", as criteria to identify a destructive cult. A psychiatrist (also archaically called an alienist) is a Physician who specializes in Psychiatry and is certified in treating Mental disorders Robert Jay Lifton (born May 16, 1926) is an American Psychiatrist and author chiefly known for his studies of the psychological causes Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism A Study of "Brainwashing" in China is a Psychology Non-fiction book on Brainwashing [5] In Perfected Mind Control - The Unauthorized Black Book of Hypnotic Mind Control author J. K. Ellis also cites Lifton's criteria, writing: "If most of Robert Lifton's eight point model of thought reform is being used in a cult organization, it is most likely a dangerous and destructive cult. "[6] In a statement which Congressman Leo J. Ryan later read into the Congressional Record, Dr. Leo Joseph Ryan Jr (May 5 1925&ndashNovember 18 1978 was an American politician of the Democratic Party. The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. John Gordon Clark cited totalitarian systems of governance and an emphasis on money making as characteristics of a destructive cult. John Gordon Clark (1926 – 1999 was a Harvard Psychiatrist and authority in research on the alleged damaging effects of Cults ref>Dr Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a concept used to describe Political systems where a State regulates nearly every aspect of public and private [7] Dr. Clark later authored the work Destructive Cult Conversion: Theory, Research and Practice. [8]

In their book Cult and Ritual Abuse, authors Noblitt and Perskin also include the characteristics of "trauma-induced dissociation and programming" in their definition of a destructive cult. [9] In Cults and the Family the authors cite Shapiro, who defines a "destructive cultism" as a sociopathic syndrome, whose distinctive qualities include: "behavioral and personality changes, loss of personal identity, cessation of scholastic activities, estrangement from family, disinterest in society and pronounced mental control and enslavement by cult leaders. Antisocial personality disorder ( APD) is a Mental disorder.It is defined by the American Psychiatric Association 's Diagnostic and Statistical In Medicine and Psychology, the term syndrome refers to the association of several clinically recognizable features signs (observed by a physician "[10] In The Ethics of Touch: The Hands-on Practitioner's Guide To Creating a Professional, Safe and Enduring Practice, the authors describe their version of destructive cult characteristics in a section on "Cult Mind Control Abuse. "[11] In the book, a destructive cult is seen as being either "religious, political, 'therapeutic' or business" and they state that it can cause trauma-related symptoms such as dissociative disorder. Dissociative disorders are defined a conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory awareness identity and/or perception [11] In Dr. Susan Gregg's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spiritual Healing, she cites three main signs of a destructive cult, including giving up one's individuality, having their relationships with friends and family threatened, and being asked to donate large sums of money to the group. [12] In his work Lethal Violence, the criteria of a destructive cult environment is compared to that of battered woman defence. The battered woman defence is a legal defence representing that the person accused of an Assault or Murder was suffering from Battered person syndrome [13]

Criticism of the term

Some researchers have criticized the usage of the term "destructive cult", writing that it is used to describe groups which are not necessarily harmful in nature to themselves or others. In his book Understanding New Religious Movements, John A. Saliba writes that the term is overgeneralized and equated with the deaths of members of Peoples Temple at Jonestown. [14] Saliba sees this as the "paradigm of a destructive cult," where those that use the term are implying that other new religious movements will have similar outcomes to those of the Peoples Temple at Jonestown. A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith or an ethical spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that is not part [14] Writing in the book Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field, contributor Julius H. Misunderstanding Cults Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field was edited by Benjamin Zablocki and Thomas Robbins. Rubin complains that the term has been used to discredit certain groups in the court of public opinion. That the manufacture of consent is capable of great refinements no one I think denies [15] In his work Cults in Context author Lorne L. Dawson writes that though the Unification Church "has not been shown to be violent or volatile," it has been described as a destructive cult by "anticult crusaders. The Unification Church is a New religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. "[16]

