Cults: An Investigation

What are cults? How do they differ from major religious communities? What is the role if any of charisma, devotion, followings, indoctrination, secrecy, totalitarianism or control? Why do many join? Indeed, why do many leave? Join us and find out!

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Bromley, David, Melton, J. Gordon, eds., Cults, Religion, and Violence.
• Jenkins, Phillip, Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History.
• Stark, Rodney Bainbridge, William Sims, The Future of Religion: Secularization, Revival and Cult Formation.
• Stein, Alexandra, Terror, Love and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems.

COURSE OUTLINE 

• What is a cult?
• Cults and religious movements
• Cults charisma and communities
• Cults and indoctrination

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the nature of cults
2. Understand the relation between cults and religious movements
3. Understand the link between cults and charismatic leaders
4. Understand the link between cults and indoctrination