BRANDON COTNER AND HARLEYANN HEITZMAN Cults

Objectives To inform the class about cults and how they function. To provide examples of cults. To show the class other examples of religion.

Cults Definition: a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to it’s rites and ceremonies.  Movements that stand outside mainstream religion  Adopt nontraditional beliefs or worship practices

Manson Family Faith Group: Church of God, Family of Love, The Family Assembled a doomsday cult More than 100 individuals 30 miles outside of Northwest Los Angeles at Spahn Ranch Charles claimed to be a reincarnation of Jesus Christ Concerned about environment and pollution (hippie) Convicted of several murders Some murders were believed to be because of not believing in his music career All murders were gruesome and stabbed multiple times

Reasons for Murder Highly hostile to society Wanted revenge Rejected by music industry Entertained by death Clear blame from friend, Bobby Beausoleil by committing a copycat murder Sentenced to death penalty and CA revoked the death penalty Life in prison

People’s Temple Jim Jones   Degrees from Indiana and Butler University  Belonged to a mainline Christian denomination  Jim and his family referred to clan as Rainbow Family  Created translation: the belief that him and his followers would die together and more to another planet and live happily together.

People’s Temple Created as a mission for inter- racial, sick, homeless, jobless people. Gathered over 3,000 people total Second largest civilian loss, not occurring because of natural disaster besides September 11th More than 900 people died Originally in Indiana, moved to California Rumors that Jonestown was being run as a concentration camp and people were being held against their will Congressman Leo Ryan went to investigate and see for himself what was happening After the visit, 16 members wanted to leave the cult, but this angered Jim Jones and the others. While waiting to leave, a few armed members opened fire and killed the congress man and a few members of the press Because of this, the group decided to commit a group suicide by drinking cyanide mixed with Kool-Aide

KKK Klu Klux Klan  Formed in 1865 by a group of Confederate veterans  Original clan had over 550,000 members, second 3 to 5 million  Protestant Christians “Ku” and “Klux” were thought as the sounds of the loading and locking a bolt-action rifle Hate group formed to help protect white power  Against African Americans, Jewish people, and other minorities  Created to restore white power after the American Civil War Used terrorism, violence and murder

Goel Ratzon Accused of enslavement, rape, incest, and other sexual crimes.  30 women kept as slaves in apartments  Goel was accused of fathering 41 children and having 21 wives  Controlled women with his hand  Brainwashing

Goel Ratzon Rules 1 No women shall marry nor shall any woman attack another, either verbally or physically. Fine: 2,000 shekels (£330) into the family kitty 2 No woman shall question another about her whereabouts. Fine: 100 shekels 3 No conversation is permitted in rooms other than the living room. It is forbidden to talk nonsense. Fine: 200 shekels 4 No woman shall sit idle when there are dishes to be washed, cleaning to be done, children to look after etc. Fine: 2,000 shekels 5 Any two women caught fighting will be punished equally. Fine: 2,000 shekels 6 It is absolutely forbidden to question Ratzon on his whereabouts or intention. Fine: 400 shekels 7 It is permissible to ask to accompany him; but refusal is to be accepted without appeal. Fine: 300 shekels 8 No woman shall interrupt Ratzon or intervene in matters not concerning her. Fine: 500 shekels 9 All orders are to be obeyed immediately. Fine: 300 shekels 10 No woman shall work while a man of over 12 years of age is in the house. Fine 3,000 shekels

Works Cited Hay, Jeff. World Religions (Greenhaven Encyclopedia). New York: Greenhaven, Print. "Cult | Define Cult at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 17 Feb “Goel Ratzon, Israeli 'harem messiah', arrested in Tel Aviv - Times Online." Times Online | News and Views from The Times and Sunday Times. Web. 19 Feb