Is it 'cult' or 'new religion'?
By loan Herman
Of the Emrrjld
This is the last in four-part series examing the Unifica
tion Church and other cults. In this installment Joan Her
man otters her analysis ot some common and uncommon
religious groups
The more generous-minded observer calls them "new
religions," the less generous, "cults." Yet history proves the
new religious movement is not really so new, after all.
From the lewish Zealots of 73 A.D. protecting their
home of Masada against the Roman legions, to the 19th cen
tury Mormons pioneering what is today one of America's
fastest growing religions, the emergence of new religions
What is condemned as a 'cult' at its
outset often becomes an established
and respected 'religion' in time.
seems as perennial as the four seasons.
The United States is often seen as an especially fertile
bed for new religions. From early childhood, Americans are
taught that their nation was founded upon the principle of
religious freedom. History lessons often refer to the
pioneering Puritans seeking a land where they could wor
ship freely without castigation from the Church of England.
And what is condemned as a "cult" at its outset often
becomes an established and respected "religion" in time.
Even the Western world's most popular religion today —
Christianity — was seen as a cult by the orthodox Romans.
This distinction between "religions" and "cults" is
defined by society. Organized religions are perceived by
citizens as upholding traditional, societal values. Yet cults
tend to attract society's outcasts who hope to usher in a
new, better world.
Historians and sociologists believe cults arise during
times of extreme societal turmoil. Cults flourished directly
alter the French Revolution and England's industrial revolu
tion, as well as during America's westward movement.
Because of this, the Western United States continues to
have the highest percentage of cult followers.
Some sociologists believe cults peaked during the
tumultous Vietnam and post-Vietnam era of the 1%0s and
1970s. Others say the nuclear war threat in the 1980s will
spawn even more cults.
Either way, historians and sociologists agree cults will
thrive as long as society's core institutions — the family,
organized religion and public education — continue to
disenchant citizens.
Today about three million Americans are involved in
3,000 religious and nonreligious cults across the nation.
Cults attract literally all ages, races and economic classes —
not to mention interests.
There are cults for the spiritually confused, such as the
Unification Church and the Children of God, cults for the
drug addicts and alcoholics, such as Synanon and cults for
those wanting self-enlightenment, such as EST and
Lifespring.
In Eugene's own backyard, the Bhagwan Shree Ra
jneesh and his band of loyal red-robed followers are thriv
ing against the wishes of many Oregonians. On campus, the
fundamentalist Christian group, Maranatha Ministries,
preaches almost daily to students outside the EMU.
Nationally, Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church
has attracted more attention than other cults, yet it is only
one of many religious "fringe'' movements in the United
States. Some of the more popular ones include:
The Church of Scientology or Dianetics, founded by
science fiction writer-philosopher-engineer L. Ron Hubbard
in 1952, weaves Christian and Eastern philosophy together.
Its central philosophy is that people must release all
negative thoughts and feelings — or "engrams" — by using
an "E-meter" if they hope to achieve their potential. As one
of America's largest cults, Scientology boasts about 600,000
followers. Like the "Moonies," Scientology has been accus
ed of brainwashing and deceiving followers.
Children of God was founded in the late 1960s by David
"Moses" Berg, 63, who urged his street disciples to spread
God's word on street corners and college campuses. Berg's
religion centers around his belief that "Doomsday" is just
around the corner. His alleged preoccupation with sex was
evidenced in his "Moletters," which often urged his female
followers to use their feminine "charms" to lure men into
the organization.
There were also accusations that Berg forced his
followers to search garbage cans for food and clothing and
forced fhem to memorize Bible verses before they could eat
or sleep. Berg fled the United States in 1974 and shortly
thereafter, the New York attorney general exposed Berg's
questionable actions in a report. Despite the report.
Children of God has about 10,000 members worldwide.
Synanon began in 1958 as a revolutionary drug and
alcohol treatment center in California and immediately
drew addicts and alcoholics to its doors. After curing most
of its first clients, the therapeutic center grew to a $20
million business for founder Charles Dederich. After
membership peaked at 1,700 in 1973, Dederich began mak
ing unusual demands on his clients. He forced all men, in
UNIFICATION
CHURCH
eluding himself, to have vasectomies and women to have
abortions. He also ordered 230 couples to divorce and swap
spouses, which they did. Today, Synanon claims a
900-member following.
