30 Most Disturbing Cults That Are STILL ACTIVE
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Arianna Wechter
Dive into the dark and disturbing world of active cults that continue to operate under the radar. From snake-handling churches to UFO religions, we'll explore the most shocking and controversial groups still recruiting members today. Prepare for a chilling journey into the depths of human manipulation and extreme beliefs! Our countdown reveals the shocking practices of groups like the Church of God with Signs Following, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and NXIVM, exposing the dangerous ideologies that continue to attract vulnerable followers. Which of these do you find the most disturbing? Share in the comments.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the creepiest cults that are still active and looking for new members to this day.
The Church of God with Signs Following
There are some extreme religious practices that are from a different time – and maybe should have stayed there. Snake handling – an act of worship that dates back to the 2nd century– isn’t practiced by many. Many who do are in congregations inspired by the Church of God with Signs Following, a cult dedicated to preserving the custom. While the exact founder is contested, the most prominent figurehead is George Went Hensley. Throughout the 1930s, he traveled across the Southeast, convincing devotees that they should be able to hold the reptiles and drink poison in order to prove their Faith. Even though he died from a snakebite in 1955, his beliefs continue to live on today in a few churches within the southern Bible belt.
Xenos Christian Fellowship [aka Dwell Community Church]
Even seemingly mundane groups can have dark secrets lurking just beneath the surface. Started in 1970, the Xenos Christian Fellowship, now known as Dwell Community Church, doesn’t seem like much on the surface. Its most obvious distinguishing characteristic is its focus on home worship rather than traditional services. However, looks can be deceiving. Several accusations of mistreatment have been made by former members, ranging from inappropriate interactions with minors to making medical decisions on behalf of their followers. Should anyone step out of line, then they stand the chance of being swiftly punished via excommunication. The fear of being ousted has kept a majority of devotees from speaking out.
Kingdom of God Global Church [aka Joshua Media Ministries]
Is David E. Taylor a genuine community leader, or merely an opportunistic man with dark intentions? Followers of the Kingdom of God Global Church would say it's the former. Their leader improbably claims that his work has led to trafficking rings being busted and people being revived from the dead, but that contrasts with several reports alleging sexual abuse, depriving people of sleep and misusing donation money to fund his vacations. Taylor has used his identity and status to distract from his financial crimes. His congregation is still active today, and his purchase of another multi-million estate in 2022 makes it clear they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Church of Euthanasia
With a slogan encouraging people to end their lives, it’s easy to see why this cult is so notorious. Associated with antinatalism, which decrees that repopulating is itself an immoral act, the Church of Euthanasia has one goal: to encourage a willing mass-death event. They care about saving the Earth by any means possible, including advocating for extreme acts, such as cannibalism and self-inflicted death. While those who follow it insist the death must be voluntary, their aggressive sloganeering causes discomfort among many. Though their presence in the mainstream media has definitely died down and their website is not updated, it’s believed many still subscribe to their warped ideas.
LaRouche Movement
If you need proof that cults can be formed around anything or anyone, look no further. Inspired by a political figure Lyndon LaRouche, who unsuccessfully ran for president several times, the LaRouche movement is one of the most well-connected factions in modern times. LaRouche spent decades building up his base. As such, they became a prominent political group in the United States, with connections to global leaders and businesses. In addition to their role in politics, they also made their name by causing constant discord. Followers have aggressively pushed their views and even gotten into altercations with outsiders. His influence still lives on – even long after his own death in 2019.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus
While cults rarely have a good impact, this one managed to have a truly disastrous one. Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a specific sect that’s centered around the New Testament being told in riddles — that conveniently, only the founder, Lee Man-hee can translate. Manipulation is rife, with followers being led to believe that everyone but them will be destroyed upon judgement. They’ve even been known to infiltrate actual places of worship in an attempt to indoctrinate new members. However, their most egregious offense took place in 2020, when a COVID-infected member of the congregation caused an outbreak in South Korea. Despite the superspreader event, Man-hee went free.
Twin Flames Universe
The constant expansion of the digital world has caused many people to seek out connections there, for better or for worse. Twin Flames Universe preys on people’s desire for love by claiming to find peoples’ soulmates for them. It sounds great on paper, but in execution it’s anything but. Members are required to do whatever possible to find their match and start a relationship, including stalking those not involved with the program and undergoing gender conversion therapy. The co-founders, Jeff and Shaleia Divine, have gone on record claiming that they aren’t a cult. However, many would say their actions don’t reflect that.
