Westmont Professor Delves into the Appeal of Cults

Westmont sociology professor Ron Enroth is no stranger to some of the world’s most unusual religions. In fact, he’s appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts, including NBC Nightly News and Oprah as an expert cult consultant. Enroth penned, “Youth, Brainwashing and the Extremist Cults” six months before the Jonestown massacre in 1978, the mass suicide that put the word “cult” on the map. He warned of other dangerous religions before the tragedies in Waco and with Heaven’s Gate. In 1982, he received the Leo J. Ryan Commemorative Award given annually to the individual who focuses public attention on the dangers of destructive cults.

His new book, “A Guide To New Religious Movements” goes beyond a theological debate and looks at the beliefs and appeal of new religions. Enroth limits his use of the word “cult,” instead choosing a less offensive term to have a more meaningful interaction and dialogue with believers of nontraditional religions.

Included in the book are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Baha’i, the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism and an interesting look at yoga and its roots in Hinduism. The catch phrase these days is “spiritual” rather than “religious.” “A Guide to New Religious Movements” also looks into the spiritual power of neopaganism and the appeal of UFOs and New Age religion.

Enroth is currently preparing for fall classes on the Westmont campus. To schedule an interview or to check on his availability, please contact Scott Craig in the Public Affairs office at (805)565-6051.