Cults Inside Out: How People Get in and Can Get Out

by Rick Alan Ross

  Sadly, Jonestown was only the beginning of what would become an episodic nightmare of repeated cultic tragedies. The media, public, and authorities would seemingly rediscover this issue again and again whenever another cult tragedy occurred. Interest and focus, however, would eventually wane with each news cycle until the next sensational cult story emerged.

  Authors Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman interviewed many former members of the People’s Temple for Snapping: America’s Epidemic of Sudden Personality Change, their seminal book about cults. They sadly observed, “We say that each new report of cult abuses and criminal offenses will stir a major advance in public opinion and await the moment when policymakers in government become aroused to action. But, on reflection, it seems to us that even the carnage of People’s Temple may fail as a warning.”12

  In the wake of Jonestown, “drinking the Kool-Aid” would become a pop culture expression to describe becoming so brainwashed that you cannot think independently. This sad metaphor is a legacy of Jonestown.

  1978—Synanon Attempted Murder

  Just one month before the tragedy at Jonestown, in October 1978, California attorney Paul Morantz reached into his mailbox and found a deadly rattlesnake. Members of a drug rehabilitation community, known as Synanon, had put it there. The lawyer had been litigating against the group on behalf of former members, and the group’s leader had ordered him eliminated.13

  Morantz survived the attack, but Synanon didn’t. Criminal prosecutions and litigation soon unraveled the community, which had started in 1958. Founded by Charles Dederich Sr. as a self-help group, Synanon eventually became a church in 1970.

  The story of Synanon is a cautionary example of a group that may have initially begun with good intentions but nevertheless degenerated into a destructive cult. It’s the story that won the small California newspaper Point Reyes Light a Pulitzer Prize in 1979.14

  Charles Dederich was born in 1913 in Ohio. His father died in an auto accident when he was four. He lost his younger brother to influenza a few years later. Dederich’s adult life was also unhappy. After two failed marriages he moved to California and ended up as a destitute drunk. In 1956 he discovered Alcoholics Anonymous.15 AA changed Dederich’s life. He became a true believer in its twelve-step program and eventually tried to help others. Subsisting on unemployment and donations, Dederich became a full-time proponent of AA and held small gatherings after local meetings. These sessions evolved into seminars that were highly confrontational. This process devised by Charles Dederich was described as a kind of “attack therapy” but was known within the group as “the game.”16

  Charles Dederich is said to have coined the saying “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”17

  The life Dederich ultimately gave to his Synanon faithful, however, was one based on absolute obedience, total submission, and servitude. His reach even included control over infants in what was called the “hatchery.” Eventually Dederich decided that children were a waste of time and money. Men were told to get vasectomies, and women were to get abortions. Childbirth was dismissed as “crapping a football.”18 In 1977 Dederich ordered 280 married couples in his community to divorce.19

  Synanon was also a business empire, which by 1980 was worth between $33 million and $50 million.20 This wealth included real estate holdings, gas stations, and apartment buildings as well as a fleet of trucks, automobiles, twenty-one boats, and ten airplanes. Synanon even had its own airstrip and beach resort.21 Dederich had no meaningful accountability but managed to gain tax-exempt status. In 1975 he moved to a lavish retreat above Visalia, California, amid “pools, spas, art works and newcomer slaves” who served him.

  Those who left Synanon were labeled “splitees,” and many members were purged from the group through a process Dederich called the “squeeze”—like “squeezing rotten fruit from the trees.”22 It was some of that “rotten fruit” who sought the help of Paul Morantz and led to the attempt to end the lawyer’s life.

  In 1980 Charles Dederich pleaded “no contest” to the charges that he and two of his followers had plotted the murder of Paul Morantz. Dederich, then frail and in poor health, was given five years of probation, fined $5,000, and ordered by the court to cease in his participation at Synanon.23 Government officials condemned Synanon for its policies of “terror and violence,” and the organization was stripped of its tax-exempt status. After that it continued to decline until it ceased to exist.