House of Yahweh
Though not as expansive as the similarly named Nation of Yahweh, they’ve still managed to create a negative religious impact on their own. The House of Yahweh is primarily known for their various attempts at predicting the end of the world, dating back to 1999. Founded by Yisrayl Hawkins in the 1970s, it’s centered around the idea that it is both the oldest and only real faith, and that anything outside of its particular beliefs is blasphemous. Several members have faced legal issues for mistreatment of minors, including one harrowing case where a mother gave her own daughter surgery. Even the death of Hawkins in 2021 hasn’t dissuaded members, and we can only assume there will be further doomsday predictions in the future.
Remnant Fellowship
Weight loss is a sensitive subject for many, and intertwining it with religion seems like a recipe for disaster. Gwen Shamblin Lara combined them when she created Remnant Fellowship, but her motives were anything but pure. She preached that love for God should outweigh that for food, even encouraging people to slash their portions. That was only the tip of the iceberg. Her manipulation tactics knew no bounds, convincing believers they were a part of the only valid church and should continuously donate, all while keeping tabs on their every last move. She also promoted corporal punishment for children, apparently to a severe degree. Even her death in 2021 wasn’t enough to end the movement, with some still subscribing to her teachings years later.
Branch Davidians
You’ve probably already heard of this infamous cult, but may have had no clue they were still around in a post-Waco world. The Branch Davidians are known for their role in a siege between them and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. However, their history doesn’t end with David Koresh. In recent years, previous members have tried to rebuild their numbers. They not only believe Koresh was in fact chosen by God and that the world will eventually end. Some are even convinced that those who were killed in 1993 had to die to further the cause. It goes to show how a huge, violent event can sometimes make people double down on their twisted beliefs.
The Brethren
The Brethren, also known by names like Brothers and Sisters and The Road Ministry, was founded around 1971 by Jimmie T. Roberts. Roberts considered modern churches to have become more materialistic than spiritual. His goal was to form a group of traveling disciples that would mirror the people who followed Jesus in the New Testament. Members were instructed to leave their possessions and family behind. At times, the nomadic group was seen relying on dumpsters for meals. The Brethren also draw criticism for making it difficult for those outside of the group to get in contact with their loved ones. Documentaries like “God Willing” have made it clear how unsettling it can be when people disappear into the Road Ministry’s standards of living.
Congregation for the Light
Referred to in headlines as “Manhattan’s Secret Cult,” the Congregation for the Light was formed in the 1960s. Once inside the secretive group, members are encouraged to keep their practices and teachings they learn away from anyone outside. First hand accounts say that everyone in the Congregation must prioritize weekly meetings above any other obligation. Additionally, they believe that past karma directly affects if people get sick or suffer other bad consequences. Members have reacted negatively to LGBT+ initiates, discourage women from attending college outside of New York and believe in enforcing physical punishment on young members. Since congregation leaders don’t write much down, many of their specific tenets remain shrouded in mystery.
Apostles of Infinite Love
After a man named Michael Collin reportedly had a vision of God, he formed a Catholic group that merged with a reclusive religious group in St-Jovite, Quebec. They all became known as the Apostles of Infinite Love. The group came under scrutiny soon after their organization was founded. When police tried to investigate reports that young people were being mistreated in the 60s, the authorities found it hard to locate the vulnerable victims. A former member named Germain Currier later claimed that adults in the group actively kept him from being discovered. Despite the complaints about what younger people endured, The Apostles of Infinite Love, now known as “The Order of the Magnificat of the Mother of God” are still around.
Love Has Won
Through a combination of personal conversations and online videos, Amy Carlson recruited followers to her movement. Love Has Won members believed that she was nearly 20 billion years old because she had been reincarnated countless times over the years. This ideology also got her followers into trouble. At times, members were made to feel guilty for transgressions they committed in past lives. Followers also spent multiple hours being criticized by the other members of their group. Their food and sleep schedules were also reportedly controlled by their leader. When Carlson fell ill, they allegedly didn’t take her to a hospital due to some of her own teachings. Following her death, the group splintered into The Joy Rains and 5D Full Disclosure groups.
Kashi Ashram
Kashi Ashram was founded in 1976 when Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, born Joyce Green, established a commune in Florida. Years later, the founder was found at the center of serious accusations surrounding marriage and its youngest members. Members were allegedly encouraged to have children so Ma Jaya could take care of more young people. There were cases where the founder’s name was placed on birth certificates of infants outside of her family. The religious leader also reportedly made one of her daughters marry a man against their will. There were also numerous accounts of people of all ages being physically assaulted for not doing what Ma Jaya commanded. Her organization still continued to move forward after the leader’s death in 2012.
