Aum Shinrikyo Essay

The movement comprised of young and elite individuals who wanted to live a more decent and meaningful life. Asahara who was the founder of the group proclaimed that he was the only one who was enlightened after Buddha and due to this; all the activities in the movement were run under his command and beliefs. Shoko Asahara used his popularity and authority and the title of being the only “enlightened one” to preach to people to join the Aum movement. Asahara claimed that those people who did not join the movement would not survive the apocalypse which was about to unfold. Asahara predicted that the world was coming to an end either in 1996 or between 1999 and 2003. The recent activity of eviction of 58 members who were holding a meeting in a private hotel in Montenegro Balkan state is an evidence of the cult’s expansion in territories.

This shows that the movement is still active and expanding its influence swiftly. As such, this research paper will focus on the different characteristics that make Aum Shinrikyo unique from other religious extremist groups (Repp, 2014, p. The main source of money came from the laboratories responsible for the production of toxins used as weapons. Shoko Asahara who was popularly known as Master Asahara by the believers was born on 2nd March 1955 in a family of a humble background. This explains why the movement always believed in violent, actually violence and the belief about the end of the world was the core belief of the movement’s faith (Repp, 2004, p. They believed that salvation would come after the end of the world and those who will be saved are those who have adhered to the Aum faith.

The movement remained a yoga group until 1989 when the government of Tokyo granted it the authority to operate as official religious cooperation. This makes the group avoid taxes and it was also now immune from prosecution and investigations. This is in accordance with the Japanese corporation law which does not allow the investigation of religious groups and their doctrines. The vehicle was driven along the imperial palace and other government buildings in central Tokyo. In the same spirit, the cult organized other attacks which were not successful because they were sensed before they could be executed. Asahara led a team of sixteen doctors to Congo, a trip which was supposed to be a medical trip but the actual purpose of the trip was to bring Ebola viruses with the aim of using it in weapons and continue the motive or destruction and killings (Sugishimi, 2011, p.

The cult begun a terror campaign in 1994, the members used Sarin carried in the track using a computer-controlled system in Matsumoto found in north Tokyo. The attack killed 7 people leaving more than 500 other affected. This seemed like the end of the group but then emerged Asahara’s close friend who had been released from prison. Joyu Fumihiro was very much respected among the cult members that Asahara gave him a holy name “Maitreya” which meant the future Buddha. This was seen as an anointing from the Asahara. Joyu changed the name of the movement from Aum to Aleph to mark the new beginning for the movement. The leader also suggested that the cult would change its doctrines and stop all the dangerous teachings. On the other hand, the Shukkesha remaining with Aleph adopted the previous teachings and practices of Aum Shinrikyo with few changes.

Additionally, up they have no official representative, and they have been cherishing a degree of secrecy in relation to its activities. From the historical analysis, it is evident that Aum Shinrikyo is a radical religious movement. Firstly, this is depicted by the aggressive demonstration that the group members undertook before Aum was recognized as a religion in Japan. Secondly, after its recognition, Aum was reportedly involved in crimes although at a relatively smaller scale. doi:10. acprof:oso/9780195335972. Repp, M. Aum Shinrikyo and the Aum Incident.  Controversial New Religions, 153-194. doi:10. ebd0011 Sugishimi, M. Aum Shinrikyo and The Aleph.  Encyclopedia of Bioterrorism Defense. doi:10.