Lisa Mildred is our boots on the ground cult reporter. In each of her articles, Lisa visits a cult and meets the members in person before writing an essay detailing her experience. Earlier articles by Mildred included stories of dropping in on two sects of the Moonies and a two part article about visiting, and […]
An ambiguously named faith group without a homepage, address, or phone number might not seem like something to be overly concerned about, but the story of The Body is extreme enough to warrant consideration beyond the small imprint the group has made in the secular world. Information concerning the organization is thin in a Google […]
There’s an extremist right-wing church called Apologia in Arizona that’s led by a hip millennial preacher known to smear congregants with secret recordings and make new members sign contracts promising to be “faithful until death.” Strangely enough, the pastor is better known as one of the hosts of a popular podcast about cults (from a […]
Painting of Melissa Parker by Jahera, Kenya There are a few extreme stories of children being separated from parents who joined an unorthodox religious group that started in Alaska commonly known as The Body. The issue was a concern even before the core began migrating on a mysterious pilgrimage seven years ago that’s created tremendous […]
The Source Family was a destructive cult that went on to form a psychedelic rock band. In this article, writer Jim Haller explores the world of Father Yod and the unlikely group of hippies that followed him. It’s a story that could have only arrived in the era that birthed the counter culture. Read More […]
The creator of Cultish is Jeff D, who is also the minister at the Baptist Apologia Church in Mesa, Arizona. Apologia is not a conventional Baptist ministry as the church preaches Calvinism and Theonomy, checks notes, “a hypothetical Christian form of government in which society is ruled by divine law. Theonomists hold that divine law, […]
When it comes to tragic stories about an active cult called The Body, Carrie C is top of mind. About a decade ago Carrie was living what appeared to be an idyllic life in Nikiski, Alaska. She was in her early 20’s, newly married, and living in a beautiful new home that her husband restored. […]
Cult leaders are generally very cunning con artists. By and large, these characters are adept at removing themselves from the blowback that follows their most destructive tendencies. Marc B, the head of a destructive sex cult called The Body, is an example of a cult leader who has been skillful at covering his tracks. When […]
Another notable thing about The Whipping Cult is that journalists of the day actually called it a cult, which was a rare distinction back in the day. Today the word has a more secular connotation and we recognize groups with no religious affiliation like NXIVM as cults. Back then, editorial standards seemed to only deploy […]
When a new member joins The Twelve Tribes, they surrender all of their worldly goods: money, property, phones, even the names they were born with. They believe if you forsake everything you had in your former life and live in the community, Yahshua (more commonly known as Jesus) will bless you with a house, brothers […]
The fishing on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska is incredible. If you ever make the trip, be sure to drop a line in the Kenai River in Cooper Landing for salmon that bite all summer or charter one of the many ships in Homer where you can find enormous halibut. It’s totally worth the cost […]
Ervil LeBaron was an LDS cult leader responsible for the deaths of at least 30 people who he perceived as his enemies. It’s a story of murder and lust for power, but what was behind Ervil’s spree of terror? Raised by a cult leader in his own right and fed toxic theology from youth, there’s […]
Ervil LeBaron was an LDS cult leader responsible for the deaths of at least 30 people who he perceived as his enemies. It’s a story of murder and lust for power, but what was behind Ervil’s spree of terror? Raised by a cult leader in his own right and fed toxic theology from youth, there’s […]
