Sinister cults have been a dark part of human history, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. From the notorious Manson Family to the lesser-known Family International, the stories of these cults continue to captivate and terrify us. In this article, we delve into the practices and beliefs of 10 such cults, including the mass suicide of over 900 members of the Peoples Temple in Guyana and the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by Aum Shinrikyo. These stories serve as a reminder of the dangers of blind faith and extreme beliefs and the importance of remaining vigilant and questioning any group that demands blind loyalty and devotion.
10 Sinister Cults That Will Give You the Creeps
Throughout history, there have been numerous cases of sinister cults that have left the world in shock with their practices and beliefs. While some may argue that these organizations are just misunderstood, there can be no denying that their actions have left a trail of destruction in their wake. From the infamous Manson Family to the lesser-known Order of the Solar Temple, the stories of these cults continue to captivate and terrify us. In this article, we take a closer look at 10 sinister cults that will give you the creeps.
1. The Manson Family
The Manson Family was a cult led by Charles Manson that gained notoriety in the late 1960s for their brutal murders. Manson, who believed that he was a messiah of sorts, convinced his followers to commit a series of gruesome crimes in the hopes of starting a race war. The most notorious of these murders was the killing of Sharon Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, who was eight months pregnant at the time. Manson and his followers were eventually caught and put on trial, but the damage had already been done. The Manson Family is one of the most well-known and feared cults in history.
2. Heaven’s Gate
Heaven’s Gate was a cult that believed in the existence of a UFO that would transport them to a higher plane of existence. Led by Marshall Applewhite, the cult members believed that they needed to rid themselves of their earthbound bodies in order to ascend to a higher level. In March 1997, 39 members of the cult were found dead in a California mansion. They had all purposely overdosed on a cocktail of drugs in a mass suicide that shocked the world.
3. Peoples Temple
The Peoples Temple was a cult led by Jim Jones that gained notoriety in the late 1970s for the mass suicide of over 900 of its members in Guyana. Jones, who believed that he was a messiah, convinced his followers to move to the jungle and establish a new community. When US authorities began to investigate the cult, Jones ordered his followers to drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid in a ritual known as “revolutionary suicide.” The tragedy at Jonestown is still one of the deadliest single incidents in American history.
4. The Order of the Solar Temple
The Order of the Solar Temple was a cult led by Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret that believed in an apocalypse that would lead to their transformation into beings of pure light. The cult was responsible for a number of murders and mass suicides in the 1990s. The most notorious of these was the killing of a former member’s infant son, whom the cult believed was the Antichrist. The cult also carried out mass suicides in Switzerland and Canada in 1994 and 1995.
5. Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo was a cult led by Shoko Asahara that was responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack. Asahara preached a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism and claimed to be a messiah. The cult was responsible for a number of murders and attempted assassinations prior to the subway attack. The attack, which killed 13 people and injured over 5,000, shocked the world and led to the eventual downfall of the cult.
6. The Process Church of the Final Judgment
The Process Church of the Final Judgment was a cult that was founded in the UK in the 1960s. The cult believed in a blend of Christianity, Satanism, and Eastern mysticism. They believed in the existence of four beings, known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who would bring about the end of the world. The cult was known for its eerie black robes and its association with the Manson Family.
7. The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was a cult that was active in Uganda in the 1990s. The cult espoused a blend of Catholicism and local beliefs and believed that the world would end in the year 2000. When the apocalypse failed to materialize, the leaders of the cult ordered the mass murder of over 1,000 of its members in a fire and poison attack.
8. The Children of God
The Children of God was a cult that was founded in the 1960s in California. The cult was known for its practice of “flirty fishing,” where female members would use sex to recruit new members. The cult also espoused a belief in the imminent end of the world and the necessity of preparing for the apocalypse. The cult was known for its extreme views on sexuality and child rearing.
9. Branch Davidians
The Branch Davidians were a cult that was led by David Koresh and was based in Waco, Texas. The cult believed that Koresh was a messiah and that the world would end in a fiery apocalypse. When the US government attempted to raid the cult’s compound in 1993, a shootout ensued that left four ATF agents and six cult members dead. The standoff lasted for 51 days and ended in a fire that killed 76 cult members.
10. The Family International
The Family International was a cult that was founded in the 1960s in California. The cult was known for its practice of “spiritual sex” and its belief that traditional morality was a tool of the devil. The cult also believed in the imminent end of the world and the necessity of preparing for the apocalypse. The cult has been accused of child abuse and has been linked to a number of criminal activities over the years.
Conclusion
The stories of these 10 sinister cults are a chilling reminder of the dangers of blind faith and extreme beliefs. While the allure of belonging to a close-knit community may seem appealing, it is important to remember that there is a fine line between devotion and fanaticism. It is up to us to remain vigilant and question the motives behind any group that demands blind loyalty and devotion.