Word of Faith Fellowship
There are conflicting reports as to whether people in this organization follow a list of rules that range from asking permission to buy cars to having to ask what their college major will be. But the Word of Faith Fellowship has definitely stirred up a lot of controversy. According to former members, congregants who didn’t follow rules were subject to physical or mental torment. Known as “blasting” within the organization, members were allegedly punished for their sexual orientation, impure thoughts, acting out in school and more. Over 40 members once came forward to the Associated Press to detail horror stories about what happened to them. To this day, founders Jane and Sam Whaley continue to insist that the Fellowship is free of wrongdoing.
The Nuwaubian Nation
When Dwight York A.KA. Malachi Z. York started what would become The Nuwaubian Nation in New York, his followers were instructed to give up material possessions. They were also expected to raise a certain amount of money or face physical punishment. After attracting more followers, York moved his organization to Georgia and built an Egyptian themed headquarters. After claiming he lived in a sovereign state, local officials arrested him for the reports of what happened there. York was charged with over 100 counts of mistreating young people that were a part of The Nuwaubian Nation. He was sentenced to 135 years in prison for his various crimes. However, York’s followers still kept the belief system alive.
Unification Church
This Christian organization was started by Sun Myung Moon, a man who would eventually declare himself as a new Messiah. Throughout the 20th century, the Unification Church’s push for members to make expensive donations that were coined as “Spiritual sales'' was criticized. This religious movement also drew ire because of its anti LGBT+ stance and ties to several political causes. The latter criticism came to the forefront in the wake of a major 2022 incident. After a man named Tetsuya Yamagami saw his mother go bankrupt to support the group, he targeted high ranking members. He assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe because the politician had associations with the Unification Church. The crime drew more attention to the already controversial organization.
The Nation of Yahweh
A religious movement begun by Yahweh ben Yahweh became the source of serious acts of violence. After the group was criticized for promoting violent Black supremacist ideals, multiple incidents suggested that members were taking lives. Additionally, multiple people who tried to leave the group were either threatened with violence, brutally assaulted or even killed. Those who stayed within the group weren’t safe from punishment. Members who failed to meet quotas to collect money were subjected to physical torment. In 1991, Yahweh ben Yahweh faced jail time for his involvement in 14 murders. His incarceration eventually caused the group to retreat for two years before it returned and continued. While current leaders have moved away from the violent teachings, the movement’s dark history still remains.
The Church of Bible Understanding
American members who left this group reported that their time with this church was exceedingly difficult. Founder Stewart Traill pushed for followers to completely disconnect from their old lives. Once inside, members were expected to give the majority of their earnings to The Church. While Traill and the organization profited, they lived in overcrowded and sometimes pest-filled places. Members of The Church of Bible Understanding were also discouraged from getting information from the outside world or marrying at all. Outside of America, the organization was criticized for running orphanages in Haiti that subjected young children to horrible conditions. After Traill died in 2018, organization members still continued to practice their faith and kept running homes for orphaned people.
The Rajneesh Movement [aka Osho]
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a controversial philosophy scholar and professor, founded his movement in the late 1960s-early ‘70s. He dismissed established religions, and instead focused on freethought, meditation and sexual freedom. He also had a marked interest in communist literature, which influenced his teachings. He moved his facility to Oregon in the early 1980s, after attracting too much controversy in India, yet found the same hostilities in the States. In order to gain political influence, the movement committed crimes such as mass local salmonella poisoning and an attempted assassination of a US attorney. He was then deported, and the movement’s commune was reestablished in India in 1985. Rajneesh died in 1990, but the movement, now called Osho, is still very much active.
Order of the Solar Temple
The Order of the Solar Temple - or International Order of Chivalry Solar Tradition - was founded in Geneva in 1984. The Order took its influence from the Knights Templar which had been reformed into several factions in 1805. In its heyday, the Order had a presiding council, as well as multiple “lodges” around the world, in which they would perform initiation rites and ceremonies. The Order believed that an apocalyptic event would occur sometime in the mid-90s, and that in order to survive, they had to achieve a higher plane of existence. In the mid-nineties, over seventy of its members were murdered or took their own lives, with more to follow. Despite this, the group is still thought to have a small number of active members.
