Comparing The Two Cults Of The Manson Family

The second cult that will be discussed is the Manson Family. This cult was created by the infamous serial killer Charles Manson. Growing up in a dysfunctional world, Manson began turning to petty crimes which always kept him in jail. People have described Manson to reveal the classic personality traits of a successful cult leader. In addition, it is said that he had delusional ideas on how the world was going to end. Manson’s delusions were also an effect of several drugs such as LSD and powerful works of art. His interests included the story of the apocalypse in the Bible and also looked into the church of Scientology. In the late 1960s, Manson formed his cult group The Family. He would preach that he was Jesus and issues based on race, which

The only similarity worth noting is the psychological effect Manson had on his disciples. This is similar to that of the pope. I am not saying that the pope is a psychotic mass murderer, but rather he shares similar teaching tactics to seduce followers. Manson’s charismatic and eloquent prophecies mirror that to the pope’s speaking abilities. Both are very approachable and kind. Both Manson and the pope teach their students of a better world, even though one speaks of chaos and one speaks of salvation. Both have the ability and charisma to move large amounts of people with just their words, no violence

The third cult being discussed is Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. Jim Jones is ranked one of the most notorious cult leaders. The Peoples Temple consisted of 900 men, women, and children. This group is sadly famous for the mass suicide that took place in the late 1970s, when the 900 cult members ingested a kool-aid blend laced with cyanide. Jones started on this path when his grandmother brought him to her church at age 10. After visiting numerous churches, the young impressionable Jones started to preach to other children. In the mid 1950s, Jones branched out and formed his own congregation called the Wings of Deliverance which then turned into the Peoples Temple. As an attempt to increase the population of his parishioners, Jones aired his homily on the local radio station. Just like Manson, Jones was known for his eloquent speeches that captured the audience. Jones would talk about a better life that is to come. Similar to Paul Schaefer’s teachings from Colonia Dignidad, Jim Jones deterred from any sexual relationships. However, Jones was involved in copious adulterous relationships. Jones got rid of any family bonds and pronounced him to be the “father of all”. Eventually, a paranoid Jim Jones moved the group to Guyana where the compound was renamed to Jonestown. Just like Schaefer, Jones ran this new compound with an iron fist. Similar to the people of Colonia Dignidad, the people of Jonestown were extremely malnourished and often dehydrated. The