The Story Behind the 40 Scariest Cults in History

This article was originally published on avocadoposts.com and has been republished here with permission.

Most people usually use the word “Cult” to refer to a sort of unconventional religion that worships demonic deities. In truth, a cult (or sect in some countries) is defined as a group of people who pay homage to someone, this being the leader, a thing, or an ideology. Although it is important to mention that not all cults are necessarily always bad, in this article we have selected a list of some of the most frightening cults that have ever existed, either because of the ideas they preached or because of the damage they caused in society. You’ve probably heard of the Manson family or UFO believers, well, here we will get to know a little more about them.

The Sullivanians

The cult was founded in 1957 by Saul B. Newton and his wife, Dr. Jane Pearce in New York. The members of this cult were highly encouraged to have relationships with each other and discarded monogamy as obsolete. In addition, they were advised to cut all kinds of ties with relatives who were not adept since they thought that Western family values were a cause for mental illness.

Both Newton and his wife exercised complete control of the members of the sect, including their professions, how to spend their free time and what type of education to provide their children.

The Order of the Solar Temple

All the philosophy under which this organization is preached has its origins in the ideology of the Knights Templar, a military order that converted people to Catholicism during the crusades. Luc Jouret and Joseph Di Mambro were the ones who founded it in the 1980s with the aim of forcing its members to contribute large sums of money under the promise that they would go to heaven.

In addition to this, its members were convinced that ascension to the kingdom of heaven could only be achieved by burning to death, thus causing many followers to inflict self-harm.

Nxivm

This sect became quite well known because it involved people from the entertainment industry in Hollywood. The actress Allison Mack, who had worked on the series “Smallville” worked with the leader of the sect to recruit women for trafficking and white slavery. Keith Raniere, the leader of the cult, founded the organization in 1984 in New York. He was in charge of attracting women through blackmail or threatening techniques.

After being found guilty, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison. Mack, on her part, was sentenced to only three years in prison as a reward for working with the authorities.

Osho

His real name was Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, but he became known as Osho in the spiritual community. His main goal was to teach adepts about philosophy, religion, and free love while promising them paradise in return. The orange robes worn by this group of followers made them immediately identifiable. Due to a severe disagreement with the government, the group was forced to leave India and relocate to Oregon, USA, giving rise to the Rajneeshpuram community.

Citizens and leaders from Rajneeshpuram were behind the Rajneeshee bioterrorist attacks and the Rajneeshee assassination plot during the 80’s, in which they planned to assassinate US Attorney Charles Turner.