write an expository essay on secret cult

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Get the ultimate guide on writing an expository essay – step-by-step tips and examples.

Are you grappling with the challenge of composing a compelling expository essay? Look no further, as this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the essential tools and techniques to effectively convey your ideas and captivate your readers. By employing powerful writing strategies and supplementing your work with concrete examples and real-life anecdotes, you will unlock the true potential of your explanatory essay.

Begin your writing journey by harnessing the power of clarity and conciseness. Structuring your essay with a logical flow will allow your readers to effortlessly follow your thought process and grasp your central ideas. Employing strong transitions between paragraphs and employing cohesive language will ensure a seamless reading experience. Additionally, honing your analytical skills and supporting your claims with factual evidence will lend credibility to your work while fostering a deep understanding of the topic.

Furthermore, incorporating vivid examples and engaging anecdotes will breathe life into your expository essay, making your content relatable and memorable. By utilizing descriptive language and the art of storytelling, you will create a lasting impact in the minds of your readers. Whether it is a personal experience, a historical event, or a scientific study, weaving in these narratives will amplify the effectiveness and persuasiveness of your essay, leaving a lasting imprint on your audience.

Mastering the Art of Crafting a Compelling Expository Composition: Pointers and Illustrations

An in-depth exploration of the fundamentals behind composing an impactful expository essay can serve as an invaluable tool in your academic and professional endeavors. By harnessing the power of language, analysis, and evidence, you can construct a persuasive and enlightening piece of writing that will captivate your readers. Let us embark on a journey to unravel the secrets of crafting an exquisite expository essay.

1. Avoid monotony: Deliver your ideas in a fresh, stimulating manner to enthrall your audience. Strive to maintain a captivating narrative flow by skillfully employing synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and metaphors. This will invigorate your writing and make it truly memorable.

2. Be concise yet comprehensive: Accomplish the delicate balance of being succinct without sacrificing the clarity and depth of your exposition. Remember to select your words wisely, presenting each idea concisely while ensuring it is thorough and complete.

3. Provide evidence: Back up your statements with solid evidence and well-researched examples. Citing credible sources, such as reputable studies, expert opinions, and statistical data, will add credibility and weight to your arguments, making them more persuasive and powerful.

4. Organize your thoughts: Structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner, ensuring that each idea flows seamlessly into the next. Utilize transitional words and phrases to guide your readers through the different sections of your essay, enabling them to follow your line of reasoning effortlessly.

5. Cater to your audience: Tailor your language, tone, and examples to suit the preferences and background of your intended audience. Use relatable and engaging references to convey your message effectively and establish a connection with your readers.

6. Emphasize clarity: Clarity is key when it comes to expository writing. Avoid excessive jargon, convoluted sentences, and ambiguous expressions. Instead, strive for lucidity and precision, ensuring that your readers can easily grasp the main points of your essay.

7. Show don’t tell: Instead of merely stating information, aim to vividly illustrate your ideas through anecdotes, case studies, and real-life examples. This will make your essay more relatable and memorable, enabling your readers to form a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

8. Revise and refine: Do not underestimate the importance of the revision process. Review your essay meticulously, focusing on grammar, clarity, and coherence. Eliminate redundancies, enhance sentence structure, and refine your vocabulary to elevate the quality and impact of your writing.

By equipping yourself with these essential guidelines and examples, you are well-prepared to embark on your expository essay writing journey. Remember, mastering the art of crafting a compelling expository composition requires practice and perseverance. Let your ideas flow, embrace creativity, and allow your words to inspire, educate, and leave an indelible mark in the minds of your readers.

The Significance of an Expository Article

When it pertains to written compositions, the significance of an expository article cannot be underestimated. This type of writing piece serves a crucial purpose in communicating information, presenting facts, and explaining ideas in a clear and concise manner. By utilizing objective analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and logical arguments, an expository essay provides readers with a deeper understanding of a subject matter.

Unlike other forms of writing, an expository essay focuses on informing rather than persuading or entertaining. It acts as a reliable source of knowledge, offering readers an opportunity to broaden their horizons and gain new insights. Whether used in academic, professional, or personal settings, the expository essay serves as a valuable tool for conveying information accurately and objectively.

Furthermore, an expository essay aids in building critical thinking and analytical skills. Through the process of researching and organizing information, the writer develops the ability to evaluate sources, discern facts from opinions, and present arguments based on logical reasoning. This type of writing encourages readers to question assumptions, analyze evidence, and draw their own conclusions.

Moreover, mastering the art of composing an expository essay equips individuals with essential communication skills that are applicable in various aspects of life. By learning how to present complex ideas in a clear and coherent manner, one becomes an effective communicator across different fields and disciplines. Whether it be writing research papers, reports, or even delivering presentations, the skills acquired from writing an expository essay are invaluable in expressing ideas persuasively and engaging an audience.

In conclusion, the importance of an expository essay lies in its ability to provide a comprehensive and objective understanding of a subject matter. By offering factual information, logical arguments, and clear explanations, this type of writing contributes to the development of critical thinking skills and effective communication. Whether in academic, professional, or personal settings, the expository essay plays a vital role in disseminating knowledge and fostering intellectual growth.

