SCAR 2QQ3
CULTS, CONSPIRACIES AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Winter 2024 · C01
Topics
- Week One: INTRODUCTION
- Jan 8th
- Overview of the course, assignments and learning objectives.
- Brief introduction: What is a cult? What is a conspiracy? What is a close encounter?
- 2QQ3 QUIZ SHOW!
- Week Two: CULT, OR NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT? THE STUDY OF NEW RELIGIONS
- Jan 15th
- Optional: The Prophet and the Space Aliens
- Week Three: THE ESOTERIC, THE OCCULT, & THE HISTORY OF NRMS IN NORTH AMERICA
- Jan 22nd
- Watch: Griesser, John. 2017. Hare Krishna!: The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All .
- Lewis, James R., 2016. "Seekers and Subcultures" In The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements: Volume II. 60-71.
- Week Four: CHARISMA, CONVERSION, & BRAINWASHING
- Jan 29th
- Watch: How Cults Rewire the Brain
Readings
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- Campus Store reading list ↗Winter 2026
- Course outline / syllabus ↗Winter 2024
- Some readings or course materials are supplied through Avenue to Learn; public bibliographic details may be incomplete.