Raëlism
Though its classification as a cult is sometimes debated, Raëlism was (or is still) at some point in the cult category. It’s essentially what’s called a “UFO Religion,” and was founded in France by Claude Vorilhon in 1974. They believe that an alien race known as Elohim created humans; the Elohim have been mistaken for gods, historically, and any prophetic figure (such as Jesus or Muhammad) was created by them. Vorilhon, known as Raël, is the fortieth and final prophet. Followers believe that the world is in an “age of apocalypse,” and that new technologies must be developed, after which time the Elohim will return to Earth and share their extraterrestrial knowledge with us. Current Raëlian members were counted at around 18,000 in 2017.
Aleph
Aum Shinrikyo (or more recently “Aleph”) was founded in Japan in 1987 by Chizuo Matsumoto, later known as Shoko Asahara. It’s a doomsday cult, and its beliefs combine aspects of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Christian Millenarianism, yogic practices and the prophecies of Nostradamus. It started off fairly tame, but eventually the cult became criminal, with accusations of extortion, murder and forced membership, among other things. They performed a number of attacks. At some point, the group began to manufacture sarin gas, and were responsible for the attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, which left upwards of 1,000 injured. A number of the more prominent members were executed in 2018, but there were still indications of active membership as of 2019.
Twelve Tribes
Founded in Tennessee during the evangelical Jesus movement of the 1970s, the Twelve Tribes might seem like a simple, wholesome community on the surface. It aspires to recreate the original Christian church as depicted in the Book of Acts. However, it allegedly exerts authoritarian control over its followers’ lives, and promotes strict corporal punishment - reportedly by parents and non-parents alike - which has led to accusations of mistreatment. Once followers reach a certain level, they’re allegedly instructed that Jews are cursed for murdering Jesus, that gay people should be put to death, and that Black people are naturally servants to whites. The group has often flown under the radar, but there’s a lot more going on beneath the smiling and folk dancing.
Happy Science
Founded in 1986 by former businessman Ryuho Okawa, Happy Science focuses on a four-fold path to happiness. Members of the group attend seminars and training in order to climb the group ladder. They worship El Cantare, a being that is said to have been born over 300 million years ago on Earth and reincarnated through time until its current incarnation, which is, of course, Okawa himself. The problem with this one comes in the form of major, uncredited claims, for example, that the organization can cure the pandemic with “spiritual vaccines.” Okawa’s own son has left the group, and subsequently denounced his father’s actions. Happy Science claims to have eleven million followers, however a former member has said it’s more like 30,000.
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The LDS church spawned some fundamentalist sects when the core religion opted to renounce the practice of polygamy. Those who wished to continue the practice branched off, remaining Mormon but on their own terms. Polygamy remains illegal, however, and in 1953, an entire FLDS community was arrested in Short Creek, Arizona (modern-day Colorado City), and most had their children taken from them. A compound in Texas was raided in 2008 after CPS was made aware of allegations of abuse. Over 400 children were taken from the compound and placed in CPS custody. Leader of FLDS Warren Jeffs remains in his position despite being in prison for life after acts against minors. The sect currently has between 6,000 and 10,000 followers.
Superior Universal Alignment
Our second UFO cult in the list, Superior Universal Alignment, or Lineamiento Universal Superior was founded by Valentina de Andrade in 1981. She claimed to have received messages from extraterrestrials warning her of destruction. If, however, she shared their warnings with others, she and her followers would be saved. Similar to the Raëlians, SUA believes that Jesus was actually an extraterrestrial messenger. They also believe that males born after 1981 are evil, and that their lives should end as payment to the superior beings. Between 1989-1993, nineteen Brazilian boys disappeared, mutilated and left to die in the woods. The guilty cult members were sentenced, but de Andrade was acquitted. The cult is still active, and has been running a website since 2009.
The Family International
The Children of God, more recently The Family International, was founded in 1968 by David Berg, and was immediately subject to controversy, as it used sex to lure potential members (Berg’s own invention, which he called “Flirty Fishing”). They established colonies worldwide, as many as 130 in seventy countries. The Family International draw their beliefs from the Bible, yet with a heavy emphasis on “Loving Jesus,” which is done through sexual interaction. Over time, there have been a large number of child mistreatment allegations raised against them. Celebrities such as River and Joaquin Phoenix, as well as Rose McGowan, were partially raised in this group before finding their way out. TFI is still active, albeit as an online community, boasting 1,450 members.
NXIVM
Founded in 1998 by Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman, NXIVM started out as a self-help group which offered classes called “Executive Success Programs.” In 2017, former members urged authorities to investigate, initially for a sub-group within NXIVM called “The Vow.” It was a group of women branded with Raniere’s initials and on a rotation to have relations with the founder and recruit members, in a sort of exceedingly complex relationship scheme. On top of this, in 2018, charges were brought against Raniere and five female members for a number of crimes including extortion, sex trafficking and the list goes on. Raniere got 120 years in prison. As of 2020, a number of groups branched from NXIVM are said to be active and recruiting.
