Low Class Members Of A Cult example essay topic

Page 1 Cults have been characterized as domineering and persuasive. Cults are willing to prey on any social class and gender in order to attain another member. The increasing popularity of joining cults is reflected on economic status, social class, and emotional state (Singer p. 16, 1995). A conflict perspective suggests that poor economic stability, social class, and no authority attest to the fact that more people are joining cults, and that increasing each might lessen the chance of joining a cult. Authors Deikman, Levine, and McMahon argue that cults merely prey on those who are weak and of poor judgment. As social structures, cults serve merely to legitimate class subordination in ways that ensure joiners will worship and follow the leader (Singer p. 30, 1995).

Authors Dawson and Allen argue that cults look for specific behaviours: 1. poor economic stability 2. social class 3. no authority 4. gender Trends in Canadian cult joining by economics, class, authority, and gender support the view that these behaviours are typical of followers (Hoggart p. 65, 1995). Societal elements continue to let people have low incomes, low class, and no authority within a job. There is no regulation of cults and no regulation of how many people join. Societal elements continue to ignore people and continue to keep low economies, low class, and no authority within our society. A conflict perspective argues the extent to which characteristics and behaviours cults look for when seeking out a new member. One specific cult is the Catholic Church.

Many people would not dare think of a church Page 2 as a cult, but, the church looks for specific characteristics of a new member Once a member joins, they are there for life. If they decide to leave, they are shunned from the churchs society and are not acknowledged as a Catholic any longer. Economic Stability Conflict theorists, such as Weber, agree that economic interests are important in shaping human action (Kendall p. 15, 2000). Most members of a cult do not have a lot of money.

Pre members usually have recently sold a house or are unemployed. Cult leaders prey on these people because of low economics. Members with no funds are vulnerable to the cult since they are more likely to stay within the group because they have no other place they can go. Cults will prey and persuade other people, like themselves, to join and stay within the cult. Economic stability, according to Weber, produces inequality and conflict in society (Kendall p. 21, 2000).

A cult is a mini society, and within this society there is an exploitation of the followers. This exploitation of the members economics produces inequality amongst the followers and followers and also between the followers and leader. The discrepancy between followers and followers occurs when a majority of followers have low economics while 5 percent of other followers within the cult have higher economics. The low economic followers will stay together while the high economic followers do the same. Because the leader has enormous control over the followers, all followers will have to interact with each other. This causes conflict.

The conflict between followers and followers is a great problem to the leader. When a conflict arises, the society the leader has established will eventually collapse and followers are most likely to leave when a major conflict arises. To solve this problem, the leader ensures that low economic followers are sometimes separated from the high economic Page 3 followers. This will ensure that a huge conflict will not arise so suddenly. A conflict between followers and leaders arises when the leader picks a favourite follower. This favourite member usually has money saved up, which he or she will eventually hand over to the leader (Levin p. 72, 1984).

Most followers will shutout the leaders pet, leaving him or her to become closer to the leader. This cycle will continue until the leaders pet runs out of funds. The leader will then pick another favourite follower. When newcomers join a cult, they embrace the doctrines and practices.

Soon the cults demands increase and the new member is asked to devote increasing amounts of money. This demand is justified as necessary to fulfill the groups goals. Willingness to give over financial security is interpreted as a new members commitment and sincerity. The sacrifices the new member makes are compensated by the sense of belonging and purpose. The leader then gives temporary praise and acceptance to the member. Inequalities and conflicts in the cults society could lead to a disaster.

Followers against followers and followers against the leader should lead to a disband of the society. The leaders ability to cease conflict is impressive. He takes money from members and makes it an offering to their god to cease the fighting. The other members then believe the conflict will end. All conflicts will usually stop at this point because now all members have to donate money. Social Class Conflict theorist Karl Marx said the bourgeoisie will exploit the proletariat (Kendall p. 21, 2000).

The followers can be interpreted as the proletariat while the leader is the bourgeoisie. Leaders of cults are of a higher social class within the society of the cult than the members. This allows for exploitation and oppression. Page 4 The majority of adolescents and adults who join a cult come from middle-class backgrounds. New comers to a cult are regularly middle-class. Cult leaders take the middle class joiners and turn them into lower class members of the cults society by taking their possessions.

The lowering of class is exploitation of the new joiners. Cult leaders will prey on middle class people because of easy exploitation and of the possessions accumulated by the member. These possessions will be given to the leader. New members come from stable, middle-class families.

This might lead to the conclusion that new members are mentally stable and loved, but the opposite is quite true. Members who come from stable, middle-class families are usually looking for some place where they fit in. They are rebelling and crave attention, which the leader gives them temporarily. Less than 30 percent of cult joiners are of low or high class citizens (Singer p. 80, 1995). Lower class joiners are frequently dissatisfied or distressed about the social lives led. Low class members of a cult are sent out to recruit other members who are of higher social standings than themselves.