Understanding the Purpose and Audience

In order to create a compelling and impactful expository essay, it is important to have a clear understanding of the purpose and audience of your writing.

The purpose of an expository essay is to explain or inform the reader about a specific topic or idea. Unlike other types of essays, the main goal is to provide a balanced analysis and present factual information in a clear and concise manner. The purpose may vary depending on the specific assignment or context, but it is important to always keep the purpose in mind when writing an expository essay.

Equally important is knowing your audience. Understanding who will be reading your essay will help you tailor your writing style, tone, and level of complexity to effectively communicate your ideas. Consider the background knowledge, interests, and beliefs of your audience to ensure that your essay is accessible and engaging.

• Start by identifying the demographic characteristics of your audience, such as age, education level, and background.
• Consider their prior knowledge on the topic. Are they familiar with the subject matter, or do you need to provide additional context?
• Think about their potential biases or preconceived notions. Are there any potential challenges or objections you need to address?

By understanding the purpose and audience of your expository essay, you can craft a well-written and relevant piece that effectively communicates your ideas and engages your readers.

Choosing the Right Topic and Gathering Information

One of the crucial steps in writing an outstanding expository essay is selecting a compelling topic and gathering relevant information. The topic should be interesting, relevant, and align with the purpose of your essay. It’s important to choose a topic that you are passionate about and have a good understanding of, as it will make the research and writing process more enjoyable and easier.

Start by brainstorming different ideas and concepts that you find intriguing. Consider your personal experiences, hobbies, or areas of expertise that you would like to explore further. You can also look for inspiration from current events, popular trends, or societal issues that grab your attention. Once you have a list of potential topics, narrow it down to the one that has enough depth and scope for exploration.

Once you have chosen a topic, it’s time to gather information to support your thesis statement and provide evidence for your claims. Start by conducting thorough research using various sources such as books, scholarly articles, reputable websites, and interviews with experts in the field. Take notes and keep track of the sources you use for referencing purposes.

By choosing the right topic and gathering relevant information, you lay the foundation for a well-researched and compelling expository essay. Take the time to explore different ideas, conduct thorough research, and organize your findings effectively. Remember, a well-chosen topic and solid information will make your essay engaging and informative for your readers.

Structuring Your Expository Essay

When it comes to composing an expository essay, the way you structure your piece is crucial. Organizing your thoughts and ideas in a clear and logical manner will not only make your writing more coherent and easy to follow, but it will also help you effectively convey your message to the readers.

One effective way to structure your expository essay is to use the traditional five-paragraph format. This format consists of an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Each paragraph serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall development of your essay.

The introduction paragraph is where you grab the attention of your readers and provide them with a brief overview of what your essay will be about. It should include a strong thesis statement that clearly states your main argument or point of view.

The body paragraphs are where you present your evidence, provide supporting details, and analyze your topic. Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea or aspect of your topic. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main point, and then provide examples, facts, or explanations to support your argument.

In the conclusion paragraph, you should summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement. Avoid introducing new information or arguments in this section. Instead, focus on leaving a lasting impression on your readers and reinforcing the main ideas discussed throughout your essay.

Remember to use appropriate transition words and phrases to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs and ideas. Examples of transitional phrases include “firstly,” “in addition, “finally,” and “on the other hand,” among others.

By following a well-structured approach, you can effectively organize your expository essay and make it engaging and informative for your readers. Take the time to plan your essay, identify your main points, and arrange them in a logical order. With a clear structure, your expository essay will be a powerful piece of writing that effectively conveys your ideas.

Enhancing Clarity and Coherence

Creating a clear and coherent expository essay requires skillful use of language and organization. By carefully selecting words and arranging ideas logically, you can ensure that your essay is easy to understand and follow.

Word Choice: One of the most effective ways to enhance clarity is through thoughtful word choice. Consider using precise and specific language to convey your ideas. Instead of using general terms, opt for more descriptive words that accurately depict the information you are presenting.

Logical Organization: Coherence in your essay can be achieved through proper organization. Present your ideas in a logical progression, ensuring that each paragraph flows smoothly into the next. Use transitional words and phrases to connect your thoughts and guide the reader through your essay.

Consistent Structure: To enhance clarity and coherence, maintain a consistent structure throughout your essay. Use a clear introduction to outline your main points and a strong conclusion to summarize your findings. Each body paragraph should focus on a single topic and provide sufficient evidence and examples to support your claims.

Effective Transitions: Transitions are essential in ensuring a cohesive flow between ideas and paragraphs. Use transitional words and phrases such as “however,” “in addition,” and “furthermore” to link your ideas and create a smooth transition between different sections of your essay.

Eliminating Ambiguity: To enhance clarity, it is crucial to eliminate any ambiguity or confusion from your writing. Be precise in your language and avoid using vague terms or jargon. Make sure your ideas are clearly articulated and leave no room for misinterpretation.

Proofreading: Finally, closely edit and proofread your essay for clarity and coherence. Look for any unclear sentences or confusing phrases and revise them for greater clarity. Ensure that your ideas are presented in a logical and coherent manner, leaving no room for confusion.

