Since the beginning of time, humans have been searching for the truth behind our existence. In this search for answers, we often turn to spiritual leaders; gods, messiahs, profits, gurus, beings believed to possess the ultimate truth. In many occasions throughout history, leaders have emerged, and the people have followed in what we call cults. These cults have emerged in society for ages, with the first cult dating all the way back to the time of King David in Judah. Throughout America, cults have emerged time and time again, cutting the ties that hold together American culture as we know it; and they became infamous for going against the traditional beliefs and values held in American society.
One of the earliest examples of cults in America …show more content…
The cult eventually gained so much power that the Southern law had joined the movement. The majority of Southern law officials were a part of the Klan and most of the remaining officials that were not members declined to take legal action against the Klan. It seemed as though the cult couldn’t be stopped and the Klan continued to grow. In an effort to maintain the pro-black attitude within the government, three acts were passed in attempt to control the KKK, including the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which made it a federal offense for the Klan to conspire against African Americans ability to hold office, serve on juries, and enjoy equal protection of the law (History.com). The Klan was a prime example of a cult that used violence to push their agenda. Lynching of African Americans was a very common action by the Klan, public beatings were normal and an alarmingly large number of people were killed by the Klan. The Klan is most famously known for their white, hooded, robe uniforms, and their moving rallies. As the KKK’s influence grew, the rallies hosted by the Klan became a popular social event. Eventually, as white supremacy began to be restored, reconstruction came to a close and democrats regained political control. The KKK seemed to become a thing of the past. The cult reemerged in 1915, …show more content…
Here in America, monogamy is not only the societal norm, it is also the law. When you study cults in America, you will find that polygamy is a popular trend among many. Polygamy is the practice of having multiple spouses, and in the case of cults, it is typically men with multiple wives which is referred to as polygamy. One polygamy group emerged around 1959 known as the Branch Davidians. The Branch Davidians were led by David Koresh in Waco, Texas. While polygamy was an ongoing practice in this cult, it was formed around the belief that the world was coming to an end (ABC, 2018). David Koresh believed he was a prophet, a messenger of God who held the ultimate truth. Koresh also believed that all women were his spiritual wives, which resulted in Koresh having relations with many of the women in the Branch Davidians cult. The cult began to stockpile weapons in preparation for the supposed upcoming apocalypse, which drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Treasury, prompting them to send in agents for investigation. The Branch Davidians were tipped off, and awaited law enforcement with weapons in hand. They opened fire on the law officials once they arrived, leading to a massive standoff between the cult and the law. Initially, four agents and five Davidians were killed before the raid was called off. For the next fifty-one days, law enforcement tried a variety of methods to break down the cult.
One of the earliest examples of cults in America …show more content…
The cult eventually gained so much power that the Southern law had joined the movement. The majority of Southern law officials were a part of the Klan and most of the remaining officials that were not members declined to take legal action against the Klan. It seemed as though the cult couldn’t be stopped and the Klan continued to grow. In an effort to maintain the pro-black attitude within the government, three acts were passed in attempt to control the KKK, including the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, which made it a federal offense for the Klan to conspire against African Americans ability to hold office, serve on juries, and enjoy equal protection of the law (History.com). The Klan was a prime example of a cult that used violence to push their agenda. Lynching of African Americans was a very common action by the Klan, public beatings were normal and an alarmingly large number of people were killed by the Klan. The Klan is most famously known for their white, hooded, robe uniforms, and their moving rallies. As the KKK’s influence grew, the rallies hosted by the Klan became a popular social event. Eventually, as white supremacy began to be restored, reconstruction came to a close and democrats regained political control. The KKK seemed to become a thing of the past. The cult reemerged in 1915, …show more content…
Here in America, monogamy is not only the societal norm, it is also the law. When you study cults in America, you will find that polygamy is a popular trend among many. Polygamy is the practice of having multiple spouses, and in the case of cults, it is typically men with multiple wives which is referred to as polygamy. One polygamy group emerged around 1959 known as the Branch Davidians. The Branch Davidians were led by David Koresh in Waco, Texas. While polygamy was an ongoing practice in this cult, it was formed around the belief that the world was coming to an end (ABC, 2018). David Koresh believed he was a prophet, a messenger of God who held the ultimate truth. Koresh also believed that all women were his spiritual wives, which resulted in Koresh having relations with many of the women in the Branch Davidians cult. The cult began to stockpile weapons in preparation for the supposed upcoming apocalypse, which drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Treasury, prompting them to send in agents for investigation. The Branch Davidians were tipped off, and awaited law enforcement with weapons in hand. They opened fire on the law officials once they arrived, leading to a massive standoff between the cult and the law. Initially, four agents and five Davidians were killed before the raid was called off. For the next fifty-one days, law enforcement tried a variety of methods to break down the cult.