All over the world, there are scary and creepy active cults that have hundreds and
even thousands of followers, some spanning over several continents. Despite the horrible events
that unfolded in the top 5 scariest cults, some people are still lured into these groups
and very often end up losing their families, finances and in the worst cases, their lives.
5.
House of Yahweh
The creepy cult, House of Yahweh, was founded by Yisrayl (yigh rail) Hawkins (AKA Buffalo
Bill Hawkins) in 1980. This came about after his brother J.G. Hawkins had spent 7 years in
Israel and upon his return, told Yisrayl that he had found proof of Yahweh’s name.
He then formed a group known as The First House of Yahweh in Odessa, Texas where he
preached that the Creator should be referred to as Yahweh, the Messiah should be called Yahshua
and that the Torah and Jewish festivals should be followed.
Yisrayl then began The House of Yahweh Abilene
at his house and he claimed that he and his brother were prophesied in the Bible as the
two witnesses that were sent by Yahweh to prepare the world for the second coming of the Messiah.
The cult believes that it is the oldest and the only true faith as instructed by Yahweh
and that the world will soon enter a period of great tribulation. It also teaches that
Satan is the god of this world and that “she” has deceived the world and continues to do so.
In 1999, Hawkins prophesied that four-fifths of the world’s population
would be wiped out by the middle of 2002. When he was asked what would happen if he was wrong,
he replied: “There is no possibility that it could not take place just as I have told you."
But the predicted date came and went without incident and in February of 2006, he announced
that a nuclear war would break out by September of that year and that only Abilene, Texas would
be left unaffected. Members in Kenya believed that only members of the cult would survive the war.
When that prediction also turned out to be false, he amended it by stating that it
was only “conceived” in September and that the war would break out after nine months,
following the birth cycle of a woman. He added that, by the 13th of October 2007,
80% of the world’s population would succumb to the nuclear war but again, nothing happened.
He then changed the date of the war to June 12,
2008, and it was changed once more to Christmas of 2016. Members of the group
gathered to await the war, but once again, the date passed without incident.
On the 12th of February, 2008, Yisrayl was arrested and charged with four counts of bigamy
but was later released on probation. He passed away on the 8th of October 2021, aged 87.
4. Happy Science
The Happy science cult was formerly known as The Institute for Research in Human Happiness.
It was founded in 1986 by Ryuho (ry uh ho) Okawa in Japan and has since
been labelled as “controversial” by the country’s mainstream media and public.
Included in the group’s activities are the educational facilities
called The Happy Science Academy and Happy Science University
and a political party called The Happiness Realization Party. They also own three
media entertainment companies called New Star Production, ARI Production and HS Pictures Studio.
The cult teaches the “Exploration of the Right Mind” and “The Fourtold Path”.
The Fourtold path is taught to be the only way
to attain true happiness via love that gives, wisdom, self-reflection and progress.
Some of their most prominent teachings also include belief in reincarnation, angels,
demons, heaven, hell and extraterrestrials. The group directs their worship at a deity called El
Cantare who they regard as the highest god of earth and the lord of all gods.
They preach that El Cantare was born on earth 330 million years ago
and that it is the same god that has been worshipped at different times throughout history,
such as Odin, Osiris, Hermes and Buddha, with Okawa being the current incarnation.
The group has released promotional materials in which they claim that North Korea
and The People’s Republic of China are collaborating in a plot to destroy Japan
by means of nuclear attacks, though they have been unable to show any proof of their claims.
The group has falsely claimed that they have a spiritual cure for COVID-19
and has advertised virus-related blessings that can be bought for between $100
and $400. Okawa’s son, Hiroshi, has distanced himself from the cult
and has since stated that everything his father teaches is “complete nonsense”.
3.
Nuwaubian Nation
The Nuwaubian (new wah bien) Nation has had many names throughout its history,
including “Nuwaubian Movement” and “United Nuwaubian Nation”. The creepy cult was founded
by Dwight York who has multiple aliases and who has founded many other spiritual movements.
His teachings in these cults included those found in pseudo-Islamic beliefs,
Afrocentric ancient Egypt beliefs and eventually a mix of cryptozoology, UFO religions and conspiracy
theories. During the 1980s, York worked as a musician under the Passion Records label.
In his many published pamphlets, York has claimed to be of extraterrestrial origins and that he is
of divine status. In 2003, he was arrested on a slew of charges including racketeering
and financial reporting and other, terrible crimes against members of his congregation.
He was ultimately convicted in 2004 and sentenced to 135 years behind bars,
yet many of his followers still show support, claiming that his incarceration
is part of a conspiracy and they still regard him as a great leader.
