Doomsday cult is a term which is used to describe groups that believe in apocalypticism and millenarianism, and it can also be used to refer both to groups that predict disaster, and groups that attempt to bring it about. [44][18] In the 1950s, American social psychologist Leon Festinger and his colleagues observed members of a small UFO religion called The Seekers for several months, and ...
What Is a Cult? The term “cult” refers most often to a group of people with usually atypical beliefs living in relative isolation from the world. They tend to centralize around one charismatic person—the cult leader—who orders the beliefs, behaviors, and customs of all the other members. Many cults stand in as de facto new religions for their followers, but some are irreligious in nature.
The Psychology of Cults Cults are a thorny topic, because exactly what constitutes a cult is highly contentious and subjective. The commonalities they share can sometimes put a fine line between cult and religion. Some cult members may insist they’re involved of their own free will and are living happy lives, further complicating a consensus.
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. What is the difference between a religion and a cult? “Cult leaders are not elected,” says cult specialist and deprogrammer Rick ...
MSN: Is “Cult” Just Another Word for a Religion We Don’t Like?
The term “cult” is often used to dismiss new or unfamiliar religious groups—but is there any real difference between a cult and a religion? This video explores how modern usage of “cult” carries ...