destructive cult
The term "destructive cult" is used by Steven Hassan, author of the book Combatting Cult Mind Control, to refer to any new religious movement (NRM) that they believe has a "pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control." and "uses deception in recruiting new members." [1]
Terrorist and paramilitary organizations
There is an ongoing debate about whether certain religious terrorist or religious paramilitary groups can be considered cults.[not specific enough to verify] Several media sources consider the Tamil Tigers to be a form of personality cult[2][3] and other sources consider Al Qaeda to be a cult. On Al Qaeda an article published in The Times (London) 26 Oct 2001 Mary Ann Sieghart (Deputy Editor) wrote:
- '... what al-Qaeda resembles is not so much a political terrorist grouping as a classic cult. ...
- 'Al-Qaeda fits all the official definitions of a cult. It indoctrinates its members; it forms a closed, totalitarian society; it has a self-appointed, messianic and charismatic leader; and it believes that the ends justify the means.'[4]
The Daily Telegraph, London reported on 02 Oct 2005 that (then) UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke: 'believes that there is no point in seeing extreme Islamists in the "classic" mould of revolutionaries fighting for a political cause. A closer parallel is with recruits to cults, who often come from educated backgrounds and are "brainwashed" into renouncing society.'[5]
BBC News reported on 20 Sept 2006 that UK Home Secretary John Reid said in a speech that:
- ' ... fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for suicide bombings, grooming them to kill themselves in order to murder others.'[6]
BBC News 24 Tuesday 13 June 2006 broadcast a news conference given by the two brothers, Abul Kahar Kalam, and Abul Koyair Kalam, following their release after being arrested during the (abortive) anti-terrorist raid in Forest Gate, East London, 2 June 2006. At one stage Abul Kahar Kalam (the one who had been shot) was asked if he supported terrorist groups like al Qaeda. He replied that he didn't, that al Qaeda was a 'cult' (he used this word), and not real Islam, which was a religion of peace, in his view.
There also Ugandan rebel groups that have faced such allegations. The Holy Spirit Movement had been referred to as a "Ugandan cult" in reference to the mass suicide of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God by CNN.[7] The LRA has been compared to an apocalyptic cult, without stating definitively it is one, by Heath DeJean (Frances Flannery-Dailey) Department of Religion, Hendrix College,[8].
References
- ^ From the FAQ of Steven Hassan's
website available online
(retrieve August 2006)
"2. What is the difference between a destructive cult and a benign cult?
A destructive cult is a pyramid-shaped authoritarian regime with a person or group of people that have dictatorial control. It uses deception in recruiting new members (e.g. people are NOT told up front what the group is, what the group actually believes and what will be expected of them if they become members). It also uses mind control techniques to keep people dependent and obedient. [..]
Benign cult groups are any group of people who have a set of beliefs and rituals that are non-mainstream. As long as people are freely able to choose to join with full disclosure of the group's doctrine and practices and can choose to disaffiliate without fear or harassment, then it doesn't fall under the behavioral/ psychological destructive cult category." - ^ BBC
- ^ Time
- ^ The Times on Rick Ross's site.
- ^ Daily Telegraph
- ^ BBC
- ^ CNN
- ^ Dominican University site
See also
External Links
Orthodox Church posting on subject
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