Terrorism

In 1984, followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh carried out what has come to be known as the first bioterrorism attack in the United States. "Rajneesh" Chandra Mohan Jain (रजनीश चन्द्र मोहन जैन (December 11 1931 – January 19 1990 also known as Acharya Rajneesh For the use of biological agents in warfare see Biological warfare. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [17] Over seven hundred and fifty individuals became ill from salmonella poisoning, after the followers had deliberately contaminated the salad bars of ten restaurants. Salmonella is a Genus of rod-shaped Gram-negative enterobacteria that causes Typhoid fever, Paratyphoid fever [17] After epidemiological research, law enforcement isolated the source of the contamination as a clinical laboratory operated by the Rajneesh movement. Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the Health and Illness of populations and serves as the foundation and Logic of interventions made in the [17] They had intended to influence voter turnout in an upcoming election. [17] The March 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway by the Aum Shinrikyo movement, as well as their prior experiments with anthrax, were also seen as bioterrorism events. The Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the, was an act of Domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Anthrax is an acute Disease in humans and animals caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis which is highly lethal in some forms [17]

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks and the prevalence of the War on Terrorism in society, researchers have begun to use the term "destructive cult" to compare and contrast certain characteristics of terrorist organizations with those of other religious groups previously characterized as such. The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion In the book Jihad and Sacred Vengeance: Psychological Undercurrents of History, psychiatrist Peter A. Olsson compares Osama bin Laden to other religious leaders including Jim Jones, David Koresh, Shoko Asahara, Marshall Applewhite, Luc Jouret and Joseph Di Mambro, in a section of the book called: "The Psychology of Destructive Cult Leaders". A psychiatrist (also archaically called an alienist) is a Physician who specializes in Psychiatry and is certified in treating Mental disorders Peter A Olsson is an American Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst and author Osama bin Laden, with some spelling variations is the name used in English to refer to (أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن born 10 March James Warren "Jim" Jones (May 13 1931 &ndash November 18 1978 was the American founder of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18 1978 David Koresh ( August 17, 1959 &ndash April 19, 1993) was the leader of a Branch Davidian religious sect, believing himself is a founder of Japan 's controversial Buddhist religious group Aum Shinrikyo (now known as Aleph) and identified himself as and his children as in his Marshall Herff Applewhite Jr ( May 17, 1931 - March 26, 1997) was the leader of Heaven's Gate group Luc Jouret ( October 17, 1947 &ndash October 5, 1994) born in Kikwit, Belgian Congo, was a Belgian religious The Order of the Solar Temple also known as Ordre du Temple Solaire ( OTS) in French, and the International Chivalric Organization of the Solar Tradition [18] Olsson asserts that each of these individuals fit at least eight of the nine criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD is a Personality disorder defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the diagnostic classification [18] Olsson goes into some of these issues in more depth in his work Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time: A Psychological Study of Destructive Cult Leaders from Rev. Jim Jones to Osama bin Laden. [19] In the book Seeking the Compassionate Life: The Moral Crisis for Psychotherapy and Society authors Goldberg and Crespo also refer to Osama bin Laden as a "destructive cult leader. "[20]

At a 2002 meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Steven Hassan asserted that Al Qaeda fulfills the characteristics of a destructive cult. The American Psychological Association (APA is a professional organization representing psychologists in the U Al-Qaeda, alternatively spelled al-Qaida, al-Qa`ida or al-Qa`idah, ( Arabic:; ar-Latn ''al-qāʿidah'' Translation: The [21] Panelists at the convention asked the APA to investigate mind control among destructive cults. Mind control is a broad range of psychological tactics able to subvert an individual's control of his own thinking, behavior emotions or decisions [21] Hassan spoke of the commonalities between researching destructive cults, and the war on terrorism: "We need to apply what we know about destructive mind-control cults, and this should be a priority with the war on terrorism. We need to understand the psychological aspects of how people are recruited and indoctrinated so we can slow down recruitment. We need to help counsel former cult members and possibly use some of them in the war against terrorism. "[21]