The leader exploits the low-class members by making them do unbearable sacrifices. Couples are split up, members are asked to choose different sexual partners, and mothers are asked to give up their babies. When the low class agrees to do these requests, most other members of the group, often middle-class members, will comply. High-class members of a group frequently join because they are restless with the lives led and are looking for a more spiritual life.

These members are asked to donate thousands of dollars to the leader so the leader can pray to their god for divine happiness and love. Within a cult, all members are of equal class. Not one member can be higher in class than other members within the society. The leader is the only one who has a high social Page 5 standing. Authority A conflict theorist believes that a social arrangement benefits some groups at the expense of others (Kendall, p. 23, 2000). A person within a cult with no authority is forced to conform to the doctrines and practices that the cult leader has created.

Force is not usually needed when a person with no authority enters a group because of their lack of self esteem and confidence. Before people join cults, they generally have jobs which allow them no authority. In these jobs, someone is telling the person what to do. This pre-member has no one to order around and feels powerless.

These types of people are the ones recruitment members look for. These members will conform easily to the leaders requests. Once a member who fits this description joins, the leader will automatically take advantage of the person. The leader will subject this member to humiliating tasks such as cleaning dirty bathrooms and looking after the sick. Taking care of the sick is considered dirty because they are not clean.

Within some cults cleanliness is next to godliness. A conflict theorist would ague that the leader will attempt to preserve status quo and may use coercion to do so (Kendall p. 21.2000). The leader takes those with no authority in their lives and makes them feel protected and cared for. Members who have no authority in their lives join a cult because there is no anxiety. There is no need for this member to feel powerless, only like an equal to those members who do the same work as he or she. Members become subordinates who conform to the leaders likes and dislikes.

Members then look upon the leader as a supporter and comforter. The leader knows what kind of power he or she possesses and knows where his subordinates stand. Page 6 Members with no authority in their lives join because they feel useless in their society. They want to look for a place where they feel equal. Once a member, conformity takes place almost immediately. Loyalty is a top priority, secrecy and competition for the leaders approval becomes a conflict and obedience is a prime virtue.

A disregard for all human values is found as one of the characteristics of no-authority members. They do not have any self-esteem and do not take into account anyone elses feelings. Weber has distinguished between three different types of authority: traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal (Dawson p. 139, 1998). Leaders of cults tend to rule by traditional authority. Their right to exercise authority over others is granted because it has always been that way. Members who conform to the leaders demands are characterized as no-authority types.

This type of person will do anything the leader or any of the group members will ask him or she to do. This type of member is dominated easily. Many group members will not shun this member because he or she is a valuable person to them. This member will do any type of work to feel like he or she belongs.

Gender Cults frequently have an equal amount of male-female relations, but cults are commonly known to include more female members than male. This is because the female members are more compliant toward their male sexual partner and their primary role within the cults society is to nurture the sexual partner and the offspring materially, emotionally, and spiritually. The female gender is looked upon as a sexual outlet (Levine p. 74, 1984) rather than a conversationalist. Female members usually have approximately 10 male sexual partners.

Each Page 7 female is expected to give birth to, at minimum, 10 children. Female members join because they feel like they have to make a difference. Children are a highly valued resource within the cult. Male children are especially valued because are perceived as the future of the cult. The leader, in certain cults, will choose a male child and turn him into the leaders protge. If the child turns out to be the divine child the leader will hand over his or her duties to the child.

The male role within the cult is to be actively and emotionally involved in the family life. This would relieve the male of being a breadwinner and protector. The leader takes on this responsibility. The male is known to possess close to 35 to 40 female sexual partners. Free-love is a common saying taken literally. The prime reason the male has many female partners is to procreate.

The more children a male can accumulate the better his chances are of impressing the leader, which is unlikely. The leader only wants to find the divine child. When the leader has this child, creating a baby is not impressive to the leader any longer. The gender of the leader is predominately male. This is because males are looked upon as having a greater sense of power than women. The gander of the leader is usually kept secret from many members until the leader gives a speech or is actually seen by members.

If seen by a member, the gender is still kept in secrecy. If this member revealed the gender of the leader, severe punishment would be administered or the member would be thrown out of his society. Gender roles within a cult society are very important to keep order and peace. Procreation is also another important factor.

The extra members added to a society, the better the chance of the cults survival. The offspring will understand and believe the doctrines and practices that they have been taught and will marry within the society. Catholic Church as a Cult Page 8 The Catholic Church is seen as a holy place where people go to pray to their God. Church may be seen as a cult.

A cult looks for specific types of people. The types of people that attend church are many different social classes, but the ones that the church regards highly are the high class of society. This class will donate thousands of dollars toward the churchs practices and beliefs. Many of the high class members are willing to sell their property and houses for the churchs survival. The church also has an unpleasant side. Once a member commits a sin, they must tell a priest, or leader of the church, and repeat many prayers in order for the sinner to be saved.

