Intro Unit 1 Test Review Flashcards
primary sources
-created at the time of the event or very soon after
-Often rare or one of a kind
-First evidence of something happening or being thought or said.
-Ex. diaries, journals, memoirs
secondary sources
-Not direct accounts of events (goes through editing)
-Helps us understanding primary sources
-Ex. articles
bias
-A prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair
-Not always deliberate
types of bias
selection and omission (editor)
Placement of google search hits
By headline
By photos, captions, and camera angles (flattering)
Use of names, titles, word choice, and tone
Statistics and crowd counts
By source control (ex. Government, turkey, china)
Timeline: AD, BC, CE, BCE
BCE - before common era
BC - before christ
C.E - common era
A.D - the year of our lord
religious impulse
The universal urge to believe in something beyond ourselves
atheist/agnostic
-Agnostic: person who doubts that humankind can know the existence of a god and the possible existence of anything beyond life
-Atheist: one who holds that no God exists
religious pluralism
A positive attitude toward the existence of many faiths in one society
secular/sacred
-Secular: concerned with or belonging the material world
-Theology: the study of a religion, especially religions with a belief in god
pagan
A non-mainstream religious belief
who joins a cult
-People aged 19-25
-People who are vulnerable, isolated, going through a crisis or big change, naive, gullible, wanting meaning
-Ex. disillusioned celebrities may be targeted for their money
characteristics of cults
- Isolation from friends and family
- Some members give their entire salary, their house, and live savings (given small allowance and resources)
- 100% dedication
- Use of intimidation and fear
- Focus inward (everything goes towards the cult, not helping the community)
- Simple - everything is either good or bad (absolutes)
- Cults say the world is a bad place and needs to be destroyed before it can be fixed
- Members are made to feel guilty. They’re humiliated and taught to hate themselves
Syncretism/Millenarism
-Syncretism: taking ideas from existing religions
-Millenarism or apocalypse: cults talk about the world ending
cults
a system of belief regarded as strange or sinister
simsons show characteristics of cult
-difficult to leave
-advertised using free gifts
-brainwashing
-poor quality of life (ex. food)
-chants and rituals
-“better life, utter contempt”
scientology documentary
Isolation from Friends and Family – The documentary highlights how members are encouraged (or forced) to cut ties with non-Scientologists, including family and friends who question the church. “Disconnection” is a policy used to separate members from “suppressive persons.”
Financial Exploitation – Many members give their entire salary, houses, and life savings, receiving only a small allowance and limited resources in return. The Sea Org, for example, pays its members mere pennies per hour while demanding absolute devotion.
100% Dedication – Members are expected to commit fully to Scientology, often working extreme hours in service of the organization with no personal time or freedom.
Use of Intimidation and Fear – The church is known for aggressively targeting critics and former members through lawsuits, harassment, and surveillance. The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) plays a role in monitoring and intimidating perceived enemies.
Focus Inward (Everything Serves the Cult, Not the Community) – All resources and energy are directed toward Scientology’s growth and influence rather than community service or charitable efforts. The documentary points out the organization’s emphasis on acquiring wealth and power.
Black-and-White Thinking (Everything is Either Good or Bad) – Members are taught that Scientology holds the only path to salvation, while critics and defectors are “suppressive persons” who must be opposed at all costs.
Doomsday Mentality (The World Must Be Destroyed Before It Can Be Fixed) – While not explicitly apocalyptic, Scientology portrays the outside world as corrupt, suppressive, and dangerous, reinforcing the idea that only Scientology can “clear the planet” and save humanity.
Induced Guilt and Self-Hatred – Members are pressured to undergo auditing, where they confess their “sins” and are often made to feel guilty or ashamed. Public shaming and forced confessions are common methods of control.