In an article on Al Qaeda published in The Times, Mary Ann Sieghart wrote that al-Qaeda resembles a "classic cult", commenting: "Al-Qaeda fits all the official definitions of a cult. The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. Mary Ann Sieghart (born August 6 1961) is a former assistant editor of The Times, where she wrote columns about politics social affairs and It indoctrinates its members; it forms a closed, totalitarian society; it has a self-appointed, messianic and charismatic leader; and it believes that the ends justify the means. "[22] A similar comparison was made by former UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke, as well as UK Home Secretary John Reid, who stated that ". Charles Rodway Clarke (born 21 September 1950 is a British Labour Party Politician. Dr John Reid (born 8 May 1947 is a British Politician who was formerly the Home Secretary and also filled several other cabinet positions including . fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for suicide bombings, grooming them to kill themselves in order to murder others. "[23][24]

Although not specifically mentioning al Qaeda, former Mujaheddin member and now author and academic Dr. Masoud Banisadr stated in a May 2005 speech in Spain :

If you ask me: are all cults a terrorist organisation? My answer is no as there are many peaceful cults at present around the world and in the history of mankind. But if you ask me are all terrorist organisations, some sort of cult? my answer is yes. Even if they start as ordinary modern political party or organisation, to prepare and force their members to act without asking any moral question and act selflessly for the cause of the group and ignore all the ethical, cultural, moral or religious code of the society and humanity, those organisations have to change into a cult. Therefore to understand an extremist or a terrorist organisation one has to learn about a Cult. [25]

Dr. Banisadr mentions al Qaeda several times in a talk entitled "The Use of the Philosophy of Martyrdom within Religious Cults for Acts of Terrorism" delivered at an INFORM seminar at the London School of Economics in May 2007. The London School of Economics and Political Science, more commonly referred to as The London School of Economics or LSE, is a specialist college of the [26]

