Cults Essays (1867 words) - Adventism, Waco Siege, Apocalypticists

Cults On November 18, 1978, in a cleared-out patch of the Guyanese jungle, Reverend Jim Jones ordered the 911 members of his flock to kill themselves by drinking a cyanide potion, and they did. It seems cultists were brainwashed by this megalomaniac Jones, who had named their jungle village after himself and held them as virtual slaves, if not living zombies. Jones himself was found dead. He'd shot himself in the head, or someone else had shot him. Is it plausible that more than nine hundred people took their own lives willingly, simply because he told them to? This paper will examine aspects of certain religious groups around the world that have shocked us with similar types of behavior. Most of these groups have been categorized into what we refer to as cults. While most of these new religious groups are extremely passive in their methodology, it is my objective to look at those that have gone outside the boundaries of our norms and done such things as mass suicide and acts of terrorism. I will try to understand how the leaders of these groups are able to persuade members to give up all of their possessions and in some cases their lives. What causes people to remove themselves from their jobs, and families? A cult is any group of people who surround themselves around a strong authority figure. Cults, like many other groups, attempt to expand their influence for the purposes of power or money. However, to achieve these ends, destructive cults employ a potent mixture of influence and deception over members and new recruits. Using methods such as brainwashing, thought reform, and mind control. A successful conversion into a destructive cult removes a person's former identity and replaces it with a new one. This is where the new member accepts all of the beliefs of his new group and a new identity is created. However once a member of the group, any deviation from the cult leader's teachings is strictly forbidden. Individuality is suppressed, and subject to fear and suspicion of everyone around in the group. What could cause people to join such groups when it is common knowledge that these groups are known to go against the norms of our society? Many of those who study these groups say that people tend to be more susceptible to manipulation in times of major change and crisis. During the 1960s there was an explosion of these new religious groups such as the Hare Krishna and Transcendental Meditation. A decade later, the human potential movement emerged, teaching self-awareness and consciousness expansion. Groups with self-styled s like Charles Manson, David Koresh, and Marshall Applewhite have flourished, teaching impending doom, using mixtures from Christianity, millennialism and even science fiction. Most of those who join these groups, do not join them with the intention of becoming a cultist, they are usually seeking a new religious group, or a self-help group, looking for some improvement in their lives. It is the group that they join that play on the individuals insecurities and giving them some sense of order and a reason for their existence in the world. There have been many religious groups that have caught the medias attention with their deviant behavior such as the members of Jonestown. Here are some other examples that will illustrate the complete dominance that the leaders were able to hold over the members of the cult. David Koreshs Religious group, known as the Davidian is one of the more familiar cuts during the past decade. On February 28, 1993, Storm Troopers of the ATF tried to enter the Branch Davidian compound in the outskirts of Waco, Texas, where David Koresh and his followers had set up their haven. The compound was stockpiled with weapons that were to be used for a holy war that the had claimed would be coming soon. David and his followers vowed there would be no surrender. For 51 days there was a standoff between the cult, and the ATF. The doomsday prophet promised to bring forth an apocalypse for all those with him in the compound. When the ordeal over 90 people were dead. Many of the survivors blame the U.S government for their attack on the