  Charles Dederich Sr. died in Visalia in 1997 at the age of eighty-three, but the legacy of Synanon lives on. Reportedly “no fewer than 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to [the] anti-drug cult called Synanon.” Synanon is credited with spawning the so-called tough love philosophy prevalent in many of the programs targeting troubled teens, such as controversial “teen boot camps.”24

  1978—US Congressional Investigation of the Unification Church (“Moonies”)

  During the 1970s there was enough interest in groups called “cults”—and specifically in the Unification Church of Rev. Sun Myung Moon—that the US Congress took note.

  Representative Charles H. Wilson of California said, “I should like to say a few words, and introduce into the record some material regarding the controversial religious leader, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, a man who has induced thousands of our young people to join his cult.” The congressman then explained, “Unfortunately, there are always those who would take advantage of the American system, people who would take advantage of our laws safeguarding civil rights, and our laws insuring religious freedom. Such a person, in my estimation, is the Reverend Moon…who also seems to profit by it himself enormously, while his converts, our youngsters, are begging for him in the streets.”25

  Weeks before the tragedy at Jonestown, a congressional investigation of Moon and the Unification Church (UC) concluded with the following:

  (1) The UC and numerous other religious and secular organizations headed by Sun Myung Moon constitute essentially one international organization. This organization depends heavily upon the interchangeability of its components and upon its ability to move personnel and financial assets freely across international boundaries and between businesses and nonprofit organizations.

  (2) The Moon Organization attempts to achieve goals outlined by Sun Myung Moon, who has substantial control over the economic, political, and spiritual activities undertaken by the organization in pursuit of those goals.

  (3) Among the goals of the Moon Organization is the establishment of a worldwide government in which the separation of church and state would be abolished and which would be governed by Moon and his followers.

  The congressional report stated that a “task force should address itself to the following issues.”

  (a) Whether there have been systemic and planned violations of U.S. immigration laws and regulations in connection with the importation of large numbers of foreign nationals for purposes of fundraising, political activities, and employment in the Moon Organization business enterprises.

  (b) Whether there have been systematic and planned violations of U.S. currency and foreign exchange laws in connection with the movement of millions of dollars of cash and other financial assets into and out of the United States without complying with appropriate reporting requirements.

  (c) Whether U.S. tax laws have been violated through large cash transfers to individuals which were characterized as loans.26

  In July 1982 Moon and an associate, Takeru Kamiyama, were convicted by a jury of intentionally failing to pay taxes on the interest earned from more than $1.7 million. Reportedly this involved a “massive” and systematic effort to defraud the government and obstruct justice. After exhausting the appeals process, Moon served an eighteen-month prison sentence for tax fraud.27

  In a pattern that would repeat itself endlessly concerning the criminal prosecution of a purported cult leader, Moon claimed he was being “persecuted.” A subsequent book characterized his trial and conviction as an “i
nquisition.”28 Critics of the book noted that the author had ties to the UC and was less than objective.

  Family members forcibly took at least four hundred members of Moon’s church, whom they deemed “brainwashed,” to undergo involuntary “deprogramming” interventions, which took place from 1973 to 1986.29

  It should be noted that Moon had friendly relationships with presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.30 Moon donated $1 million to the presidential library of the first President Bush. Prominent people were also paid to appear at Moon-linked events, including presidents Bush and Ford, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the former US congressman and housing secretary Jack Kemp.31

  In 2002 Moon paid for advertising in forty-five newspapers across the United States claiming that religious leaders in the “Spirit World” had had a meeting to confer special heavenly status on him. This assemblage had included Martin Luther, Karl Marx, Confucius, Jesus, and God—who supposedly had unanimously decided that Moon should be proclaimed the “Savior, Messiah and King of Kings of all humanity.”32

  Moon controlled substantial investments around the globe. He reportedly dominated the American wholesale sushi market33 and bought the United Press International (UPI) wire service34 and the Washington Times.35

