Section 4. Sects and Non-Official Religions.

Exercise 1. Read the information and do the activity that follows.

Jeanne Mills, a former member of the People’s Temple cult, made the following remarks about cults:

“When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group of people you have ever encountered, and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring< compassionate, and understanding person you have ever met, and then you learn that the cause of the group is something you never dared hope could be accomplished, and all of this sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true! Don’t give up your education, your hopes and ambitions, to follow a rainbow.”

On November 18, 1978, 911 adult and child members of this cult died of suicide or murder in Jonestown, Guyana. Jeanne was killed three years after the tragedy. Many people suspect she was murdered for speaking out against the cult.

What is a cult? In general, a cult, or charismatic group, is an exclusive group of people devoted to a person, principle, or ideal. The ideas of a cult and its leader are often based on a distortion of one aria of human experience. For example, the cult’s philosophy may be based on ideas derived from religion, psychology, politics, or New Age spiritualism (a term referring to a mix of religious practices, alternative medicine, and Eastern and Western philosophies).

When does a cult become dangerous? There are many quasi-religious groups that help people cope with the stresses and ambiguities of modern life. However, there are others that take advantage of people’s weaknesses and endanger them. A cult becomes dangerous when it:

• isolates its members from family and friends,

• interferes with the members ability to think independently and freely,

• is controlled by a dominant leader who claims to have secret knowledge and power,

• demands that the group’s goal be more important than the individual’s goals, and

• threatens members if they try to leave the group.

Cult membership is on the rise all over the world. In fact, it is estimated that one million. Americans each year may be affected by cults. Social scientists are exploring the reasons for this growth.

Working with a partner, look at the following factors that contribute to the rise in cult membership around the world. Decide how important each factor is to this rise, and tick off the appropriate category.

FACTORS PROMOTING CULTS	VERY I MPORTANT	SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT	NOT VERY IMPORTANT
millennium (the time when a new 1000-year period begins)
disintegration of family structure
the Internet and other communication technologies
disappointment with organized religions
lack of government supervision of cult activity
media attention on new religious movements

Exercise 2. Read the newspaper interview. Then read the list of expressions that follows the interview. Write the number of the highlighted word next to it’s related expression in the list.

SUICIDE IN THE ALPS 50 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN INVOLVED IN MASS SUICIDE Deaths linked to cult The Solar Temple Star Daily reporter Marie Pierre Noyes spoke with European correspondent Alexander Hilton, who had just returned from the scene of the tragedy. Noyes: Mr. Hilton, what can you tell our readers about this cult, The Solar Temple.? Hilton: Hmm…let’s see. The Solar Temple, or Order of the Solar Temple, was founded in 1984 by a 46-year-old Belgian named Luc Jouret. Living on the Swiss-French border, he (1) recruited members for his seemingly harmless self-help meditation club. Noyes: So, in other words, the Solar Temple started as an innocent group of people interested in New Age practices? Hilton: Exactly! Jouret had been a student of natural healing, vegetarianism, and (2) homeopathic medicine. He lectured on the “joy of living” through these alternate methods. However, gradually this focus changed. Jouret, a highly attractive, smooth-talking, and (3) charismatic leader, became hungrier and hungrier for power and influence over his followers. Noyes: What do you mean exactly? Hilton: Well, we don’t know exactly when and where the change occurred, but gradually his lecturers turned into passionate and angry sermons. These speeches were filled with bitterness and (4) hostility toward the world. He spoke in vague (5) abstractions about a doomsday, the end of the world. He predicted that a huge (6) cataclysm, or a disaster, would strike the earth. Members believed that death, as we know it, does not exist. Rather, they believed that when we die, we are merely transported to life on other planets. Through Jouret’s powerful, long, and (7) hypnotic sermons, he brainwashed his followers to believe in these (8) fantasies about how the world will end. Noyes: How was he able to mislead and (9) deceive so many people? Hilton: Cult leaders are experts in using (10) manipulative and (11) venal methods to convince their followers of their unrealistic beliefs. Noyes: Mr. Hilton, do you feel that the media attention and negative publicity about this cult incident will create unfair prejudice and (12) bias toward new, but legitimate mainstream religions around the world? Hilton: It’s possible. But I feel that this prejudice is unfair and (13) unwarranted. However, I do believe that reporters have a responsibility to inform the public about cults and cult activities around the world.

