The followers of Charles Manson, known as the Manson Family, were a group of mostly young women who helped recruit new members. The group began in San Francisco before Manson and his followers moved to Los Angeles, so he could pursue a career in music. Some posit that after he failed to break through, he turned to violence.

Manson predicted a race war and to help instigate it, he ordered his followers to carry out murders during a two-night killing spree.

On Aug. 8, 1969, they arrived at 10050 Cielo Drive, where music producer Terry Melcher and Candice Bergen once lived. At the time, Sharon Tate and husband Roman Polanski, who was away filming a movie, rented the home. The Family killed a pregnant Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger and Voytek Frykowski. They killed two more people the next night.

Though Manson did not kill anyone during those two nights, he went to prison for life. Originally, it was a death sentence for Manson and his followers, but California banned the death penalty. Manson and other members died in prison.

Where are they now…

Led by Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple attracted followers who sought economic and racial equality. The cult began in Indiana before relocating to California. From there, Jones and his followers moved to Guayana, where the leader became more erratic.

A concerned Leo Ryan, a California congressman, headed to the South American country in November 1978 to learn more. “The allegations were serious: Jonestown sounded more like a slave camp than a religious center,” according to the FBI. “There was talk of beatings, forced labor and imprisonments, the use of drugs to control behavior, suspicious deaths, and even rehearsals for a mass suicide.”

Ryan attempted to help members escape, but armed men opened fire, killing the congressman and several others. Back at Jonestown, Jones ordered the followers to drink a cyanide-laced drink, killing more than 900. Jones died of a gunshot wound.

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Former members call Love Has Won a cult. Founder Amy Carlson began to gain a following through the internet. Carlson, also known as Mother God, claimed she could heal people, which helped her attract those struggling with addiction and other ills.

Carlson spoke out against traditional healthcare, and when she became sick, it worked against her. She eventually asked her followers to take her to the hospital, but they refused. “There’s been moments when Mom has asked us to take her to a 3D hospital, and we were like, ‘Nope!'” one follower said on video.

Carlson died in April 2021, and her followers took her body from Oregon to Colorado. Police found her body in a sleeping bag at a campground. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as “alcohol abuse, anorexia and chronic colloidal silver ingestion.”

where are they now?

In 1890, the Mormon church stopped practicing polygamy. However, a group formed the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to continue with the practice. The group has faced accusations of sexual abuse, welfare fraud and other crimes, as well as homophobia and racism.

Leader Warren Jeffs, whose father Rulon Jeffs previously led the group, went on the run in 2005 “after a warrant for his arrest was issued on charges of conspiracy to commit rape and sexual conduct with a minor.” By 2011, he was sentenced to life in prison.

The Southern Poverty Law Center designated the church a hate group.

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Unlike other cults, The Sullivan Institute for Research in Psychoanalysis — which officially got its start in 1957 — did not hide.

The Upper West Side cult, named after Harry Stack Sullivan, one of the founders, were against the nuclear family. And founders Jane Pearce and Saul Newton encouraged their followers to shed their ties to their own families. They lived in group apartments and took on multiple sexual partners. The group intrigued painter Jackson Pollock and author Richard Price.

Newton, who led the group, eventually “adopted an increasingly autocratic leadership style,” according to Alexander Stille, author of “The Sullivans: Sex, Psychotherapy and the Wild Life of an American Commune.” The group effectively came to an end when Newton died in 1991.

Inside the Upper West Side cult that told members to sleep with anyone who asked

Formerly known as The Children of God, The Family International still exists. David Brandt Berg founded the cult in 1968. Members got rid of their possessions and isolated themselves from the rest of the world.

Former member Michael Young said that while he didn’t experience any sexual abuse as a child, he knew it happened. “It definitely wasn’t a safe place to grow up especially if you were a girl,” he said.

Though Berg died in 1994, the group continues to operate.

Work, pray, fear: my life in the Family cult

Heaven’s Gate members, led by Marshall Herff Applewhite Jr., believed that leaving their bodies behind on Earth would transfer their consciousness into an extraterrestrial being. The group started in 1975. In 1997, nearly 40 members died by mass suicide.

Heaven’s Gate cult members found dead

THE DARK SIDE OF MEGACHURCHES

Today it’s the Mega Church that are more dangerous than all of these.

and the contenders are: Greg Locke GVBC,

 Global Vision Bible Church (GVBC)

in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

Global Vision Bible Church (GVBC), located in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is a non-denominational church known for its lead pastor, Greg Locke the pastor who calls “Christians witches” The church prides itself on welcoming everyone as they are. Founded by Locke, The church holds regular worship services on Wednesdays and Sundays, most services are nothing more than a scream fest with Christians picketing outside.

Lakewood Church Location: Houston, Texas,

Pastor Joel Osteen leads Lakewood Church‘s services with his wife Victoria Osteen. Often hailed as America’s biggest and most popular church, Lakewood Church’s weekly television shows dominate the Christian programming landscape — with ratings that could rival Hollywood releases.

Willow Creek Location: South Barrington Illinois,

Led by husband and wife Bill and Lynne Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church has always secured a spot as one of the five biggest churches in the United States. The couple spent their lives supporting thousands of churches. Their church has been the site of the largest leadership conference in the world every year.

Life.Church Location: Edmond, Oklahoma,

Though it’s not as famous as the previously mentioned churches, Life.Church is technically the largest church in the United States. Contrary to other megachurches which utilized mass media channels like television and radio broadcasts, it opted to focus its outreach efforts through the internet.

North Point Community Church Location: Alpharetta, Georgia,

Despite having an impressive internet audience, an established television show and a popular pastor, North Point Community Church chose to focus its congregation in training thousands of church leaders.

Saddleback Church Location: Lake Forest, California,

Founded and led by Rick Warren, one of the most popular pastors in the world, Saddleback Church is one of America’s largest churches. Nicknamed as the “evangelical pope,” Rick Warren’s monumental contributions to the Church include writing “The Purpose Driven Life” — a book that’s second only to the Bible in best-selling non-fiction, training numerous church leaders around the world and delivering Pope Francis’ keynote address in his World Meeting of Families in 2015.

Gateway Church Location: Dallas, Texas,

One of the five most attended churches in the United States, Gateway Church promotes public engagement and discussions. Participants and pastors alike speak boldly about issues and policies that go against the teachings of the church.

Shadow Mountain Community Church Location: San Diego, California,

Led by two of the most charismatic and respected church leaders in the United States, Dr. David Jeremiah and Dr. Tim LaHaye, Shadow Mountain Community Church gets more than 8,000 service attendees every week. Jeremiah’s radio broadcast influence is second only to the Osteens when it comes to ratings and influence.

New Season Christian Worship Center Location: Sacramento, California,

The New Season Christian Worship Center is the location of one of the biggest prayer networks in the country. It’s the home base of one of the most respected Hispanic evangelical leaders, Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez.

Prestonwood Baptist Church Location: Plano, Texas,

One of the Southern Baptist churches that actually has the word “Baptist” to its name, the Prestonwood Baptist Church is led by Dr. Jack Graham — a well-known religious leader.

The Rock Church Location: San Diego, California,

The Rock Church is led by Miles McPherseon, who is considered one of the most talented Bible teachers in the United States