  In August 2012 Moon was hospitalized in Seoul, South Korea, suffering from pneumonia.36 His condition worsened, and he was later moved to a church-owned hospital near his home in Gapyeong.37 The UC website announced in September that Moon had died.38 Moon is survived by his wife and ten children,39 and his children now control his business and religious empire.40 Kook-Jin, forty-four, known as Justin Moon, runs the Tongil Group, which is the church’s business arm. Hyung-Jin, known as Sean Moon, born in New York in 1979, is now head of the UC.41

  Reportedly, there are currently about one hundred thousand members of the UC worldwide,42 with no more than five thousand remaining adherents in the United States.43 In 2008 Moon’s personal wealth was estimated at $980 million.44

  1984—Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Bioterrorism Attack

  In 1984 the cult followers of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh spread salmonella in the salad bars of ten restaurants in the town of The Dalles, Oregon, sickening 750 residents. It was the first bioterrorism attack in modern American history.45

  Rajneesh had once been a professor of philosophy at Sagar University in Jabalpur, India. He began to develop a cult following after delivering a lecture titled “From Sex to Super-consciousness” in the 1960s. The guru eventually presided over an ashram in Pune, India, and later led his followers to Oregon in 1981.46

  During 1981 Rajneesh moved almost seven thousand of his disciples, called “Rajneeshies,” to a one-hundred-square-mile ranch near The Dalles to form a community compound. The Rajneeshies effectively took over the nearby small town of Antelope. Eerily reminiscent of Jonestown, the newly incorporated city was called “Rajneeshpuram.” And like Jim Jones, Rajneesh had his own heavily armed security force.47

  Hoping to exercise more political power in the region, the Rajneeshies planned to take over Wasco County judgeships and the sheriff’s office. The salmonella poisoning was part of an organized effort to incapacitate voters who would vote against Rajneesh’s designated slate of candidates. Cult members ultimately hoped to contaminate The Dalles water supply. The poisoning of local salad bars was done as a preliminary test.48

  Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh reportedly bragged about bedding hundreds of women, which earned him the title of “sex guru.” He was also said to be addicted to drugs such as Valium and nitrous oxide. Rajneesh was a self-proclaimed “rich man’s guru.” Wealthy disciples bought the guru expensive gifts, including a fleet of more than ninety Rolls-Royce automobiles. When asked why he needed so many cars, Rajneesh replied that his goal was to have 365, a Rolls-Royce for each day of the year.49 He often rode the cars during ceremonial parades at Rajneeshpuram.50

  Meanwhile, reportedly about 87 percent of the residents of Rajneeshpuram had a sexually transmitted disease. And when women became pregnant, the guru told them to have an abortion and be sterilized. One woman, Jane Stork, was enthralled by Rajneesh for many years. It wasn’t until she was jailed due to her involvement in the group’s criminal activities that Stork finally broke free from Bhagwan. She later told the press, “He used to speak so lovingly about children, yet behind the scenes everybody’s getting sterilized. There were no children born in the ashram.” Both Stork and her teenage daughter were sterilized.51 Jane Stork eventually came to realize the destructive nature of the group. “To come to terms with that much self-delusion is really difficult.” She said, “It’s a long, slow, painful process.” Insisting on taking the blame herself, Stork said she had “brainwashed” herself.

  In 1986 two Rajneeshies pleaded no contest to the salmonella poisoning. More than twenty cult members including Stork were criminally indicted. Jane Stork, also known as Catherine Jane Stubbs and Ma Shanti Bhadra, pleaded guilty to plotting the murder of federal prosecutor Charles Turner in 2005.52 She served two years in prison.53

  Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was fined $400,000 for immigration fraud and deported. After his expulsion from the United States, Rajneesh tried to relocate to twenty-one countries without success. He finally returned to India in 1987.54 Rajneesh died in Pune on January 19, 1990. Rajneesh’s remaining disciples now market an international business based on his legacy of five thousand recorded lectures through Osho International, based in New York City. Osho is a name Rajneesh chose to use not long before his death. 55

