Workshop 20: Cults: Lose Your Will, Lose Your Soul Part of Building Bridges In This Section Introduction From Building Bridges When theology erodes and organization crumbles, when the institutional framework of religion begins to break up, the search for a direct experience whic... Spiritual Preparation From Building Bridges Not all cult practices are dangerous, and not all cults degenerate to tragic ends. Welcoming and Entering From Building Bridges Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, What Do Cults and Religions Do?... Opening From Building Bridges Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 1, Wha... Activity 1: Story - Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple From Building Bridges Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple" Handout 2, Behavior of Abusers Newsprint, markers, and tape... Activity 2: Unitarian Universalism - CUUlt? From Building Bridges Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, What Makes a Cult? Optional: Cults/Religions poster the group created in the Welcoming and... Activity 3: Help! A Friend Is in Trouble! From Building Bridges Activity time: 15 minutes Description of Activity Participants consider what might make a cult attractive to a prospective member and how they might... Closing From Building Bridges Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Optional: Newsprint,... Leader Reflection and Planning From Building Bridges This workshop dealt with slippery subject matter: Discussion of cults can reveal people's prejudices, and the word "cult" is used in so many ways, it ca... Faith In Action: Film and Discussion From Building Bridges Materials for Activity The PBS American Experience documentary Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, either on DVD or online at... Alternate Activity 1: Cliques From Building Bridges Activity time: 75 minutes Materials for Activity One episode of the MTV program If You Really Knew Me Computer with Internet access, projector, and scre... Taking It Home: Cults: Lose Your Will, Lose Your Soul From Building Bridges When theology erodes and organization crumbles, when the institutional framework of religion begins to break up, the search for a direct experience whic... Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple From Building Bridges The Reverend James Jones was a charismatic young man of 24 when he founded the Peoples Temple in Indianapolis in 1955. He preached racial equality, and,... Handout 1: What Makes a Cult From Building Bridges The information in this handout was compiled from the International Cultic Studies Association, particularly the articleRobert Jay Lifton; and "Common... Handout 2: Behavior of Abusers From Building Bridges Abusers can be hard to identify because at first they can be completely charming.... Leader Resource 1: What Do Cults and Religions Do From Building Bridges Recreate the image of the poster on newsprint. Cut the phrases into slips of paper.... Leader Resource 2: Cults Background From Building Bridges The first dictionary definition of "cult" is "a system of religious worship." In other words, by the first definition, all religions everywhere are cults. Find Out More about Workshop 20: Cults From Building Bridges The Ross Institute Internet Archives offers links to many articles on Jones, the Peoples Temple, and the tragedy in British Guyana. PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Building Bridges NEXT: Introduction Download all of Building Bridges (Word) to edit or print.