Stand by Me Essays

Stand by Me Essays Stand by Me Essay Stand by Me Essay The film, Stand By Me shows the story of four young boys, Teddy, Gordy, Chris and Vern who go on a trip. The trip is to find the body of a boy who is their age who was hit by a train. The film takes place in the summer holidays between the end of junior school and the start of high school. It is set in a small-town in Oregon in the 1950s. The town is presented to us with the impressions of innocence yet it appears that the town is far from it. Children smoke and frequently swear, the complete opposite of the stereotypical view of the 1950s. The film looks to be set for young people varying in age from 12 to 16. Although if there was less or no swearing it would probably be fine for even younger viewers. Another reason why the film is attractive for viewers is the fact that it has a mixture of comedy, drama and action. The scene that I will be analysing is the Bridge Scene. This scene is a pivotal scene in the film as the bridge acts as a transition from childhood to teen life. It also shows the boys stop working as individuals and more as a unit. The scene shows how Vern and Gordy come very close to death. Earlier in the film the boys had a close encounter and it seems that in a way they are attracted to it. Earlier the boys were in a scrap yard waiting for Gordy to return from the convenience store. When he left, the other boys Chris, Teddy and Vern, were talking and when Chris returned they had gone out side the scrap yard. Gordy had to run from the owner of the yard and his dog as they chased him to the gate of the yard. He only just made it out without getting caught. However, this seems like a minor scrape when compared to the pivotal bridge scene. As the boys begin to approach the bridge an atmosphere of happy, innocent naivety is created. The popular 50s hit Lollypop is playing and Vern and Teddy are singing along and dancing which makes the boys look very innocent. As they approach the bridge, the camera rises and the true size of it is revealed. As they start to cross the obstacle in front of them we get the impression that a train will arrive or something dangerous is going to happen. The director has cleverly used a wide array of camera shots varying from Extreme Long Shots to Low Angle Shots. When the scene starts there are a mixture of shots including Long Shots, Mid-Shots and Two-Shots. The sequences are longer here giving the impression of a problem free atmosphere. When the boys reach the bridge the camera is at waist height of the boys and slowly tracks up to just above their head height. From a point on the top of the valley sides Extreme Long Shot are taken and each shot seems to make the bridge look bigger and bigger. It also makes the boys look smaller and smaller. There is also another purpose for these shots in that they show the turquoise water and the green of the trees and shrubbery of the valley. When Vern drops the comb the director uses seemingly minor details to add to our sense of apprehension and his face is shown in a Close-Up, the camera then quickly changes to a shot through the eyes of Vern. As the comb falls the film is cleverly slowed down to make it seem like it is taking almost minutes to reach the water. This adds to the tension by showing if the worst came to the worst there would be no chance in jumping to the river below, as they would die. The drama really begins to build up when an Extreme Long Shot shows the smoke of the train. This shot shows the train through the eyes of Gordy. A Close Up of Gordy is shown in slow motion showing him shouting train and warning the others. This is clever as it shows the fraught danger multiply by the inclusion of a large black steam train. Once the train is made obvious to the audience another Extreme Long Shot is shown showing Gordy and Vern, who were quite far behind Teddy and Chris, only half way across the bridge with the train getting closer and closer to them. The camera is tracking Vern and when he falls it stops with him. When Vern gets to his feet again the camera shows a Long Shot with him at the front and the train behind him. The train looks closer than it actually is by using this type of shot. The director keeps switching between the Extreme Long Shot and the Long Shot. This prepares the audience for a disastrous event in the near future. When Gordy dives on Vern moving him out of the way of the train a Medium Long Shot is shown showing the train speed past. It provides a moment of relief after the extreme tension. Sound effects also play a part in creating the tension. In the wooded tunnel at the start of the scene the music of Lollipop is heard. As the boys turned the corner to the bridge music fades to silence. This adds the tension as the viewer has the impression that they dont know what is about to happen. As we see the boys looking over the bridge we can hear the natural noises like the wind and the nature around them. As they continue again we can only hear the wind and the creaking of the bridge. As the train appears around the corner the peaceful, tranquil, natural noises are ended by the loud horn of the train warning the boys to get off the bridge. As the train is revealed we can hear the screams and shouts of the boys but mainly the horn, the whistle of the steam and the loud pistons of the train. The effect that this has on the audience is to create a sense of impending doom symbolised by the huge black train. The sound effects play a vital role and are almost executed perfectly. As in the lighting the sound effects are very natural apart from the Lollypop at the start of the scene. The lighting in this scene appears very natural. There is only really one moment when additional lighting is obvious. This is when Gordy shouts train and his whole face is lit up and looks very pale. If he shouted this and there was no additional lighting there would be shadows around the eyes, below the nose and below the lips. When the boys are in the in the tree lined tunnel there are natural shadows. The natural light is also on show as the boys cross the bridge. As the train is behind the boys there is additional use of shadows on the boys to reinforce the image of black. Even colour plays a part in creating atmosphere. The colours in this scene cleverly mix between the natural colours and the black of the train. Around and before the bridge there is the brown of the bark and the green of the beautiful healthy looking leaves, plants and other shrubbery. On the bridge the natural look continues with the green and turquoise looking water. The metal, modern for the time, looking bridge blends in well with the landscape. As the train appears the natural beauty of the area begins to end. Usually trains billow white, cloud like smoke which is actually water vapour, yet in this scene the train appears to billow a dark shade of grey smoke which adds to the darkness of the train. The clothes that Vern and Gordy are wearing contrast the dark black of the impeding train. Again to add to the black of the scene the train looks to have been freshly painted black. This makes it look tougher and more scary. An accumulation of all these effects show near death in a be tter way than if the train was white for example. The director has shown great use of creating tension on the bridge scene. The main part of this scene is when the train is following Vern and Gordy. He or she does this well by filling the whole screen with the black. I think that the scene is very well put together and good usage of natural light and colours are used. Although it is not that noticeable if you are not specifically looking at this one scene. Yet if the director didnt use natural effects it probably would be noticeable.

