For centuries, America was thought of as one of the most prominent countries in the world. From its rich history with violence and war to its peacefulness and love, America has been a constant contradiction in and of itself. For some, its a source of admiration and hope, and others, restlessness and anger. Some of these contradictions are manifested into what we now know are cults.

Cults have captivated writers for centuries. Countless number of books, articles, and psychological studies have been written on the subject of cults alone. The public had often attacked these cults, while scholars have long been fascinated by them. Below are just a few of these cults.

The People's Temple
The People's Temple was a cult that intertwined elements of socialism and communism with Christianity. Founded by Jim Jones, the cult was known for the tragic mass murder that followed in its settlement, known as Jonestown. Jones promised his followers that he would lead them to paradise, which, in his eyes, was an island named Guyana. In 1978, a congressman by the name of Leo Ryan visited Jonestown and was met with members who wanted to leave. However, when he tried getting these members out, the Temple killed Ryan and four others. Later that evening, Jones managed to convince his followers to drink a concoction mixed with cyanide, leading to the deaths of approximately 900 people. Until the 9/11 terrorist attack, this event was the most devastating murder in American history.

Heaven’s Gate
Heaven’s Gate was a cult that focused on UFOs. The cult was founded by Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite. Both they and their believers thought that the only way to survive the Earth’s end and preserve their humanity was to transfer their consciousness to a spacecraft far from Earth, a craft that would take them to Heaven. So, in October of 1996, the group decided to stage a mass suicide that led to the deaths of 39 people. After this event, three other members tried committing suicide themselves, one of which even hoped to join the other members in the previously mentioned spacecraft.

The Family International
The Family International, originally known as Teens for Christ, is particularly infamous due to its encouragement of its members to sexually engage with children. David Berg, their founder, managed to grow the cult and isolate his members. He sexually abused his children and encouraged his members to remove all boundaries of sexuality, including incest and adultery. The cult was the subject of one of Larry King’s TV segments, as well as the book The Religious Fringe: A History of Alternate Religions in America by Richard Kyle.

It’s frightening, just how influential cult leaders and their ideologies can be, especially when the outside world can be just as terrifying and confusing. In fact, there are people who believe in the cult’s powers, regardless of whether or not they committed crimes. It’s this very mentality that writers began cultivating a passion for. After all, these cults, however twisted they may be, have the makings of a macabre setting.