Cults

Schooled in the darkest corners of his family’s Afro-Carribean religion, Adolfo Constanzo decided to make his fortune using magic granted through animal sacrifices. In Mexico City, he grew his power a...

17 Touko 202152min

For over a decade, a self-described rabbi ran a seminary in an orthodox neighborhood of Jerusalem. From the outside, nothing seemed different about Aharon Ramati’s religious school for young women. Bu...

11 Touko 202142min

Increased government scrutiny in the early 2000s didn’t stop Hermes Far Eastern Shining from growing into a small business empire. Attrill used his local influence to shield the organization, even as ...

4 Touko 202135min

A fast-growing cult in Australia absorbed hundreds of people into its fold in the late 1990s. Gerald Attrill promoted himself as an alchemist and the spiritual kin of Jesus Christ, attracting devoted ...

27 Huhti 202140min

Deep in the heart of the Black Woods on the border between Switzerland and Germany, an eccentric spiritual medium named Uriella set up a commune for her growing community of fanatical followers. She c...

20 Huhti 202142min

In the 1990s, Ronald Weinland began issuing doomsday prophecies from his online pulpit. Despite being indicted for tax evasion, Weinland, now in his 70s, is still sermonizing to — and collecting tithe...

13 Huhti 202137min

When Ben Klassen died by suicide in 1993, Matthew Hale picked up his mantle as leader of the sputtering Church of the Creator. Hale was a young college student from Illinois, whose own plans to enact ...

6 Huhti 202145min

After a short but controversial run in politics, Ben Klassen founded the Church of the Creator in 1973. The avowed white supremacist used this new venture to spout racist rhetoric, foster hate amongst...

30 Maalis 202146min