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This 5 page paper examines various cults, defines the concept and talks about how cults first form and how they are maintained. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA914clt.rtf
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very different from mainstream religions (Fuller, 2000). Fuller (2000) writes: "Thus, whereas the major denominations and sects in the United States all espouse some connection with the Judeo-Christian tradition, what
we call cults are groups whose religious interests lie outside those of Western churched religion" (p.114). In some way the labeling of the cult is unfair because the truth
is that all religions are based on belief, not fact, so to support one over another simply due to longevity in some way defeats the purpose of embracing religious teachings.
On the other hand, cults are often short lived and end badly. They may end in mass suicide or in a rift with the law. Death and destruction are sometimes
a part of the end. In the case of Charles Manson and his followers, many beliefs were spewed and those who were in his care did whatever he told them
to do. This charismatic leader had his band of hippies kill other people. Now, many of them sit in prison. Dawson (1998) adds that Charles Manson saw himself as a
combination of God and Satan. Of course, not all cults are violent. Some are very peaceful and just go against the mainstream of society. How do these cults
form? Often, there is one spiritual leader who attracts the group. The newly emerging gurus are most often led by one charismatic individual (Fuller, 2000). The individual claims to have
special knowledge about spiritual things and the followers believe that they are in on the ground floor of something exciting (Fuller, 2000). This is a characterization of the cult and
there have been many cults to emerge throughout the years. Fuller (2000) writes: "For the most part, however, the term cult is used to draw attention to newly emerging religious
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