Annabel lee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Annabel lee - Essay Example Even the ‘sea’ which is cold and immense by nature may symbolize a state of depression and hopelessness, as towards getting to the other side where the love of one’s life is, since it is utterly impossible for an individual to cross its extent alone. Moreover, the speaker concretizes the description of Annabel Lee’s loss as he takes into account the details concerning the ‘highborn kinsman’ which less figuratively indicates nobility or men of political power. Poe could have necessitated to attach the notion of ‘sepulchre’ herein to convey more evidently that Annabel Lee soon dies after the cruel abduction by powerful men. The grieving narrator further confesses that his woman is ‘beautiful’ and this quality might have made her the object of interest of the highborn kinsman. While he equivalently finds no favor in the meaning of ‘winged seraphs’ and ‘angels’ who apparently take his love away from him, the speaker delights in the images of the moon and the stars which are a personification and a metaphor to provider of dreams and to the bright eyes of Annabel Lee,

Top Origin and Destination Locations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Top Origin and Destination Locations - Essay Example Unemployment: the unstable conditions in Mexico due to lack of stable economy has led to an increase in the number of people unemployed yearly. This has facilitated the increase in the number of the Mexican citizens who migrant to USA to seek better employment opportunities. However, this is ironical due to poor skills the immigrants have in handling the jobs available. This leads to most of the immigrants finding themselves jobless even after migration to USA (Alexander, pg6). Wealth: Most of the people in USA are admired due to the perception that the people live in comfort and luxury. This has been a key factor that pull people to migrant to USA to seek these luxuries and comfort those citizens of the USA tend to enjoy (Alexander, pg5). Employment: USA for a long period of time has been acquiring employees from Mexico due to industrious nature of the Mexican citizens. Again the unemployment in Mexico has further contributed to their curiosity to migrant to USA to seek these opportunities for them to prosper in life in terms of wealth generation and happiness. In conclusion, the USA government tends to employ most of the Mexican due to their hand working character. Poverty: The level of poverty in Michigan is very high. This has resulted from poor governance and economic hardships in the state. Most of the cities in this state are very insecure and this discourages investment back into the state. Violence: This state has experienced lots of violence in form of murder, rapes, assault by the police and armed robbery. This has led to lose of hope for people living in this state propelling them to look for better places to live like Texas near Dallas. Texas is a state in USA blessed with lots of industries. The natural oils and gas are produced in this state creating lots of job opportunities for people. Besides employment opportunities, lots of income is generated in this

