1. Cults
• Most religions begin as a cult, and
slowly become a “religion” as they
get more respect from the world.

2. Are cults bad?
• Most cults are not harmful. They are peaceful
and not dangerous
• But many people are afraid of cults, because a
cult is usually new and different from normal.

3. Characteristics
of Cults
• 1. A guru becomes worshipped instead
of the ways of the religion
• 2. It tries to change peoples ways of thinking
and brainwash them.
• 3. They take people’s money and abuse them
sexually.

4. The Aum Shinrikyo
sect is a Japanese
cult based on
Buddhism, Hinduism
and Christianity.
The leader was
Asahara Shoko.
He told people he
was Christ
reincarnated.

6. Tokyo Sarin Gas
Attacks
On March 20, 1995
Aum Shinrikyo
members released
sarin gas on Tokyo
subways.
13 people died and 50
were injured.
They wanted to cause
an armageddon.

7. Katsuya Takahashi
The last criminal
from the Aum
shinrikyo attack
was arrested in
Japan a few
weeks ago.

8. David Koresh
and the Branch
Davidians
David Koresh
convinced
people he was
the second
coming of
Jesus.

9. Waco, Texas
The American
government attacked
the Branch Davidian
community in 1993.
There was a gunfight
and fire.
At least 85 people
died.

10. Heaven’s Gate Cult
In 1997, 39 cult members
committed suicide.
They lived an ascetic life.
They wanted to go to
a spaceship in a
comet.

11. Group Suicide
They all killed themselves by drinking poison.
They all had a purple cloth on their face and
wore the same sneakers.

12. Jonestown
900 people died by
drinking a poison
sugar drink.

13. Diamond Mountain

14. Ian Thorson And Christie McNally

15. Living in a cave

16. Dehydration

17. Zen Master Rama