  A bronze statue of an antelope stands in front of the Wasco County courthouse, donated by the town of Antelope, Oregon. It is inscribed with the following words: “In order for evil to prevail, good men should do nothing.”56

  1990—Yahweh ben Yahweh Murders and Terrorist Bombings

  Hulon Mitchell Jr. was born on October 27, 1935, the eldest child of a Pentecostal preacher who fathered thirteen children. His sister Leona would grow up to become an acclaimed operatic soprano and perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Hulon Mitchell Jr. would make his mark as the “cult leader” of a black supremacist group. But Mitchell, unlike many cult leaders, was well educated.

  A graduate of Phillips University, he also studied law at the University of Oklahoma.57 After moving to Chicago, Mitchell assumed the name Hulon Shah and was involved in the Nation of Islam. He received the blessings of Louis Farrakhan. Mitchell then reportedly earned a master’s degree in economics from Atlanta University. Hulon Shah became “Father Michel” and moved to Florida, where he was also known as “Brother Love.”

  Finally Mitchell settled in Miami and took the name of Yahweh ben Yahweh (meaning “God, the son of God”). Like the Reverend Moon he also proclaimed himself to be the “messiah.” Ben Yahweh’s followers reportedly numbered in the thousands, and by 1979 he also controlled a multimillion-dollar business empire, which included schools, stores, and valuable real estate holdings.58

  Yahweh said he was the “original Jew” and preached a doctrine of racism. He ranted against “white devils.”59 Despite this fact, Yahweh, like Jim Jones, garnered political connections and influence. In 1987 the Miami Urban League gave him its highest humanitarian award and proclaimed that he was “an inspiration to the entire community.” In 1990 Xavier L. Suarez, the Miami mayor, declared a “Yahweh ben Yahweh Day.”60 One month later Yahweh was indicted on racketeering and conspiracy charges. He was eventually linked to fourteen murders, two attempted murders, and a terrorist-style bombing.61

  Members of Yahweh’s inner circle—called the Brotherhood, according to the indictment—were expected to murder someone white and produce a severed head or an ear as proof of the kill.62

  During his 1992 criminal trial, Yahweh was exposed as a totalistic leader who controlled every aspect of his followers’ lives. This control included their clothing, food, and intimate sex lives. He also used young women in the group for sex.63

  Robert Rozier, Yahweh follower and former NFL football player, confessed to killin
g seven people.64 He was a witness for the prosecution.65

  Hulon Mitchell Jr. (“Yahweh ben Yahweh”) was ultimately convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to eighteen years in prison. After serving nine years of his sentence, Mitchell was paroled in 2001. A primary condition for his parole was that Mitchell could have no contact with his followers.66 He reportedly became a landscaper and lived alone. In May 2007 he died of cancer.67

  1995—Aum “Supreme Truth” Poison Gas Attack of Tokyo Subways

  In March 1995 a Japanese cult called “Aum Supreme Truth” released deadly sarin gas in the subways of Tokyo. Four people died immediately, and thousands were rushed to hospitals. This unprovoked attack profoundly changed the Japanese perception of cults and shocked the world.68 People later learned that this was not the first violent act of the cult. In 1989 Shoko Asahara, Aum’s leader, had ordered the abduction and murder of an anti-Aum lawyer, his wife, and his infant son.69 In June 1994, less than a year before the Tokyo gas attack, Aum members released deadly sarin gas in Matsumoto, killing seven residents.70

  Chizuo Matsumoto, who assumed the name Shoko Asahara, was born into a poor family living in the Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan. Visually impaired, he went to a special school for the blind. Not unlike other cult leaders, Asahara saw himself from childhood as a great leader and later fostered political ambitions. Tokyo University rejected Asahara. In his late twenties he made a spiritual trek through India, supposedly seeking and then receiving enlightenment while in the Himalayas. At thirty-five he returned to Japan, and in 1984 he founded his religious society.71