Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

aum-shinrikyo

Noun

ōm shīn-rē-kē-ō

Definition

Aum Shinrikyo is a Japanese doomsday cult founded in the mid-1980s by Shoko Asahara, known for its belief in a unique combination of Buddhism, Christianity, and apocalyptic prophecy.

Examples

Aum Shinrikyo claimed that it could bring about the end of the world and that its followers would be saved.
In the wake of the Aum Shinrikyo attacks, there was significant public outcry and increased scrutiny of cults in Japan.

Meaning

The name ‘Aum’ is derived from a sacred sound in Hinduism, while ‘Shinrikyo’ means ‘Supreme Truth’ in Japanese. The cult gained notoriety for its violent actions, most infamously a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995.