The term cult has many different meanings. According to Robert Jay Lifton, a well-known psychiatrist and author, cults and religions are different but it is sometimes hard to tell. "In cults... the worship of spiritual principles gives way to the worship of a spiritual leader or guru, followers are subjected to more or less systematic thought - reform behavior..." (Lamberg 2).

In order for cults to continue to exist they persuade people to join and stay, often

at any cost. In attempting to persuade members of cults, leaders often use both physically and emotionally harmful techniques. According to specialist investigations, members of cults are often subjected to unhealthy persuasion techniques.

Other cults' founders have more profit motivated reasons for protecting their organization. Scientology, for example, has often been referred to as nothing more than "a money making pyramid" by former high ranking members. The main service provided to members of Scientology is known as auditing. It involves the use of a device called an E-meter that Scientologists claim can cure a person's physical and mental ailments. According to the church's price lists at the time of the article's publication, recruits -- "raw meat," as Hubbard called them, take "auditing" sessions that cost as much as $1,000 an hour, or $12,500 for a 12 1/2-hour "intensive." "Make sure that lots of bodies move through the shop," implored Hubbard in one of his bulletins to officials. "Make money. Make more money. Make others produce so as to make money . . . However you get them in or why, just do it." (Behar 53-54) Still, many of the religious based "cults" that exist today got their start from ordinary recognized Christian denominations. Most of these cults, at least when they were started, were sincere religious groups. One of the fundamental foundations that Protestantism is built upon is the idea that everyone should read the bible for themselves. This differs from the traditional Catholic view in which the Pope is the only person capable of interpreting the bible. Since most Protestants read and interpret the bible for themselves it is natural for there to be disagreements and splinter sects to evolve. This is ultimately how most Christian based cults arise. The Branch Davidians are a prime example of this. According to B.A Robinson, a researcher for the religiously neutral organization called ReligiousTolerance.org, the Branch Davidians began in 1929 as a splinter off of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Victor Houteff, who had joined the Seventh Day Adventist church in 1919, wrote his book The Shepherd's Rod in which he outlined errors that he found within the denomination. From that point he split from the Seventh Day Adventist church completely and began recruitment of members based upon his modified teachings (Robinson). As the cult aged it began to evolve into the group that eventually resembled the one led by David Koresh.

Singer, Margaret., et al. "Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control" Nov. 1986: http://www.rickross.com/reference/apologist23. html>

Groenveld, Jan. Ex-Cult Page. 21 Aug. 1997 http://www.ex-cult.org/General/identifying-a-cult?

In some instances when the cult leader feels tha

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