By enhancing clarity and coherence in your expository essay, you can effectively communicate your ideas and engage your readers. Thoughtful word choice, logical organization, consistent structure, effective transitions, and careful proofreading all play important roles in creating a clear and coherent essay that will leave a lasting impact.

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Essay: Social and Psychological Impacts of Cults

• Essay: Social and Psychological Impacts…

Along the arrival of a new generation, there was an increase of cultic movements and activities within them (Walsh, 2001). Common characteristics of harmful and destructive cults include a charismatic leader, an excluded group that opposes mainstream and traditional ideas, isolation from non-cult members, and ritual abuse (MacHovec, 1992).

Cults make unqualified claims about their leader’s skill, disposition, or knowledge, and membership of a cult depends on an individual’s full willingness to obey the leader so they must provide complete loyalty (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997). Cults greatly influence their members’ social experience and psychological development.

Cult participation affects an individual’s relationship with their family, friends, and society, their physical and mental well-being, and their behavior. This paper focuses on the Peoples Temple cult, led by Jim Jones, as the main evidence of how cults affect its members.

Firstly, cult involvement impacts an individual’s relationship with their family, friends, and society. Family dynamics and cult involvement show a correlation where members of a dysfunctional family have higher cult involvement rates. Poor family dynamics include parents setting unrealistic standards for the children, families with more judgment than emotion, and a poor parent-child attachment (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997).

Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation experiment, it showed children with avoidant or resistant attachment can lead to negative emotional development and other issues as they grow (Haskings-Winner, Collishaw, Kritzer, & Warecki, 2011), which can explain the reason for some individual’s cult involvement. Cults provide a feeling of acceptance and purpose in life which can replace a member’s original family support system (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997).

According to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, psychological and self-fulfillment needs become important after their basic needs are met. This means that once an individual’s basic needs are fulfilled, they’ll seek belongingness, love, confidence, respect, and purpose which may be the reason for some individuals to join a cult.

During the cult affiliation process, “critical thinking is compromised and individuals are encouraged to view their families of origin and the non-cult world as bad or evil, whereas the cult beliefs and activities are all seen as good” (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997). This mindset affects the member’s relationships as it leads them to have issues with their family and peers outside of the cult (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997).

When cult members dissociate themselves with the non-cult world and only interact within the cult, they create a new primary group that consists exclusively of cult members. Symbolic interactionism explains how these individuals become a reflection of the cult they participate in due to a change in relationships.

Not only do cults affect the members’ personal relationships, but also their relationship with the rest of society. A cult member’s relationship with society is disturbed because “cults provide isolation from the world and self, induction of a dissociative state, and indoctrination techniques that criticize the non-cult world and reinforce the exclusive closed system” (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997).

This can be shown in Peoples Temple when followers left America and moved to the secluded area of Jonestown, Guyana without an explanation to their family or friends  (Nelson Jr., 2006). Cults manage the member’s human communication using a technique called milieu control.

They control communication to and from the outside world of the cult and they carry this out by censoring TV programs, books, and other forms of media (Walsh, 2001). Since communication in a cult is under constant supervision, it undoubtedly has an effect on the members’ relationship with their family, friends, and society.

Secondly, cults notably impact the physical and mental health of the cult members. Leaving cult members displayed physical characteristics of poor diet, lack of medical attention, low energy levels, hormonal changes, poor posture, slow speech, and delayed responses (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997).

Regarding Peoples Temple, some members worked full time at the temple which meant up to twenty hours a day, and the church meetings were held way after midnight. The members were often overworked and sleep-deprived so they couldn’t think for themselves and their physical health was disregarded (Nelson Jr., 2006).

Similar to Viktor Frankl’s theory, the suffering cult members may have persevered and stayed in the cult because they believed their purpose or meaning of their existence lied within the cult.

Additionally, punishment and abuse are present in cults, which directly affect the physical conditions of the cult members. As a punishment in Jonestown, Jones ordered troublemaking Temple members, such as “those who questioned his authority,” into an underground, suffocating coffin-sized box (Taylor, 1998).

Then in public meetings, people were physically abused by being spanked, beaten, slapped, and knocked out at the front of the gathering (Nelson Jr., 2006). Along with the physical effects on the victims, exposing this type of aggressive behavior to the other members may alter their behavior to be more violent in the future, as seen in Albert Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment.

Children also face physical and sexual abuse in cults which can lead to a number of dissociative disorders (MacHovec, 1992). Jones’ specific punishment for children involved them being suspended upside-down and dunked into a well if they showed homesickness, stole food, or even did normal childish acts (Taylor, 1998).

This abnormal socialization for children can be detrimental to their development and ability to be a normal member of society.

Likewise, their mental health is affected since “former cult members display ego deficits of impaired intellectual functioning, temporary states of altered consciousness, and impaired memory” (Robinson, Frye, & Bradley, 1997).

Peoples Temple had mental punishments where the person would be humiliated and shamed in front of the whole assembly. Jones claimed they needed these punishments to become stronger and more trustworthy in the group (Kilduff & Tracy, 1977). Cults often negatively impact the physical and mental well-being of their members.

