... to a deity." 1 The dictionary defines the world "Cult" as: A religion or religious sect generally considered being extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader: often system or community of religious worship and ritual. It is seen as the formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual but can be an obsessive, faddish, devotion to/or esteem for a person, principle, or thing. (Studies in the US show that between 2&5 million young adults between the ages of 18&25 are involved in approximately 2,000 to 5,000 cult groups (Robinson, Frye and Bradley 1997)). However it is also an exclusive group of persons, sharing an obscure, usually artistic or intellectual interest nowadays, in the public mind, the word "cult" is more likely to be associated with brain-washing, manipulation of followers, public scandals over cult leaders' sex ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now