Which cult are you the most surprised to be still active? Let us know in the comments below.
The Church of God with Signs Following
There are some extreme religious practices that are from a different time – and maybe should have stayed there. Snake handling – an act of worship that dates back to the 2nd century– isn’t practiced by many. Many who do are in congregations inspired by the Church of God with Signs Following, a cult dedicated to preserving the custom. While the exact founder is contested, the most prominent figurehead is George Went Hensley. Throughout the 1930s, he traveled across the Southeast, convincing devotees that they should be able to hold the reptiles and drink poison in order to prove their Faith. Even though he died from a snakebite in 1955, his beliefs continue to live on today in a few churches within the southern Bible belt.
Xenos Christian Fellowship [aka Dwell Community Church]
Even seemingly mundane groups can have dark secrets lurking just beneath the surface. Started in 1970, the Xenos Christian Fellowship, now known as Dwell Community Church, doesn’t seem like much on the surface. Its most obvious distinguishing characteristic is its focus on home worship rather than traditional services. However, looks can be deceiving. Several accusations of mistreatment have been made by former members, ranging from inappropriate interactions with minors to making medical decisions on behalf of their followers. Should anyone step out of line, then they stand the chance of being swiftly punished via excommunication. The fear of being ousted has kept a majority of devotees from speaking out.
Kingdom of God Global Church [aka Joshua Media Ministries]
Is David E. Taylor a genuine community leader, or merely an opportunistic man with dark intentions? Followers of the Kingdom of God Global Church would say it's the former. Their leader improbably claims that his work has led to trafficking rings being busted and people being revived from the dead, but that contrasts with several reports alleging sexual abuse, depriving people of sleep and misusing donation money to fund his vacations. Taylor has used his identity and status to distract from his financial crimes. His congregation is still active today, and his purchase of another multi-million estate in 2022 makes it clear they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Church of Euthanasia
With a slogan encouraging people to end their lives, it’s easy to see why this cult is so notorious. Associated with antinatalism, which decrees that repopulating is itself an immoral act, the Church of Euthanasia has one goal: to encourage a willing mass-death event. They care about saving the Earth by any means possible, including advocating for extreme acts, such as cannibalism and self-inflicted death. While those who follow it insist the death must be voluntary, their aggressive sloganeering causes discomfort among many. Though their presence in the mainstream media has definitely died down and their website is not updated, it’s believed many still subscribe to their warped ideas.
LaRouche Movement
If you need proof that cults can be formed around anything or anyone, look no further. Inspired by a political figure Lyndon LaRouche, who unsuccessfully ran for president several times, the LaRouche movement is one of the most well-connected factions in modern times. LaRouche spent decades building up his base. As such, they became a prominent political group in the United States, with connections to global leaders and businesses. In addition to their role in politics, they also made their name by causing constant discord. Followers have aggressively pushed their views and even gotten into altercations with outsiders. His influence still lives on – even long after his own death in 2019.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus
While cults rarely have a good impact, this one managed to have a truly disastrous one. Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a specific sect that’s centered around the New Testament being told in riddles — that conveniently, only the founder, Lee Man-hee can translate. Manipulation is rife, with followers being led to believe that everyone but them will be destroyed upon judgement. They’ve even been known to infiltrate actual places of worship in an attempt to indoctrinate new members. However, their most egregious offense took place in 2020, when a COVID-infected member of the congregation caused an outbreak in South Korea. Despite the superspreader event, Man-hee went free.
Twin Flames Universe
The constant expansion of the digital world has caused many people to seek out connections there, for better or for worse. Twin Flames Universe preys on people’s desire for love by claiming to find peoples’ soulmates for them. It sounds great on paper, but in execution it’s anything but. Members are required to do whatever possible to find their match and start a relationship, including stalking those not involved with the program and undergoing gender conversion therapy. The co-founders, Jeff and Shaleia Divine, have gone on record claiming that they aren’t a cult. However, many would say their actions don’t reflect that.
House of Yahweh
Though not as expansive as the similarly named Nation of Yahweh, they’ve still managed to create a negative religious impact on their own. The House of Yahweh is primarily known for their various attempts at predicting the end of the world, dating back to 1999. Founded by Yisrayl Hawkins in the 1970s, it’s centered around the idea that it is both the oldest and only real faith, and that anything outside of its particular beliefs is blasphemous. Several members have faced legal issues for mistreatment of minors, including one harrowing case where a mother gave her own daughter surgery. Even the death of Hawkins in 2021 hasn’t dissuaded members, and we can only assume there will be further doomsday predictions in the future.
