Some Links and Info for Researching Religious Cults
(The Guru Trip is Over)
Contents of This Page
Links - General Information on Cults
What is a Cult?
Wikipedia Article - Cult
Wikipedia Article - New Religous Movement (politically correct term for "cult")
The BITE Model
Here are three more webpages which seriously discuss "what is a cult?":
Key Cult Features (from SOS Europe website) www.orange-papers.mx/orange-cult-sos.html
Totalism in Today's Cults - Jan Goenveld www.orange-papers.mx/orange-totalism.html
The above 3 links are to pages on a large website critical of Alchohics
Anonymous (AA). These pages refer to characteristics of cults in general,
not necesarily to AA. I have no particular beef with AA myself, but I do
think it interesting to analyze them. AA seems to have helped many people,
though I know recovered alchoholics who did not seem to like or need AA.
Here is a link to a page at that site discussing AA as a cult:
Alcholics Anonymous as a Cult by A. Orange www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult.html
Janja Lalich - Definition and Explanation of the Word "Cult"
Mind Control Made Easy or How to Become a Cult Leader - Carey Burtt - (Awesome Youtube video)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3wTtmrFQxI
The above video illustrates some of the concepts of "thought reform" (also
called brain-washing or mind control) put forth by Robert Jay Lifton.
General Information on Cults
Reddit Discussion Forum - Cults - www.reddit.com/r/cults
Reddit Discussion Forum - Cult Survivors - www.reddit.com/r/cultsurvivors
ICSA - International Cultic Studies Association - www.icsahome.com
Rick Ross - www.culteducation.com
CultNews.net - thorough daily news roundup (from Rick Ross)
Janja Lalich - www.janjalalich.com
From the Age of the Guru to the Age of the Friend - Dr. Greg Goode - www.heartofnow.com/files/other.writings.html
Why the Age of the Guru is Over - Charles Eisenstein:
Sarlo's Guru Rating Service - sarlo.42web.io/ratings.html
Guruphiliac.Blogspot.com
Steven Alan Hassan - www.freedomofmind.com
Ex-Cult Resource Center www.ex-cult.org
Allen Tate Wood - www.atwood7.com
Walter Martin - www.waltermartin.com
Stripping The Gurus - Geoffrey Faulk - www.strippingthegurus.com
Cult Information Centre - www.cultinformation.org.uk
Cult Awareness and Information Library - www.culthelp.info
Pair A Docks (blog) - pairadocks.blogspot.com
Cult Apologist FAQ - home.snafu.de/tilman/faq-you/cult.apologists.txt
RelInfo.ch - a Swiss site, in German
Diane Benscoter - ownyourbrain.org
How to Become a Cult Guru - Phil Milstein - www.songpoemmusic.com/cults/guru.htm
Anti-Cult Movement (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-cult_movement
Info on Specific Groups
My funny story on "Yogic Flying" and Transcendental Meditation.
www.suggestibility.org
Wikipedia Article - Scientology
xenu.net - Operation Clambake
www.mikerindersblog.org/
Fun from The Onion: www.theonion.com/articles/scientology-losing-ground-to-new-fictionology,1327/
The Underground Bunker (Scientology Blog) tonyortega.org
Recovery from The New Kadampa Tradition - A Resource Center -
newkadampatraditionreport.org
My page on Oneness Movement / Oneness Blessing / Sri Kalki Bhagavan
(includes links)
Unification Church (Sun Myung Moon) at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_Church
www.leavingsiddhayoga.net Critical of Siddha Yoga - SYDA (the late Swami Muktananda)
www.ex-premie.org
"Wikipedia ruled by Lord of the Universe" - (amazing article) -
http://culteducation.com/group/1219-divine-light-mission/21769-wikipedia-ruled-by-lord-of-the-universe.html
And a followup to the above article: "Lord of the Universe" disciple exits Wikipedia
The Dark Empire of Yogi Bhajan - Episode 1 of Vice's True Believers Series APR 9, 2022 (48-minute video) -
yogibhajan.tripod.com
The Wacko World of Yogi Bhajan - www.wackoworldofyogibhajan.com
indiakids.blogspot.com
Kundalini Yoga/3HO/Yogi Bhajan - http://culteducation.com/group/795-3ho.html
www.sustainedaction.org/
The Dark Legacy of Carlos Castaneda - Robert Marshall - April 22,2007
www.cleargreen.com/
Wikipedia Article - Heaven's Gate
www.gizmodo.com/the-online-legacy-of-a-suicide-cult-and-the-webmasters-1617403237
Wikipedia Article - NXIVM
thebabarazzi.com Examining the commercialization of yoga / yogilebrity/celebriyogi culture
Some Documentary Films Related to Cults
David Wants to Fly (2010 - 96min) David Sieveking
Long, serious article addressing the many aspects of this complicated issue.