Hare Krishna followers epitomize the counterculture
'60s generation, with their shaved heads, long robes, and
Hindu chants. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's cult
grew out of 16th century Indian sects. Bhaktivedanta
brought the sect, unpopular in India, to the United Stales in
1965, promising his followers an alternative of inner peace.
Hare Krishnas, as members are called, usually live on
large communal farms or in older urban homes and chant
their "mantra” as many as 1,728 times a day. When
Bhaktivedanta died in 1977, about 10,000 Hare Krishnas and
a $16 million a year income from book sales comprised his
group. Members are notorious for aggressively soliciting
funds in large airports and city streets across the nation.
Like some other cults, this one has been accused of brain
washing its members.
New religious movements have undoubtedly garnered
more negative publicity than positive, giving the word
"cult” pejorative overtones.
Panelists say Solomon Amendment useless
Photo by Melissa Martin
Dave Fidanque of the ACLU spoke to an audience of 35 at a
"brown bag forum" Wednesday.
f
• >
poppi s
Kalamarakia Krassata
Squid cooked in wine, garlic, and herbs
served with rice and dinner vegetable,
GREEK PEASANT FOOD,
WINE-AND SPIRITI
.675 East 13th
’ Closed Tuesday
343-0846
11:30 am-10:30 pm weekday*. 9 am-10 30 pm weekend*
By Melissa Martin
Of the Emerald
Panelists bounced the Solomon Amendment ball
back and forth in the EMU Forum Wednesday noon
and scored on one point — the amendment is having
little impact on enforcing overall registration.
The Solomon Amendment, which requires all
students receiving federal financial aid to certify draft
registration, was the topic for the first Brown Bag
Forum sponsored by ASUO and Campus Interfaith
Ministries.
"If we go to war tomorrow, there's going to be an
incredible amount of people who will not get their
induction notifications," because people have not
sent in change of address notification forms, Dave
Fidanque of the American Civil Liberties Union told
the audience of more than 35.
)im O'Fallon of the law school said opponents ac
cuse Solomon of punishing people who are not
criminals. Congress, amendment proponents, call it
inducement, not punishment, he said.
"I don't think the prospects of winning this in
the courts is very good," O'Fallon said. "I find it very
unlikely they will strike this down as Bill of
Attainder."
Two more issues in the amendment, called
Solomon I and Solomon II, are entering the
challenge, Fidanque said. Both issues deal with draft
registration and employment situations.
"Solomon II is aimed at economically disadvan
taged people even more than Solomon I," Fidanque
said. '
“Selective Service will have unbelievable pro
blems in enforcing the registration.
“People who are not complying with the law are
being virtually ignored by the government because
there's so many of them it is impossible to deal with
them all," Fidanque said.
The Solomon Amendment is "direct discrimina
tion" against men, said Julie Sinai of Students Op
posing Registration and the Draft.
The Reagan administration announced the
Solomon decision in the summer out of fear of stu
dent activists, she said.
In the state of Oregon 98 percent of the students
complied with the new law. At the University, one
woman between the ages of 30 and 45, refused to
comply, Vignoul said.
"People are registering because it is not in their
career goals at 18 to 21 to go to the state institution,"
said Mike Stoops of the Northwest Draft Counseling
Center.
The State System of Higher Education will audit
the University in December to make sure all the
students who signed the form actually registered, ac
cording to Ed Vignoul, financial aid director.
Some 60 percent of the students would have felt
the crunch of a $22 million loss if the University did
not comply with the new law, Vignoul said.
The initial implementing costs for the new law
were small, Vignoul said — 6,000 stamps to mail
students the signature forms over the summer.
Jeffrey A. Morey, O.D.
David A. Wolf, O.D.
Rainbow
New 30 Day
Extended Wear
Soft Lenses
YOUR UNIVERSITY AREA CONTACT LENS SPECIALIST
766 E. 13th St. 343-3333
J