Cults

The Wiki definition of Cults goes on to say that “Groups labelled "cults" range in size from local groups with a few members to international organizations with millions.”

I find the existence of cults to be very interesting. As a broadcast journalist in the 60s, 70s and 80s I had the opportunity to dive deep into the popular cults of that period.

“Children of God,” “The Unification Church,” “Heaven’s Gate “ and “Rajneesh” had followers in Oregon at the time and it seemed like a good time to find out why these groups were attractive to believers.

The question has again come up as people are surprised about the dedication so many have to MAGA’s Donald Trump.

I learned the word “belong” had a lot to do with the choice to join a cult. Especially a religious cult called,“ The Children of God.”

The story goes that ”David Brandt Berg, a charismatic preacher, formed The Children of God in 1968. He believed the apocalypse was near and urged believers to survive on basic necessities by giving up their money and personal possessions to the group's leaders.”

Young people at that time wanted to belong to a group that shared the values they picked up in the 60s. It was important that they shared the same beliefs. The leader told those who joined what they would believe and strictly watched over the believers to make sure they didn’t waiver from the that system of beliefs.

Then there was Heaven’s Gate.

We were one of the first to explore this cult led by the team of Bo and Peep. We put a reporter in one of their meetings in Waldport on Oregon’s coast. Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles were telling would be followers to give up all worldly possessions in order to evolve to a higher form of life.

Our team won a National Headliners Award for our documentary series on the cult because we got much of their sales pitch on tape.

Heaven’s Gate believers finally achieved their transformation in the 90s when 39 active members were found dead from mass suicide in a San Diego suburb. It was labeled a UFO cult because their spirits would link up with aliens traveling on the Hale-Bopp comet that was nearing Earth at the time. Their website stated “We are happily prepared to leave 'this world' and go with the crew."

The Unification Church gained popularity among US followers in the 70s. The believers became known as Moonies.

Sun Myung Moon created the group after World War Two. He said he and his wife were the second coming of Christ. Some Christians joined on that belief alone. Critics called it a dangerous cult, a political powerhouse and a business empire.

As we entered the 80s, Wasco County, Oregon became the home of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh..

He was a critic of mainstream religion and became knows as the “Sex Guru” because of a more progressive attitude toward sexuality. That’s when he and India’s rulers parted ways and he headed to Oregon.

That ended in 1984 when his personal secretary was found to be involved in a mass food poisoning attempt, an aborted assassination plot against Oregon’s US Attorney General and an attempted murder of the Bhagwan’s personal physician. He was deported back to India in 1986.

I went away believing that a cult headed up by an “all knowing” leader can be dangerous.

Look at the Jonestown Massacre where cult leader Jim Jones was responsible for the mass murder-suicide of over 900 members of the People’s Temple.

Add that to the deaths of 76 Branch Dividians after a fire at their complex during a federal raid.

The power of belonging is too strong for those who join cults.

They will follow their leader to death if he so instructs.

And make no mistake. Cults are powerful, dangerous and in most cases don’t end well when they begin to come apart.

The Trump loss of an election, charges of election fraud and the subsequent January 6th march on Washington is a good example of a cult coming apart.

Yes … a cult can be as large as a major political party bent on destroying democracy.

(Audio drops in the recorded version of this story are from the YouTube video “Mind Control Made Easy or (How to Become a Cult Leader) “ by Carey Burt Films)