PLEASE READ above article if interested in this subject.
Behavior control, Information control, Thought control, Emotional control.
(NOTE - above site www.orange-papers.mx is a "resurrection" of the orginal
site which previously existed at www.orange-papers.org)
Janja Lalich - http://www.janjalalich.com/blog/definition-and-explanation-of-the-word-cult/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jay_Lifton
Publishers of Cultic Studies Review
Rick Ross Groups Listing - www.culteducation.com/sg_alpha.html
Rick Ross Links Page - www.culteducation.com/links.html
Rick Ross is a "cult interventionist" and educator, his extensive site has a
large list of groups with many articles and links.
(site address was formerly rickross.com, changed to culteducation.com in 2014)
Very thoughtful discussion of the guru concept, including "enlightenment by transmission".
www.realitysandwich.com/across_threshold_0
Very interesting website. Extensive listings of gurus.
"Revealing Self-Aggrandizement and Superstition in Self-Realization Since 2005"
Very fun and interesting site - keeps up-to-date with wacky guru stories.
This site was moved to Facebook in 2010. I don't find it nearly as useful or
accessible there, but I think the old site is still up for searching the
archives.
Guruphiliac Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Guruphiliac/170255186340026
Late Christian cult researcher - lots of videos available (I have not yet seen
any of these), including 10-part series on Mormons and a video about
Transcendental Meditation.
Subtitled: Sex, Violence, Abuse and Enlightenment.
An online book - no one is spared here - maybe even goes a bit too far.
Highly recommended reading though. Includes links and a large
bibliography of books about cults.
List of groups with links, list of books, some good general articles.
(as of 06/06/22, looks to be offline, but there is link there to the archived site at archive.org)
Extensive article breaking down the various types of groups that oppose cults.
Falling Down the TM Rabbithole - How Transcendental Meditation Really Works, A Critical Opinion - Joe Kellett
Note - this is the main article at Wikipedia. Click "show" on the yellow
bar at the bottom of the page to see all the Scientology-related articles at
Wikipedia - there are over 80 different articles.
Very extensive anti-Scientology site.
"Undressing the Church of Scientology since 1996."
Mike Rinder was a high-ranking member of Scientology before leaving in 2007.
A special fun feature of this website is the comic Regraded Being.
Tony Ortega is the author of The Unbreakable Miss Lovely
Amazon.
The New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) is a fast-growing, empire-building Buddhist
cult. There are many sects and variations within Buddhism. They all seem to
respect each other, but most seem to be suspicious of the NKT. They
emphasize following the teachings of "the guru", and teach that you can
become enlightened only by direct contact with the guru. And their leader
just happens to be not only enlightened, but is actually the "third Buddha".
Main official website: (they have many more) kadampa.org
NKT at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Kadampa_Tradition
This Wikipedia article seems to have recently been purged (early 2008) of
lots of critical info, such as their beef with the Dalai Lama.
Extensive site in English, Dutch, German, French and Italian.
Ex-followers of Guru Maharaj Ji, AKA Prem Rawat, AKA Lord of the Universe.
