Is There Really a Difference Between Gangs and Religious Cults?

[J.D SilvernailParticipant 383]

I have been doing a lot of studying into the subject of criminal Justice because that will be my major when I graduate from college. One thing that struck me when learning about gangs in the last chapter is that they bear a remarkable resemblance to a lot of modern Religious Cults. For instance they both use a false sense of family to recruit potential members. Gangs and Religious Cults also do a lot of illegal and socially unacceptable actions. Their leaders are all very self centered and only use their recruits for their own agendas. They don’t care about the people under their command. Joining a gang or religious cult is a lifetime commitment. There is no way out. The only difference I see between the two is that gangs don’t believe in a certain religion(there are a few exceptions);however, Religious Cult members have to have the exact same beliefs as the Preacher,Rabbi, Minister,Imam,etc. My Criminal Justice Final is tomorrow by the way. Wish me luck and please give me feedback for this topic.

I'm married to the game,but she broke her vows.

[ILiveAgainParticipant]

No ?

The only real difference is one has more power/monen than the other.

No difference between alcohol & heroine. Cigarettes or dope.

It’s all about who calls the shots and collects taxes (tribute)

[RoyDalParticipant]

An organized group of bullies obeying a charismatic leader … gangs and cults do have a lot in common.

Humans and chimpanzees do have a built in tendency to form up in this fashion. Maybe that’s why our species is in charge of the planet and all those others are extinct.

Society asks MGTOWs: Why are you not making more tax-slaves?

[Anonymous 5]

Radical political movements also use noble ideals to attract, and justify their ends. They’re just as sociopathic towards their followers.
They very often turn into a leadership struggle that leaves the most treacherous in power.
Then, they become personality cults that enable the leaders to further their own ends using altruistic party policy as overt agenda.
Corporations, companies and even family businesses can fall into the same pattern if a high functioning sociopath reaches the top,,,,and very often they do.

[Anonymous 42]

Religious cults kill themselves.

Gangs kill other gang members.

I’d rather be in a gang, there’s still a chance for SURVIVAL!

You can follow the motorhome behind the next comet, I’m following Antonio!!!

[narwhalParticipant]

Both seem to have rather loose definitions, so you easily could say they are the same thing if you define them as such.

But you could define a group of guys who get together once a month to ride their motorcycles as a gang. You can then define ISIS as a religious cult. Are they the same? Absolutely not. However, if you took a typical street gang compared to the Branch Davidion (sp?) cult, the difference are rather slim.

Ok. Then do it.

[Author]

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