Lastly, cult involvement changes one’s behavior and mentality. Cult members are manipulated and exploited to create specific behaviors which include how they should think, act, and feel (Walsh, 2001) in accordance with the cults’ own values, norms, and roles.

In addition to imposing sanctions, behavior manipulation is achievable by keeping members in altered states of consciousness so they have a “reduced capacity for rational thought, through overextension and exhaustion” (Walsh, 2001). Also, “through rituals and practices, cults blatantly shape and influence the behavior of their followers” (Haskings-Winner, Collishaw, Kritzer, & Warecki, 2011).

Jones manipulated his followers to sell their homes and give the money to the church so, in exchange, the church promised to take care of them (Nelson Jr., 2006). It became expected for members to give part of their earnings, if not all, to the church (Kilduff & Tracy, 1977). This displays altering behavior in cult members when social pressure pushes them to conform to meet the expectations of the cult.

Taking part in cultic practices “ensures that the individual is resocialized to fit the expectations of the group” (Haskings-Winner, Collishaw, Kritzer, & Warecki, 2011). As a result, a new world is established and “a new identity is forged for the individual” (Haskings-Winner, Collishaw, Kritzer, & Warecki, 2011).

Members of the Peoples Temple were expected to be completely loyal to Jones and they were actually so obedient to their leader to the extent that they would die if Jones told them to. Consequently, on November 18, 1978, Jones convinced over nine hundred members in Jonestown to drink poison to die in peace, or as he called it a “revolutionary suicide” (Nelson Jr., 2006). This shows how serious and significant the influence cult leaders have on the members of the cult.

To conclude, cults have an influence on a member’s relationships, their physical and mental health, and their behavior and way of thinking. Affiliating with a cult influences many social and psychological factors of an individual which basically involves every part of their life.

Currently, it has been almost forty years since the mass suicide in Jonestown and the most significant difference since then is the use of technology. The rise of technology is able to inform people of the consequences of joining cults, but on the other hand, the internet has given cults another method of recruiting people.

I believe many cults use social media today as their main resource to recruit people and will continue to do so because the amount of people they can communicate online with is innumerable. My prediction for the next fifty years is that North America will have an increase of different types of cults, however they won’t be as considerable as Peoples Temple.

Haskings-Winner, J., Collishaw, R., Kritzer, S., & Warecki, P. (2011). Social Science: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

Kilduff, M., & Tracy, P. (1977, August 1). Inside Peoples Temple. New West , pp. 30-38. Retrieved from http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/newWestart.pdf

MacHovec, F. (1992). Cults: Forensic and Therapeutic Aspects. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 10 (1), 31-37. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=11&sid=5d614076-645e-4b32-9a46-4fbfd7274d07%40sessionmgr4008

Nelson Jr., S. (Director). (2006). Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple [Motion Picture]. United States: Firelight Media. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydHRESPjBxg&t=5s

Robinson, B., Frye, E. M., & Bradley, L. J. (1997). Cult Affiliation and Disaffiliation: Implications for Counseling. Counseling And Values, 41 (2), 166-173. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=07a5b484-3f42-4fea-8bf1-0e6b02486e2d%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=EJ571533&db=eric

Taylor, M. (1998, November 2). 20 Years Later, Jonestown Survivor Confronts Horrors. San Fransico Chronicle . Retrieved from https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/20-Years-Later-Jonestown-Survivor-Confronts-2981847.php#photo-2266951

Walsh, Y. (2001). Deconstructing ‘brainwashing’ within cults as an aid to counselling psychologists. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 14 (2), 119-128. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=0083e105-0375-4faf-b691-817ad6bd8f19%40sessionmgr4009&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=5253860&db=aqh

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History And Origin Of Cultism In Nigeria (Latest Update)

Cultism is a major menace in Nigeria that no University, Polytechnics, College of Education, or other higher institution in Nigeria has been able to eradicate.

It is a major vice that is very common in tertiary institutions in Nigeria today.

Cultism itself, according to history, started for a good cause, but over time, things have changed.

Let us look into the history of cultism in Nigeria and how it all began.

History of Cultism In Nigeria 

Cultism is a ritual practice by a group of people whose membership, initiation, policies, and activities are in secret. 

In contemporary Nigerian society, cultism has constituted a major social problem and vice.

But have you ever wondered how cultism started in Nigeria? This article gives a comprehensive history of Cultism in Nigeria.

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Cultism in Nigeria dates back to the pre-colonial era when a group of individuals gathered together to seek protection from their ancestors and conducted rituals. 

Initiation to the cult was a normal routine for those who wanted to belong to the secret cult. Once you join the cult, the secrets of the group must be religiously and sacredly observed.

Such groups include the Ogboni society prevalent amongst the Yorubas. The Ekpe secret cult existed amongst the Efiks and some parts of the South East. The Ekine and Owegbe Cult were popular in Delta and Edo State.

These cult groups provide social, financial, economic and political security for their members. 

Origin of Cultism In Nigeria

However, it is paramount to note that Modern day cultism does not tow the same path as that of the Ogboni, Ekine, Owegbe, etc.

The Ku Klux Klan popularly known as (KKK) inspired Modern-day cultism in Nigeria. The Ku Klux Klan was a secret cult founded on the 24th of December 1765 in Pulaski, Tennessee, USA. 