In English, French and Spanish, with links to other similar sites.
-
www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/09/fresco_retires_from_wikipedia/
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nfr5jKauwtE
Large collection of info on Yogi Bhajan, Kundalini Yoga, 3HO.
Lots of court documents.
(for many years was www.wackoworldofyogibhajan.net)
"Live Your Life - Memoirs and Accounts from a Second Generation Adult Raised in 3HO Sikh Dharma"
Recently started (04/08) blog relating experiences with 3HO/Yogi Bhajan
Collections of articles from Rick Ross's page for 3HO. This cult bugs me more
than most, as I find yoga in general to be a serious and powerful method of
healing, and this group continues to perpetuate the image of yoga as
weird, wacky and cultish. And inexplicably, the yoga world seems to accept
3HO's "Kundalini Yoga" (not to be confused with actual kundalini yoga) as
a valid form of yoga practice. They also claim to be Sikhs (hence the white
turbans) but actually have nothing to do with Sikhism (which itself has
nothing to do with yoga).
"devoted to exploring and evaluating the claims of Carlos Castaneda"
(he wrote the Don Juan books)
(Lengthy and interesting article at Salon.com about Carlos Casteneda):
www.salon.com/2007/04/12/castaneda/
Official site of "Tensegrity", the movement technique developed and taught by
Carlos Castaneda and his followers.
39 members commited mass suicide in 1997 to board alien spacecraft hiding behind Hale-Bopp comet.
Very interesting article about the continued maintenance of the official
website of the Heaven's Gate cult.
NXIVM (Nexium), is a cult led by Kenneth Raniere, who was arrested in Mexico
in March, 2018 and extradicted to the US. NXIUM is promoted as a personal and
professional development seminar for the empowerment of women. Women are
recruited and are "slaves" who can become "masters" after recruiting more
women. Members of DOS, a secret sisterhood within NXIVM, are held down naked
and branded with a symbol containing the initials of Kenneth Raniere and
Allison Mack. Other celebrities associated include Kristin Kreuk, Linda
Evans, Nicki Clyne, and Clare and Sara Bronfman.
Can watch at Amazon Prime (as of late 2019): www.amazon.com/dp/B081786177/
Wikipedia (the film): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wants_to_Fly
Wikipedia (Transcendental Meditation): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_Meditation
(This main artcle links to over 40 other TM-related Wikipedia articles)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1598782/
Amazon.de (GERMANY) (DVD 11/26/10 PAL Region0): www.amazon.de/dp/3854398727/
(checking this page at amazon.de 10/26/19, DVD appears to be out of print, but some copies may
be available. there may also be a "German edition" - Region 2 PAL - cover says DAVID CHCE ODLECIEC)
Amazon.com (DVD 11/26/10 PAL Region0) : www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004265K7G
(checking this page at Amazon.com 10/26/19 - no copies currently available)
Review: tmfree.blogspot.com/2010/05/david-wants-to-fly-very-personal-review.html
Article: www.macleans.ca/culture/movies/the-yogis-enigmatic-heir/
About David Lynch and Transcendental Meditation. A German filmmaker wants to
make a documentary about his idol, David Lynch. Lynch invites him to a
"creativity workshop" in Fairfield, Iowa. Unbeknownst to Sieveking, Fairfield
is the headquarters of the TM cult. So his film turns out to be a close look
at the wacky world of TM, including "yogic flying".
(See my yogic flying page).
As of 08/011, not yet released on DVD in the US. (David Lynch and TM may
succeed in preventing this). I went ahead and ordered the
European PAL DVD. I think I got it from a third-party seller at Amazon.com.
Can also order from amazon.de and might find on ebay.com. The German DVD
is region-free and has English subtitles. PAL DVDs will play in most
newer DVD players.
(can put in Saved queue at Netflix - hopefully they will have it someday)
This is an awesome film - unbelievable stuff (but all true) -
highly recommended. One of the best and most interesting looks at a cult.
