ABSTRACT

The word 'cult' embodies the concept of undue influence in group behavior. The cult may be on the edge of a society and or religion and will be ideologically driven. For terrorists this ideology is the justification for the physical attacks on both infrastructure and humanity. Not all cults are terrorist cults and some only seek the right and space to be different from the mainstream of society in such as their thoughts, actions or dress. There are various categories of terrorist cults: political, religious, ideological, nationalist, state sponsored and single issue. Alternatively Hudson uses nationalist-separatist, religious fundamentalist, new religious and social revolutionary and right wing. Comparisons with cults from the 1970s are useful in understanding terrorist cults of today. The religious converts of the 1970s defied rational arguments and attempts to demonstrate alternative viewpoints and modern terrorist groups are equally irrational and are unlikely to act as predicted by rational analysis.