Their activities were targeted toward the ex-slaves and those who gave them freedom. KKK sought to restore white supremacy through threats and violence, including murder against Black and those who supported them.

These activities inspired our nationalists to intensify their fight against colonialism in Nigeria and thrive for independence.

It, therefore, led to the establishment of the first recognized Cult group in Nigeria -  Sea Dog Confraternity.

The Sea Dog Confraternity that is also known as the Pirates was formed in 1952 at the University of Ibadan.

By a group of seven students whose names are: Wole Soyinka, Pius Olegbe, Olumuyiwa Awe, Aig-I’moukhuede, Ralph Opara, Olu Agunloye, and Tunji Tubi. 

Their objective was to fight non-violently but intellectually and effectively against the imposition of foreign conventions, to review the age of chivalry, and to find a lasting solution to the problems of tribalism and elitism.

This Pirate Confraternity consisted of brilliant students who went about their Academic business without trampling on the Fundamental rights of other students. 

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Cultism In Nigeria

Cultism is the activities or practices of a group of people with one common spiritual, religious or philosophical belief. 

The group of individuals involved in these practices is known as a cult. In general sociological studies, the term cult is controversial and has divergent definitions. 

But most cults are secret. They are secret cults because their activities and practices are hidden from the public and non-members. 

Members of secret cults often swear an oath of allegiance or go into covenant with each other. They are to defend their beliefs and practices down to their last breath.

In the early stage, there is no violence or social vices by the secret cult. All the members of the cult socialized freely, rendered social services, gave gifts to the orphanages and inspired the fight for the liberation of Nigeria from the shackles of colonialism. 

Even after the founding fathers had left the University of Ibadan, the Pirate Confraternity waxed strong and dominated the scene for 20 years. 

However, unresolved leadership problems in the Cult group and the Social, Political and educational changes in Nigeria began to affect their operations, and members began to leave the cult.

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They started as fraternities and they were confined within university campuses with the motive of maintaining law and order on campuses. It was not until the 1990s that they began spreading to the streets and creeks.

The Pyrates Confraternity activities were non-violent dispute resolutions and fighting against elitist nonsense and pretences. The motto of the confraternity was "Against all Conventions." Their logo was the skull and crossbones.

Sadly, cultism in modern-day Nigeria has constituted more nuisance and danger to the rights and lives of cultists, students, and the entire society.

Modern-day Cultism In Nigeria

In current Nigeria, especially in our higher institutions, cultism turned into another thing entirely. 

Members of different cult groups in Nigeria are extremely dangerous, members of a particular cult are always ready to kill their fellow rival cultists at any time without remorse or regret.

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The modern-day cults kidnap people, beat lecturers that offend them and engage in other social vices.

The cult members have dealt with some lecturers and individuals who have relationship affairs with members' girlfriends and boyfriends. 

Many engaged in cybercrimes and armed robberies. 

Politicians also employ many cult groups in Nigeria to scare or deal with their political rivals.

Cultism in Nigeria today has nothing to offer society but social vices and evil practices.

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Comments, Page 1/3

what do u mean r u in a cult say the truth and shame the devil we r discussing something serious, and u said Dey play I am sure u voted for Tinubu u guys go suffer am I don't blame you and I know you Ur secret and I don't want to have anything to do with you guys.

it is not good to join cult at all because what the world is turning into is another problem

Cultism is a dangerous group dat even affect d spiritual life of d individual dat involve. Let's say no to cultism bcuz it doesn't favour any one. It seems interesting and enjoyable but d end is disastrous be wise

Cultism na bad cult for Nigeria

Say no to cultism

Indeed money and car house

SAY NO TO CULTISM

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Etiology and Menace of Secret Cults in Secondary Schools in the South-East Region of Nigeria

In the last two decades, there has been a geometric increase in the activities of secret cults in secondary schools in Nigeria which have wrought incalculable havoc on the lives and psyche of Nigerians. This study aims at unraveling the etiology and menace of secret cult activities in secondary schools in the South East region of Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive research design in studying this phenomenon. Hence, 450 respondents comprising of secondary school students and their teachers who were selected from the five states of South Eastern region of Nigeria participated in the study. Results show that the causes of cultism among secondary school students include peer pressure, impatience towards life, lack of guidance and counselling amongst others. It was also found that the menace of cultism in secondary schools includes maiming and injury, loss of lives and property as well as academic disruption. Recommendations and suggestions on how to eradicate secret cults in secondary schools were proffered.

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The issue of cultism has in spite of many efforts at reducing it, soared up in the Nigeria's tertiary institutions. Cultism has cast gloom over the educational sector. It is repeatedly said that the youths are the future leaders but it is a little wonder what the future holds for the youth of this country which has a good proportion of her youth as secret cult member. It therefore became imperative to carefully redress the issue of cultism in our tertiary institution where reason should rule over emotion. Undoubtedly, the issue has assumed horrifying proportion as cultic violence thrives even more. The main purpose of this study was to find out the causes, effects and strategies to stop cultism in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It was discovered from the study that cultism among the students of tertiary institutions is real and urgent solutions is needed by government and institution at large to curb it. The parents must work closely with the institutions authority to arrive at a lasting solution.