Social, Professional and Ethical Issues in Information System Literature review

Social, Professional and Ethical Issues in Information System - Literature review Example This has surely been possible with the advancement in technology. Furthermore, this need was fulfilled by the web and software IT designers in a much effective and functional manner, as explained in the book published by the Center for Financial Training. On the contrary, it is necessary to understand if these software and IT systems are in breach of any of the ethical laws or legal principles set by the governing authorities, or if these IT systems are strong and protective enough to avoid any frauds or theft of the client’s information, data, or belongings since it is the technology that leads towards the secruity violations (Center for Financial Training., 2009). Kondabagil, claims that although, online banking has been claimed as the most secured method by the banking sector but it has been facing ups and down regarding the security and privacy of the client’s data and thefts. ... Data Protection Act of 1998 According to the Data Protection Act of 1998, the British Government has provided a detailed list of the provisions that comes under the Act. From ‘Right to Access Personal Data’ to ‘Code of Practice’, ‘Restrictions’ and ‘Penalties’, every topic has been discussed to minimize chances of confusion regarding fraud data usage (Legislation.Gov.UK, 1998). This may help the online banking services and the IT systems that are designed for it. For example, if stricter laws will be applied and handsome penalties and punishments will be given to the accused then he or she will think twice before violating any law or regulation or conducting any ATM crime (Quinn, 2010). Relationship between Privacy and Online Banking There are numerous issues regarding privacy and online banking, which has shown the failure of the IT systems. These issues have given rise to different social, professional and ethical problems in the society. In legal terms, these issues have also violated many regulations, laws, and principles, which are solely designed as a guideline for online social, professional, and legal ethics. Because of this percentage of e-crime in different countries is increasing enormously. According to ‘The 2013 Identity Fraud Report’ issued by the ‘Javelin Strategy and Research’ it was revealed that more than $21 Billion have been stolen through different online fraud cases in banks. Different categories of online banking had been the victim of IT malfunction or ATM theft. It was reported that 5.26% of U.S. adults are affected every year because of this issue. These IT issues vary from social to ethical and legal aspects while talking about

