These crazy “religions” redefine the meaning of cults

Religions and cults are characterized by practicing admiration of certain values and paying tribute to a superior being. Most known religions were created thousands of years ago, so it’s quite normal to find some traditions odd or antiquated, especially in really orthodox creeds.

But us humans never stop evolving and so our beliefs. In this postmodern world, full of potential figures to praise, weird stuff can happen. Invisible Pink Unicorn, is a great example, the religion was founded by an atheist group as a satire, and rumors say among its devotees that this goddess steals socks. 

However, there’s a clear line between odd and dangerous, unfortunately, cults have historically been related to deranged and menacing practices. Stealing socks seems pretty harmless, but what happens when a serial killer like Charles Manson is the figure to praise? 

Manson Family: Orgies, LSD, and Murder 

The Manson Family was the name of Charles Manson’s cult, whose followers were mostly hippies & young women in their 20’s, brainwashed by a supposed race war that Manson said was coming. They all lived at Spahn Ranch, the remains of a film & television set located at San Fernando Valley. 

The cult was known for orgies, LSD, and murder. Manson and his followers declared to have killed thirty-five people and buried the bodies in the desert. In the summer of 1969, nine people were killed by them, including Roman Polansky’s wife Sharon Tate, who was pregnant at the time.

Once upon a time…In Hollywood directed by Quentin Tarantino, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie depicts what happened that terrifying night with a twist that moves this story from reality, but makes it a happier one. 

Creativity movement: The Neo-Nazi church 

The creativity movement was founded in Illinois by Ben Klassen, a racist, in 1973. Also known as the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC), it’s a common racial religion, which considers the white race as the most precious treasure in the world and the highest expression of civilization. 

This religion invites its followers to a RAHOWA “racial holy war” that consists of committing hate crimes towards non-whites. In fact, they have a place in the list of Neo-Nazi organizations by the Southern Poverty Law Center. 

After several internal issues, the movement lost strength in the early 2000s, however, it testifies the reach that hate & racism can still have. 

Sullivanians: NYC West Side polyamorous cult 

The Sullivan institute was a psychotherapy cult that condemned traditional families and the role of mothers played by women. The cult was founded by Saul Newton in the 1950s on the NYC West Side. The cult’s ideology merged communism, psychotherapy, and marxism. 

Ex-members testified that they were obligated to share their bed with new partners every night. Permission was needed to have children, and multiple men must be involved in the conception. Once the children were born they spent more time with communal babysitters than with their biological parents.

Obviously, finances were controlled, collected, and conducted to the cults fund, also, all cult members were obligated to have “therapy” weekly, where they were told by Newton to cut all family and external connections.

The cult used theater shows as propaganda to recruit new members, fortunately, it all seemed to finish with Newton’s death in 1991.

Scientology: The religion of the stars 

Scientology is the most successful religion of the last 100 years. Founded by the sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard in 1954, the religion is currently represented by David Miscavige. Scientology is a belief that envisions each human as a sensitive mind that reacts to trauma, (some of them from past lives). 

Devotees pass through a process called “auditing” in order to solve and understand past lives, which consists of technological exposure therapy through devices called “e-meters” which aren’t approved by the scientific community.  

It’s also known as a tax-exempt status church, as well as a religion followed by celebrities like Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Jenna Elfman. 

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Do you know other crazy cults & religions? Tell us in the comments.