Cults & Communes Flashcards
This cult was founded by the North-Korean-born Rev. Sun Myung Moon. His vision was to complete Christ’s mission as the messiah of marrying and having perfect children. His organization claimed it was possible to achieve salvation by pledging obedience to him and eventually taking a spouse picked by him.
The Unification Church
(fka Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity)
This Oregon-based cult takes its name from its leader, a lavish Indian guru. In 1985, the cult became known for executing the first bioterrorist attack on American soil after poisoning a local salad bar with Salmonella in an attempt to reduce the voter population.
Rajneeshpuram
The Children of God was started by this individual. The cult attracted the attention of law enforcement for its approach to sexuality, the use of sex to attract new members (“flirty fishing”) and accusations of encouraging child sex abuse.
David Berg
This Ugandan cult, founded by a collection of former priests, nuns and one ex-prostitute, was convinced and prepare for the apocalypse twice. The second time, an explosion/fire ended up killing hundreds of its members, with evidence pointing to murder.
Movement of the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
This Japanese cult pulled its teachings from Buddhism Hinduism and Christianity. It became increasingly violent and prepared for a war-like takeover of the government. It is notorious for carrying a bioterrorist attack on the Tokyo subway using Sarin gas.
Aum Shinrikyo
This organization was perceived by its leadership as being a revival of the medieval Knights Templar. Members believed that the doomsday would come in the mid-1990s and they would be taken to a planet that revolved around the star Sirius after their death. All members were found dead by suicide/murder in 1994.
Order of the Solar Temple
This Christian cult, led by David Koresh, was an offshoot of the Church of Seventh Day adventists. Koresh believed all women were his spiritual wives, regardless of marital status. It is most notorious for being a target in an ATF raid/shootout in Waco, Texas.
Branch Davidians
Members of this cult were convinced that during the apocalypse salvation would come in the form of a spaceship. In 1997, they believed a spaceship was following the approaching Hale-Bopp comet. All members were found dead by suicide in March of that year.
Heaven’s Gate
The Manson Family gained notoriety after the murder of five people, which included Sharon Tate, who was the wife of this famous director.
Roman Polanski
Law enforcement members theorize that Sharon Tate was the target of the Manson Family’s famed murders because Manson wanted to retaliate against this music producer, who used to live in the same house and had previously snubbed Manson.
Terry Melcher
The Manson Family’s murders were carried out in order to trigger an inevitable “apocalyptic race war,” after which they would emerge as rulers of the new order.
Helter Skelter
This U.S. Congressman was murdered at the end of a visit to Jonestown. That same day, Jones convinced his followers to take part in what became the most famous cult suicide in history.
Leo Ryan
Jim Jones was the head of this cult which is known for the suicide of all its members at its Jonestown commune in Guyana.
The People’s Temple
This self-described Israeli healer crammed 17 women and dozens of children into three tiny Tel Aviv apartments. They were monitored via CCTV, were told how to dress and gave him all of their wages from their day jobs. He is now in jail and under investigation for enslavement, rape and incest.
Goel Ratzon
This Canadian individual founded the Ant Hill Kids community and is considered to be one of Canada’s most notorious criminals of all time. All 9 women in his commune were considered his concubines and sired him over twenty children.
Roch Theriault
