Understanding Cults

Portrait of American religious leader Jim Jones (1931 - 1978), the founder of the People's Temple, and his wife, Marceline Jones (1927 - 1978), seated in front of their adopted children.

Cults have been around for thousands of years, and they exist throughout the world, but when news reports break about a cult, it often seems like they have sprung up out of nowhere. For this week's Please Explain, we will be examining the world of cults. Ian Haworth of the Cult Information Centre and Dr. Steve K.D. Eichel, president of the International Cultic Studies Association discuss what a cult is, why people join them and how to exit one.