Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, Page 35
lives—and sometimes their very own lives—or take the lives of others because of the deep
internalization of the group‘s ideology and purported goals. Time and again, we see the
unquestioning adulation of an authority figure, combined with personal sacrifice and
disempowerment on the part of the follower. I submit that such a situation requires that
complex mix of elements just described to lead to acts of violence. These acts would not be
possible, would not come to fruition without the social-psychological manipulation that goes
on, unseen and unrecognized by most people on the outside.
But even more crucial, I believe, is understanding and recognizing that ideological
extremism is manifested most frequently not in suicide missions but rather in the daily
manipulation, oppression, subjugation, and exploitation of and violence toward cult
members and their families within the cult, including the children who are born and raised in
that environment. If we take a broader view of ideological extremism and its consequences,
we see other forms of violent outcomes, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
exploitation murder and mayhem. And not just among religious or quasi-religious groups,
but among groups with a range of belief systems.
Let me illustrate:
The Manson Family in 1969: in southern California, at least eight killed, and four
Mansonites jailed, plus Charles Manson himself. Meanwhile, Mansonite Leslie Van
Houten, 58, has spent almost twice as many years in jail as she was alive at the
time of her sentencing. She has completely renounced Manson, has been a model
prisoner, has completed a Master‘s degree, and so on—yet she will never be
forgiven and never paroled.11
Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974: the kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst by this
political cult, whose other activities included police shootouts, bank robberies,
attempted bombing, murder, and loss of life of an innocent civilian as well as
several SLA members themselves.12
Here‘s a different kind of outcome:
One of the most known and visible groups, International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON): Better known as the Hare Krishnas, ISKCON came to
the U.S. in 1965. Then in 2000, a class-action lawsuit was filed for alleged sexual
abuse of children raised in ISKCON boarding schools. Of interest is the fact that
Hare Krishna is one of the few controversial groups to issue an apology and offer
compensation—mind you, with strings attached—a response that some feel is
inadequate.13
Children of God in 1968 and into the 1970s: David Moses Berg‘s group was
formed in the heyday of cult activity in America, and then moved worldwide. By
1974, this group (now known as The Family) was infamous for its controversial
sex practices, which first involved sexual ―sharing‖ with group members, then
with strangers (the practice known as ―flirty fishing‖), and then expanded to
include children, including one‘s own children!14
The cult led by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in 1984: Cult members put
salmonella bacteria in the nearby town‘s salad bars, hoping to sway the local
election in the cult‘s favor. The cult‘s hope was that the afflicted townspeople
wouldn‘t make it to the voting booths that day.15 More than 700 people were
sickened. This was the first act of biological ―warfare‖—probably better described
as a biological crime—in the U.S.
lives—and sometimes their very own lives—or take the lives of others because of the deep
internalization of the group‘s ideology and purported goals. Time and again, we see the
unquestioning adulation of an authority figure, combined with personal sacrifice and
disempowerment on the part of the follower. I submit that such a situation requires that
complex mix of elements just described to lead to acts of violence. These acts would not be
possible, would not come to fruition without the social-psychological manipulation that goes
on, unseen and unrecognized by most people on the outside.
But even more crucial, I believe, is understanding and recognizing that ideological
extremism is manifested most frequently not in suicide missions but rather in the daily
manipulation, oppression, subjugation, and exploitation of and violence toward cult
members and their families within the cult, including the children who are born and raised in
that environment. If we take a broader view of ideological extremism and its consequences,
we see other forms of violent outcomes, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
exploitation murder and mayhem. And not just among religious or quasi-religious groups,
but among groups with a range of belief systems.
Let me illustrate:
The Manson Family in 1969: in southern California, at least eight killed, and four
Mansonites jailed, plus Charles Manson himself. Meanwhile, Mansonite Leslie Van
Houten, 58, has spent almost twice as many years in jail as she was alive at the
time of her sentencing. She has completely renounced Manson, has been a model
prisoner, has completed a Master‘s degree, and so on—yet she will never be
forgiven and never paroled.11
Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974: the kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst by this
political cult, whose other activities included police shootouts, bank robberies,
attempted bombing, murder, and loss of life of an innocent civilian as well as
several SLA members themselves.12
Here‘s a different kind of outcome:
One of the most known and visible groups, International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON): Better known as the Hare Krishnas, ISKCON came to
the U.S. in 1965. Then in 2000, a class-action lawsuit was filed for alleged sexual
abuse of children raised in ISKCON boarding schools. Of interest is the fact that
Hare Krishna is one of the few controversial groups to issue an apology and offer
compensation—mind you, with strings attached—a response that some feel is
inadequate.13
Children of God in 1968 and into the 1970s: David Moses Berg‘s group was
formed in the heyday of cult activity in America, and then moved worldwide. By
1974, this group (now known as The Family) was infamous for its controversial
sex practices, which first involved sexual ―sharing‖ with group members, then
with strangers (the practice known as ―flirty fishing‖), and then expanded to
include children, including one‘s own children!14
The cult led by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in 1984: Cult members put
salmonella bacteria in the nearby town‘s salad bars, hoping to sway the local
election in the cult‘s favor. The cult‘s hope was that the afflicted townspeople
wouldn‘t make it to the voting booths that day.15 More than 700 people were
sickened. This was the first act of biological ―warfare‖—probably better described
as a biological crime—in the U.S.
