Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 3
Cultism and American Culture
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
American Family Foundation
Abstract
This essay contends that American culture rests upon six fundamental values:
1) life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness 2) freedom 3) connectedness
4) common sense 5) tolerance and 6) fair play. Cults, because of their
subjective/magical philosophical foundations, come into conflict with the wider
culture and tend to reject or dishonor these values, thereby generating
considerable outrage. This situation poses a challenge to an open culture:
How does it protect itself against the transformative influence of cults without
becoming unduly repressive? The author concludes that successfully meeting
this challenge will necessitate a cultural revitalization which recognizes the
need to conserve as well as to change.
In recent years, allegiance to cultic groups has increased markedly in the United States and
other Western countries. Two surveys, for example, found that approximately one-quarter
of adults had had at least a transient involvement with a new religion or para-religious
group, many of which could be classified as cults (Bird &Reimer, 1982). Other surveys have
found that even among high school students, whose experience in the ―guru marketplace‖ is
limited, one to three percent report having belonged to cults (Bloomgarden and Langone,
unpublished study Zimbardo and Hartley, 1985).
Some say that the increase in cultism presages the imminent collapse of Western culture.
Others maintain that it demonstrates the robustness of an open culture strong enough to
tolerate a multitude of bizarre groups. And still others, particularly those who have worked
with individuals and families harmed by cultic involvements, warn that the surge in cultism
poses a serious --though not necessarily lethal --threat to our culture.
Depending on how one views the impending changes, the first position implies that either
the end is near and that we are helpless to avert it, or that the new beginning is thankfully
upon us. The second point of view suggests that the concern about cults is much ado about
nothing. The third perspective, noting merit in the first two positions, calls for remedial
action to protect a basically sound culture against a very real threat.
In this essay, I will advocate the third position. Although not a scholar of history or culture,
I believe that clinical work with cultists, and psychotherapy in general reveal psychological
aspects of culture that ought to be considered by others. With some diffidence, then, I will
first offer a personal psychological perspective on American culture. Next, I will examine the
nature of cultism and discuss its relationship to the core components of American culture.
And lastly, I will offer suggestions as to what can lead to a constructive resolution of the
problems cults pose. I do not intend to detail the abuses associated with cultic groups,
preferring instead to refer the reader to other sources (Bussell, 1983 Clark, Langone,
Schecter, &Daly, 1981 Enroth, 1977 Rudin, 1979-80 Rudin &Rudin, 1980 West and
Singer, 1980).
American Culture: A Psychological Perspective
In his article, ―Cultism and Civilization,‖ Raymond Williams (1967) describes various
perspectives on the concept of culture. Originally, culture was viewed as a process,
comparable to the cultivation of the sod, from which activity the term ―culture‖ is derived.
Over time, however, culture came to refer to a condition about which there were various
Cultism and American Culture
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
American Family Foundation
Abstract
This essay contends that American culture rests upon six fundamental values:
1) life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness 2) freedom 3) connectedness
4) common sense 5) tolerance and 6) fair play. Cults, because of their
subjective/magical philosophical foundations, come into conflict with the wider
culture and tend to reject or dishonor these values, thereby generating
considerable outrage. This situation poses a challenge to an open culture:
How does it protect itself against the transformative influence of cults without
becoming unduly repressive? The author concludes that successfully meeting
this challenge will necessitate a cultural revitalization which recognizes the
need to conserve as well as to change.
In recent years, allegiance to cultic groups has increased markedly in the United States and
other Western countries. Two surveys, for example, found that approximately one-quarter
of adults had had at least a transient involvement with a new religion or para-religious
group, many of which could be classified as cults (Bird &Reimer, 1982). Other surveys have
found that even among high school students, whose experience in the ―guru marketplace‖ is
limited, one to three percent report having belonged to cults (Bloomgarden and Langone,
unpublished study Zimbardo and Hartley, 1985).
Some say that the increase in cultism presages the imminent collapse of Western culture.
Others maintain that it demonstrates the robustness of an open culture strong enough to
tolerate a multitude of bizarre groups. And still others, particularly those who have worked
with individuals and families harmed by cultic involvements, warn that the surge in cultism
poses a serious --though not necessarily lethal --threat to our culture.
Depending on how one views the impending changes, the first position implies that either
the end is near and that we are helpless to avert it, or that the new beginning is thankfully
upon us. The second point of view suggests that the concern about cults is much ado about
nothing. The third perspective, noting merit in the first two positions, calls for remedial
action to protect a basically sound culture against a very real threat.
In this essay, I will advocate the third position. Although not a scholar of history or culture,
I believe that clinical work with cultists, and psychotherapy in general reveal psychological
aspects of culture that ought to be considered by others. With some diffidence, then, I will
first offer a personal psychological perspective on American culture. Next, I will examine the
nature of cultism and discuss its relationship to the core components of American culture.
And lastly, I will offer suggestions as to what can lead to a constructive resolution of the
problems cults pose. I do not intend to detail the abuses associated with cultic groups,
preferring instead to refer the reader to other sources (Bussell, 1983 Clark, Langone,
Schecter, &Daly, 1981 Enroth, 1977 Rudin, 1979-80 Rudin &Rudin, 1980 West and
Singer, 1980).
American Culture: A Psychological Perspective
In his article, ―Cultism and Civilization,‖ Raymond Williams (1967) describes various
perspectives on the concept of culture. Originally, culture was viewed as a process,
comparable to the cultivation of the sod, from which activity the term ―culture‖ is derived.
Over time, however, culture came to refer to a condition about which there were various
