  Spiritual
This week: Cults in America Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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cult [kuhlt]
noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology: a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
Growing up, "cult" was a word I heard often. Cults were the topic of many television shows like Donahue, and groups like Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, and the Branch Davidians exacerbated the nation's fascination, but what is a cult, exactly?
I was a little surprised by dictionary.com's definitions of a cult (above). They're vague and could apply to every religious organization on the planet. I prefer The World English Dictionary's description: "a quasi-religious organization using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents." Ah, much better.
The one thing successful cults have in common is a charismatic leader who garners control over a group of people by employing various manipulative techniques. He or she then uses this power to seduce members into doing his or her bidding. David Koresh, Charles Manson, Marshall Applewhite, Jim Jones--all these men fit the description, but somewhere along the way people's definition of what a "cult" is has been skewed to mean any religious group whose beliefs differ from mine.
Cults are interesting. We read about them and think, How could all those people have been so blind? I'd never have fallen for that, but studies like the Stanford Prison Experiment say otherwise.
What do you think? Are you susceptible to manipulative control tactics? If you found yourself in an extraordinary situation like the men who participated in Phil Zimbardo's prison experiment, would you lose your humanity? Reply with your perspective on this topic and I'll share your thoughts in next month's newsletter.
Thank you for reading.
“Among [Applewhite's] other teachings was the classic cult specialty of developing disdain for anyone outside of the Heaven's Gate commune. Applewhite flattered his would-be alien flock that they were an elite elect far superior to the non-initiated humans whom he considered to be deluded zombies.[...]Applewhite effectively fed his paranoid persecution complex to his followers to ensure blind loyalty to the group and himself while fostering alienation from the mundane world. This paradoxical superior/fearful attitude towards “Them” (i.e., anyone who is not one of “Us”) is one of the simplest means of hooking even the most skeptical curiosity seeker into the solipsistic netherworld of a [mentally unbalanced] leader's insecure and threatened worldview.” ~ Zeena Schreck, Straight to Hell: 20th Century Suicides |
I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. Please do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
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My Muslim friend I have met on Writing.com. Who has taught me about Islam.
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The following is in response to "Just Breathe" :
Angelica- House Florent B & W  writes, "My answer for your question is two words: Video games. That's how I can recharge myself to keep my energy. (Has to be multi-player.)  Loved your newsletter by the way!" I like a good video game every now and then myself. Thank you for reading! I'm glad you liked it. 
terri26roe writes, "This newsletter really made me think.. For the last couple of weeks I have been feeling drained and not in control. But after reading this I realized that I have to help myself first and get back to wanting to help others. Lately I have realized that writing has really helped me to understand why I've been so drained. Its helped me to realize that I cannot control everything that happens in my life." I'm glad you found the newsletter helpful and hope you took time just for yourself. Did you do something relaxing or fun? 
Sssssh! I'm not really here.  writes, "Shannon, I couldn't agree with you, more. We all need time to zone-in on our own needs that may have been neglected or at least postponed for too long. I love bike riding, having the air in my face and a feeling of complete freedom from phones, messages and requests. However, I keep my bike in Florida when I'm up North. Here, I get inspired by the nature around me, my garden and photography. My son got me a new digital camera for Mother's Day. I've been blessed with a robin's nest on my front porch, which I can see into from my bedroom window. I've taken pictures of blue eggs through fledglings leaving the nest. All five looked healthy and happy. They now reside in a tree in a wooded area of my yard. It was a wonderful project and gave me such inner peace. Also, I need to have some hefty physical exertion after doing hours of reviews or writing, thus I visit my weight machine for a while. It gives me a renewed strength to tackle other projects. Later, I can go back to writing, refreshed and spiritually uplifted. Great Newsletter, Shannon. I'm sorry about all the recent losses within your life-circle. I thank you for being such a wonderful, caring and devoted nurse. People don't understand how much stress that profession exerts on a person. Good nurses are a true blessing to us all. It is wise that you see the need to unwind and rejuvenate by taking time for your own needs. We are no help to others if we are totally depleted of energy. Thank you for highlighting my poem in this Spiritual Newsletter. " Ah, what a beautiful response, WW! Sounds like you have a wonderful, sensitive son. What a fantastic gift! Thank you for your kind words, and featuring your poem was my pleasure. 
Quick-Quill  writes, "My me-time is writing. My husband travels often and when he's gone I spend the evenings writing or watching TV/movies. I critique as I would a book. I learn visually in an hour or two what the writer was trying to tell the 'reader.' I am very involved in church activities. After reading the responses from your last newsletter I find it sad in a way that people are deciding what God will accept from them. God has rules and guidelines. People distort them, but they are there. No matter how people WANT to make them fit their lifestyle or comfort zone, God says to be with me you must do this and that. He isn't going to allow sin into heaven no matter how people justify it here." Writing, watching movies, participating in church functions ... all very therapeutic, soul-recharging activities. As far as member responses in the last newsletter, the feedback was in response to what I'd posed to the readers a month before: "I like to think of writing.com as a judgment-free zone, so let's discuss it. What spiritual practice and/or religion do you call your own? Tell us what you love about it and why and I'll share your thoughts in next month's newsletter." Sharing such personal things renders us vulnerable, and exposing our vulnerability to others takes courage and should be honored. I want people to feel safe to openly express themselves here, not fearful of reproach and rebuke. Thank you for reading and commenting and for your continued support of this newsletter. 
Tirolith  writes, "You have an interesting story. I myself would like to write stories that would help others mainly people who are aging and need encouragement to improve their lifestyle. I have just joined and trying to work out how and what to do and start. Nice work." Thank you, and welcome to writing.com! Best of luck with your writing. 
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Spiritual: July 09, 2014 Issue [#6402]
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