American Cults and Scientology

This exhibit explores classic American cults and identifies the common features between the Branch Davidian, People's Temple, and Heaven's Gate cults to create a definition for what a cult. The four main characteristics of a cult include religious motivations, extremist acts and behaviors, a lifelong commitment by the cult members, and the promise of a better life. By combining these characteristics, a cult can be identified as an organization where people are promised a better life and given religious motivations to join it for their entire lives, committing extremist behaviors and acts. This definition provides clear guidelines for what a cult is, and what it is not, which can be used to determine what organizations are cults. This exhibit also examines key features of Scientology to identify it as a cult.