Do Cults still exist?

Sifter22Sifter22 Posts: 12,054
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I was watching Most Evil earlier and it was about Cult followers. It concentrated on the main ones such as The Manson Family and Jonestown. I would assume some exist, think I've heard of one called 'The Family', but are they on a lesser scale and less dangerous? Do you think we're ever going to have anything like a Jonestown or Waco disaster again?
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  • johnnybgoode83johnnybgoode83 Posts: 8,908
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    Yes.

    Come join our teacher, he will deliver you to salvation and you will live forever in peace and harmony.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,692
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    As Scientology is still going, yes.
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Scientology, the Family, there are still some Aum Shinrikyo kicking about, the Raelians, I think the SES are still going...

    ...there are tons of the buggers.
  • Sifter22Sifter22 Posts: 12,054
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    Are any of them dangerous though?
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Sifter22 wrote: »
    Are any of them dangerous though?

    At the risk of repeating myself-

    Scientology, the Family, there are still some Aum Shinrikyo kicking about, the Raelians, I think the SES are still going...

    To be fair, though, I think the Raelians are fairly harmless. When I used to work for *major comics retailer* in the 90s we had a stall at the Fortean Times UnConvention- one year we were sandwiched in between the Church of the SubGenius and the Raelians.

    The SubGenius were definitely more fun, and the Raelians weirder, but I don't think they tend to make a habit of f*cking with people's lives as much as many others.
  • rick182rick182 Posts: 11,092
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    Sifter22 wrote: »
    Are any of them dangerous though?

    Islam can be
  • lightdragonlightdragon Posts: 19,059
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    Sifter22 wrote: »
    Are any of them dangerous though?

    Most of them are dangerous to your wallet. ;)

    Although I wouldn't see any of the big cults we have today as martyristic (hmm I may have made that word up :p), I don't think it's outside the realms of possibility that there will be some in the future.
  • PorcupinePorcupine Posts: 25,231
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    Yeah, I work for one. Oh, sorry, you said cults.
  • Chester666666Chester666666 Posts: 9,020
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    Christianity etc were referred to as cults when they began

    they got power and control and influence unfortunately
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Most of them are dangerous to your wallet. ;)

    Although I wouldn't see any of the big cults we have today as martyristic (hmm I may have made that word up :p), I don't think it's outside the realms of possibility that there will be some in the future.

    It's usually the more eschatological cults that are prone to mass suicides and the like- because something like Scientology doesn't preach an afterlife, or have an apocalypse story, it's unlikely that kind of thing would ever be an issue.

    Doesn't stop 'em being dangerous, though- (again, using CoS as an example) Google Lisa McPherson, or Operation Snow White. Or Shawn Lonsdale.
  • rick182rick182 Posts: 11,092
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    Remeber the cult in Brookside
  • AJ21AJ21 Posts: 1,321
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    the westboro baptist church are a cult. - I hate them, they are nasty evil people
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    AJ21 wrote: »
    the westboro baptist church are a cult. - I hate them, they are nasty evil people

    Finally we agree on something.
  • lightdragonlightdragon Posts: 19,059
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    stoatie wrote: »
    It's usually the more eschatological cults that are prone to mass suicides and the like- because something like Scientology doesn't preach an afterlife, or have an apocalypse story, it's unlikely that kind of thing would ever be an issue.

    Doesn't stop 'em being dangerous, though- (again, using CoS as an example) Google Lisa McPherson, or Operation Snow White. Or Shawn Lonsdale.

    Yeah I'm well aware of CoS, their methods and endless bollox. :mad: Do they still have to do boat duty? I'm sure thems were good times (for Hubbard). ;)
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,692
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    Yeah I'm well aware of CoS, their methods and endless bollox. :mad: Do they still have to do boat duty? I'm sure thems were good times (for Hubbard). ;)

    Yeah, the Sea Org is still going strong, I'm afraid :(
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Yeah I'm well aware of CoS, their methods and endless bollox. :mad: Do they still have to do boat duty? I'm sure thems were good times (for Hubbard). ;)

    I think so, though I know the Freewinds got busted for being full of asbestos about three years back... not sure what the upshot of that was, but the Sea Org definitely still exists.
  • lightdragonlightdragon Posts: 19,059
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    GeoBa92 wrote: »
    Yeah, the Sea Org is still going strong, I'm afraid :(
    stoatie wrote: »
    I think so, though I know the Freewinds got busted for being full of asbestos about three years back... not sure what the upshot of that was, but the Sea Org definitely still exists.

    Pfft, I'd love to be cynical and say you reap what you sow, but all I think of when I hear about that is John Denver singing Calypso. So another reason to hate it. :D
  • cudzndripscudzndrips Posts: 384
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    Scientology is not a cult though it's a proper religion!
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,692
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    cudzndrips wrote: »
    Scientology is not a cult though it's a proper religion!

    Sure it is... :rolleyes:
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    cudzndrips wrote: »
    Scientology is not a cult though it's a proper religion!

    Scientology is a proper religion in the same way that Battlefield Earth is a decent novel.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,383
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    I tend to think of scientology, the FLDS, and some similar sects as cults. Most religious groups are not cults, but there are a few, like the FLDS, who have a lot of cult-like aspects about them.
  • Baboo YaguBaboo Yagu Posts: 5,803
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    All religions fall under the description of a cult. That's why they're all so bloody dangerous.
  • CroctacusCroctacus Posts: 18,216
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    cudzndrips wrote: »
    Scientology is not a cult though it's a proper religion!

    Made up by a science fiction writer.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,383
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    Christianity etc were referred to as cults when they began

    they got power and control and influence unfortunately

    Christianity as a whole is not a cult. Certain groups may be. Unfortunately sometimes evil people use religion to control other people. However, most Christian churches don't really have many cultlike qualities. Cults are usually closed societies and control every aspect of a person's life. Most Christian churches are not that way.
  • Chester666666Chester666666 Posts: 9,020
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    Leanna1989 wrote: »
    Christianity as a whole is not a cult. Certain groups may be. Unfortunately sometimes evil people use religion to control other people. However, most Christian churches don't really have many cultlike qualities. Cults are usually closed societies and control every aspect of a person's life. Most Christian churches are not that way.

    a minority only
    maybe
    and that's when they are liberal
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