The Harmful Effects Of Coal Mining Environmental Sciences Essay

The Harmful Effects Of Coal Mining Environmental Sciences Essay Coal mining particularly surface mining requires large areas of land to be temporary disturbed. It causes and number of harmful effects. This raises environmental and human challenges, including, the impact of its activities on the neighboring community, impacts on biodiversity, water and air pollution. Trees, plants, and topsoil are cleared from coal mining areas, destroying forests and wildlife habitat, encouraging soil erosion and floods, and stirring up dust pollution that can cause respiratory problems in local communities. Underground mining, including an intensive method known as long wall mining, leaves behind empty underground spaces which can collapse and cause the land above to sink. Known as subsidence, this process can cause serious structural damage to homes, buildings, and roads when the land collapses beneath them. This destructive mining method destroys habitat, eliminates forests, and damages local property. The government estimates that if this mining continues unabated Appalachia it will destroy 1.4 million acres of land by 2020. Coal mining and coal preparation both stir up small dust and coal particles, which combine with other chemicals in the air and can cause serious and potentially fatal respiratory problems like black lung. About 75 percent of all local shipments in the U.S. are made via railroads, which are one of the nations largest sources of soot and smog pollution. Both soot and Fig. 1. A cartoon shows the environmental effects of coal mining (Joel Pett). smog can cause health problems, including respiratory problems and increased risk of asthma attacks. Coal-laden railcars and trucks also cause soot pollution when coal dust blows off into the surrounding air. Coal mining releases about 26 percent of all energy-related methane emissions in the U.S. each year. Methane is a global warning gas more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide, and is released from surrounding rocks when coal is mined, as well as during coal preparation and transportation. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, methane has a global warming potential 21 times greater than that of carbon dioxide on a 100 year time line. While burning coal in power plants is most harmful to air quality, due to the emission of dangerous gases, the process of mining can release pockets of hazardous gases. These gases may pose a threat to coal miners as well as a source of air pollution. This due to the relaxation of pressure and fracturing of the strata during mining activity, which gives rise to serious safety concerns for the coal miners if not managed properly. The buildup of pressure in the strata can lead to explosions during or after the mining process if prevention methods, such as methane draining are not taken. A common source of acid mine drainage is abandoned mines that fill with water that becomes acidic and mixes with heavy metals and minerals. When this toxic water leaks out, it combines with groundwater and streams, causing water pollution, damaging soils, and harming humans and animals. For example, in Pennsylvania alone acid mine drainage has polluted more than 3,000 miles of streams and ground waters, which affects all four major river basins on the state. Coal preparation uses large quantities of water and chemicals to separate impurities from mined coal, washing away the wastes in a sludge known as slurry. Up to 90 million gallons of slurry are produced every year in the U.S. In 2000, a 72-acre slurry impoundment in Martin County, KY breached, spilling 250 million gallons of water and 31 million gallons of local wastes into the local watershed-over twenty times the amount of oil spilled when the Exxon Valdez ran aground. Mountaintop removal mining involves literally blowing the t ops off mountains to reach thin seams of coal. Then, to minimize waste disposal costs, mining companies dump millions of tons of waste rock into the valleys and streams below, causing permanent damage to the ecosystem and landscape. This destructive practice has damaged or destroyed approximately 1,200 miles of streams, disrupted drinking water supplies, and flooded communities. Black lung is a group of respiratory disease in coal miners that can cause serious lung disease and death. About 12,000 miners died from black lung in the U.S. in the ten-year period ending in 2002. Symptoms include coughing, spitting up black material, shortness of breath, and eventual hardening and scarring of the lungs. Although some of the symptoms can be alleviated, there is no known cure for black lung and reversal of the symptoms. Like all occupational diseases, black lung is man-made and can be prevented. In fact, the U.S. Congress ordered black lung to be eradicated from the coal industry in 1969. Today, it is estimated that former coal miners each year die an agonizing death in often isolated rural communities, away from the spotlight of publicity. Those who are falling ill and dying are not just the coal miners. Everyone who lives near the mines or processing plants or transportation centers is affected by chronic socioeconomics weakness that takes a tool on longevity and health. Residents of coal- mining communities have long complained of impaired health. This study substantiates their claims. Those residents are at an increased risk of developing chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases (Michael Hendryx). Coal mining can destroy sources of local revenue, including losses from tourism and recreation, such as the estimated $67 million lost annually in Pennsylvania from sport fishing because of streams too polluted from acid mine drainage. Coal mining can also damage homes and decrease property value, making it hard for people to sell their houses and move. Coal mining has been a decreasing source of jobs over the last two decades and is still considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Estimates of mining production and working coal miners show that between 1985 and 2005 mining production in the U.S. increased 22 percent, while the number of coal miners decreased by about 55 percent. The average income of coal miners has also been on the decline, dropping 20 percent over the same period. In 1952, Alabama became the first state to provide compensation for coal workers pneumoconiosis. A few years later, Virginia recognized the disease as compensable, but pressures were exe rted the following year and the amendment was repealed. Pennsylvania enacted legislation effective on December 1, 1965, and Virginia again amended its compensation law in 1968. Late in 1968, a number of miners organized the West Virginia Black Lung Association, which successfully led a campaign to introduce a bill in the 1969 session of the West Virginia legislature making coal workers pneumoconiosis a compensable disease. The compensation bill was quickly made a major issue by the Black Lung Association and militant miners in February when the legislation ran into opposition from the coal-operator-dominated legislature. Most of the 40,000 miners in West Virginia walked out of the mines, and large number of them marched on the state capitol in Charleston demanding passage of the bill. This was one of the largest and longest strikes ever on the single issue of occupational health.

West Side Story Essay -- essays research papers

In 1961, West Side Story, a filmed version of the hit Broadway musical that was inspired by William Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet," was released to viewers, who just could not resist the energy and excitement of the movie. Thirty-eight years later, viewers, like myself, still cannot resist it. I had never seen the film, which was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, before, but I had always wondered why people loved this multi award-winning movie so much. After viewing the film, I think that it deserved the ten Academy Awards that it won because it has withstood the test of time and it truly is a remarkable film. It still has the same flair and ability to lure the viewer into the plot as it did when it was first shown in theaters. I think that it truly is one of the best pictures of this century because it offers entertainment and an important lesson about hate as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  West Side Story is primarily a social statement with a touching love story surrounding the social aspect of the film. West Side Story has three main themes, love, tragedy, and justice, which are brought to light throughout the course of the movie. The plot of the film involves two race-based gangs fighting to rule the same strip of street on the West Side of New York City in the late 1950’s. The film teaches a valuable lesson; a lesson about how hate can kill a person and destroy the lives of his or her loved ones. The Jets, a white gang of teenagers led by Riff, and the Sharks, the Puerto Ri...