Guru: Bhagwan, His Secretary & His Bodyguard (2010 - 98min) Sabine Gisiger, Beat Haner
Official Site (Swiss site, in German): www.gurufilm.ch
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1735976/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osho
Amazon.de (GERMANY) (DVD 02/11/11 PAL Region2) : www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004F54PZC
About Osho (Rajneesh), from the points of view of his long-time secretary
and his long-time bodyguard. No telling when or if American DVD will be
released. Can order German PAL DVD from
amazon.de, which I finally did in DEC 2011. Wow! I wasn't sure what to
expect from this and I have to admit I had not really looked much into
the whole Rajneesh trip. A little ways into this I stopped it and went
to read the Wikipedia article on Osho, which was mind-blowing. Going back
to the film, I was impressed that it covered all the main points in the
history of this major cult. This is a very interesting film for sure!
This is a Swiss film, but everyone in it speaks English, so its in English.
There are optional German subtitles. All the text on the DVD box is in
German. Very thought-provoking and highly recommended.
Wild Wild Country (2018) Chapman Way, McClain Way
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Wild_Country
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osho
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt7768848/
Netflix TV series looks at the Osho cult during their time in Oregon
(1981-1985). There are six episodes, each a bit over an hour. This is one of
the best things I have seen about cults. Notable for providing both sides of
the story. Lots to think about. Lots of archival footage and lots of current
interviews with local residents and cult members, including Ma Anand Sheela.
(Netflix streaming, no DVD)
Kumare (2011 - 84min) Vikram Gandhi
Subtitle: The True Story of a False Prophet
Official Site: www.kumaremovie.com/
Official "Fake" Site: www.kumare.org/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumare
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1865425/
Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kumare/
Amazon (DVD 03/12/13 Kino Lorber): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00AOCDEF2/
Article by the Director: www.realitysandwich.com/taking_leap_faith
Mind-blowing awesome. The director grows a beard, heads to Arizona and
impersonates a guru. He easily develops quite a following. I waited for this
a long time and it did not disappoint. Very entertaining as well as very
interesting. I was HOWLING when I watched this. An essential watch for
anyone interested in the cult/guru trip.
(Not to be confused with 2009 film of the same name). The story of Nicole Daedone and her OneTaste cult. Released on Netflix streaming OCT 2022.
HBO TV Miniseries. IMDB-7.7.
Some Feature Films Related to Cults
Holy Smoke! (1999 - 114min) Jane Campion
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Smoke!
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0144715
Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/holy_smoke/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00003CWRC
Harvey Keitel is a hotshot cult deprogrammer sent to Australia to deprogram
a devotee of an Indian guru, played by Kate Winslet. May have met his match.
Interesting film by feminist filmmaker Jane Campion.
Some Books About Cults
As you might imagine, there are stacks and stacks of books written by
ex-members of various cults. Full of crazy tales, stranger than fiction.
These are just a few that I happen to have listed. There are much more
extensive bibliographies on this subject elsewhere. Check out:
www.culteducation.com/books.html
www.strippingthegurus.com/stgsamplechapters/bibliography.html
Over 600 books listed. Categorized, with Amazon links.
Over 600 books listed. Alphabetized, with Amazon or other links.
Terror, Love & Brainwashing - Alexandra Stein
Subtitled: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems
2nd edition: 2021 Routledge 302 pages (paperback $32.95) ISBN10:3067467712 ISBN13:9783067467715
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/3067467712/
1st edition: 2016 Routledge 246 pages (paperback $33.95) ISBN10:1138677973 ISBN13:9781138677975
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1138677973/
Escaping Utopia - Janja Lalich, Karla McLaren
Subtitled: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, Starting Over
2017 Routledge 176 pages (paperback $44.95) ISBN10:1138239747 ISBN13:9781138239746
Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1138239747/
The Guru Papers - Joel Kramer, Diana Alstad
Subtitled: Masks of Authoritarian Power
1993 Frog Books 408 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN10:1883319005 ISBN13:9781883319007
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1883319005/
The classic work on the guru trip.
