Difference between revisions of "Aum Shinrikyo"
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In March 1995, Asahara's sect attacked [[Tokyo]] subways with nerve gas, killing 13 people and injuring at least 6000.<ref>http://townhall.com/news/world/2012/01/20/japan_cult_member_charged_after_years_on_run</ref> The cult's leader was arrested; Asahara was put on trial in 1996 and sentenced to death in 2004, but has yet to be executed.<ref name=biog>http://www.biography.com/people/shoko-asahara-20900591</ref> Many cult members involved in the terrorist attack were also later executed. <ref name=retol/> | In March 1995, Asahara's sect attacked [[Tokyo]] subways with nerve gas, killing 13 people and injuring at least 6000.<ref>http://townhall.com/news/world/2012/01/20/japan_cult_member_charged_after_years_on_run</ref> The cult's leader was arrested; Asahara was put on trial in 1996 and sentenced to death in 2004, but has yet to be executed.<ref name=biog>http://www.biography.com/people/shoko-asahara-20900591</ref> Many cult members involved in the terrorist attack were also later executed. <ref name=retol/> | ||
| − | In 2002, the cult changed its name to ''Aleph'' | + | In 2002, the cult changed its name to ''Aleph'', and later split into two groups, Aleph and Hikarinowa. Current day cult members no longer support the former group's acts of terrorism, <ref name=biog/>but the Japanese government continues to keep the two groups, which still view Asahara as a prophet, under surveillance. <ref>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/24/national/crime-legal/aum-successor-groups-remain-surveillance-three-years</ref> |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 01:19, March 17, 2016
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese religious group founded in 1984 as a yoga club by Shoko Asahara, who proclaimed himself as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and Shiva. The sect's teachings include aspects from those of Christianity and Buddhism. The group is known as a dangerous cult and a terrorist group;[1] it and its members have committed or have been accused of being involved in numerous illegal acts, including kidnappings, assassinations, and murder. [2][3]
Cult members who desired to leave often couldn't. One cult member was abducted and killed in 1995 after trying to leave the sect. [4] Buddhist religious leaders have denounced the cult, saying that it is not a legitimate Buddhist sect.[2]
In March 1995, Asahara's sect attacked Tokyo subways with nerve gas, killing 13 people and injuring at least 6000.[5] The cult's leader was arrested; Asahara was put on trial in 1996 and sentenced to death in 2004, but has yet to be executed.[6] Many cult members involved in the terrorist attack were also later executed. [2]
In 2002, the cult changed its name to Aleph, and later split into two groups, Aleph and Hikarinowa. Current day cult members no longer support the former group's acts of terrorism, [6]but the Japanese government continues to keep the two groups, which still view Asahara as a prophet, under surveillance. [7]
References
- ↑ http://www.cfr.org/japan/aum-shinrikyo/p9238
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.religioustolerance.org/dc_aumsh.htm
- ↑ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/14/national/history/cult-attraction-aum-shinrikyos-power-persuasion/
- ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26478923
- ↑ http://townhall.com/news/world/2012/01/20/japan_cult_member_charged_after_years_on_run
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.biography.com/people/shoko-asahara-20900591
- ↑ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/24/national/crime-legal/aum-successor-groups-remain-surveillance-three-years
