Of the many cults that have arisen throughout the past century, the cult which was led by Charles Manson, and labeled the Manson Family Cult, is arguably one of the most infamous. One of the definitions of a cult at dictionary.com is “a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader” which describes the group led by Charles Manson (Dictionary.com).
Formed in the turbulent late sixties, the Manson Family Cult coalesced around the charismatic Charles Manson. The entire group had about 100 followers total, who adopted “an unconventional lifestyle and habitual use of hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD and magic mushrooms” and lived communally (Biography.com editors). Manson preached an eccentric religion that described “the coming of an apocalyptic race war that would devastate …show more content…
Although the Manson Family was attributed with over 35 murders, it was the murders committed on the nights of August 9 and 10 of 1969 that captured the attention of the world. On August 9, four members of the Manson Family brutally tortured and murdered the pregnant actress Sharon Tate and three of her guests at the direction of Charles Manson, who was not present. Manson believed that the previous tenant, who had rejected Manson’s music compilations, still lived there and told his followers to “destroy everyone in it – as gruesome as you can” (Crimemuseum.org). On August 10, Manson accompanied six Manson Family members and targeted the LaBianca couple. The Manson family killed the couple by repeatedly stabbing them and even “left a carving fork sticking out from his stomach, and left a knife in Leno’s throat” (Crimemuseum.org). The Manson Family were not suspected of the murders until one of the group members bragged about doing the murders to make
Formed in the turbulent late sixties, the Manson Family Cult coalesced around the charismatic Charles Manson. The entire group had about 100 followers total, who adopted “an unconventional lifestyle and habitual use of hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD and magic mushrooms” and lived communally (Biography.com editors). Manson preached an eccentric religion that described “the coming of an apocalyptic race war that would devastate …show more content…
Although the Manson Family was attributed with over 35 murders, it was the murders committed on the nights of August 9 and 10 of 1969 that captured the attention of the world. On August 9, four members of the Manson Family brutally tortured and murdered the pregnant actress Sharon Tate and three of her guests at the direction of Charles Manson, who was not present. Manson believed that the previous tenant, who had rejected Manson’s music compilations, still lived there and told his followers to “destroy everyone in it – as gruesome as you can” (Crimemuseum.org). On August 10, Manson accompanied six Manson Family members and targeted the LaBianca couple. The Manson family killed the couple by repeatedly stabbing them and even “left a carving fork sticking out from his stomach, and left a knife in Leno’s throat” (Crimemuseum.org). The Manson Family were not suspected of the murders until one of the group members bragged about doing the murders to make