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The characteristics of a cult/new religious movement, as defined in Sociology 262 at the University of Waterloo by professor Lorne Dawson, Jan 5 2005.
(That is to say: some things may have changed, but it is fairly recent information.)
There are two basic types of cults: "innovative" (Scientology, etc.) and "imported" (Hare Krishna, etc.)
The following characteristics are "ideals" of each type. Cults are a kind of offshoot of sects, which will be explained a little later. I'm going to do up the chart that we were given, as it seems easiest...
CHURCH/SECT TYPOLOGY
KEY FEATURES OF CULTS
1. Primarily concerned with satisfying the needs and desires of its members.
2. Lay claim to esoteric knowledge that has been lost (ex. Templars), discovered (ex. Atlantis), or repressed (ex. "true self"/Thetan)
3. Offer some kind of direct, ecstatic, or transfiguring experience (ex. magic)
4. Focused on a charismatic leader - often, a cult will disintegrate when the leader dies or is discredited
(5. Society tends to see them as "subversive")
( Why cults became so popular - and reviled )
( Who joins cults? )
...if people want me to keep typing up my notes, I'm more than glad to do the "four main points" of the cults that we studied, as well as my notes on "the Cult Conversion Controversy" (read: why not to trust Margaret Singer or Steve Hassan) and "Violence and Cults".
(The specific cults we studied in depth: neopaganism, Unification Church, Branch Davidians, Scientology, Hare Krishna/ISKCON, and I may have notes on Shambhala.)
(That is to say: some things may have changed, but it is fairly recent information.)
There are two basic types of cults: "innovative" (Scientology, etc.) and "imported" (Hare Krishna, etc.)
The following characteristics are "ideals" of each type. Cults are a kind of offshoot of sects, which will be explained a little later. I'm going to do up the chart that we were given, as it seems easiest...
CHURCH/SECT TYPOLOGY
| Feature | Church | Sect |
| Membership | involuntary (because of parents), inclusive, heterogeneous | voluntary, exclusive, homogenous |
| Beliefs/Practices | More dogmatic (but just accepting basic beliefs is OK), ritualistic | More radical, "stern" (require deeper faith/involvement), inspirational |
| Leadership | Hired/appointed, professional/trained | Lay leadership, chosen because of charisma |
| Organization | More hierarchical, impersonal administration | Smaller, more democratic, personal |
| Attitude to Dominant Society | Accomodating | Born of schism (either with larger religious group or society), often protest society (vice, etc.) |
KEY FEATURES OF CULTS
1. Primarily concerned with satisfying the needs and desires of its members.
2. Lay claim to esoteric knowledge that has been lost (ex. Templars), discovered (ex. Atlantis), or repressed (ex. "true self"/Thetan)
3. Offer some kind of direct, ecstatic, or transfiguring experience (ex. magic)
4. Focused on a charismatic leader - often, a cult will disintegrate when the leader dies or is discredited
(5. Society tends to see them as "subversive")
( Why cults became so popular - and reviled )
( Who joins cults? )
...if people want me to keep typing up my notes, I'm more than glad to do the "four main points" of the cults that we studied, as well as my notes on "the Cult Conversion Controversy" (read: why not to trust Margaret Singer or Steve Hassan) and "Violence and Cults".
(The specific cults we studied in depth: neopaganism, Unification Church, Branch Davidians, Scientology, Hare Krishna/ISKCON, and I may have notes on Shambhala.)