Remnant Fellowship
Weight loss is a sensitive subject for many, and intertwining it with religion seems like a recipe for disaster. Gwen Shamblin Lara combined them when she created Remnant Fellowship, but her motives were anything but pure. She preached that love for God should outweigh that for food, even encouraging people to slash their portions. That was only the tip of the iceberg. Her manipulation tactics knew no bounds, convincing believers they were a part of the only valid church and should continuously donate, all while keeping tabs on their every last move. She also promoted corporal punishment for children, apparently to a severe degree. Even her death in 2021 wasn’t enough to end the movement, with some still subscribing to her teachings years later.
Branch Davidians
You’ve probably already heard of this infamous cult, but may have had no clue they were still around in a post-Waco world. The Branch Davidians are known for their role in a siege between them and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. However, their history doesn’t end with David Koresh. In recent years, previous members have tried to rebuild their numbers. They not only believe Koresh was in fact chosen by God and that the world will eventually end. Some are even convinced that those who were killed in 1993 had to die to further the cause. It goes to show how a huge, violent event can sometimes make people double down on their twisted beliefs.
The Brethren
The Brethren, also known by names like Brothers and Sisters and The Road Ministry, was founded around 1971 by Jimmie T. Roberts. Roberts considered modern churches to have become more materialistic than spiritual. His goal was to form a group of traveling disciples that would mirror the people who followed Jesus in the New Testament. Members were instructed to leave their possessions and family behind. At times, the nomadic group was seen relying on dumpsters for meals. The Brethren also draw criticism for making it difficult for those outside of the group to get in contact with their loved ones. Documentaries like “God Willing” have made it clear how unsettling it can be when people disappear into the Road Ministry’s standards of living.
Congregation for the Light
Referred to in headlines as “Manhattan’s Secret Cult,” the Congregation for the Light was formed in the 1960s. Once inside the secretive group, members are encouraged to keep their practices and teachings they learn away from anyone outside. First hand accounts say that everyone in the Congregation must prioritize weekly meetings above any other obligation. Additionally, they believe that past karma directly affects if people get sick or suffer other bad consequences. Members have reacted negatively to LGBT+ initiates, discourage women from attending college outside of New York and believe in enforcing physical punishment on young members. Since congregation leaders don’t write much down, many of their specific tenets remain shrouded in mystery.
Apostles of Infinite Love
After a man named Michael Collin reportedly had a vision of God, he formed a Catholic group that merged with a reclusive religious group in St-Jovite, Quebec. They all became known as the Apostles of Infinite Love. The group came under scrutiny soon after their organization was founded. When police tried to investigate reports that young people were being mistreated in the 60s, the authorities found it hard to locate the vulnerable victims. A former member named Germain Currier later claimed that adults in the group actively kept him from being discovered. Despite the complaints about what younger people endured, The Apostles of Infinite Love, now known as “The Order of the Magnificat of the Mother of God” are still around.
Love Has Won
Through a combination of personal conversations and online videos, Amy Carlson recruited followers to her movement. Love Has Won members believed that she was nearly 20 billion years old because she had been reincarnated countless times over the years. This ideology also got her followers into trouble. At times, members were made to feel guilty for transgressions they committed in past lives. Followers also spent multiple hours being criticized by the other members of their group. Their food and sleep schedules were also reportedly controlled by their leader. When Carlson fell ill, they allegedly didn’t take her to a hospital due to some of her own teachings. Following her death, the group splintered into The Joy Rains and 5D Full Disclosure groups.
Kashi Ashram
Kashi Ashram was founded in 1976 when Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, born Joyce Green, established a commune in Florida. Years later, the founder was found at the center of serious accusations surrounding marriage and its youngest members. Members were allegedly encouraged to have children so Ma Jaya could take care of more young people. There were cases where the founder’s name was placed on birth certificates of infants outside of her family. The religious leader also reportedly made one of her daughters marry a man against their will. There were also numerous accounts of people of all ages being physically assaulted for not doing what Ma Jaya commanded. Her organization still continued to move forward after the leader’s death in 2012.
