Citation

Lifton RJ. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2004; 9(1-2): 57-66.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J146v09n01_05

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Aum Shinrikyo and its guru, Shoko Asahara, burst into world consciousness in 1995 when the cult released sarin, a highly lethal nerve gas, into the Tokyo subway. Aum Shinrikyo emerged from the apocalyptic underbelly of Japanese society, but there is little that is uniquely Japanese about it. It epitomizes a category of cult led by a megalomanic guru who guided his disciples into induced mystical experiences in pursuit of his apocalyptic vision of renewing the world spiritually by initiating World War III and bringing about a biblical Armageddon.