Many people have noticed similarities between the Nuwaubian Nation and Heaven’s Gate cults,
leading some newspapers to report that there was a possibility that the group would follow
the same path which resulted in many of that cult’s followers ending their own lives in 1997
after they were told that a spacecraft was on its way to fetch them.
2.
Congregation for the Light
Not many people know that there is a scary cult located in a neighborhood in New York City.
The Congregation for the Light, a cult that preaches about the demise of the world
and the power of karmic retribution, makes their home in Murray Hill, Manhattan.
Its current members refer to the cult simply as “The Light” and despite having over 200 followers,
there are some former members who have come forward to expose the group’s more sinister side.
Paul Arthur Miller, who was a member for much of his young adult life,
explains that he was treated as a servant in the cult leader, Tom Baer’s furniture factory.
He has also described how members had to endure gruelling physical training in
preparation for doomsday, but that the end of the world never seemed to come when predicted.
Members are told that the earth will be ending soon
and that they will then have to defend themselves and keep their food stockpiles guarded.
They also believe that, when doomsday does eventually come, they will be transported to a
planet called Nay, where they will live in peace without the inhibitions of gender or stomachs.
But not everyone will be saved, as this ascension is only for those who do as they are told.
Women are not allowed to attain higher education and must marry while they are still young in order
to remain a part of the cult. They also follow a strong belief that homosexuality is wrong,
describing it as a hangover from the Roman Empire.
Members are only allowed to decorate their homes with décor containing the cult’s symbols which are
an owl and a cross with an X. Miller explains that they were told not to leave the group,
as they will then be subjected to evil without the cult’s protection.
Another former member who chose to remain anonymous
has also explained that the group believes themselves to have originated
from a superior Arian race that used to live in the city of Atlantis.
Those who are not a part of the cult are called Know-nots and are regarded as dangerous.
Members are told to have little to no contact with Know-nots and children born in the cult
are not considered to be fully human until they reach the age of 13. If a member passes away
before reaching that age, it is believed that they ended their own lives in a previous life.
The cult is tax-exempt, and yet 10% of its funds come in the form of donations while
the remaining 90% comes from estates left to the group by members who have passed away.
Founder Tom Baer states that The Congregation for the Light
is the foundation for all other religions and that mankind has put aside the light
in favor of the creation of corrupt religions that only benefit their leaders.
1. Church of Light
The weird and creepy cult known as the Church of Light
is actually a continuation of an earlier group known as The Brotherhood of Light. It was
founded in response to a set of ordinances that was passed in 1932 in Los Angeles
in which the teaching and practice of astrology were prohibited.
Lessons that were created by The Brotherhood of Light, written between 1910 and 1915, are still
a part of the teachings of The Church of Light and include the three branches of occult science.
The founders of the cult are President Elbert Benjamine,
Vice-President Fred Skinner and Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Benjamine.
In 1909, Elbert Benjamine was invited by leaders of the Hermetic
Brotherhood of Luxor to join their group after their astrologer, Minnie Higgin passed away.
It was then proposed that Benjamine should systematically rewrite the order’s teachings which
would form the basis of a new group that would bring occultism into the lives of ordinary people.
Benjamine then spent 5 years studying and preparing for his task
after which he travelled to Los Angeles where a series of meetings were held.
Up until that point, the group still considered itself to be a secret society
and it wasn’t until the 11th of November, 1918 that the brotherhood opened its doors to
members of the general public and it started offering home study courses and classes.
The group maintained its status until 1932 when the astrology ordinances were
passed and the group was reorganized and renamed The Church of Light.
Up until 1999, the cult was located at 117 and 2341 Coral Street in Los Angeles.
It then moved to Brea in California before relocating to 2119 Gold Avenue in Albuquerque,
New Mexico in 2005 where the current president, Christopher Gibson still preaches.
Members write exams on the 21 volumes of the Brotherhood of Light lessons
which are divided into three sets of 7 lessons. Each set of 7 lessons deals with Astrology,
alchemy and magic respectively and each time an exam is passed, the member will
advance one degree. When they have passed all 21 of the exams, they receive a “Certificate”.
The cult’s teachings claim that there are two orders of truth, these being science and
religion and that there can be no true antagonism between the two. It also teaches that the laws
of nature provide substance to true religions and that astrology is a massively useful tool
in interpreting nature, though the entirety of the occult arts also aids in this.
All of the group’s 21 lessons are accessible by non-members, but only true members are allowed
to sit the exams associated with them. Most of the members are scattered across North America
and they keep in touch with other members and the cult’s headquarters via correspondence.
It is currently still possible to view the cult’s classes, which are presented as live streams,
on their website’s archives. The 21 lessons
taught by the group have also been published as a series of books.