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Cultism has become an instrument of social destabilization in the present day Nigeria society. It was known to be at its peak in tertiary institutions before. Nowadays, it has expanded its territories to secondary schools, primary schools and the society at large. Each day, innocent students, especially new intakes are being coerced into joining cult groups to protect themselves and unknowingly to them; fall victim of this menace and consequently this has had adverse effects on these innocent students. This social vice is eating up the educational and moral standard of students, and it is a problem in Nigerian institutions which has not been fully tackled. This paper, therefore, discusses cultism, reasons why students join cults, effects of cultism and parental and social interventions strategies that could be used in curbing cultism among undergraduates in Nigerian universities. It is hoped that if these strategies are put in place, eradication of cultism or its reduction to the barest minimum could be achieved among students. What is cultism? Cultism is derived from the word "cult." According to the American heritage dictionary of English language (2011), a cult is an exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. It is also a formal means of expressing religious reverence, religious ceremony and rituals. Oxford advanced learner"s dictionary defines a cult as a small group of people who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion. Ogbodo (2004) sees cultism as an act of worship but very different from known religions as their activities are shrouded in secrecy in accordance with rules governing the groups, no wonder people sometimes refer to them as secret cults. It is secret because the activities are secret and not exposed to the knowledge of the general public. Complementing this, Ibenegbu (2018) believes cultism is a secret, spiritual or religious practice changes the value of the people, practised by a group of individuals with policies unknown to the general public and has effects on the life of the people. It has been a long standing enemy that provided negative impacts on people. He concludes by saying cultism is a destructive force in the society because their members do not share their ideas and policies with anyone.

Jadesola Babatola Ph.D

Cult in western culture typifies a belief, idea or attitude that influences peoples’ lives, a system of beliefs and practices. The mode, idea and desire to propagate such ways of life translates to CULTISM. Since a system of beliefs and practices can be religious (fervent faith), guild (an ethical profession), trade or business like (a merchantile system), fashion conscious (a tasteful living or style of living), self-perpetuating gangs or cartel (network of drug dealers, money ritualists and dupes, sex ring prostitutes, assassins, armed robbers or gangsters), the extreme nature of cultism and its fanatical and fundamentalist approach to life and the society makes it a dangerous trend in value chains and a threat to human survival. The above premise constitute a fundamental appreciation of the challenges of cultism and what cult activites portends in all social settings and human organizations. The evolving attitude of cultists and cultism as a way of life largely breaks down the eixsting walls and fragments of human relations. Cult influences supercedes family unity and control. In the family circle, it is well said that Blood is ticker than water. In the cult sense, the bond is ticker than blood. Whatever translates to a BOND in a cult organization is superior to blood ties, family ties, alma mater ties, work and career ties and other forms of acceptable relationship. That is why CULTS and CULTISM has transformed into a dreaded phenomenon wherever they surfaced as a means of interaction which may neither conform with acceptable norms and its influences may negate the premise of social values and relationship. A cult member may sacrificed his parents or siblings at the behest of the Cult Group without any option of what a Family or an institution constitutes in the social system and behavioural structure. Pyschological determinism which cultism propound had over time subjected social order to unpredictable and unmanageable process. It is a well known fact that: where there is no law, there is no offence. This in effect translates to mean: where there is no offence, there is no law. Yet no society can survive without harmonizing the social behaviours, laws of human relations and activities and even by determining the consequences of all human actions, to ensure a control of behaviours and predict their outcomes. Cultism in the Higher Education Institutions particularly among students is a display of demonised, oppressive tendencies emanating from imbibing of evil characters, negative reactions to social values, a combination of vices, unholy activities and what can be termed as corrupt mentality and deviance. Hence, it can be described as the height or glorification of violent and unacceptable behaviours existing in a respectable community of academia and scholars. I will therefore simply describe cultism among students as GANGSTERISM in the face of constituted authorities and the law. Gangsterism in itself is an act of ganging up or forming a gang of vulnerable young persons, a group of young people who spend time together to cause trouble and fight against other groups, a group of criminals or friends working together on unlawful, illicit, illegal or illegitimate cause.

christopher okon

This paper examines the relationship between secret cultism and learning among Nigerian universities students as perceived by the students of the faculty of Education, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar. A sixteen items questionnaires developed by the researchers was validated by experts in educational research and statistics. The reliability index of .73 of the instrument was determined with split-half method on 40 students. With chi-square (X) analysis, the data revealed that there is a significant relationship between secret cultism in Nigerian Universities and learning by the students. It is recommended that curbing secret cultism in Nigerian Universalities should be a collective responsibility of parents, teachers, religious leaders, school administrators and government through proper parental up-bringing, provision of basic amenities and effective counselling, using Rational Emotive and Behaviour Disentistization approaches. Nigeria is a dynamic society. Changes the...

