Cults and Their Leaders Essay -- Psychology Cults Violence Essays Reli

frenzys and Their LeadersFor many years, furore leaders always had a psychological hold on their followers minds. Whether it was to kill other people or to kill themselves, they did it without question. Some cult leaders used fear, violence and guilt as a means of a weapon to control the minds of their followers. Other cult leaders used persuasive and spiritual speeches that made their followers believe they were doing corking and fulfilling Gods plan. Because cult leaders are powerful through psychological offenses, the people that belong to their cults are brainwashed into doing things they wouldnt normally do in their right tell apart of mind.For years, there have been problems surrounding the definition of the term cult. The literal and traditional meanings of the word cult, which are more fully explored at the entry Cult (religion), hump from the Latin cultus, meaning care or adoration, as a system of religious belief or ritual or the body of adherents to same. In French or Spanish, culte or culto simply means faith or religious attendance therefore an association cultuelle is an association whose goal is to organize religious worship and practices. The word for cult in the popular English meaning is secte (French) or secta (Spanish). In formal English use, and in non-English European terms, the cognates of the English word cult are neutral, and refer mainly to divisions within a single faith, a case where English speakers might use the word sect. Hence roman letters Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism are cults within Christianity. However, in common usage, cult has a very negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group in instal to criticize it. Understandably, most groups, if not all, that are called cults deny this term. Some groups called cults by some critics may grapple themselves not to be cults, but may consider some other groups to be cults. Although anti-cult activists and scholars did not agree on precise criteri a that new religions should meet to be considered cults, two of the definitions formulated by anti-cult activists are Cults are groups that often exploit members psychologically and/or financially, typically by making members comply with leaderships demands through certain types of psychological manipulation, popularly called mind control, and through the instilling of d... ...psychological offenses, the people that belong to their cults are brainwashed into doing things they wouldnt normally do in their right state of mind. Cult leaders used various ways of mold a followers mind and brainwashing them to do things for them. Some cult leaders used punishments as a way of breaking the followers that were resistant to their demands. Others used and amend the art of persuasion. Either way, the mind of their followers or family are in total control of the leader. Works CitedBugliosi, Vincent, with Curt Gentry. Helter Skelter The True Story of The Manson Murders. New York and capital of the United Kingdom Norton, 1994.Merriam-Webster Online. 2005. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 4 May 2005 Mills, Jeannie. Six Years With God Life Inside Rev. Jim Joness Peoples Temple. New York A&W Publishers, 1979.Terry, Maury. The Ultimate Evil The Truth About Cult Murders Son Of Sam & Beyond. New York Barnes and Noble Publishing Company, 1987.Wilson, Brian R. Apostates and New religious Movements. New York and London Routledge, 1999. Zimbardo, Philip. The Psychology of Attitude Change and Social Influence. Columbus McGraw-Hill, 1991.