5 Most Terrifying Cults in History That Redefine Darkness
Many different cults have existed throughout history, and you’ve probably heard that they still continue functioning in the 21st century. It is usual to form communities full of people with the same mindsets, beliefs, and a purpose to make a positive change in the world. However, some groups turn into cults that demand blind obedience from their members. Among them, there are plenty of cases that have left an absolutely shocking and devastating legacy. In this article, we will talk about 5 of the scariest and most disturbing cults in history. Angel’s Landing was a cult led by a man named Daniel Perez. It existed for 15 years, and all this time, Perez claimed he was not an actual human being, but he was a 1000-year-old angel. He gained followers, who were mostly women. Together, they would travel and move around. He indoctrinated these women and convinced them that his “angelic” body required sexual contact with young girls. What’s most disturbing is how methodically the followers obeyed every new directive from Perez. They adopted his rules almost on autopilot, like gamblers who chase jackpots while playing slot online, without actually thinking about the rules of the game. Some members of the cult died under suspicious circumstances, and Perez got their insurance money (which was quite a lot, in total). People started talking about these incidents only in 2003, when police found the drowned body of Patricia Hughes, a 26-year-old woman, in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was thought to be an accident, but after an investigation, the detectives confirmed that she was killed by Perez. Eventually, he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for this crime along with 27 others, which included rape, assault, first-degree murders, child sexual abuse, and many more. This commune and cult was established in California by Charles Manson in the 1960s. He convinced his followers that he was an incarnated Jesus and that a race war would be arriving soon. Most of the people in this cult were young women, including Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins, and Leslie Van Houten. Manson would order the members to kill people. He was finally arrested in 1969 and was sentenced to life in prison for 9 first-degree murders. One of the cases included the killing of an actress, Sharon Tate, who at the time was eight months pregnant. Manson passed away in 2017, but his followers remain in prison to this day. Heaven’s Gate was created by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles in the early 1970s. They believed that the Earth would be destroyed soon, and the only way to escape it was to get away from the land. As they collected more and more followers, they started living in several camps in Southern California. Whoever would join the cult would be forced to stop any contact with their friends, family, and the public in general. The only thing they were allowed to do was to search for recruits on the internet. 42 people in total from this cult committed suicide, believing they wouldn’t die but leave the vessel that pinned them to earth. Several dead bodies were found on the bunk beds of the mansion where the group stayed. They were dressed exactly the same, with a shirt saying “Heaven’s Gate Away Team.” The community of the Children of God is also known as Family International and was founded in 1968 by David Brandt Berg. Their point was to preach and share God’s love with each other and with more people who would join them. However, Berg would instruct females in the group to find recruits by having sex with them. He also encouraged sexual activities between children from the age of 12 which often involved rape. Former members have mentioned that they were victims of sexual assault and beaten up as kids. Some famous people who escaped this cult include Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan. After Berg’s passing in 1984, the group stopped doing these disturbing activities. Currently, they only preach about the sentiments of good and evil. Matramos is a human sacrifice cult that caused the deaths of many people. The investigators discovered 12 dead bodies in Mexico, on the border of the U.S., in 1989. Later, they found 3 more. The cult rituals often involved satanic torture devices. One of the most famous murders is the case of Mark Kilroy, who was killed by the leader, Alfonso de Jesus Constanzo. He tried to run away to Mexico City and then convinced one of the members to shoot him in case he would be found, so he could avoid jail. By the time the police caught Constanzo, he was already dead. However, they arrested the follower who shot him. As horrific as it can be, many cults have existed throughout time. Luckily, in the case of these 5 examples, justice was served and more people were saved from getting sucked into a tragedy. While getting to know about these kinds of communities is disturbing, it is vital to be aware of them. That way, we can at least protect ourselves from misbeliefs, indoctrination, and manipulations that would put us into serious danger. Copyright Statement: Unless explicitly stated, all stories published on Creepypasta.com are the property of (and under copyright to) their respective authors, and may not be narrated or performed under any circumstance.