Reflections on aum shinrikyo

Abstract

Abstract On March 20, 1995, Aum Shinrikyo, the fanatical Japanese cult, released lethal sarin gas on five Tokyo subway trains, killing 12 people and injuring more than 5,000. This article explores some of the psychological currents involving the guru, Shoko Asahara, his disciples, and the guru-disciple relationships within a violent theology. It also raises more general questions about groups crossing a threshold from anticipating Armageddon to attempting to bring it about.