_____ a. general ideas

_____ b. method of treatment that relies on small but frequent doses of herbal remedies

_____ c. a violent and sudden event

_____ d. ideas unrelated to reality

_____ e. powerfully attractive and influential

_____ f. enrolled

_____ g. lectures that put one in a sleep-like state in which a person’s mind can be controlled by another person

_____ h. dishonest, corrupt

_____ i. lie to, cheat

_____ j. controlling for one’s own purpose

_____ k. done without good reason

_____ l. extreme unfriendliness

_____ m. prejudice

Exercise 3. Listen to the interview with a cult expert. Do the following activities.

A. Introducing the topic

You will hear an interview from the radio news broadcast Newsweek on Air. The hosts of the program, David Alpern and Warren Levinson interview Dr. Margaret Singer, a world-famous expert on cults and author of Cults in Our Midst. In the interview Dr. Singer comments that not all cults are based on religious themes.

Working with a partner, predict what other themes cults may be based on and list them below. Then listen to an expert from the interview to check your predictions. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Listening for main ideas

Read the statements. Then listen to Part One of the interview and circle the best answer to complete each statement. Do the same for Part Two.

PART ONE

1. Margaret Singer was interested in studying the Solar Temple cult because she had _____

a. relatives in the group.

b. heard about the group from her relatives.

c. heard about the group from relatives of members in the group.

2. Luc Jouret, leader of the Solar Temple, recruited well-off, wealthy people because they had money to purchase _____

a. homeopathic herbs.

b. weapons.

c. medicine.

3. Margaret Singer was _____ by the news concerning the Solar Temple deaths.

a. not surprised

b. somewhat surprised

c. very surprised

4. The relatives of the Solar Temple members did not describe the leader, Luc Jouret, as _____

a. charismatic.

b. jumpy.

c. hypnotic.

PART TWO

5. According to Dr. Singer, _____ are increasing in the United States.

a. cults based on religion

b. cults based on politics

c. all kinds of cults

6. Margaret Singer _____ the media’s attention toward cults causes prejudice against meaningful, supportive new religious groups.

a. doesn’t think

b. thinks

c. thinks that sometimes

7. According to Margaret Singer, the best way to predict is a cult is dangerous or not is to study the cult’s _____

a. leader.

b. history.

c. use of violence.

C. Listening for details

Read the questions. Listen to Part One of the interview and write short answers to the questions. Do the same for Part Two.

PART ONE

1. In what year did relatives of the cult members start contracting Dr. Singer?

2. According to Dr. Singer, in what country did Luc Jouret start his cult?

3. What kind of people was Luc Jouret was not interested in recruiting?

4. Why did Luc Jouret feel that people in his cult needed to collect weapons?

5. How did Dr. Singer react to the Solar Temple suicides?

6. What clues do you get from studying the personality of cult leaders?

7. How did people describe Luc Jouret’s Sunday masses?

PART TWO

8. How many cults are estimated to be operating in the United States today?

9. Why is there a growing number of cults?

10. What important quality makes a new religion different from a cult?

11. What must a new religion not do when it recruits new members?

12. How many dangerous cults exist in the United States today?

13. According to Margaret Singer, is it possible to predict violence in people you know?

14. What information about the cult leader is helpful in predicting the cult’s potential for violence?

D. Listening between the lines

Read the following questions. Then listen to each expert from the interview. Discuss your answers with your partner. Begin your answers with one of the expressions indicated.

Excerpt One

What do you think Dr. Singer’s attitude is toward the recruiting strategy of this cult?

Perhaps she feels…

She may feel…

Excerpt Two

What does Dr. Singer mean by “selling”? What was Jouret actually selling? What is Singer’s attitude toward this cult? How do you know?

That’s tough one. But, I think she’s referring to…

I suppose…

Excerpt Three

Why do you think Dr. Singer was both unprepared for and shocked by the Solar Temple deaths?

It could be because…

I’m not sure exactly, but…

Excerpt Four

What is David Alpern’s attitude toward new religious movements? How do you know?

Maybe he thinks…

I think he probably…

Excerpt Five

Dr. Singer feels it’s difficult to predict cult violence. What is the best way to predict it, in Singer’s opinion? In your own opinion?

Perhaps she thinks…

Probably the best way would be…

Exercise 4. Listen to another interview, where the problem of the cults is being discussed. Do the following activities.

A. Expending the Topic

You will hear another interview from Newsweek on Air. David Alpern, host of the broadcast, interviews Dr. Ted Daniels, founder of the Millennial Prophecy Report, an information center on new religions and cults.

1. Listen to the interview. Discuss Dr. Daniel’s main point with your partner.

2. Listen to the following excerpts from the interview. As you listen to each excerpt, check the appropriate factors.

Excerpt One

Factors David Alpern mentions that may increase cult activity:

_____ approaching millennium

_____ economic growth

_____ lack of discipline in society

_____ end of communism

_____ poverty

Excerpt Two

Dr. Daniel attributes the growth of cults to …

_____ change in general.

_____ unpredictable natural disasters.

_____ an uncertain job market.

_____ dangerous or threatening cult leaders.

_____ “prophets” or cult leaders who guarantee that a cult can help people survive the change.

_____ belief that Paradise can be found in a cult.

Excerpt Three

Well-educated people are involved in cults because they, like other Americans, are…

_____ dissatisfied with life.

_____ religious, not secular.

_____ employed on Wall Street and Madison Avenue.

B. Linking Listening One and Two

1. Working with a partner, review the main ideas about cult expressed by Dr. Margaret Singer (MS) and Dr. Ted Daniels (TD). On the chart put a check under the initials of the person who expressed each idea.

MAIN IDEAS	MS	TD
1. The cult leaders personality and pressures are the best predictors of cult violence.
2. Rapid and drastic changes throughout the world are reasons for an increase in cults.
3. People join cults because they feel insecure about their future. They hope the cult can help them cope with this insecurity.
4. Cults are increasing because there are so many venal, manipulative leaders who deceive followers.
5. Many Americans, especially wealthy and educated ones, are dissatisfied with their lives. They look to religion to help them.
6. New religions are not bad, in and of themselves. They must be open, above-board, and democratic.

2. Margaret Singer and Ted Daniels express different views about the primary reasons for the increase in cult activity. Discuss how their views differ with a partner. Whose ideas seem more interesting and compelling? Whose ideas are more confusing? Why? Whom do you agree with most?

3. Work with a partner. Think about the interviews you have heard. Then discuss your answers to these questions.

a. What are the advantages and disadvantages to being in a cult?

b. Why do you think people join cults?

c. How can people protect themselves or their children from cult recruiters?

d. Should governments have a role in regulating cults or charismatic groups? If so, what kind of role?

Exercise 5. Exploring Language: Word Forms

A. Working with a partner, fill in the chart with other forms of the words from Listening One and Two.

Noun	Verb	Adjective
catastrophe	X
philosophy
cult	X
fantasy		X
	X	charismatic
trickery
		hypnotic
recruit		X
		threatening
	deceive
	manipulate
millennium	X
hostility	X
prejudice
	X	problematic
prediction

B. Read the two news articles describing cults that have received a great deal of media attention. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the words that are listed above the articles.

catastrophe cult recruit philosophy deceive threat charisma prediction

fantasy hypnotic millennium hostility prejudice manipulate trickery problematic

C. Read the following letters. Find the words and expression which correspond to those listed below.

THE PUBLIC SPEAKS OUT: WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP FRIENDS AND RELATIVES FROM JOINING CULTS?
Here are four letters our newspaper received in response to our article about cults:
It came as a surprise to find that my niece had joined a cult. She was in college and had suddenly turned moody and withdrawn. I couldn’t follow her conversations either. She jumped from topic to topic. It’s important that family members be aware of what stresses may be closing in on loved ones. Betty Harrison Administrative Assistant Baltimore, Maryland	I think it’s important to make sure that your close friends and relatives only get involved in groups and organizations that are open and aboveboard. A group or club is not dangerous, per se. However, we need to be aware if the group leader begins to manipulate its members. People need to use intelligence and confidence to fend off those who may be dishonest and deceitful. Solange Dupres Librarian Baltimore, Maryland
We live in an admittedly complex world. Because life is so unpredictable, people are vulnerable to the ideas sold by cult recruiters. Even if people come out of the cult physically, and are no longer members, it may take years for them to come out of it psychologically. A cult can offer a false sense of security. To protect friends and relatives in time of stress, it is our duty to offer real support and encouragement. Jose Rodriguez Nurse Baltimore, Maryland	If someone you love has joined a cult, get help immediately. Call an organization that specializes in cult rescue. It may turn into an ugly battle: you versus your loved one, or you versus cult. Expert “exit counselor” can tell the difference between legitimate and dangerous cults. Counselors know the track records and personalities of the leaders and the cults. This is the safest way to go about saving your loved ones. Jason Kim Chemical Engineer Baltimore, Maryland

_______ a. approach _______ b. as opposed to _______ c. became _______ d. changed the subject often _______ e. clearly _______ f. defend themselves from

_______ g. emerge (from a mental state) _______ h. honest and legal _______ i. in and of itself _______ j. pressuring _______ k. previous behaviour _______ l. was a shock

D. Work with a partner.

Student A: Cover the right-hand column. Read the information to Student B. Look up as much as possible when you speak.

Student B: Cover the left-hand column. Listen to Student A. Rephrase the information in your own words, using the clues listed and the introductory expressions below.

Then switch the roles after statement 3.

• In other words…

• So,…

• What you are saying, then, is…

• I didn’t quite catch it. Did you mean…

1. Each cult develops its own method of getting followers – such as personal contacts or advertisements in kiosks, newspapers, and magazines, and on television and radio.	1. go about recruit
Example: “So, you mean each cult goes about its own way of recruiting? Some use personal contacts; others use ads.”
2. The recruiters do not admit openly what the group is. They use dishonest ways to hide the real identity of the group.	2. deception trickery
3. At first, the recruiter generally seems honest and legitimate. The recruiter may invite the person to an event, class, meeting, or dinner. Believe it or not, most people who join cults are just normal people experiencing stress.	3. aboveboard come as a surprise
4. Cults use sophisticated mind control methods to get people to become obedient followers. They tell their group they have to defend themselves against hostilities in an evil world.	4. manipulate turn into fend off
5. In most cults, followers have to give up their previous lives. Leaders brainwash them into thinking their past was full of problems. They tell them their past relationships were dangerous and dishonest.	5. problematic threatening venal
6. The cult members attack new recruits with many conflicting ideas at one time. The members often end up feeling confused and vulnerable.	6. jump from topic to topic come out

Exercise 6. Read these ten statements and decide whether you agree with them or not, and to what extent.

1. When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing - they believe in anything. (G. K. Chesterton)

2. Any belief that helps centre people is a good thing.

3. Most people today don't have a coherent system of beliefs.

4. If you believe in science, you can't believe in religion.

5. There are all kinds of strange phenomenon in the universe which science can't explain.

6. There must be life on other planets.

7. We all need some kind of faith to help us get through.

8. Religious people have always produced the best art.

9. It's not religion that causes wars - it's politics.

10. Religion stops people thinking for themselves.

Exercise 7. You are going to read an article about contemporary attitudes to religion.

A. To help you understand the article better, here are a few definitions.

The Jedi are a fictional religious group featured in the Star Wars films.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese belief system that says people should try to lead a simple, natural life.

Crop circles are parts of fields where crops have been flattened – often in the shape of a circle. Some people believe they are made by aliens.

New Age beliefs reject many modern Western values in favour of an eclectic approach to spirituality that incorporates many ancient and non-Western ideas.

Have you heard about Jedis, Taoism, crop circles or New Age beliefs before? What else do you know about them? Add some more religious faiths to the list.

B. Now read and translate the article.