Word of Faith Fellowship
There are conflicting reports as to whether people in this organization follow a list of rules that range from asking permission to buy cars to having to ask what their college major will be. But the Word of Faith Fellowship has definitely stirred up a lot of controversy. According to former members, congregants who didn’t follow rules were subject to physical or mental torment. Known as “blasting” within the organization, members were allegedly punished for their sexual orientation, impure thoughts, acting out in school and more. Over 40 members once came forward to the Associated Press to detail horror stories about what happened to them. To this day, founders Jane and Sam Whaley continue to insist that the Fellowship is free of wrongdoing.
The Nuwaubian Nation
When Dwight York A.KA. Malachi Z. York started what would become The Nuwaubian Nation in New York, his followers were instructed to give up material possessions. They were also expected to raise a certain amount of money or face physical punishment. After attracting more followers, York moved his organization to Georgia and built an Egyptian themed headquarters. After claiming he lived in a sovereign state, local officials arrested him for the reports of what happened there. York was charged with over 100 counts of mistreating young people that were a part of The Nuwaubian Nation. He was sentenced to 135 years in prison for his various crimes. However, York’s followers still kept the belief system alive.
Unification Church
This Christian organization was started by Sun Myung Moon, a man who would eventually declare himself as a new Messiah. Throughout the 20th century, the Unification Church’s push for members to make expensive donations that were coined as “Spiritual sales'' was criticized. This religious movement also drew ire because of its anti LGBT+ stance and ties to several political causes. The latter criticism came to the forefront in the wake of a major 2022 incident. After a man named Tetsuya Yamagami saw his mother go bankrupt to support the group, he targeted high ranking members. He assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe because the politician had associations with the Unification Church. The crime drew more attention to the already controversial organization.
The Nation of Yahweh
A religious movement begun by Yahweh ben Yahweh became the source of serious acts of violence. After the group was criticized for promoting violent Black supremacist ideals, multiple incidents suggested that members were taking lives. Additionally, multiple people who tried to leave the group were either threatened with violence, brutally assaulted or even killed. Those who stayed within the group weren’t safe from punishment. Members who failed to meet quotas to collect money were subjected to physical torment. In 1991, Yahweh ben Yahweh faced jail time for his involvement in 14 murders. His incarceration eventually caused the group to retreat for two years before it returned and continued. While current leaders have moved away from the violent teachings, the movement’s dark history still remains.
The Church of Bible Understanding
American members who left this group reported that their time with this church was exceedingly difficult. Founder Stewart Traill pushed for followers to completely disconnect from their old lives. Once inside, members were expected to give the majority of their earnings to The Church. While Traill and the organization profited, they lived in overcrowded and sometimes pest-filled places. Members of The Church of Bible Understanding were also discouraged from getting information from the outside world or marrying at all. Outside of America, the organization was criticized for running orphanages in Haiti that subjected young children to horrible conditions. After Traill died in 2018, organization members still continued to practice their faith and kept running homes for orphaned people.
The Rajneesh Movement [aka Osho]
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a controversial philosophy scholar and professor, founded his movement in the late 1960s-early ‘70s. He dismissed established religions, and instead focused on freethought, meditation and sexual freedom. He also had a marked interest in communist literature, which influenced his teachings. He moved his facility to Oregon in the early 1980s, after attracting too much controversy in India, yet found the same hostilities in the States. In order to gain political influence, the movement committed crimes such as mass local salmonella poisoning and an attempted assassination of a US attorney. He was then deported, and the movement’s commune was reestablished in India in 1985. Rajneesh died in 1990, but the movement, now called Osho, is still very much active.
Order of the Solar Temple
The Order of the Solar Temple - or International Order of Chivalry Solar Tradition - was founded in Geneva in 1984. The Order took its influence from the Knights Templar which had been reformed into several factions in 1805. In its heyday, the Order had a presiding council, as well as multiple “lodges” around the world, in which they would perform initiation rites and ceremonies. The Order believed that an apocalyptic event would occur sometime in the mid-90s, and that in order to survive, they had to achieve a higher plane of existence. In the mid-nineties, over seventy of its members were murdered or took their own lives, with more to follow. Despite this, the group is still thought to have a small number of active members.
Raëlism
Though its classification as a cult is sometimes debated, Raëlism was (or is still) at some point in the cult category. It’s essentially what’s called a “UFO Religion,” and was founded in France by Claude Vorilhon in 1974. They believe that an alien race known as Elohim created humans; the Elohim have been mistaken for gods, historically, and any prophetic figure (such as Jesus or Muhammad) was created by them. Vorilhon, known as Raël, is the fortieth and final prophet. Followers believe that the world is in an “age of apocalypse,” and that new technologies must be developed, after which time the Elohim will return to Earth and share their extraterrestrial knowledge with us. Current Raëlian members were counted at around 18,000 in 2017.
