When unorthodox religions or cult practices become inhumane or unjust
Introduction
This research project examines when unorthodox religions or cult practices either becomes or perceived as inhumane or unjust by specifically focusing on unorthodox religions during a twenty year period between the 1950’s through the 1970’s. The research focuses on five different unorthodox religions: The People’s Temple, founded by Jim Jones, Heaven’s Gate, founded by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, Scientology, founded by L. Ron Hubbard, Children of God, founded by David Berg, and Branch Davidians, founded by David Koresh. Langone, M. D. (1995). These five unorthodox religions or cults may have had or have different doctrines and practices, but research shows that they may all share the common trait of being inhumane or unjust.
Rationale/Thesis Statement

In the International Cultic Studies Association article, by Dole and Eichel (1985), a survey was conducted about dangerous practices associated with cults and referenced different actions that they deemed destructive, from coercion to enslavement, which they believe to be inhumane and unjust. This research study will attempt to uncover some of these practices and find out what draws people to these unorthodox religions or cults. Likewise, this research project also attempts to determine the point at which practices become inhumane or unjust.
It’s interesting to note, that three out of the five unorthodox religions or cults included in this research were started in the mid-1950’s, at around the time of frequent U.F.O. sightings in the southwest United States.
“And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl. And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. When they went, in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went.” Ezekiel 10:9-11

This quote from the King James Version of the Bible references U.F.O’s, where research shows that it may be taken in or out of context, as in the case of Heaven’s Gate. Muesse, M.W. (2011).
This research topic is important because of the affect it has on people and on society. Philosopher Carl Jung (1875-1961) described religion as “something that grew out of the individual’s need to arrive at personal fulfillment.” Molly (2010). This begs the question, what leads an individual to think that they can arrive at personal fulfillment through harmful or inhumane practices and how can these religions/cults be rationalized?
Inquiry & Assumptions

. In conducting this research project, the researcher seeks to understand why people accept practices that are inhumane or unjust to its follower’s. What makes a person knowingly involve themselves in such religions and if they joined unknowingly, what made them stay in the religion/cult? My intent in selecting this topic is to find out why and how, do people fall prey to the inhumane or unjust practices of religions or cults, and why do people start them. Is it for monetary gain? Is it to gain a sense of power? Is it mental, physical, or sexual conquest? Is it a common thought that one needs to suffer in some form or another to adhere to their religious doctrine? One of my assumptions about this topic is the leaders of these unorthodox religions or cults prey on individuals who are weak-minded, misguided, desperate, and/or those who are socially or mentally inept. I also assume that the leaders of these unorthodox religions or cults are all about power and/or monetary gain; or, they themselves have mental issues. I would like to learn specifically what makes people endure the pain and or suffering of these religious cults and what drives the leaders and members.
Another assumption is that an individual has to be “weak-minded” in order to suffer unjust or inhumane practices of a certain religion or cult. I don’t think “critical thinkers” would allow themselves to be subjected to these practices. Additionally, these cult religions may fulfill a void in an individual that is so deeply rooted, that they are willing to be subjected to these practices. Lastly, I think there is some form of “brainwashing” going on. I think these charismatic leaders use the gullibility of some people to control them, and allow unjust or inhumane be done to them. I have always had an interest in why people follow these types of unorthodox religions and cults, and even more so now that I’m taking a class introducing religion. Even orthodox religions have rituals that I don’t consider unjust or inhumane, but are interesting none-the-less.
Synthesis of Sources (Literature Review)

Dole and Eichel (1985), conducted studies about cults, as well as discuss the dangers of new religions (cults) versus psychotherapy. They cite examples of practices and gives each a rating “on a five point scale for extent of destructiveness: 1, constructive; 2, neither constructive nor destructive; 3, mildly destructive; 4, destructive; 5, very destructive. “ For the purposes of this paper, I will only concentrate on practices that received a 4 or 5. These practices range from mind control, sleep deprivation and discouraging medical attention to physical or mental punishment, sexual abuse and maintaining loyalty by threating soul, life or limb.

Manca (2015) approaches the topic of alternative medicine within “Scientology” and the harm done, in relation to orthodox medicine. Scientology founder L. R. Hubbard and Scientologists he “trained” have stated that Scientology, through “Dianetics”, which is part of the church’s “system”, “cleanses the mind of harmful mental images” Hubbard, L.R. (1950). Manca has stated that” most professionals within the medical arena criticized Dianetics by calling it another “mind healing cult…”
After her escape from The People’s Temple, Deborah Layton gives a first-hand account, and personal testimony, of the practices within “The Peoples Temple”, and its leader, Jim Jones. She also chronicles her escape from the cult. She says that at the time, most Americans labeled people that were involve in cults as simply “crazy”. She also asserts that the charismatic leaders of cults or unorthodox religions simply prey “on a particular group of ignorant, emotionally needy, confused or simply naïve followers” Layton, D. (1999); an assertion not unlike my own. Her story reveals that it’s not quite that simple.
Chancellor (2000) Chronicles the history of “The Children of God” from an insiders’ perspective by seeking “to understand this unusual spiritual and human adventure by exploring the member’s private experiences” (Chancellor, 2000). This unorthodox religion teaches, amongst other things, “liberation from society’s sexual inhibitions (they have a “sexual ministry”), the “mark of the beast” is a computer chip and that the world can end in any moment.