Feet of Clay - Anthony Storr
Subtitled: Saints, Sinners, and Madmen - A Study of Gurus
1997 Free Press 275 pages (paperback $18.95) ISBN10:0684834952 ISBN13:9780684834955
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0684834952/
Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer
Subtitled: A Story of Violent Faith
2004 Anchor 432 pages (paperback $16.00) ISBN10:1400032806 ISBN13:9781400032808
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1400032806/
Krakauer looks at the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (Mormons) and at a murder commited by brothers Ron and Dan Laffery,
who were members of a splinter group of fundamentalist Mormons called the
School of Prophets. Also looks at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints (FLDS).
A Piece of Blue Sky - Jon Atack
Subtitled: Scientology, Dianetics, and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed
1990 Lyle Stewart 428 pages (paperback) ISBN10:0818140499X ISBN13:97808181404993
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/081840499X/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Piece_of_Blue_Sky
Inside Scientology - Janet Reitman
Subtitled: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion
2011 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 464 pages (hardback $28.00) ISBN10:0618883029 ISBN13:9780618883028
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0618883029/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Scientology:_The_Story_of_America's_Most_Secretive_Religion
Enlightenment Blues - Andre van der Braak
Subtitled: My Years With An American Guru
2003 Monkfish Book Publishing 240 pages (paperback $16.00) ISBN10:0972635718 ISBN13:9780972635714
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0972635718/
About experiences with Andrew Cohen.
The Mother of God - Luna Tarlo
2009 Epigraph Publishing 320 pages (paperback $16.00) ISBN10:098245306X ISBN13:9780982453063
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/098245306X/
About experiences as a follower of Andrew Cohen - by his mother.
Cartwheels in a Sari - Jayanti Tamm
Subtitled: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult
2009 Harmony 304 pages (hardback $22.99) ISBN10:0307393925 ISBN13:9780307393920
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0307393925/
An insider's view of the world around Sri Chinmoy.
Monkey on a Stick - John Hubner, Lindsey Gruson
Subtitled: Murder, Madness and the Hare Krishnas
1990 Onyx 462 pages (out-of-print) ISBN10:0451401875 ISBN13:9780451401878
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0451401875/
HAREKRSNA.org (some chapters online here): www.harekrsna.org/iskgone/mostick.htm
Hare Krishnas (ISKCON).
Betrayal of the Spirit - Nori J. Muster
Subtitled: My Life Behind the Headlines of the Hare Krishna Movement
2001 University of Illinois Press 256 pages ($25.00 paperback) ISBN10:0252065662,ISBN13:9780252065668
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0252065662/
Hare Krishnas (ISKCON).
The Source: The Untold Story of Father Yod, Yo Ho Wa 13, and the Source Family - Isis Aquarian, Electricity Aquarian
2007 Process 308 pages ($24.95 paperback) ISBN10:0976082292,ISBN13:9780976082293
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0976082292/
(See films above).
Transcendental Deception - Aryeh Siegel
Subtitled: Behind the TM curtain - bogus science, hidden agendas, and David
Lynch's campaign to push a million public school kids into Transcendental
Meditation
2018 Janreg Press 224 pages ($17.99 paperback) ISBN10:0999661507,ISBN13:9780999661505
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0999661507/
"Avoid gurus and religions. They're bad for your mental health and they want your money." Richard Sutphen
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This page revised 12/31/22, 12/22/22, 09/01/22, 07/09/22, 07/04/22, 06/19/22,
06/18/22, 06/15/22, 06/06/22, 12/09/19, 10/29/19,
10/26/19, 06/18/19, 12/04/18, 06/19/18, 04/15/18, 04/03/18, 03/11/18, ...
First posted 04/05/08. Links checked/fixed 06/07/22, 03/12/11.