Cult news
Cult news can be a fascinating and sometimes disturbing topic. Here are some recent news stories about cults:
- The NXIVM Sex Cult: In 2018, several high-ranking members of the NXIVM sex cult were arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and other crimes. The cult, led by Keith Raniere, was accused of branding and sexually exploiting its members.
- The Followers of Raniere: In 2020, several former members of NXIVM testified against Raniere in court, revealing the cult's inner workings and the abuse they suffered. Raniere was convicted and sentenced to 120 years in prison.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) and Polygamy: In 2020, the Mormon Church officially renounced its support for polygamy, a practice that was once a central tenet of the faith. The move was seen as a major shift for the church, which has been criticized for its treatment of women and LGBTQ+ individuals.
- The Branch Davidians: In 2020, the FBI released previously classified documents related to the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. The siege, which ended in a fire that killed 76 people, was sparked by a standoff between the FBI and the cult, led by David Koresh.
- The Aum Shinrikyo Cult: In 2020, Japanese authorities arrested several members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which was responsible for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack that killed 13 people. The cult, led by Shoko Asahara, was accused of planning further attacks.
- The Children of God: In 2020, a former member of the Children of God cult, also known as The Family, spoke out about the abuse and exploitation she suffered as a child. The cult, founded by David Berg, was known for its sexual exploitation of children and its use of mind control techniques.
- The Heaven's Gate Cult: In 2020, the 25th anniversary of the Heaven's Gate cult's mass suicide was marked. The cult, led by Marshall Applewhite, believed that the Hale-Bopp comet was a spaceship that would take them to a higher plane of existence.
- The Solar Temple Cult: In 2020, a former member of the Solar Temple cult spoke out about the abuse and exploitation she suffered as a child. The cult, founded by Luc Jouret, was known for its use of mind control techniques and its belief in the imminent apocalypse.
These are just a few examples of the many cult news stories that have made headlines in recent years. Cults can be fascinating and disturbing, and they often raise important questions about free will, manipulation, and the human psyche.