Muesse (2011) explores the beliefs and practices of “Heaven’s Gate” from an academic viewpoint of religion. Heaven’s Gate was an unorthodox religion that taught that the world was going to end, and the only way to survive was to leave the planet via U.F.O.’s. While they were against suicide in the “traditional” sense, I find it ironic, that ultimately, they committed mass suicide.
Reflections and Discovery
My topic is important because people are needlessly manipulated, hurt, and in the most severe cases, killed, in the name of, or out of ritual, in some of these unorthodox religions or cults. I found that generally, people are initially attracted to these unorthodox religions or cults and join unwittingly for the same reasons an individual would join any other organization, that is, to be a part of something greater than themselves, a sense of belonging, security, companionship, and the list goes on and on. More specifically, most seem to be looking for refuge and meaning; refuge from a society full of materialism, racism, and hatred. Indeed, most unorthodox religions in this research teach giving up materialistic things (their money and possessions), racial harmony, and “love”. The meaning that most individuals are looking for is that of life itself and the reason for their existence; not unlike an individual that looks for these same things in orthodox religions. I suspect that in a lot of cases, these people just happened to stumble upon unorthodox religions or cults that turned out to be unjust or inhumane in the end. One of the interesting realizations that I discovered in my research is that unjust or inhumane practices such as physical, mental, or sexual abuse can take on different forms. I found other practices, such as sleep deprivation, which can be used to aid mind control, used by the leaders of The Peoples Temple, Branch Davidians and Heaven’s Gate; brainwashing, used in Scientology; and isolationism, used in Children of God and Branch Davidians. I have determined that a lot of my initial assumptions, while not necessarily incorrect, the reasoning behind them or how they may have come about were incomplete. The tools and techniques which these charismatic leaders seem to use are subtle, which lends itself to the thought “how can otherwise seemingly rash and perhaps critical thinkers fall victim to inhumane or unjust practices of unorthodox religions or cults”?
Most compelling to me was the use of sleep deprivation. It has been proven by psychologists and is common knowledge that sleep deprivation interferes with an individual’s decision making abilities and I’m lead to believe, that that’s when we can become susceptible to the coercion of others. With this knowledge I began to suspect that it doesn’t necessarily take a “weak” mind to succumb to the will of these charismatic leaders and by association, the inhumane or unjust practices of these unorthodox religions or cults. It is my opinion that even the “strongest” mind can be manipulated if the right conditions exist. In the case of The People’s Temple, leader Jim Jones had his followers plough fields six days a week from eight a.m. to six p.m., and then [italics mine] attend “agricultural meetings which often lasted until two a.m. “…their free will steadily fell away.” Layton, D. (1999)
I came to find in my research that the abuse and injustices usually can come on rapidly or subtlety. For example, in the case of Scientology it’s rapid, via “mental programming” and in the case of The Children of God it’s subtle, like the instances of sexual abuse where in a highly sexualized environment, where at first young girls were taught that “anything done in love is ok”, then escalated to the point that young women were taught to use their bodies to win converts to God, often in return for a donation”. Chancellor, J. D. (2000).

Conclusion & Summary
Unfortunately, this research leads me to conclude that some of these or other unorthodox religions may very well become the orthodox religions of the future. It is my opinion that historical precedence lends itself to this rationale; all religions started out as unorthodox sects or cults. Scientology has become widely accepted as a religion, by definition, while it is clearly a cult. I steadfastly maintain that this is and should continue to be an important topic. I learned or perhaps reaffirmed, a topic no less important than our political process can be, and oft times is greatly guided by religious influence. In my research I found that some of the charismatic leaders of these unorthodox religions or cults held control over arguably, large blocks of voters. In doing this research, I found that a portion of the questions that I had, begot more questions. I found that I would like to know the organizational structure of these unorthodox religions or cults. I would like to know about their finances in order to ascertain whether their leaders are strictly interested in financial gain. Additionally, I would like to know about some of the resources that these unorthodox religions or cults have at their disposal that may not be common knowledge. I believe this would give me a greater understanding of the leader’s intent. To have a greater understanding of the topic, I would need to explore other avenues, which are outside of the scope of this research paper.

References/Works Cited
Dole, A. A., & Eichel, S. K. D. (1985). Some New Religions Are Dangerous. Medical care, 4, 0- 37. Dole and Eichel (1985)
Manca, T. (2015). Alternative therapy, Dianetics, and Scientology. Marburg Journal of Religion, 15(1).
Layton, D. (1999). Seductive poison: A Jonestown survivor's story of life and death in the Peoples Temple. Anchor.
Chancellor, J. D. (2000). Life in the family: An oral history of The Children of God. Syracuse University Press.
Muesse, M. W. (2011). Religious Studies and" Heaven's Gate": Making the Strange Familiar and the Familiar Strange. Heaven’s Gate: Postmodernity and Popular Culture in a Suicide Group (Ashgate, 2011), 53-6.
Langone, M. D. (1995). Recovery from cults: Help for victims of psychological and spiritual abuse. WW Norton & Company.