10 Examples of Cults Going Online

Exclusive community, extremist beliefs, charismatic and/or authoritarian leader. These are all listed as possible signs that a religious sect could be defined as a cult. The internet has created a whole new avenue for these types of extreme groups to contact and recruit new converts. They have websites. They frequent forum discussions. They’re involved in social networking. Here are ten cults that are making use of the world wide web to recruit new followers and promote their message.

1. Scientology – You can find over 200 domain names registered on the web by this organization. Time magazine ran a cover story on this group calling it the ‘Cult of Greed’. Ron L. Hubbard was its charismatic founder. Escapeint.org is a website the offers help for families are concerned about their family members who are involved. Finding sites set up to help people ‘get out’ or escape from an organization is one sign that a group may be considered a cult.
2. Unification Church – Also referred to as the ‘Moonies’, the Unification Church was begun by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. FamilyFed.org is the name of their primary website. Manipulation and deception have been some of the main accusations against the recruiters for this worldwide organization.
3. Al Qaeda – This name is known around the world as the extremist Muslim organization which claimed responsibility for the 9-11 terrorist attack on the United States. Their online activities are much more covert because of this, but you can be assured that they are making use of the internet to recruit members.
4. Children of God – The group has over a dozen different websites. Also going by the simple name of ‘The Family’, this group’s founder was David Moses, referred to as Father David and other terms. exFamily.org provides a perspective and warnings from former COG members about the deceptive practices used by this group.
5. Sri Chinmoy – Typifying many cult structures you find Sri Chinmoy identifying himself as a representative of the Divine and speaking words of love and peace. Yet former group members tell a different story, as in this book by Jayanti Tamm.
6. Soka Gakkai – Formerly known as Nichirin Shoshu of America (NSA), this organization is Buddhist in its religious nature, but again has a pyramidical structure which includes a dominant leader and practices that do not fit with the mainstream of Buddhism. You will find former members attempting to expose the deception they found in the group.
7. Fellowship of Friends – Based in California and led by founder Robert Burton (known as ‘The Teacher’), this group demonstrates the traits of mandatory obedience to the cult leader, a negative view of individualism and group manipulation of those within the community.
8. White Suppremacy Hate Groups – There are many groups that are using the internet to recruit members that may not always utilize a website, and which are not necessarily religious in orientation. These racially based groups fit into that category.
9. Ramakrishnananda – This group has multiple websites. Their practices are very controlling of every aspect of the members. Exposure of their practices is made available on another website by those desiring to warn others who might venture into the groups embrace.
10. Endeavor Academy – Surrender of funds and material possessions are included in the control exercised by this group. Emotional manipulation through the use of fear and guilt, which is typical in cults, is used very skillfully in this group.

Freedom of Mind is an organization devoted to helping individuals and families break free from organizations that use mind control techniques to recruit and control their members. It maintains a large listing of organizations that people may have questions about. Many of the organizations listed are NOT cults, but information is provided to assist people in finding out the truth about many different unique organizations, so that they can make that determination.