"The zealot may be outwardly motivated by the anticipation of a great reward at the other end -- wealth, fame, eternal salvation -- but the real recompense is probably the obsession itself. This is no less true for the religious fanatic than for the fanatical pianist or fanatical mountain climber. As a result of his (or her) infatuation, existence overflows with purpose. Ambiguity vanishes from the fanatic's worldview; a narcissistic sense of self-assurance displaces all doubt. A delicious rage quickens his pulse, fueled by the sins and shortcomings of lesser mortals, who are soiling the world wherever he looks. His perspective narrows until the last remnants of proportion are shed from his life. Through immoderation, he experiences something akin to rapture."
- Jon Krakauer
Introduction
A cult can be defined as a group of people with religious beliefs or practices that may be considered strange by others. Some cult leaders may begin life with good intentions of living righteously, but something happens to them to change their outlook on life. This change in them is like a virus that festers inside them until they project their new beliefs onto those around them. They find lost souls and show them a sense of familial belonging, converting the lost persons into followers. Only after they have sucked the followers in, do they show their true colors by manipulating their people, abusing their power, and in some cases injuring innocent people.
This blog delves into 3 different cults: The People’s Temple, The Family International, and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With the first two cults it talks about the childhood of the founders, giving some insight into their past and what shaped them into the tyrants we know today. The last cult posting starts with how the Mormon Church was founded, then it discusses how and why there was a split in the church which left us with the Mormon Church, and the Fundamentalist cult.
After the background in the first post of The People’s Temple, I move on to discuss life in Jonestown, and the funding of it through political deception. The final post deals with the horrific events that occurred on November 18, 1978.
The second posting for The Family International describes life for David Berg’s children and life as a member of The Family. David Berg has a very unique belief in having open relations with everyone and anyone, no matter the age. The real victims in this cult are the children whose parents joined in the ‘70’s and so these kids had no choice of whether or not they wanted to be a member. Yet, the taboo beliefs and practices of Berg were forced on them. One of these children includes Berg’s intended successor, Ricky Rodriguez. I discuss his story in the last posting.
For the next topic, on the Fundamentalist Mormons, I describe the sordid and depraved life in a very big clan. The leaders of this clan are experts of manipulating, abusing, and forcing followers into submission. For the last post in this section I talk about a somewhat famous murder committed by a Fundamentalist followed by a well-known kidnapping. They are prime examples of what happens when someone’s beliefs possess them to the greatest extent.
