Aum Shinrikyo by https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4 en-us 2022-12-21 15:26:22 UTC 2026-01-28 13:23:59 UTC hello@padlet.com Where & When? masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426782311 Aum Shinrikyo, a new Japanese religious movement, was formed in 1984 in Tokyo, Japan by Matsumoto Chizuo, known to his followers as Master Asahara Shoko.]]> 2022-12-21 15:31:35 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426782311 History & Mission masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426785555 Aum Shinrikyo, also known as Aum and Aleph, is a Japanese cult that combines beliefs from Buddhism, and Hinduism, and is obsessed with the apocalypse. Asahara preached that the end of the world was near and that it was believed that the apocalypse was to come in the early 2000's.]]> 2022-12-21 15:35:24 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426785555 What Was Aum Known For? masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426798375 Aum Shinrikyo is known as a terrorist organization for its sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995. During the morning hours, members of Aum put a liquid form of sarin (an extremely toxic synthetic organophosphorus compound), in tightly contained packages, designed to look like lunch boxes onto five cars on three separate subway lines that converged at the Kasumigaseki station. The members punctured the containers, releasing the liquid into the cars and station. Eyewitnesses said that subway entrances resembled "battlefields" as injured people lay struggling on the ground with blood gushing from their noses or mouths. 
Twelve members of Aum were sentenced to the death penalty, including their leader Asahara Shoko.]]> 2022-12-21 15:51:49 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426798375 masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426799108 2022-12-21 15:52:50 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2426799108 Conformity masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2431021792 when an individual tends to change their opinions, behaviors, attitudes and actions to fit the rest of the group. ]]> 2022-12-31 19:32:28 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2431021792 Aum's Conformity masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2432690128 Most of Aum's members were young graduates who were educated and on a track of science, heavily influenced by terrorist groups and pressure. Most graduates do not have a future commitment, and this is an opportunity for a commitment. (No prior commitment to a response) At the age that most of the young members were, they were impressed and respectful of the status, causing them to join with no real worries about their future. ]]> 2023-01-03 17:28:11 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2432690128 Aum Members masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2432721440 Currently, Aum consists of less than 1,000 members total, but at the time of the Tokyo attack they had 9,000 members in Japan and around 40,000 - 60,000 worldwide.  ]]> 2023-01-03 17:44:35 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2432721440 Group Think masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2433698900 Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of individuals reaches a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation of the consequences or alternatives]]> 2023-01-04 15:51:05 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2433698900 Aum's Group Think masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2435290161 Aum's group think consists mainly because of its directive leadership by Shoko Asahara, even though their cult had around 40,000 members at one point. Asahara was a very clear and authoritative leader, while also keeping their cult connected and aware of their surroundings, in other words their other members in Japan. ]]> 2023-01-06 02:32:09 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2435290161 Rules and Norms masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438297436 To join and stay in Aum, you had to except and believe in the spiritual path and participate in psychic-development exercises along with giving total control and devotion to their guru. There weren't many rules, except staying loyal and maintaining the trust and devotion.]]> 2023-01-09 19:01:20 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438297436 masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438300166 2023-01-09 19:03:12 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438300166 masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438302957 2023-01-09 19:05:01 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438302957 masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438311682 2023-01-09 19:11:03 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438311682 Factors that led to Cohesiveness masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438324542 The main factors that determine team cohesion are the similarity between members' interests, group size, and the threat of external competitors. For Aum, all the members interests were the same, as it was their goal; survive the apocalypse and figure out how to. The size of Aum was around 40,000 people, making it easy to share a similar idea. The threat to Aum was the rest of the population, those who didn't believe in the end of the world, or care. ]]> 2023-01-09 19:20:15 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438324542 Obedience to Authority masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438327039 Obedience to authority is the tendency people have to try to please those in charge.]]> 2023-01-09 19:22:02 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438327039 Aum's Obedience to Authority masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438339841 Since Aum is an extremely large cult, it would be difficult to have the leader directly involved with the whole cult. Shoko Asahara was mainly involved with the main cult group in Tokyo. The factors that make Obedience to Authority valid for Aum Shinrikyo, are that Asahara was extremely known as the highest figure of authority in the cult and had the highest status. Another factor is that the authority figure is present and participating by observing. Asahara would fill that role, directly in contact with his members and observing some groups in Tokyo. ]]> 2023-01-09 19:30:55 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438339841 Bystander Effect masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438370224 While the Bystander effect never happened with the cult, as the police responded to the scene, the Tokyo subway, almost immediately after receiving a call that people were extremely sick and hospitals were overflowing with patients. The police arrived to the scene where Aum sprayed and dumped the sarin, and animals and plants around the area were already dead. So, the initial call was immediate and there was no bystander. Hypothetically, if Aum attacked a public area where people were gathered, most people would not report it as they assume some else already did. ]]> 2023-01-09 19:52:17 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438370224 masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438373920 2023-01-09 19:55:10 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438373920 FLD & Aum's Group Think masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438379108 Throughout the documentary, Prophet's Prey, it is seen that they are an isolated, large, and controlled cult group, similar to Aum Shinrikyo. ]]> 2023-01-09 19:58:46 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438379108 Directive Leadership masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438390460 1. One thing that the two groups have in common is directive leadership. Aum Shinrikyo has directive leadership from Shoko Asahara, who formed the group as well as made himself known as one with God. He also made his members believe that he could speak to Christ and see the future. Warren, similar to Shoko, is a directive leader for his cult, FLD, and holds extreme power over his people. While Warren might not have founded his group, he has extreme power over it. Warren also made his people believe that he was one with Christ and God spoke through him. ]]> 2023-01-09 20:07:37 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438390460 Similarity in Members Backgrounds masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438413971 2. Another thing the two groups have in common is their members' similarity in backgrounds. While Aum's members are mostly college students or graduate's with good educations, they are all similar. They all have educations in science, no future commitments and no worries about their future. While Warrens members consisted of mostly young women and all Mormons who believed in the sick habits of Warren. All of their members shared a similar view and mindset that they wanted to follow, or one that their leader told them to follow. ]]> 2023-01-09 20:26:19 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438413971 High Stress from External Threats masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438422470 3. One last thing they had in common was their view on their external threats. Warren believed that the world was out to get him and isolated his group in secluded area's of Utah. While the government is after the FLD, the stress is high as they are trying to wipe Warren and his group out. Aum, see's the end of the world as their biggest threat. Both of their stressors are extremely large and high stress, one able to destroy the whole cult (the government) and the other, a conspiracy that causes extreme paranoia and power. Both of their external threats are ones that could ruin their cults.]]> 2023-01-09 20:34:11 UTC https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438422470 Cites Box masonwestgate https://padlet.com/masonwestgate/y4w30jo5kl1qo1j4/wish/2438434239 FLD: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/fundamentalist-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints

SARIN GAS ATTACK: https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2001/06/sarin-gas-attack-japan-and-related-forensic-investigation

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tokyo-subways-are-attacked-with-sarin-gas

AUM & ASAHARA SHOKO: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Asahara-Shoko

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/aum-shinrikyo

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