Aleph
Aum Shinrikyo (or more recently “Aleph”) was founded in Japan in 1987 by Chizuo Matsumoto, later known as Shoko Asahara. It’s a doomsday cult, and its beliefs combine aspects of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Christian Millenarianism, yogic practices and the prophecies of Nostradamus. It started off fairly tame, but eventually the cult became criminal, with accusations of extortion, murder and forced membership, among other things. They performed a number of attacks. At some point, the group began to manufacture sarin gas, and were responsible for the attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, which left upwards of 1,000 injured. A number of the more prominent members were executed in 2018, but there were still indications of active membership as of 2019.
Twelve Tribes
Founded in Tennessee during the evangelical Jesus movement of the 1970s, the Twelve Tribes might seem like a simple, wholesome community on the surface. It aspires to recreate the original Christian church as depicted in the Book of Acts. However, it allegedly exerts authoritarian control over its followers’ lives, and promotes strict corporal punishment - reportedly by parents and non-parents alike - which has led to accusations of mistreatment. Once followers reach a certain level, they’re allegedly instructed that Jews are cursed for murdering Jesus, that gay people should be put to death, and that Black people are naturally servants to whites. The group has often flown under the radar, but there’s a lot more going on beneath the smiling and folk dancing.
Happy Science
Founded in 1986 by former businessman Ryuho Okawa, Happy Science focuses on a four-fold path to happiness. Members of the group attend seminars and training in order to climb the group ladder. They worship El Cantare, a being that is said to have been born over 300 million years ago on Earth and reincarnated through time until its current incarnation, which is, of course, Okawa himself. The problem with this one comes in the form of major, uncredited claims, for example, that the organization can cure the pandemic with “spiritual vaccines.” Okawa’s own son has left the group, and subsequently denounced his father’s actions. Happy Science claims to have eleven million followers, however a former member has said it’s more like 30,000.
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The LDS church spawned some fundamentalist sects when the core religion opted to renounce the practice of polygamy. Those who wished to continue the practice branched off, remaining Mormon but on their own terms. Polygamy remains illegal, however, and in 1953, an entire FLDS community was arrested in Short Creek, Arizona (modern-day Colorado City), and most had their children taken from them. A compound in Texas was raided in 2008 after CPS was made aware of allegations of abuse. Over 400 children were taken from the compound and placed in CPS custody. Leader of FLDS Warren Jeffs remains in his position despite being in prison for life after acts against minors. The sect currently has between 6,000 and 10,000 followers.
Superior Universal Alignment
Our second UFO cult in the list, Superior Universal Alignment, or Lineamiento Universal Superior was founded by Valentina de Andrade in 1981. She claimed to have received messages from extraterrestrials warning her of destruction. If, however, she shared their warnings with others, she and her followers would be saved. Similar to the Raëlians, SUA believes that Jesus was actually an extraterrestrial messenger. They also believe that males born after 1981 are evil, and that their lives should end as payment to the superior beings. Between 1989-1993, nineteen Brazilian boys disappeared, mutilated and left to die in the woods. The guilty cult members were sentenced, but de Andrade was acquitted. The cult is still active, and has been running a website since 2009.
The Family International
The Children of God, more recently The Family International, was founded in 1968 by David Berg, and was immediately subject to controversy, as it used sex to lure potential members (Berg’s own invention, which he called “Flirty Fishing”). They established colonies worldwide, as many as 130 in seventy countries. The Family International draw their beliefs from the Bible, yet with a heavy emphasis on “Loving Jesus,” which is done through sexual interaction. Over time, there have been a large number of child mistreatment allegations raised against them. Celebrities such as River and Joaquin Phoenix, as well as Rose McGowan, were partially raised in this group before finding their way out. TFI is still active, albeit as an online community, boasting 1,450 members.
NXIVM
Founded in 1998 by Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman, NXIVM started out as a self-help group which offered classes called “Executive Success Programs.” In 2017, former members urged authorities to investigate, initially for a sub-group within NXIVM called “The Vow.” It was a group of women branded with Raniere’s initials and on a rotation to have relations with the founder and recruit members, in a sort of exceedingly complex relationship scheme. On top of this, in 2018, charges were brought against Raniere and five female members for a number of crimes including extortion, sex trafficking and the list goes on. Raniere got 120 years in prison. As of 2020, a number of groups branched from NXIVM are said to be active and recruiting.
Which cult are you the most surprised to be still active? Let us know in the comments below.
