Talia_Brie

In the book I'm working on I have a very charismatic character survive a shipwreck. It turns out he's a bit of a cultist, and quickly forms a murderous cult so he can start raping and murdering.

So I've done some research on shipwrecks, and now I'm onto the cult section. How do cults form? What sort of techniques to people use to form cults?

The first one I thought of was the Branch Davidian's in Waco. Then there's the Heavens Gate crew.

So the information I'm after is twofold.

1. Any references to the forming of cults (probably in the form of a post mortem analysis)
2. Any other religious cults that have become popular/troublesome.

Thanks in advance

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daniela

I have always found religioustolerance.org to be interesting, if a bit one-sided. There is some information on there about destructive cults like the Aum Shinri Kyo in Japan. I believe they also discuss forming cults or joining cults somewhere.

--DM--


Edit: Rickross.com is worth a look too.

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"When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them—then the rest will be valuable." - Mark Twain

Talia_Brie

Thanks. I had a look at both of them and the Rick Ross site looks excellent.

TB

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Cipher2

I am also researching this. The problem with cults is that they are by their nature secretive unless your are 'in'. But you don't want to get 'in'!

There is a massive breadth of information on the internet. For example watchman.org lists thousands of cults. As for depth your best bets are probably the ones that have received media attention and investigated like Heaven's Gate or AUM especially since you said you are looking into a murderous cults. I read about Heavens gate in the Fortean times which also might be a good source. Bare in mind that many cults are harmless and even rather boring.

Michael

I always thought that the eerie thing about cults (and cult-like religions) is that, on the surface, they offer really genuine help and good answers to deep questions that people are looking for. Basically, they fulfill a need- spiritual fulfillment, physical fulfillment, whatever, to a group of people that are desperate enough to take whatever comes along. That's just the surface, howver. Alterior motive are presented _after_ a person is committed to the cause.

Scary stuff.

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Michael

Talia_Brie

That's pretty much what I'm going to be using. Survivors from a shipwreck falling in behind this Leader because he appears to eb offering them some aid and succur. Then he starts spouting 'heretical' beliefs and murdering people.

Thanks for everyone who contributed.

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BlackHoleEnvy

Hiya. The novel I'm currently not writing dabbles in a semi-cult storyline, and I found reading about two of the biggies to be helpful: Scientology and the new "Kabbalah" fad (I can hardly use the word Kabbalah without laughing). Both of these are pretty widespread and harmless, though, and used more for popularity and status than actual brainwashing, so....hmm.....I don't know.

This may be obvious, but your cult leader has to be a total psychological predator, preying on weak/empty souls, promising them the one thing they are missing most. He should provide superficial gifts for his followers, be they physical or emotional, to keep their attention misdirected while disabusing them of what they "think" they want or need.

Oh yeah, the Manson Family is a really great example, too.

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Capulet

You could alwas explore the roots of the Mormons. They're considered a cult by a significant percentage of the Christian community, but they've obtained a wide acceptance despite the fact. Combine that with the fact that material on them is widely available in Alberta, and you're doing fine. =)

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It's not opression when you are protecting the voice of the majority.

-Shawn

Talia_Brie

Thanks again.

BHE, those are good points. I'll keep that in mind.

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