Cults

Wayne Petherick, Bond University

Article comments

Interim status: Citation only.

Petherick, W. (2009). Cults. In W. Petherick & C. Ferguson (Eds.), Crime and deviance (pp. 135-166). Alaska, United States: Forensic Press LLC.

2009 HERDC submission. FoR code: 1602

© Copyright 2009, Forensic Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Extract:
Cults are a universal phenomenon, and can likely be found in some form in every country around the world. Haworth (1997) suggests that there are 500 cult groups operating in the UK and other parts of Europe, meaning that on a per capita basis, the problem is the same as in the USA. Langone (undated) suggests that cult educational organizations have compiled lists of more than 2,000 groups with perhaps 1,000 of these groups actually meeting the criteria of cults, Furthermore, as an indication of their global nature, he suggests that grassroots cult educational organizations exist in more than 15 countries (with these organizations arising to deal with the cult problem).