ANTHROP 2R03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Shoko Asahara, Aum Shinrikyo, Sarin
15 Feb 2020
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A note about the word cult : as moro points out, cult is used pejoratively to express disapproval of small or recently founded religious groups . To the buddhist teachings, practices, and utopianism, asahara added some apocalyptic ideas (end of the world: asahara got these after he studied the book of revelation prophecies of. Over time, the idea of prevention disappears emphasis on survival of small number of chosen people as the end is unavoidable: concern for survival focuses on building nuclear shelters and remaining self- sufficient. Led to organizational development of aum shinrikyo as state within a state: hierarchical gov"t that replicated structure of national gov"t with agencies and ministries under command of supreme leader asahara. In 1995, when attacks took place, there were 10,000 members in japan, 1,247 of whom lived in the lotus village communities (like monastics) cut off from regular employment and families: 30,000 in russia.
