World Religions Week 28

Question 1

Cults are…

Answer 1

Secret societies of people who have cut themselves off from modern societies

Question 2

Members usually…

Answer 2

• have a shared belief system
• sustain high level of social cohesiveness
• strongly influenced by groups behavioral norms
• charismatic (divine) power to group or leaders

Question 3

Usually have leaders that…

Answer 3

Highly influential who inspire people to follow them

Question 4

Usually claim knowledge that…

Answer 4

Is esoteric and lost, repressed, or newly found

Question 5

Members are willing to fully commit themselves because…

Answer 5

The secret knowledge usually meets desire or need and hope of fulfillment is promised

Question 6

Cults share much with being compared to…

Answer 6

Sectarian forms of religion

Question 7

Just like different denominations, cults lie on a ______

Answer 7

Spectrum

Question 8

However cults are usually…

Answer 8

Surprisingly similar in their methods and means

Question 9

Sometimes mistaken as…

Answer 9

Sects of Christianity

Question 10

Will keep some aspects of the church but…

Answer 10

Implement different beliefs and practices to distinguish themselves

Question 11

Opposite of established faith, cults offer…

Answer 11

Surer, shorter, and swifter way to salvation

Question 12

How cults get people to commit themselves is…

Answer 12

Offer empty promises that appeal to what humans want

Question 13

Groups usually emerge…

Answer 13

When values of society considered inadequate to for addressing major issues

Question 14

Usually built of those…

Answer 14

Who are desperate to meet their spiritual needs

Question 15

Cults members often…

Answer 15

Suspend rational thought and follow any orders of leader, even murder or suicide

Question 16

Cults signify a more ________ mode of religious expression

Answer 16

Unconventional

Question 17

They display no intention of….but instead focus on…

Answer 17

Broadening society, spiritual development of their members

Question 18

Some debate on whether cults should…

Answer 18

Be considered a new religious movement

Question 19

New religion movements often grow out of…

Answer 19

desire to satisfy spiritual needs of humanity that have importance independent of other needs

Question 20

New religious movements have the potential…

Answer 20

to reveal significant things about societies in which they emerge

Question 21

Two examples of cults later classified as religious movements were…

Answer 21

Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventists

Question 22

One of largest anti-cult groups is…

Answer 22

International Cultic Studies Association

Question 23

Some common features include…

Answer 23

• us vs. them mentality
• mind-altering practices (meditation, chanting)
• preoccupied with making money and bringing new members in
• active members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time

Question 24

Highest rates of cult activity are…

Answer 24

in California and surrounding states (New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona)

Question 25

________ and _______ ______ both play significant role within cults

Answer 25

members and social structure

Question 26

Members are often exalted over…

Answer 26

those who are not in the cult

Question 27

_____ always plays noteworthy part in keeping control of members

Answer 27

isolation

Question 28

______ is redefined as being the cult members

Answer 28

family

Question 29

Cults ultimately about grasping and preserving _______ and __________ __________

Answer 29

absolute and unconditional control