Cults

Castillo, Eunice Débora

Tintilay Cordeyro, Noelia

Discourse Analysis

Cults

The term cult is usually defined as a religious system in which people worship a particular god, person, or object. While that is the technical definition, the extended definition goes further. Etymologically, the term derived from French culte in the early 17th century, or from Latin cultus meaning care, labor, worship, reverence. In the mid-19th century, it made reference to ancient or primitive rituals. The term “cult” has been under discussion over the years because it has acquired a negative connotation. According to Steven Alan Hassan, a cult expert, cults are defined sociologically and theologically (22), which can differentiate the term with religion and sect.

Firstly, a sociological definition develops factors such as authoritarian leadership patterns, loyalty and commitment mechanisms, lifestyle characteristics, and conformity patterns. In contrast with religion, there is a single, absolute leader in a cult, who makes all the rules without the accountability on someone else. Cult members are recruited by brainwashing techniques such as sleep deprivation, bathroom breaks, or confinement with a group of cult members. On a daily basis, indoctrination is a technique used to inculcate the doctrines of the cult. They are not allowed to interact with non-members; furthermore, they are not allowed to leave the cult since they live in a group or commune. Jim Jones, the founder of the Jonestown cult, ordered a mass suicide because his cult members were to attempt leaving Jonestown. He commanded the mass suicide of more than 900 people who were obliged to drink cyanide. In others words, manipulation and abuse are present in all the acts of a cult.

Secondly, a theological definition involves the reasons why a particular group’s beliefs and/or practices are considered unorthodox.  The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines cult as: "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious”. Likewise, the term “sect”, often used instead of cult, is also controversial due to the fact that occasionally it may refer to a heretical splinter group. Nevertheless “sect” is defined as a religious group that has separated from a larger religion, in other words, a sect still goes under the main teachings of the religion they have separated from. Cults are groups with very unorthodox ideologies, rituals, and practices. While some sects have been widely accepted and recognized by many religious communities, most cults have not.