Cults

Cults

By definition, a cult is simply a "system of religious beliefs and ritual."¹ However, the word can mean different things to different people. Though cults are often associated with being unorthodox or outside the norm, they are not always destructive or harmful in nature. Those that are destructive often involve a threat to personal or public safety and the exploitation of its members (sometimes through brainwashing or "thought reform").²

Fast Facts

Harmful cults often led by a charismatic person who may become an object of worship²
Not all cults exhibit destructive behavior
A harmful cult is defined "not by what it believes, but by what it does"²
Cult Apologists: Scholars that write uncritically of cults
Cults are protected by the First Amendment, but not if they partake in illegal activity²

Categories

News | Belief and Thought | Groups and Organizations | Social Issues

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The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Cults
Apologetics Index: Cult Database
Cult Awareness and Information Center
Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network: Destructive Cult Database
The Rick A. Ross Institute: The Study of Destructive Cults
Religious Tolerance: Cults, Sects and Denominations
International Cultic Studies Association

Cults Recent News Stories

Google: Cult News
ReligionNews Blog: Latest Religion and Cult News

Cults Background and History

World Religion and 101 Cults and Sects: Religion and Cult Database
Humbolt Internet: History and Ancient Cults
Rutgers: History of Cults
UnderGroundOnline (UGO): The History of Cults

Cults Commentary Non-Critical

Rick Ross: Cult Apologists Database
CultNewsNetwork: Daily Headlines From Around the World
Institute for Study of American Religion: The Anti-Cult Movement and Violence Against Cults

Cults Commentary and Criticism

Mayhem: Cults 'R Us Hit List
Washington Post: The Cult Controversy
University of Virginia: Cult Group Controversies
Operation Clambake: Undressing the Church of Scientology since 1996

Cults Message Boards and Blogs

Famous Cult Figures/Groups

Wikipedia: List of Groups Referred to as Cults
ABC News: Killer Cults Photos
TheScene: Top 10 Cults
Very Bored: Top 10 Biggest Suicides Caused by Sects and Cults

Charles Manson or The Family

Wikipedia: Charles Manson
Rick Ross: The Manson Family
Google Image Search: Charles Manson

Marshall Applewhite or Heaven's Gate

Wikipedia: Marshall Applewhite
Rick Ross: Heavens Gate
Google Image Search: Marshall Applewhite

David Koresh or Branch Davidians

Wikipedia: David Koresh
Rick Ross: Branch Davidians
Google Image Search: David Koresh

Jim Jones or Peoples Temple

Wikipedia: Jim Jones
Rick Ross: Jonestown, Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple
Google Image Search: Jim Jones/Jonestown

Sun Myung Moon or The Unification Church

Wikipedia: Sun Myung
Rick Ross: The Unification Church, Moonies
Google Image Search: Sun Myung Moon

Hare Krishna or International Society of Krishna Consciousness

Wikipedia: Hare Krishna
Rick Ross: Krishna/ISKCON
Google Image Search: Hare Krishna

Cults Informational Merchandise

A&E TV: Cult DVDs
Amazon: Books DVDs
Apologetics Index: Books, Music, Videos, Computers, Electronics and More
Christian Books: Cult Books

Related Pages on Mahalo

Heaven's Gate | Jonestown Massacre | Religions | Waco Massacre

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