Cults and Alternative Religions

Catalog description

Provides opportunity to study laws and policies governing cults. While the definition of a 'cult' will be a topic of initial study in the seminar, it may be conceived of loosely as a group with a charismatic leader whose members are persuaded to relinquish their self-identities and material possessions in furtherance of the group¿s goals. In addition to analyzing the definition of a ¿cult,¿ the first part of the seminar discusses the various types of cults, studying particular cults, and learning about cultic activities. The remainder covers domestic and foreign legal and policy issues generated by cults, including the legal rights of cultic organizations, anti-cult organizations, cult members, and cult members¿ families. Covers conventional religions that are conceptually similar to cults, to the degree that religious movements fall outside the mainstream.