References

  1. ^ L.A. takes part in Scientology protests, Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2008.
  2. ^ Robinson, B. A. (last updated July 25, 2007). Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Doomsday, destructive religious cults. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance ( OCRT) is a group in Ontario, Canada, formed with the stated purpose of Retrieved on 2007-11-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull
  3. ^ Hassan, Steven. Steven Alan Hassan (born 1954 is a licensed Mental health counselor and an exit counselor. 2. What is the difference between a destructive cult and a benign cult?. Freedom of Mind. Freedom of Mind Resource Center, Inc. . Retrieved on 2007-11-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull
  4. ^ Turner, Francis J. ; Arnold Shanon Bloch, Ron Shor (September 1, 1995). Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Differential Diagnosis & Treatment in Social Work, 4th Edition. Free Press, Page 1146: Chapter 105: "From Consultation to Therapy in Group Work With Parents of Cultists". ISBN 0028740076.  
  5. ^ Warren, Michael David; Randall Waters, contributor (2005). Into the Rabbit Hole. Dog Ear Publishing, Page 59: "Eight Marks of a Mind-Control Cult". ISBN 1598580612.  
  6. ^ Ellis, J. K. (2006). Perfected Mind Control - The Unauthorized Black Book of Hypnotic Mind Control. Lulu, Page 19. ISBN 1847287506.  
  7. ^ Clark, M.D., John Gordon (November 4, 1977). John Gordon Clark (1926 – 1999 was a Harvard Psychiatrist and authority in research on the alleged damaging effects of Cults ref>Dr Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays "The Effects of Religious Cults on the Health and Welfare of Their Converts". Congressional Record 123 (181): Extensions of Remarks P. The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. 37401-37403. . United States Congress. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses  
  8. ^ Clark, M.D., John Gordon; Michael D. Langone, Robert E. John Gordon Clark (1926 – 1999 was a Harvard Psychiatrist and authority in research on the alleged damaging effects of Cults ref>Dr Michael D Langone, is an American counseling Psychologist who specialises in research about " Cultic groups" and alleged psychological manipulation Schechter, Roger C. B. Daly (1981). Destructive Cult Conversion: Theory, Research and Practice. Weston, Massachusetts: American Family Foundation. Weston is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Boston metro area The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA formerly the American Family Foundation describes itself as an "interdisciplinary network of academicians  
  9. ^ Noblitt, James Randall; Pamela Sue Perskin (2000). Cult and Ritual Abuse: Its History, Anthropology, and Recent Discovery in Contemporary America. Praeger/Greenwood, 211-217. ISBN 027596664X.  
  10. ^ Kaslow, Florence Whiteman; Marvin B. Sussman (1982). Cults and the Family. Haworth Press, Page 34. ISBN 0917724550.  
  11. ^ a b Sohnen-Moe, Cherie M. ; Ben E. Benjamin, Ph.D. (2004). "PhD" redirects here for other uses see PhD (disambiguation. The Ethics of Touch: The Hands-on Practitioner's Guide To Creating a Professional, Safe and Enduring Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Page 220. ISBN 1882908406.  
  12. ^ Gregg, Susan (2000). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spiritual Healing. Alpha Books, Page 52. ISBN 0028638344.  
  13. ^ Hall, Harold V. (1999). Lethal Violence. CRC Press, Page 450. ISBN 0849370035.  
  14. ^ a b Saliba, John A. ; J. Gordon Melton, foreword (2003). John Gordon Melton (b September 19, 1942) is an American religious scholar who was the founding director of the Institute for the Study of American Understanding New Religious Movements. Rowman Altamira, Page 144. ISBN 0759103569.  
  15. ^ Zablocki, Benjamin David; Thomas Robbins (2001). Benjamin Zablocki (b January 19, 1941 in Brooklyn) is professor of Sociology at Rutgers University and teaches Sociology Thomas Eugene Robbins (born July 22, 1936 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina) is an American Author. Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field. Misunderstanding Cults Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field was edited by Benjamin Zablocki and Thomas Robbins. University of Toronto Press, Page 474. ISBN 0802081886.  
  16. ^ Dawson, Lorne L. (1998). Cults in Context: Readings in the Study of New Religious Movements. Transaction Publishers, Page 349: "Sects and Violence". ISBN 0765804786.  
  17. ^ a b c d e Lashley, Felissa R. ; Jerry D. Durham (2007). Emerging Infectious Diseases: Trends and Issues. Springer Publishing Company, Page 419. ISBN 0826102506.  
  18. ^ a b Piven, Jerry S. (2002). Jihad and Sacred Vengeance: Psychological Undercurrents of History. iUniverse, Pages 104-114. ISBN 0595251048.  
  19. ^ Olsson, M.D., Peter A. (2005). Peter A Olsson is an American Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst and author Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time: A Psychological Study of Destructive Cult Leaders from Rev. Jim Jones to Osama bin Laden. PublishAmerica, Incorporated. ISBN 141377668X.  
  20. ^ Goldberg, Carl; Virginia Crespo (2004). Seeking the Compassionate Life: The Moral Crisis for Psychotherapy and Society. Praeger/Greenwood, Page 161. ISBN 0275981967.  
  21. ^ a b c Dittmann, Melissa. "Cults of hatred: Panelists at a convention session on hatred asked APA to form a task force to investigate mind control among destructive cults.", Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, November 10, 2002, pp. The American Psychological Association (APA is a professional organization representing psychologists in the U Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar.  Page 30, Volume 33, No. 10. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull  
  22. ^ Sieghart, Mary Ann. "The cult figure we could do without", The Times, October 26, 2001. The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.  
  23. ^ Staff. "Clarke wants terrorists treated like victims of cult brainwashing", Daily Telegraph, October 2, 2005. For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-11-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs,  
  24. ^ Staff. "Reid heckled during Muslim speech", BBC News, September 20, 2006. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem.  
  25. ^ Banisadr, Masoud. "Cult and extremism / Terrorism", Combating Terrorism and Protecting Democracy: The Role of Civil Society, Centro de Investigación para la Paz, May, 19-20, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem.  
  26. ^ Banisadr, Masoud. "The Use of the Philosophy of Martyrdom within Religious Cults for Acts of Terrorism", University of London, Speech, May 5, 2007. The University of London is a university based primarily in London, England, UK. Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem.  

See also

External links

A cult suicide is a term used to describe the mass Suicide by the members of groups that have been considered as Cults In some cases all or nearly all members have
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic