International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 3, 2012 3
restrained or corrected by higher
authorities to whom they are
accountable.5
Robert Jay Lifton uses another definition, but he
also notes the loaded connotations of the word
as used by protagonists in the debate. He says,
I am aware of the controversy
surrounding the use of the word cult
because of its pejorative connotation, as
opposed to the more neutral new
religion. I use both terms in this book,
but as in past work I confine the use of
cult to groups that display three
characteristics: totalistic or thought-
reform-like practices, a shift from
worship of spiritual principles to
worship of the guru or leader, and a
combination of spiritual quest from
below and exploitation, usually
economic or sexual, from above.6
In addition, I note that recent parliamentary and
departmental inquiries in Australia and Israel
have offered two working definitions of the
word cult. The Australian Senate Economics
Legislation Committee applied a Macquarie
Dictionary definition, so that cult is defined in
its report as
A religious or pseudo-religious
movement, characterized by the extreme
devotion of members who usually form
a relatively small, tightly controlled
group under an authoritarian and
charismatic leader.7
A Ministry team from the Israeli Ministry of
Welfare and Social Services offers the following
definition in its recent report on cults in Israel,
utilizing the term harmful cults:
Harmful cults are groups that are united
around a person or idea, by the exercise
of methods of control of thought
5 International Cultic Studies Association, Psychological
Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements,
Conference Handbook 2006 (ICSA Annual International
Conference, Denver, Colorado, June 22–24, 2006), p. 68.
6 Robert Jay Lifton, Destroying the World to Save It: Aum
Shinrikyo, Apocalyptic Violence, and the New Global Terrorism
(New York: Metropolitan Books, 1999), p. 11.
7 Senate Economics Legislation Committee, “Report on the Tax
Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010” (Canberra:
Senate, 2010), Glossary, vii.
processes and patterns of behavior, for
the purpose of creating an identity that is
distinct from society and by the use of
false representations. For the most part
these groups encourage mental
dependence, fidelity, obedience and
subservience to the leader of the cult and
his objectives, exploit their members
with a view to promoting the objectives
of the cult, and cause mental, physical,
economic and social damage (in one or
more of these fields), to members of the
groups, their families and the
surrounding community.8
So a group most familiarly described as a cult is
a tightly controlled group of obedient followers
who are cut off either physically or
psychologically, or, to be most effective, both,
from mainstream society, and are controlled by a
charismatic individual claiming “unique”
insights. When these groups explode, implode,
or cause public scandal, the attention of policy
makers is focussed for a time, although most
often the response is inadequate to the task.9
However, there are also concerns about ongoing
harm allegedly caused by a broader range of
allegedly cultic groups.
Psychologist Louise Samways differentiates
between “closed” cults, in which “members live
physically isolated from mainstream society,”
and “open” cults, those groups “who have all the
characteristics of cults but are very open about
their activities in the community” she submits
the latter have been facilitated by the
development of “more sophisticated
indoctrination techniques.”10 She describes
Scientology as an example of an open cult.
8 Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, “An Examination of the
Phenomenon of Cults in Israel: Report of the Ministry of Welfare
and Social Services Team,” (State of Israel, 2011), p. 16, Part I,
para. 2.3.
9 The Director of Public Prosecutions in South Australia has
recently acknowledged that “the sorts of mental damage and
mental harm that we’re hearing about from these people are not
easily coped with by the laws we’ve got, not only in our state, but
across Australia.” Catherine Hockley, “Create Special Laws for
Cults: DPP,” The Advertiser, 3 November 2011
(http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/create-special-laws-for-cults-
dpp/story-e6frea6u-1226184076536).
10 Louise Samways, Dangerous Persuaders: An Expose of Gurus,
Personal Development Courses and Cults, and How They Operate
in Australia (Penguin Australia, 1994), p. 3.
restrained or corrected by higher
authorities to whom they are
accountable.5
Robert Jay Lifton uses another definition, but he
also notes the loaded connotations of the word
as used by protagonists in the debate. He says,
I am aware of the controversy
surrounding the use of the word cult
because of its pejorative connotation, as
opposed to the more neutral new
religion. I use both terms in this book,
but as in past work I confine the use of
cult to groups that display three
characteristics: totalistic or thought-
reform-like practices, a shift from
worship of spiritual principles to
worship of the guru or leader, and a
combination of spiritual quest from
below and exploitation, usually
economic or sexual, from above.6
In addition, I note that recent parliamentary and
departmental inquiries in Australia and Israel
have offered two working definitions of the
word cult. The Australian Senate Economics
Legislation Committee applied a Macquarie
Dictionary definition, so that cult is defined in
its report as
A religious or pseudo-religious
movement, characterized by the extreme
devotion of members who usually form
a relatively small, tightly controlled
group under an authoritarian and
charismatic leader.7
A Ministry team from the Israeli Ministry of
Welfare and Social Services offers the following
definition in its recent report on cults in Israel,
utilizing the term harmful cults:
Harmful cults are groups that are united
around a person or idea, by the exercise
of methods of control of thought
5 International Cultic Studies Association, Psychological
Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements,
Conference Handbook 2006 (ICSA Annual International
Conference, Denver, Colorado, June 22–24, 2006), p. 68.
6 Robert Jay Lifton, Destroying the World to Save It: Aum
Shinrikyo, Apocalyptic Violence, and the New Global Terrorism
(New York: Metropolitan Books, 1999), p. 11.
7 Senate Economics Legislation Committee, “Report on the Tax
Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010” (Canberra:
Senate, 2010), Glossary, vii.
processes and patterns of behavior, for
the purpose of creating an identity that is
distinct from society and by the use of
false representations. For the most part
these groups encourage mental
dependence, fidelity, obedience and
subservience to the leader of the cult and
his objectives, exploit their members
with a view to promoting the objectives
of the cult, and cause mental, physical,
economic and social damage (in one or
more of these fields), to members of the
groups, their families and the
surrounding community.8
So a group most familiarly described as a cult is
a tightly controlled group of obedient followers
who are cut off either physically or
psychologically, or, to be most effective, both,
from mainstream society, and are controlled by a
charismatic individual claiming “unique”
insights. When these groups explode, implode,
or cause public scandal, the attention of policy
makers is focussed for a time, although most
often the response is inadequate to the task.9
However, there are also concerns about ongoing
harm allegedly caused by a broader range of
allegedly cultic groups.
Psychologist Louise Samways differentiates
between “closed” cults, in which “members live
physically isolated from mainstream society,”
and “open” cults, those groups “who have all the
characteristics of cults but are very open about
their activities in the community” she submits
the latter have been facilitated by the
development of “more sophisticated
indoctrination techniques.”10 She describes
Scientology as an example of an open cult.
8 Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, “An Examination of the
Phenomenon of Cults in Israel: Report of the Ministry of Welfare
and Social Services Team,” (State of Israel, 2011), p. 16, Part I,
para. 2.3.
9 The Director of Public Prosecutions in South Australia has
recently acknowledged that “the sorts of mental damage and
mental harm that we’re hearing about from these people are not
easily coped with by the laws we’ve got, not only in our state, but
across Australia.” Catherine Hockley, “Create Special Laws for
Cults: DPP,” The Advertiser, 3 November 2011
(http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/create-special-laws-for-cults-
dpp/story-e6frea6u-1226184076536).
10 Louise Samways, Dangerous Persuaders: An Expose of Gurus,
Personal Development Courses and Cults, and How They Operate
in Australia (Penguin Australia, 1994), p. 3.
