U/CL Pathfinders

 

CULTS

 

DEFINITION: “The original concept of the cult was religious.  Groups grew out of the thoughts and attitudes of the 1960’s frequently had a religious philosophy and were often started by religious leaders.  These groups may also have social or political reform as their goal, possibly even including terrorism.” (Encyclopedia of Mental Health)

 

NARROW THE TOPIC:

·         Do cults use “brainwashing” techniques? 

·         Is deprogramming successful for former cult members?  

·         What do cults offer people that traditional religions do not?

·         Discuss specific cults such as the Heaven’s Gate (Marshall Applewhite),  the Republic of Texas, Branch Davidians, the Unification  Church (Rev. Sun Yung Moon),  Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard),   the Hare Krishna Movement, Aum Shinrikyo (Japanese), Family (David Berg), Peoples’ Temple (Jim Jones), Order of the Solar Temple (Switzerland, Luc Joret), etc.

·         How should the FBI and police handle cult standoffs?

·         What is the effect of cults use of the internet?

 

LINCC SUBJECT HEADINGS: Cults; Sects; Brainwashing

 

SPECIALIZED SOURCES SHELVED IN THE REFERENCE COLLECTION:

Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion	REF BL 65 .P7 E53 2007
Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics  "New Religious Movements and Cults"	REF BL 2528 .D58 2003
Encyclopedia of Community	REF HN 756 .E53 2003
Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience	REF Q 172.5 .P77 S54 2002
World of Criminal Justice	REF HV 7411 .W67 2002

 

AVAILABLE AT THE REFERENCE DESK:

Opposing Viewpoints: Extremist Groups (also available in the Opposing Viewpoints Database)

Contemporary Social Issues: Cults

Contemporary Issues Companion: White Supremacists  (also available in the Opposing Viewpoints Database)

At Issue: White Supremacy Groups; Are Cults a Serious Threat? (also available in the Opposing Viewpoints Database)

 

ELECTRONIC INDEXES:

Academic Search Complete

Expanded Academic ASAP

OmniFile Full Text Mega

Social ScienceFull Text

Issues & Controversies

CQ Researcher

 

FULL-TEXT NEWSPAPERS:  America's Newspapers

 

INTERNET SITES:

New Religious Movements:	http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/profiles.html
Online Dictionary of Mental Health	http://www.human-nature.com/odmh/cults.html
Religious Tolerance	http://www.religioustolerance.org/
International Cultic Studies Association	http://www.csj.org/
University of Virginia: Religious Movements: Cults	http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/

 

CITING YOUR SOURCES:

University/College Library Citing Electronic Resources

http://ucl.broward.edu/Cite_Your_Sources.htm

NL Rev 4/08 |dc| ck2

 

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URL: http://ucl.broward.edu/pathtopics.htm

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