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Cults in the Media

In the previous post, we discussed the anti-cult movement and several variations of it that target specific types of cults. We briefly touched on the topic of the media and how they both portray and attempt to peel away the veneer of cults, so that people have a better understanding of how they work. This week, we’re taking a deeper dive into media coverage of cults, and how big of a role the media can play in a cult’s downfall. Media is arguably the most powerful tool of the twenty-first century (aside from technology). It shapes the way we view the world, and our perceptions of particular topics, people and events are heavily influenced by what we read and watch, and where we are getting that information from. Just think about how the media has been reporting about the COVID-19 Pandemic over the last year, and how differing opinions about the virus and the measures being taken to mitigate its spread are influenced by where people are receiving their news from. There is always bias i
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The Anti-Cult Movement

In last week’s post, we discussed New Religious Movements, highlighting Heaven’s Gate and the Branch Davidians, and whether they could be classified as cults. At the end of the post, I gave a tease that this post would discuss the process and stress associated with escaping cults. However, that topic would be better served as the final blog post, so this week’s topic will instead focus on anti-cult movements. You might be asking yourself, what’s that? It’s a fair question, because this aspect of cult culture is simultaneously rarely discussed but arguably the most obvious. Any new societal movement is going to have detractors. Think about the world of music. In the 1950s and 60s, just as rock and roll was taking off and super famous bands like The Beatles were immensely popular, there was a significant cultural push against it. In the 70s, hippie culture (a key element of the Manson Family) took off, and saw huge pushback as well. So, there is established precedent for societal backl
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New Religious Movements: Are they Cults?

In the previous post, we discussed how cults operated and recruited members prior to the Internet age. We discussed two prominent cults that existed during the second half of the 1900s: the Manson Family and the Peoples Temple. The latter of these organizations was technically considered to be a New Religious Movement (NRM). But what does that mean? Defining new religious movements has been difficult because of the terminology used to describe them. The term “new” indicates that the organization has not been around for a long time, but that can be said about any religion at one time or another; every religion was once “new.” Additionally, NRM’s have become synonymous with the word “cult” for main three reasons: they operate on the fringes of society; they have a marginal group membership in comparison to traditional religions; and they often represent beliefs that deviate from the norm (Saliba & Melton, 2003, p. 10). For our purposes, New Religious Movements can be defined as m
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Cults before the Internet: Dangerous & Deadly

In the last post, we discussed how cults are able to spread their beliefs to a wide-ranging audience through various online platforms. But how did cults operate before the Internet became a widely available commodity for beliefs and information to spread? At their core, cults are fundamentally driven by controlled human interaction. Individuals join organizations that are seemingly well-meaning, and become enveloped by the beliefs and behaviours the organization (and its leader) promote. Members encourage other members to conform through peer-pressure and by shunning all “non-believers” from their personal lives. The only way for a cult to be successful is if its members believe what the cult leader says, and bring new members into the organization by spreading information through word of mouth. Two of the most prolific and destructive cults during the pre-internet age were the Manson Family , which operated in California during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the Peoples Templ
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Cults & the Internet: Be Careful what you Search for...

In the last blog post, we discussed how interconnected our world has become with the myriad sources of communication we have at our fingertips. The internet makes it much easier for people to connect with each other all across the world. Likeminded people find forums and chat rooms to interact with each other and discuss their hobbies, interests and beliefs. Cults, just like other extremist organizations who have learned how to master the internet, can use these methods of communication to disseminate information to their followers instantly. This means that the cult culture is no longer a part of your life only when you choose it to be; information is always accessible and encourages individuals to never disconnect from it and devote their entire existence to it. How does this work? Imagine this scenario. You’re learning how to cook or bake, and begin looking up recipes for different creations to try. You search for a couple of hours and when you’re satisfied with a recipe, you look
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How do Cults Work?

In the last blog post, we discussed some fundamental elements of cults: A charismatic leader who believes themselves to be “God-like”; a “Thought Reform” program of indoctrination; and some form of exploitation of its members. But how do Cults actually work? How do they operate? Returning to the Netflix docuseries Explained episode all about cults, it’s clear that leaders of these organizations prey on people who find themselves falling on hard times. People who are at a crossroads in their lives are usually at their most vulnerable, meaning that someone with nefarious intentions and a charming personality could use those circumstances to manipulate the individual. This process begins by promising the individual that by joining the organization, they can bring new and improved meaning to their lives. The docuseries argues that there exists a loneliness epidemic around the world, with people lacking a sense of community even though in theory, human society has never been more inte
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What is a Cult, anyway?

This question has mystified many people who throw the word “cult” around to explain groups of individuals they do not understand, or who have beliefs that seem “crazy.” But there’s something much more sinister happening under the surface of cults than can be seen. There’s a really great show on Netflix called Explained, which dives into a whole host of topics, and one of the episodes deals with cults. In the episode, the narrator (LaKeith Stanfield) explains that cults have three main characteristics: 1) A charismatic leader who wants to be a God-like figure 2) An indoctrination program known as “Thought Reform” 3) Some form of exploitation (sexual, financial, etc.) The episode argues that the main reason individuals are drawn towards cults is because they’re at a crossroads in their life and are searching for alternative forms of meaning. Sometimes, people become so dissatisfied with their lives and lack the support system to deal with their issues that it seems preferable to reac
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Welcome to the Cult Culture Blog!

What makes a cult, a cult? How do cults form? How do people become involved in cults? Are people aware they're in a cult? These are questions that I've wondered for years. Cults have been in the news for decades, and have garnered widespread public attention. Nearly everyone has heard of infamous cults like the Manson Family and NXIVM, but there are several cults that lurk in the shadows, drawing people in unwittingly, and going unnoticed by society at large. Cults don't just impact those who join; they have a deep, unrelenting effect on the friends and family members of their participants. This blog is going to explore how cults form, how they recruit members, how they shape the lives of their participants, and much more. If you've ever wondered the same things I have about the development and continuation of cults, then this is the blog for you. Each week, I'll be unpacking more and more information about the culture of cults in the form of weekly blog posts, with
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