ReviewReview RELS 225: Cults and New Religious Movements

Slide 2. AgendaAgenda Attendance Exam description Review Essay Course Evaluations

Slide 3. The Midterm Test The midterm test will include multiple choice, passage identification, definitions, and short written answers.

Slide 4. Final Exam description Multiple choice (40 multiple choice) From textbooks, readings, and lectures Paragraph question (10 marks) Beliefs of NRMs From lectures and readings Essay (50 marks) Are cults dangerous (illustrated with specific examples). In your answer, include discussion of at least the following questions: What are cults? What is the public perception of cults, and why? Why have cults come into existence? Who would join them, and why? Do they brainwash their members? Do they abuse their members sexually or physically? Do they threaten the safety of society or the future of conventional religions?

Slide 5. Cults and New Religious Movements Cult information and misinformation The Future of Religion: Demise or Transformation? The Role of Religion: Berger vs. Stark & Bainbridge Labelling Troeltsch: Churches: born; Sects: join Yinger: Universal, Ecclesia, Denomination, Established sect, Sect, Cult Cult Features: esoteric knowledge; better salvation; loosely organized; charismatic leader Wilson’s Typology: Types of Sects: Conversionist; Revolutionist; Introversionist; Manipulationist; Thaumaturgical; Reformist; Utopian Types of Cults: Illumination; Instrumental; Service-oriented Robbins & Anthony’s Typology: Dualistic/Monistic; Multilevel/Unilevel Wallis’s Typology: Attitude to world: Affirm/Reject/Accommodate Dawson’s Typology: Audience; Client; Cult Movement

Slide 6. Why did recent cults emerge? Response to cultural change Change in values Social structure Surrogate families Deinstitutionalization Religious institutions Expression of cultural continuity American Great Awakenings every 60 years or so. History of Religions: It’s always been this way.

Slide 7. Joining NRMs: Who and Why? Not: Gullible, Losers, Everyone One early theory: overlap between lack and offer Then: the 60’s NRMs: Glock’s Relative deprivation 1965 Lofland & Stark: Tensions, Religious orientation, Seeker; Encounter, Bonds-making, Bond-breaking, Interacting Who joins?: socially connected; no ideological alignment or other commitments Characteristics: Young, Middle-upper middle class, Higher educated, more secular religious backgrounds Barker: Respectable families, Overachievers, Disrupted at university Levine: normal psychopathology, Overacheivers, frustrated, Identify with parents, No adolescent romance. 90% left in 2 years.

Slide 8. BrainwashingBrainwashing How did the idea develop? Explanation for why people would join strange religious movements. Defense for those “rescuing” them. Why is it important? If it does happen, NRMs are dangerous. If it doesn’t, rescue attempts should stop. Phases: Unfreezing, changing, refreezing Accusations of Brainwashing: sophisticated; preying; deceptive; pressuring; bombarding; depriving; isolating; love-bombing; requiring confession; hypnotizing; transforming identity Case Against Brainwashing: generalizing; biased; unscientific; contradictory; anecdotal; unsubstantiated; self-descriptive; uninformed; without controls; unnecessary Continued appeal to brainwashing: what some groups do to retain members (Kent & Zablocki) - high exit costs How can we explain behaviour, if not brainwashing? Social pressure, hyper encouragement, organized activity, and too much enthusiasm

Slide 9. NRMs and Sexual Deviance NRMs have tended to be “antinomian” Some NRMs view sex liberally; others are ascetic Sex is prominent in cults because it involves one’s most intimate self Abuses are more possible when outsiders critiques are not heeded. Gender roles in NRMs tend to be diverse but unambiguous Accusations of Child Abuse replace those of brainwashing Moral Relativity & Religious freedom: Who decides what sexual behaviour is permissible? Does it victimize someone?

Slide 10. Explanations of Cult Violence Media The retelling of events and positing an insane leader. But… psychological interviews aren’t available. 2 varieties: Exogenous (Hall tries this somewhat) Endogenous (more reliable). 3 varieties: Apocalyptic beliefs Charismatic leadership Social encapsulation All 3 are necessary for violence, but not sufficient.

Slide 11. Course Evaluations Remember: Paper due last day of classes by 11:55 p.m.