Argument Essay Heaven s Gate - 1261 Words

Emiliano Diaz CW- 5th hour Argument Essay By definition religions can be considered cults. â€Å"Great devotion to a person, idea, object or work† (Merriam-Webster). But regardless of definitions, the media has made the word â€Å"cult† become surrounded by a negative connotation. A few famous examples of cults that have made headlines in America, especially in the 1980’s and 90’s include The Manson Family, Heaven’s Gate, and Scientology. Only Scientology is still active today and they have 25,000 followers in the US (Metzger). The former was made famous for the killing of Sharon Tate and four other people in 1969. It sparked instant media attention due to Tate’s popularity as an actress. Present day, Charles Manson is in jail serving life and†¦show more content†¦An argument can be made that cults are seen as a religious construct, but cults are dangerous and need to be contained. Cults are distinct from the major and minor religions people follow and worship. These group s cause horrible harm to their members, and they get away with it with the excuse of religious freedom. But they shouldn’t be protected under the amendment. Not all harm by cults is physical, mental and emotional abuse is just as harming to a person. Being slapped or punched leaves a mark on your body for a day or two, but an insult can become tattooed on your mind. In the documentary Join Us from award winning director, Ondi Timoner, some of the members from the cult Mountain Rock Church broke off and sought counseling. At The Wellspring Resort- the only rehab center for ex-cult members in the US- they opened up about their experiences and desire to recover from the abuse they endured (Join Us). Some of the members were there for about ten to fifteen years and didn’t know how to function without someone telling them exactly what to do (Join Us). Deborah Melz, the first one to speak up on her desire to leave, details times when The Reverend would corner the kids and beat them just for being loud. Watching her kids become terrified and depressed she sought help for her family (Join Us). Although her husband, who’d been withShow MoreRelatedSociological Approach to the Study of Religion1673 Words   |  7 PagesSociology is one such approach that this essay will be looking at through its founding fathers Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx. Sociology in general looks at people’s dynamics and explains a group’s influence. It demonstrates how religious belief and practices have become so important over time and emphasises their role and significance throughout. Each of these three sociologists has a link to these ideas which will be the main thesis in this essay. 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