As the 1980s began, Terri Hoffman and her followers seemed to be flying high. But after several people associated with Terri suffered mysterious deaths, her organization faced accusations of brainwashing, theft, and murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the 1970s, Terri Hoffman went from high school drop-out to leading New Age mystic. Her Dallas-based organization, the Conscious Development of Body, Mind, and Soul, targeted affluent residents…and their wallets. But as her influence grew, so did suspicions about her shady practices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In June of 1888, John Alexander Dowie moved his family to the United States to found the holy city of Zion. He envisioned the Illinois town as a paradise, but soon his immense wealth clouded his judgment, and Dowie came crashing down to Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
His drive for independence eventually led him to create a spiritual movement all of his own in the late 1800s. After founding the Divine Healing Association, John Alexander Dowie went from a discontented minister to a leading figure in Australia’s faith healer movement. But money and success would eventually be his downfall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Founded by Charles “Chuck” Anderson in the Wisconsin Dells in 1992, Endeavor Academy was a religious group claiming to be able to lead its students to enlightenment. But as Endeavor’s public profile grew, so did the controversy surrounding it—with allegations of abuse that some claim drove multiple members to suicide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Founded by software guru Frederick Lenz in 1981, the Rama Cult operated in the Los Angeles and Tri State areas until 1998. Lenz referred to himself as "Rama," and claimed to be able to lead his acolytes to wealth and enlightenment—but has been accused of psychologically manipulating those who trusted him most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Founded by Gary Douglas in the 1990s, “Access Consciousness” went from a mystical meditation clinic to an international media empire. This movement attracted tens of thousands of followers a year, and eventually earned Gary an estimated net worth of $1.5 million dollars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Cults today and for the foreseeable future. We thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. Operating in France from 2001 to 2004, members of the New Lighthouse Movement believed that after the apocalypse, humanity would ascend to heaven with the help of Aliens. This ascension could only be possible with the help of their founder, Arnaud Mussy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
He built the Dera Sacha Sauda by exploiting the people who trusted him most. Though news of Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s abuse first reached Indian authorities in 2002, his political connections kept him safe from arrest. But over the years, his violent fanaticism continued to escalate—until he couldn't hide anymore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In 1990, Gurmeet Ram Rahim became the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda movement. Originally, the group promoted charity and taught meditation practices, but under Gurmeet, its activities became significantly darker. Eventually, Gurmeet had over 60 million followers, who he exploited for his every desire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
If you enjoy the stories told in Cults , check out this episode from our series Female Criminals : In 1911, Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard took her cruel alternative medicine practices to a new level by opening her infamous sanitarium in Washington—which locals would dub "Starvation Heights.” There, Linda continued her abuse and fraud by financially exploiting and starving wealthy British heiresses, Dora and Claire Williamson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
If you enjoy the stories told in Cults , check out this episode from our series Female Criminals : She was a turn-of-the-20th century medical practitioner who preached starvation as a method of curing disease. But it was Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard’s childhood exposure to fad remedies that shaped her interest in alternative medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
According to leader Pyotr Kuznetsov, the world would end in May 2008, so in November 2007 he proposed his group move to an underground cave and wait out the apocalypse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Based on his belief that religious institutions had been sullied by modern practices, this apocalyptic cult aimed to cleanse themselves by abandoning their families and possessions, and living as a roving group of dumpster-divers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the late 60s, Charles Manson preached that the end of the world would come about due to an apocalyptic race war, which he dubbed "Helter Skelter." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What do UFOs, Abraham Lincoln, and God making his television debut have in common? They’re all strangely linked to the Chen Tao cult, and the imminent nuclear apocalypse prophesied by leader Hon-Ming Chen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
He gave numerous dates for the apocalypse, but none resulted in the end of the world. But it did result in the eventual formation of the Seventh-day Adventist movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
He said that life on earth would end on May 21st, 2011. When it didn’t, he amended his date to October 21st, 2011. It didn’t end then either. Meet Harold Camping, a Christian radio evangelist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As society approached the year 2000, there was worry about a Y2K bug that might cripple technology. But there was also fear that cults with doomsday prophecies would do whatever it took to fulfill them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today we’re looking at the Sullivan Institute founded by Saul B. Newton and his wife, Dr. Jane Pearce in 1957. It was designed to be an alternative to the traditional nuclear family—part therapy center, part polyamorous commune. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Franz Edmund Creffield was the leader of the Brides of Christ church. Often referred to as the Holy Rollers, members were known to roll on the floor pleading, for God’s forgiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Along with his brother Yaaqob, Yisrayl Hawkins founded the House of Yahweh in 1980. They produced their own version of the bible and made numerous predictions that did not come true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The three main points in Ryuho Okawa’s teachings are love, enlightenment, and the creation of utopia. But Happy Science is also a political party and they have some strong views about neighboring countries that shape their worldview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Eastern Lightning preached that Jesus Christ had been reborn and walked the Earth. Founder Zhao Weishan said the woman he was in a relationship with, Yang Xiangbin, was there to save their souls before the world ended. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dorothy Martin claimed to receive communications from outer space, warning of disastrous loss of life in 1955. Her wild prophecies attracted Dr. Charles Laughead and a small group of followers known as the "Seekers." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
He frightened his followers around the world into believing that the Rapture was coming—an apocalypse which would end humanity on October, 28th, 1992. But after that date came and passed, many members of the Dami Mission were left in a different kind of devastating state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
He was known to his followers as “Moses.” His actual name was Roch Theriault, and he led one of the most infamous cults in Canadian history: The Ant Hill Kids. Theriault fooled many into thinking he was nice—but beneath his affable persona lurked a sadistic monster with horrific plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Although it went through many name changes over the years, one thing remained the same for David Berg’s apocalyptic Christian cult, “The Children of God”... End Times were inevitable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
He was born as Chizuo Matsumoto, and later known as Shoko Asahara—leader of the Japanese Buddhism-inspired cult, Aum Shinrikyo. Asahara and his followers didn’t just foretell the end of days, but rather took it upon themselves to wipe humankind off the face of the earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
His authoritarian, new-age religious organization was called the Fountain of the World. Leader Krishna Venta built a community cooperative and told his followers that the Apocalypse was coming. But only his chosen followers would survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