If a member decides to attain a divorce, the church will not let that person receive the host and this person is not looked upon as a true Catholic, but a sinner against God. A priest, or leader of the church, is usually male, while female priests are frequently unheard of, much like cult leaders are predominately male. Alter boys are priests prodigies. They will follow within the priests footsteps to someday become as holy as he.

To think of church as a cult is usually unheard of. The characteristics a church possesses are partially like that of some cults characteristics: members are often female, high class people are looked upon with great esteem because of their money, authority within the church is like that of a cult leader, traditional, the divine right of the priest is to have authority over their church. Church is like that of a cult. The characteristics are the same as a cult and behaviours of church members is the same. Members of a church will often preach their beliefs to others in hopes of recruiting new members.

Members of a church will consistently try to convince people Page 9 that their god is the true god and their god will save you from eternal damnation, if you are baptized, acquire the first communion, get married in the house of god, and repent your sons on your deathbed. Since the church does contain many characteristics of a cult, a church can be defined as a cult. Many people believe that the church is entirely different from a cult, but many traits are the same. If people realized that the church was a cult, there might be a drastic amount of members leaving their doctrines and practices. Economic interest is very important to cult leaders. A persons financial stability will determine how far the cult will reach.

If members with high economic security join, the leader will take their money and will gain more followers and the members will reach a better understanding of the leaders divination and will lead happier lives. Social class is important within a society. High class members are more willing to donate money because they want to reach a spiritual life. Middle class members sell their possessions to give money to the leader. They think if this is not done, the leader will throw them out of the cult. Low class members are often asked to perform unbearable tasks and are often the recruiting team for the leader.

All people are degraded to low-class members of the society. The leader is the only high class member. Authority is only possessed by the leader. All other members have no authority over anyone else. If a new member with no authority joins, other members might take advantage of him or her. This member will conform easily to the leaders demands.

Gender plays an important role. The leader is usually male while females are used for sexual objects who nurture their sexual partners and children. Males are often the dominating Page 10 ones within a family. The males feel they must procreate in order for the leader to find the divine child. The Catholic Church has many characteristics of a cult. When people start to believe that church is like a cult, many members will presumably leave their practices.

The church does not necessarily prey on others against their will, but members from the church will frequently preach their beliefs to others. Conflict theorists agree that poor economics, social class, no authority within ones life, and gender play a role in peoples behaviours about joining cults. Cults impair ordinary judgement and create a regressive pull on members of cults. Beyond heightening awareness, there are specific ways to reduce cult behaviour in society. An effective way would be to promote anti-authoritarian education. Authoritarian leaders stimulate the leader / follower experience.

By giving up the authoritarian education, society allows for a leader / leader experience. If this is not promoted, possibly many more adolescents will join a cult. People should see the fantasy of a cult as a lie. Cults are deceptive and persuasive.

Reality of peoples lives may be hard to deal with, but a cult in no escape. With decades of research to be read, the full realization of cults and why people join cults are hopefully realized. Page 11 End Notes Singer, Margaret (1995). Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our Everyday Lives. P. 16 Deikman, Arthur (1990). The Wrong Way Home: Uncovering the Patterns of Cult Behaviour in American Society. P. 26 Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. P. 32 McMahon, T. A (1985).

The Seduction of Christianity: Spiritual Discernment in the Last Days P. 64 Singer, Margaret (1995). Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our Everyday Lives. P. 30 Dawson, Lorne (1998). Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious Movements P. 42 Allen, Steve (1982). Beloved Son: A Story of the Jesus Cults. P. 55 Hoggart, Simon (1995). Bizarre Beliefs. P. 65 Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times.

(Second Edition). P. 15 Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P. 21 Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. P. 72 Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P. 21 Singer, Margaret (1995).

Cults in our Midst: The Hidden Menace in our Everyday Lives. P. 80 Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). P. 23 Kendall, Diana (2000). Sociology in our Times.

(Second Edition). P. 21 Dawson, Lorne (1998). Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious Movements P. 139 Levine, Saul (1984). Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. P. 74 Page 12

Bibliography

Allen, Steve (1982).
Beloved Son: A Story of the Jesus Cults. New York: Boobs-Merrill Company Inc. Dawson, Lorne (1998).
Comprehending Cults: The Sociology of New Religious Movements. Toronto: Oxford University Press Deikman, Arthur (1990).
The Wrong Way Home: Uncovering the Patterns of Cult Behaviour in American Society. Boston: Beacon Press Hoggart, Simon (1995).
Bizarre Beliefs. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd. Kendall, Diana (2000).
Sociology in our Times. (Second Edition). United States: RR Donnelly & Sons Company Levine, Saul (1984).
Radical Departures: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. Florida: Harcourt Brace Jovanovic h Publishers McMahon, T. A (1985).
The Seduction of Christianity: Spiritual Discernment in the Last Days. Oregon: Harvest House Publishers Singer, Margaret (1995).