This article may challenge your existing views about what constitutes a ‘cult’. James Beckford explores some of the stereotypical characteristics of ‘cults’, and shows that many of these features are also found in ‘normal’ religions, while some so-called ‘cults’ display very few of them. He discusses why sociologists are often reluctant to use the term ‘cult’, preferring concepts such as ‘new religious movement’. He goes on to explore the origins of the public concerns about ‘cults’, suggesting that many stem from the fact that ‘cult’ members are often seen as showing a collective disregard for certain ‘normal’ aspects of life — in other words, they are collectively seen as ‘deviant’. In an interesting discussion on what ‘cults’ might have to do to gain public acceptability, James Beckford shows that such changes would not, in fact, be linked to ‘religion’ at all. A thorough knowledge and understanding of the material in this article would enable you to show very good evaluation skills in a discussion about ‘cults’ — and, indeed, ‘normal’ religions.
‘Cult’ is the popular term for a religious movement that is not only controversial but also reviled. Many journalists, novelists and programme makers have given graphic accounts of the controversies surrounding movements such as the Branch Davidians, Aum Shinrikyo, the Solar Temple and Heaven’s Gate (Partridge 2004). Each of these movements has been responsible for loss of life among its members or opponents.
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