The paper examined the menace of secret cults in the Nigerian tertiary institutions. The origin of cultism was traced to the Seadog confraternity (a.k.a Pyrates), founded by Wole Soyinka and six others at the foremost University of Ibadan in 1952. The peaceful, and non-violent confraternity set up then, in the 1980s, metamorphosed into a secret cult whose activities have been characterized by some bizarre and violent activities. It was against this background that this paper x-rayed the possible causes and consequences of cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The major causes of cultism in tertiary institutions were influence of peer group; parental background; societal decadence; erosion of education standards; militarization of the Nigerian polity; lack of recreational facilities; quest for power and protection among others. However, some of the effects of cultism include loss of lives and properties, disruption of academic activities on campuses, unsafe university environments. It was therefore recommended that all the stakeholders in the university education system should fuse efforts to combat the menace. It was also recommended that government should be more aggressive in her quest to eradicate cultism in the universities.

EDUCATION FOR TODAY

Akomaye A . Undie

This study examined family type and secondary school students’ tendency to participate in cultism in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State. To achieve the purpose of the study, one research question and one null hypothesis was formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Related literatures were reviewed according to the variables of the study. The survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 596 SS2 students, randomly selected from 15 schools in Calabar Education Zone was used for the study. The selection was done through stratified random sampling technique. The main instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire titled: Family Related Factors, Governance and Secondary School Students Tendency to Participate in Cultism Questionnaire (FRFSTPCQ). Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using independent t-test analysis. The result of finding revealed that, family type has a significant influence on students’ tendency to participate in cultism. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers concluded that, family type significantly influence students’ tendency to participate in cult activities at the secondary school level in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was recommended among others that, students, irrespective of their family type, should be given the same level of punishment if found guilty of exhibiting cultism tendencies in school, so they don’t end up growing to become corrupt government officials (public office holders).

Youth Membership To Cultism in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions: Causes & Solutions.

Justice Maxwell

Tertiary institutions in Nigeria today have become breeding grounds for various forms of deviant and criminal behaviour. One of such upsurge is the ever growing trend of secret cult activities. Studies of higher institutions in many developing nations reveal that this phenomenon has negatively affected the image of our tertiary institutions and the quality of teaching and learning, and the integrity of the products of such schools.

Matters of Behaviour

This research examined the Impact of Cultism on Management of Secondary Schools in Makurdi Local government areas of Benue State. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated and tested. 1375 teachers from 10 public secondary schools in Makurdi Local Government Area were selected. A well-structured questionnaire titled Cultism and Management of Secondary Schools Questionnaire (CMSSQ) was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Mean and standard deviations to answer the research questions, while chi-square (X 2) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 levels of significances. The findings showed that cultism has an impact on the management of secondary schools in Makurdi Local Government Area. Based on the result of the findings, it was recommended that. Head teachers need to share their vision with other staff in the school as this improves primary school teachers' levels of job satisfaction. Also, a mentoring program is strongly recommended for newly appointed and underperforming serving head teachers.

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Cultism in Nigeria: Causes, Effects & Solutions

• Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
• Post published: February 26, 2024
• Post category: Scholarly Articles

Cultism in Nigeria: Causes, Effects And Solutions: Just before Nigeria attained her Independence in 1960, there were a lot of activistic movements majorly projected at extinguishing the control of the colonialists over the people of Nigeria. Of course, some more than others took an amicable route of expressing their desire to see a united Nigeria as a liberated country.

Wole Soyinka was one of those who wanted Nigerians to inculcate the values of the Nigerian heritage. He was eager to see youths take pride in their roots and ultimately promote the sense of belonging and nationality. This was the main point agenda of the first ever social association (Cult group) called The Pirates Confraternity Elite of the University College, Ibadan which was formed by said Wole Soyinka in 1952.

Historically speaking, this was a step in the right direction for the Nigerian youths who were equally passionate about the nation’s freedom and the rights of her true citizens. However as the group grew so did egos and self centeredness began to grow. There was no longer unity of purpose and the main agenda was ignored by some members of the society which automatically caused the unit to split up.

Rebellious members were expelled for not conforming to the Confraternity’s standards and they formed a different association called the National Association of Seadogs around the 1970s.  Fast forward to contemporary times, the origin of all the famous secret societies is glued to the division and the consequent agenda. What was supposed to be a non violent Social Association gradually metamorphosed into sort of a militarized structure of people coupled with fiendish activities and quite basically, criminality.

As time progressed, these cult groups totally disregarded the main point agenda which was to preserve the heritage of their country and focused on protecting their own self interests. These cult groups began to proliferate in tertiary and more sadly, secondary institutions. The spread of cultism extended beyond educational institutions as the youths continued to be invested in the vile practices.

But what is the main message of any secret society? Notwithstanding how much cult groups rival against one another, the universal purpose of existence is to protect the individual interests of all members in the group by any means necessary. The unity of agenda is purely defending any member’s interest whether it will lead to destruction of lives and/or properties. How times have passed.

Now all cult groups are viewed as unholy associations of which any participation will lead to legal sanctions and prosecution. Indeed Cultism is nothing more than an organization of incubated criminals that has been outlawed whether in schools or largely this country.

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Table of Contents

Causes of Cultism in Nigeria

It is not nitpicking to say that Cultism is not an original choice for anyone to wish to participate in. The tragic part however is that there are factors that simply are not to be considered frivolous which make a person, male or female to join a secret society. Let’s examine the obvious causes:

1. Poor parental upbringing: Any child who engages in cultism is known to come from an inbalanced home. It is one of many things; Either the parents are divorced or neither parent has adequate time for their wards or the children are not properly trained, monitored or cared for.

