The word 'cult' conjures a wide variety of images in the mind, from sinister hooded figures lurking in the shadows to strange symbols and ancient scriptures warning of Armageddon. But not all cults are like this. In fact most are outwardly friendly and welcoming, their members normal, well-meaning people in search of answers. However, their search for the truth can often lead people to being manipulated by leaders with darker intentions. In History of Cults you will meet the maddest, baddest and most outlandish 'messiahs' and dive into how they created the movements they controlled, including the Manson Family, Scientology and NXIVM.
YOUR SALVATION AWAITS
History of Cults
DEADLY CULTS • WHAT IS A CULT? WHY DO A SELECT FEW END SO CATASTROPHICALLY? THE ANSWERS ARE COMPLEX, THE TRUTH OFTEN OBSCURED BY MISINFORMATION AND SENSATIONALISM
SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY • SOME CULTS REACT TO CONSTANT NEGATIVE PRESS BY ACTING OUT THE BEHAVIOURS THEY’RE ACCUSED OF
Q&A • WE GET THE LOWDOWN ON DEADLY CULTS FROM A RESPECTED EXPERT IN THE FIELD
CULT INDOCTRINATION TECHNIQUES • HOW SECTS RECRUIT AND KEEP MEMBERS VARIES. CRITICS, HOWEVER, ACCUSE GROUPS OF USING MIND CONTROL AND OTHER ABUSIVE METHODS
THE FIRST FOLLOWERS
ROMAN MYSTERY CULTS • UNCOVER THE SECRET RITES AND BIZARRE RITUALS OF THE ROMAN SPIRITUAL UNDERWORLD
INSIDE THE ROMAN PANTHEON • THE MYSTERY CULTS SUPPLEMENTED, BUT DID NOT SUPPLANT, THE ROMANS’ BELIEF IN THEIR TRADITIONAL GODS
TALISMANS AND TRINKETS • THE ROMANS ENCOUNTERED THEIR GODS EVERYWHERE – IN THE HOME AND ON THE ROAD
VILLA OF THE MYSTERIES • BURIED FOR CENTURIES IN ASH, THE VILLA OF THE MYSTERIES IN POMPEII IS A WINDOW ON TO THE MYSTERY WORSHIP OF ANCIENT TIMES
ANCIENT MOVEMENTS • CULTS IN ANCIENT TIMES SPRANG FROM PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
THE ‘FAMILY’ FROM HELL • MOST FAMILIES HAVE THE OCCASIONAL BLACK SHEEP, SOMEONE THEY WOULD RATHER FORGET EXISTED, BUT WITH MANSON’S CLAN, THE ENTIRE FAMILY CAME STRAIGHT FROM HELL ITSELF
THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLES • MANY FOLLOWERS OF MANSON DRIFTED IN AND OUT OF THE HIPPIE COMMUNE, BUT AN INTEGRAL FEW BECAME KEY PLAYERS IN HIS DERANGED FAMILY
TWO NIGHTS OF HORROR • OVER TWO HOT AUGUST NIGHTS IN 1969, CHARLES MANSON AND HIS FOLLOWERS UNLEASHED A WAVE OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD
MANSON MEETS SHARON TATE • LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS BEFORE HE ORDERED HER DEATH, MANSON CAME FACE TO FACE WITH HIS MOST FAMOUS VICTIM
VICTIMS OF A MADMAN • BETWEEN 9 AND 10 AUGUST 1969 MANSON’S FAMILY CLAIMED SEVEN VICTIMS, LIVES CUT TRAGICALLY SHORT AND SOON OVERSHADOWED BY THE BIZARRE BAND OF KILLERS
SLAUGHTER IN BEVERLY HILLS • THE ESTATE AT 10050 CIELO DRIVE HAD ONCE SEEMED A HAVEN FROM THE WORLD; ITS ISOLATION LEFT ITS INHABITANTS VULNERABLE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 9 AUGUST 1969
EYEWITNESS TO CIELO DRIVE • IVOR DAVIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO WITNESS THE BLOODY SCENE OF THE TATE MANSION MURDERS. HE FOLLOWED THE MANSON CASE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, PROVIDING GROUNDBREAKING INSIDER CORRESPONDENCE THAT HELPED TO DEFINE HIS CAREER
PROPHETS OF DOOM
CHILDREN OF GOD • DESPITE NUMEROUS REBRANDS, THE CHILDREN OF GOD CAN’T HIDE FROM ITS SHOCKING PAST, ONE CHECKERED WITH ALLEGATIONS OF MIND CONTROL INCEST AND PAEDOPHILIA
FAMOUS FOLLOWERS • BEING FOUNDED IN CALIFORNIA AT THE HEIGHT OF THE HIPPIE MOVEMENT, THE CHILDREN OF GOD ATTRACTED SOME NOTABLE NAMES TO JOIN ITS RANKS
EXTRATERRESTRIAL RAPTURE • HEAVEN’S GATE BELIEVED IN AN END TIME WHEN UFOS WOULD TAKE THE FAITHFUL OFF EARTH, BUT IT TOOK A CRITICAL EVENT FOR THE CULT TO TURN DEADLY
MAD BONNIE • THE “TI” TO APPLEWHITE’S “DO”, BONNIE NETTLES KEY TO THIS CELESTIAL...