5 Vulgar Movements That Crossed All Limits

Beyond Reason: Are all cults related to satanic practices?

Cults are having a cultural moment as they make a comeback through pop culture. For instance, ‘The Path’ on Hulu became an instant hit. Combined with the upcoming Waco miniseries and countless other such documentaries and entertainment productions has led to the epic rise in popularity of cults and the mystical allure surrounding their often horrifying stories.

Still, we cannot seem to turn away from the manipulative and gory details. Then the premiere of ‘American Horror Story; Cult’ adds fuel to the fire as it offers insight into the lives of notorious cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh.

So, for any true crime addict, or someone who is into gore and horror, this article will surely be a rush! Time to dive into understanding, how cults operated in history.

1- Children of God — Promoting Pedophilia

‘Children of God’ who called themselves ‘The International Family.’This comes top of the list since it started in 1968, and the Cult is still ongoing. People still join it, till the present day, and believe it to be their one true salvation.

This is a communist offshoot that was founded by David Berg. It has spread to approximately 80 countries and continues to spread like wildfire under different names.

The most recent of which was ‘The Family International in 2004. Grip onto your seat now because you are about to be shocked! Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan were both born into this cult! But they chose to leave like any sensible person would have.

Berg was notorious for his agenda of ‘Flirty Fishing,’ where women in the cult used intercourse to lure people into the cult. Which is an incredibly messed up and sex-centric approach.

The followers of the cult even opposed anti-pedophilia laws. They did not only have intercourse with children but considered it their divine right!

Talk about sick tendencies and rituals that have gone too far. Berg, the leader of this group, was a bizarre but genius master of propaganda.

He distributed catchy pamphlets, writing slogans among his members to keep them hooked. For instance, pictures of naked cult members called ‘Nudie cuties’ were made into bookmarks for the bible.

Surely, it makes one wonder about the morally correct ways to spread the message of Jesus.

2- The Tragedy of Heaven’s Gate

Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles founded this completely bonkers cult. They made people believe that they could move on to heaven through alien spacecraft. They once convinced around 20 people to leave their homes, give away all their worldly possessions, and live like homeless people.

These people were thought to be missing by the authorities until they were found camping underground in Rhode Island and Oklahoma thinking they were traveling to their salvation.

And this is not even the most horrific part. The real tragedy happened in March 1877. Applewhite convinced his followers to orchestrate a mass suicide. They even recorded a video beforehand in which they claimed they were happy and wanted to do this ritual to achieve eternal happiness.

They dressed up in black tunics and new black-and-white Nikes then consumed applesauce spiked with sedatives and chased that down with vodka. They had also covered their heads with plastic bags.

When Nike was asked to comment on the incident and the common shoe model Decades worn by all the people who died. The brand, cleared that this tragedy was indeed sorrowful but Nike had nothing to do with it.

Some of the 18 men who died, including Applewhite the leader were even found to be surgically castrated since celibacy was promoted in the cult.

3- The Peoples Temple

Jim Jones set out to form an egalitarian(advocacy for equality) and utopian society. His agenda was to gather people so they could build a progressive society where he could also start homes for the elderly and those with mental illnesses.

Then how did everything go so wrong? People were attracted to this idea of a utopian society and 900 people joined the cause.

Thus, the Peoples Temple in Indiana. Jones then set off to Guyana where he settled in an agricultural commune with his family and followers to avoid media scrutiny.

However one of his followers tipped off the media about rehearsals of mass suicide led by Jones. So, Congressman Leo Ryan, three journalists, and a defector set out to investigate. They were shot and killed.

Immediately after this, Jones ordered all 909 of his followers to drink a cyanide-laced drink, leading to a great massacre, turning Jim Jones into a notorious mass murderer.

4- Koresh and his ‘Spiritual Wives’

Known as the Branch Davidians, this cult was founded by the notorious David Koresh. He believed all women, including underage girls or married women to be his ‘spiritual wives,’ which makes one question the perverse roots of these so-called religious groups.

He claimed to interpret the Bible uniquely and taught his followers the doctrines related to life and religion. To top it further, he also self-claimed himself as the last prophet.

Some of these ‘wives’ were as young as 10 years old! However, the real tragedy was when Koresh convinced his followers to settle in a sprawling compound in Waco, Texas. Here, the Department of Firearms and Tobacco raided the place.

There was a 51-day standoff between the authorities and Koresh’s followers who were suspected of hoarding weapons. This shootout resulted in over 80 fatalities as tanks were brought in and the compound was filled with tear gas. This confrontational, event on April 19, 1993, is famously called the Waco siege now.

Sex Crazed Sullivanians

Like all cults, this one also encouraged its followers to distance themselves from friends and family so no one can talk some sense into them apparently.

This was founded by Saul Newton and was located in Orlando. The basic setup of this cult was the leader acting as a therapist despite having no formal qualifications to do so.

All followers engaged in polyamorous relationships and children born from these unions were sent off to boarding schools. By the 1970s, this group had around 500 members. However, its allure fizzled out and it died along with its leader in the 1990s.

Fact-Checking Cult Concepts

These are just the tip of the iceberg. There are still numerous cults and such groups that operate worldwide.

They brainwash people into thinking they could be salvaged if they perform such extreme rituals that often end up in fatal outcomes. But how can people so easily be manipulated into believing such things?

How can one lose oneself so completely as to commit suicide? Why are people so obsessed with the idea of salvation and how can they go to such extreme lengths to achieve it?

Let me know how did you find these 5 times in history when these supposedly spiritual groups crossed all bounds. Where their leaders manipulated the cult’s followers. And ultimately, there were dire and fatal consequences, often gruesome and bloody.

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