It goes without saying that if parents play their roles properly, their children will not run into the wrong company or feel more appreciated elsewhere. They will not seek security, love and assurance from anti social associations.

2. Peer pressure: A lot of people have spoken so well about this factor. It is not possible to rule out Peer Pressure, especially when it comes to adolescents who are characteristically known to be rebellious and want to find acceptance from their peers.

Similarly, most students are forced into joining out of their unwillingness because of threats from their colleagues who are already in the system.

Also see: Causes, effects and solutions to Brain Drain in Nigeria

3. Lack of proper Orientation for the students and the general public: Majority of those arrested for homicide, rape, armed robbery and the like are linked in some shape or form with Cultism.

This is why there’s a large troop of youths joining secret societies. It is because there is no adequate training and orientation given not only to students but the general public. Until there is enough training of students and youths in general about the dangers of Cultism, there will be a never ending practice.

4. False sense of low self esteem is another reason why youths get involved in Cultism. It is all in effort to feel amongst intimidating colleagues as a blanket to cover their insecurities.

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Effects of Cultism in Nigeria

The consequences of involvement in cult activities are endless and inevitable. Apart from the reputational damage one will suffer in a long run when he or she is easily associated with past participation in a secret society, there are more grievous ramifications. Some of which include; Destruction of lives and properties.

This is the case when rival cult groups clash leading to severe injuries or in worst case scenario, death. Not only do these killings happen among the cult groups but it leads to loss of innocent lives.

The latter usually occurs when the victim is uninterested in joining the cult group despite various demands. School activities get disrupted because of the high level of threat these criminal acts pose to the entire institution.

Eventually, this leads to a decline in academic performance of not only the students who engage in these practices but the worrying students who are constantly distabilised by possible future attacks.

They have no assurance of their safety in an institution solely established for learning. Properties are destroyed or vandalized by the cultists in a sheer display of their dissatisfaction with a policy. Staff are intimidated to do their biddings. These activities are not only restricted to schools.

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Cultism also plays heavily in the society among top influential figures. Whether in the traditional, professional or political sectors, you will find a good number of high class workers derive security in involving themselves in Cultism. How does one expect such people to discourage the practice in Schools and elsewhere?

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Possible solutions To Cultism

Finding a solution is not a problem. The question is whether the suggestions presented as solutions are close to feasible. Over the years, astute writers and speakers have intelligently opined that certain strict measures should be put in place to curb Cultism once and for all. These include legal measures, appropriate sanctions and accomplished prosecution.

Others have suggested that the school institutions should have stricter policies against cult practices. The latest suggestion known to this writer is that a special administrative tribunal should be set up to deal with matters partaining to Cultism in schools.

While these are all agreeable points, the fact is that Cultism is a crime and just like other crimes, irrespective of the laws enacted proscribing reprehensible actions, the crime rate is not on steady decrease. This does not mean that government and private persons should rest on their laurels wishing for the eradication of Cultism. It is just a reiteration of the truth in the proverb “Charity begins at home”.

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Parents and guardians should inculcate discipline in their wards. They should strictly monitor the company they keep and advise them accordingly. They should not be so liberal with their children in regards to what they watch, where they go, the schools they attend. They should also orient their children on what is morally acceptable and otherwise. This also means they should give room for their wards to be heard without overly rebuking them for sharing their thoughts and perception.

Making a youth feel as though he or she is silly with even the littlest issue will remain a relationship breaker between parents and children. It will cause the children to seek protection and assurance elsewhere even though it is an anti social association.

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Sufficient orientation should be afforded to youths across Nigeria on the dangers of Cultism. And of course, to complement it all, vocalize the ramifications of getting involved in cult group activity according to stringent measures put in place by the Government.

In this writer’s honest opinion, Cultism is a shade of terrorism. It is an internal cankerworm in the fabric of a democratic society. This is not just because it involves contrary agenda to the overall object of establishing a government which is securing the peace and welfare of its people.

It is dangerous because it claims the lives of people whether members or innocent citizens. Everyone has a part to play in curbing Cultism. The Government, School institutions, Parents or Guardians, Academic Staff and the youths themselves can greatly contribute to achieving what many consider impossible.

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It may be far fetched to curb Cultism once and for all but if we all act according to our abilities, whether in vehemently writing or speaking against it or in exercising a higher power to silence those who are engaged, it will go a long way to bring it to an end. What we are witnessing is fairly newsworthy.

The Government and Institutions are enacting laws and regulations respectively to curb the menace. Other Orientation programmes have been on a fast track to deter youths involved to continue and those not yet in it to avoid the temptation.

One thing is certain; even those who do these unimaginable acts are young, vibrant and quite honestly, significant to the social growth and development of a society. The Government should provide job opportunities to the deserving youths and place them in comfortable roles. That will be an indication that there is always an alternative to wrong doing and there is no profit in doing what will endanger you and your fellow human beings. Will Cultism end? There is always the possibility.

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

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