From false religions and offshoots of traditional religions to political, financial, sexual and hate groups, this book looks at 40 groups and leaders, including their histories, deceits, manipulations, and twisted ideologies. Some rely on systems of obedience, submission, and dependency. More than a few have mystifying beliefs. Others are dark and murderous. You’ll encounter curious, bizarre and sometimes upsetting stories of… Charming, manipulative and exploitative leaders—Jim Jones, Jim Baker, David Berg, David Koresh, and many, many others. The breakaways from traditional religions—Father Divine and the Peace Mission, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Westboro Baptist Church, the Gospel of Prosperity, and many more. Political, ponzi, metaphysical, and science schemes—the cult of the scientific method, pyramid schemes, political cults, the Unification Church, and much more. Aliens, extraterrestrials, and the cosmos—Church of Scientology, Raëlians and Heaven’s Gate, to name a few. End-times and doomsday cults—rapture beliefs, Edgar Cayce, the Ant Hill Kids and more. Racial, radical and social media cults—QAnon, Ku Klux Klan, Oath Keepers, Antifa and others. Sex, perversity and submission—NXIVM, Sullivanians, Rajneesh and many more.

AMERICAN CULTS: Cabals, Corruption, and Charismatic Leaders. By Jim Willis. 368 Pages. 6x9 Paperback. Illustrated. Bibliography.