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EIDOS 2020-2021 SEMINAR PAPER “THE CHURCH OF EUTHANASIA - MISINTERPRETED OR MISORGANIZED?” Written by Sibin K Daniel & Keith Fernandes y Modern English terminology, cults are The term cult never fails to bring out this Forbidden Bconsidered to be social groups with unusual Fruit effect inside the mind of every individual that social/religious practices. The word cult has is drawn towards it, like moths collectively drawn huge pejorative connotations attached to it and is towards a flame, from voluntarily participating in generally considered to be a group of members what would normally be perceived as obscure, an indulging in self-harming rituals and practices. aberration that is usually debarred from the general Through this paper, we would like to explore cults society. Derived from the Latin word cultus, it with much more depth and provide explanations initially referred solely to gatherings of religious as to why an individual, despite being aware of worship or adoration and is conventionally the harmful kinds of behaviour prevalent within considered to be particular systems and symbols the group, might choose to join or continue to be of religious practices. But as times and layouts part of a cultic group. We’ll try to bust down some change and new features and problems arise of the negative stereotypes by taking a holistic simultaneously, any group or organization that approach towards the topic, trying to view them stands out from the rest, whether on the grounds of under a microscopic lens. Along with this, we deviance or plain uncanniness can be labeled as a would also like to explore more about the Church cult today. The word cult has thus, almost always of Euthanasia which is considered to be a cult, been associated with negative connotations, mainly and explain various doctrines preached within this because they are considered as barriers to healthy cult. Further, we would compare this cultic group development and the progress of society and also with other mainstream religions and conduct an due to the manner that the media portrays them. in-depth analysis of the same. It is hoped that we Due to its immense influence and firm control can thoroughly comprehend the idea of cults and over us, we choose to place our faith in the media their influence over us, while also changing our almost blindly, and hence, we naturally assume that perspective towards it, looking at the topic from members of cults are rebellious individuals, often every angle. on the lookout for ways to destroy society and all 158 2020:2020: RETHINKINGRETHINKING STRUCTURESTRUCTURE EIDOS 2020-2021 that it stands for, by bringing down its pillars and The leaders of cults are generally very authoritative shaking it to its very core. But, when we choose to and charismatic in nature, making their followers peer closely, we are embraced with a multitude of believe that they are fighting for the right cause, surprising elements, and these leave us confused, and through all the pain and negligence that these yet, we always find ourselves coming back for individuals may have faced in their lives, their more. leader appears as a helpful guide to them, pulling them out of the pits of darkness into the vibrant The human psyche, by itself, is a ginormous world and colorful light of never-ending happiness, the of its own. Its complicated structure and layers, end to their misery and suffering. Generally being having very meticulously been put together, makes part of marginalized groups, these individuals are it extremely hard to understand human beings and made to cut ties with the outside world and happily civilization as a whole. We are often made to put embrace the new families and lifestyles that they everything around us in little boxes with clear are introduced to, without making any questions and precise labels attached to them, so as to make or demands. With active and rigorous sessions of sense out of them. As confusing and out of place brain-washing their followers to gain profit and as it seems, we believe in this sense of collective fulfill their own agendas, these individuals are consciousness, and hence, like a herd of sheep, we taken advantage of and made to seal their mouths, naturally find ourselves being drawn towards these both from asking questions and from seeking ‘pens’ in which we happily lock ourselves into, answers from the outside world, making the cult feeling this immense feeling of pride of being in a twisted version of what could be considered as a unison with everyone around us. Yet, we still find wonderland, which they cannot and will never be many individuals that do not necessarily meet the able to get out of. They are so effectively misguided required expectations or manage to see eye to eye with preaching and chantings, added to repeated with them. Like every other person, naturally, these feelings of shame and guilt being imposed onto individuals also try to find ways to look out for and them, that they don’t dare to even consider stepping make groups inclusive to themselves, while also out of line. Cult leaders manage to gain full control trying to stand up for what they feel is right and over their followers, while also keeping themselves making their existence valid to a society that is so out of the picture, to not be held accountable for oblivious of them. Because of their very compulsive any reason if the cults agendas happen to be taken and mysterious energies, these groups are greatly down or exposed. feared and hence, collective hate and repulsion is thrown onto them, making them outcasts in our But despite being aware of the harms of joining any societies, a new label that society deems worthy particular cult group and the fatal repercussions of to such individuals, considered so peculiar and various actions they have to perform as a ritual to different from the rest. remain a part of this group, why do individuals 159 2020:2020: RETHINKINGRETHINKING STRUCTURESTRUCTURE EIDOS 2020-2021 join it and why do they find it difficult to leave with the cult leader, and even love interests with the group once they join the same? In their work, another cult member, made it difficult for the M. Rousseleta, O. Duretete, J.B. Hardouin, M. individuals to leave the group. Thus the impact of Grall-Bronnec, ‘Cult membership: What factors family and other loved/ admired ones has a huge contribute to joining or leaving?’ (2017), research impact on the child’s decision of joining or not was conducted on individuals who were former cult joining a social group. In the case of the Church of members. The main motive behind the research, Euthanasia as a cultic group, one can argue that if as the researchers argue, was to understand the the parents actively participate in various activities vulnerable factors involved in the commitment related to the protection of the environment, the towards the group and also during the process of chances of child modeling the same behavior is retention from the group. Albert Bandura’s Social high. As a result of this, the children might look- Learning Theory (1986) is one of the theories used up for various methods through which they can to explain the reason behind an individual joining or ensure regular participation in environmental staying in a cultic group. Bandura’s Social Learning protection events/ actions, as a result of which the Theory emphasizes the importance of observing chances of them joining the cultic group increases modeling and imitating behaviors of others. The considerably as well. The need for affiliation and a theory focuses on the interaction of environmental sense of belongingness with a group of people who and cognitive factors with each other and thus share the same ideological values and cognitive influencing human behavior. Applying this theory processes increases the chances of the behavior to the given topic, Rousseleta, et.al argues that the being modeled. individual as a child is influenced by the social actions of their parents/ other close neighbors or Yet another psychological factor contributing to other individuals whom these children admire. their action of remaining within a cultic group is due Through the constant observation of the actions to a constant dispute between various contradicting of someone close to them, they try imitating/ and colliding aspects like the positive reinforcement modeling the same in the latter stages of their life gained from being a cult member, anxiety from the and as a result of this, these individuals eventually possibility of being disqualified from membership, become a member of this cultic group. The need and rejection or even abuse resulting from the for affiliation and sense of belongingness results in constraints imposed by the cult (Rousseleta, them copying the behavior of their loved ones and et.al, 2017 p. 4). This can be explained using the as a result of which, they become a participant of theory given by Leon Festinger (1857) - Theory of this group intentionally or unintentionally. When Cognitive Dissonance, which suggests that humans interviewed about why these former cult members as individuals make a constant attempt to avoid decided to stay in the cult despite being aware of any kind of disharmony or dissonance caused due the repercussions of their actions, the presence of to the contradictory beliefs and when there is an family members, other loved ones, relationship inconsistency in the feelings/motivations, change 160 2020: RETHINKING STRUCTURE EIDOS 2020-2021 in the pattern of belief is required which will help Émile Durkheim greatly influenced the discipline them in resolving the dissonance. One of the factors and its development further, by putting forth the which result in dissonance within an individual is concept of anomie, but it was only decades later due to the process of decision making, wherein that the idea was refurbished and put through a an individual is supposed to choose between two fine sieve, which led to the development of the factors/ stimulus with boon and bane of its own.