It’s easy to think of cults as something from the past, associated with strange rituals and fanatical zealotry. But the truth is that cults are still around today, and some are even more outrageous than those of the past. In this article, we’ll be taking a journey into the modern age, exploring some of the most surprising and unbelievable cults that exist today. From the bizarre beliefs of a group of self-proclaimed time travelers to the extreme practices of a doomsday cult, you won’t believe the lengths some people will go to in pursuit of their strange beliefs. So, get ready to take a deep dive into the strange and often disturbing world of modern cults.
What is a Cult?
Before we delve into some of the most outrageous cults of the modern era, let’s take a moment to discuss what exactly constitutes a cult. By definition, a cult is a group of people who share an extreme devotion to a particular person, belief, or idea. Cults often have a leader who is seen as an authority figure, and members of the cult are typically expected to follow the leader’s orders and abide by a certain set of rules. Cults often require members to give up their own personal autonomy in exchange for a sense of belonging and security.
One of the most common characteristics of cults is their tendency to indoctrinate members and discourage them from questioning the beliefs of the cult. Cults often discourage members from interacting with people outside of the cult, as they are seen as a threat to the cult’s beliefs and practices. Cults can range from relatively benign groups to dangerous and potentially deadly organizations, and it’s important to be aware of the signs of cult behavior and to stay away from potentially dangerous cults.
The Raëlian Movement – A Cult Dedicated to Extraterrestrial Life
The Raëlian Movement is a cult based on the belief that extraterrestrial life forms have visited and interacted with humans throughout history. The group was founded by Claude Vorilhon, a former journalist and race car driver, who claims to have encountered a being from another world in 1973. The Raëlian Movement believes that this being, known as Raël, is a messenger of the Elohim, a group of extraterrestrial beings who created life on Earth.
The Raëlians believe that humanity has been visited by extraterrestrial beings, who have provided us with advanced technologies and knowledge. They also believe that these beings will eventually return to Earth and offer a form of salvation to humanity. The Raëlians have a number of strange practices, including a ritual known as the “sensual meditation” which involves nudity and sexual pleasure.
Heaven’s Gate – A Dooms Day Cult
Heaven’s Gate was a doomsday cult that was founded in the 1970s by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. The cult believed that the world was on the brink of destruction and that the only way to survive was to leave the planet. They believed that they could board a spacecraft that would be coming to Earth to rescue them, and they planned to commit mass suicide in order to make it on board.
In March 1997, thirty-nine members of Heaven’s Gate committed suicide in order to board the spacecraft that they believed was coming to save them. The cult’s leader, Marshall Applewhite, was among those who committed suicide, and the cult’s followers believed that he would be reincarnated by the spacecraft and would lead them to salvation. The Heaven’s Gate cult was one of the most extreme examples of doomsday cults, and it serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of extreme beliefs.
The Order of the Solar Temple – A Gnostic Cult
The Order of the Solar Temple was a cult founded in 1984 by Luc Jouret and Joseph Di Mambro. The cult was based on a combination of Gnosticism and Freemasonry, and it had a number of unusual beliefs and practices, including the belief that the Earth was on the brink of destruction and that its members could be saved by traveling to another planet.
The cult was notorious for its extreme practices, which included human sacrifice and mass suicide. In 1994 and 1995, seventy-four members of the cult committed mass suicide in an attempt to reach the planet they believed they would be saved on. The Order of the Solar Temple was a dark example of the potential dangers of cults, and it serves as a warning against the potential risks of joining dangerous cults.
Aghori – A Cult Dedicated to Shiva
The Aghori are a cult dedicated to the worship of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. The cult is known for its extreme practices, which include drinking from human skulls and eating human flesh. The Aghori believe that by partaking in these extreme rituals, they can become closer to Shiva and achieve the ultimate state of enlightenment.
The Aghori are a secretive cult, and very little is known about their beliefs or practices. However, it is known that they practice asceticism and that they reject material wealth and the concept of caste systems. The Aghori also believe in the concept of karma, and they believe that by partaking in extreme rituals they can cleanse themselves of their past sins and achieve a higher state of consciousness.
The Unarius Academy of Science – A Cult of Time Travelers
The Unarius Academy of Science is a cult that was founded in 1954 by Ruth and Ernest Norman. The cult is based on the belief that its members are reincarnated souls from other planets who have been sent to Earth in order to help humanity. The cult believes that its members are time travelers who have the ability to travel through time and space, and they teach their followers the “science of time travel” in order to help them reach their ultimate goal of enlightenment.
The Unarius Academy of Science is known for its strange and outlandish practices, which include the use of past life regression and psychic readings. The cult also believes that its members have the ability to communicate with aliens and other extraterrestrial beings, and they teach their followers how to do so. The Unarius Academy of Science is a unique example of a cult that is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment, and it serves as an example of the potential for a cult to have positive effects on its members.
The Kashi Ashram – A Cult Built Around an Indian Guru
The Kashi Ashram is a cult that was founded in the 1970s by Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, an Indian guru who claimed to be an incarnation of the goddess Kali. The cult is based on the teachings of Bhagavati and her belief in reincarnation and karma. The Kashi Ashram is known for its ascetic practices, which include living in simple huts and abstaining from material possessions.
The Kashi Ashram has a number of strange and extreme practices, which include the use of psychedelics and extreme fasting. The cult also believes in the power of yoga and meditation, and they teach their followers how to use these practices to reach a higher state of consciousness. The Kashi Ashram is an example of a cult that is based around the teachings of an influential leader, and it serves as a reminder of the power of personality cults.
The Manson Family – The Most Infamous Cult of All
The Manson Family was a cult led by Charles Manson, a convicted murderer and cult leader who gained notoriety in the 1960s and 70s. The Manson Family was an apocalyptic cult that believed in an impending race war, and Manson and his followers committed a series of murders in an attempt to spark this war. The Manson Family is one of the most notorious cults of all time, and it serves as a reminder of the potential danger of joining a cult.
Conclusion
Cults can range from relatively harmless groups to dangerous and potentially deadly organizations, and it’s important to be aware of the signs of cult behavior and to stay away from potentially dangerous cults. In this article, we’ve explored some of the most surprising and unbelievable cults of the modern age, from the bizarre beliefs of a group of self-proclaimed time travelers to the extreme practices of a doomsday cult. Hopefully, this article has shed some light on the strange and often disturbing world of modern cults and has shown the potential dangers of joining a cult.