Cults must and always have a leader. It is the fact that the group is focused on an individual that makes the group a cult to begin with. Some may use the argument to say that every world religion is in a sense a cult because they were based on a leader: Christianity is based on Jesus Christ; Islam is based on the prophet Muhammad, even Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhattha Gotama also known as “The Buddha.” Though many will make the argument against world religions (mostly atheists and humanists); the difference between cults and their leaders and organized religion, is that cults are fringe groups that offer a new thought or belief system. For what it’s worth, however, many arguments are made amongst religious adherents as to whether many organized religious systems are in fact cults.
Cults do not focus on God or a supreme being that resides outside of the earthly realm, but rather their attention, focus, and praise is directed towards the leader. The leader might tell the followers that he or she has some special connection to God, thereby making a semblance or appearance that the followers are worshiping a supreme being or deity, but once you peel back the false teachings and layers you find that the leader is the one receiving worship. Cults that have been centered on leaders include the following:
- The Family International (aka. Children of God, The Family): David Berg
- The Manson Family: Charles Manson
- Jehovah's Witnesses: Charles Taze Russell
- Christian Science: Mayr Baker Eddy
- Heaven's Gate: Marshall Applewhite
- People's Temple: Jim Jones
- Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard
- Branch Davidians: David Koresh
- The Source Family: Jim 'Father Yod' Baker
- Symbionese Liberation Army: Donald 'Cinque' Defreeze
- Aum Shinrikyo: Shoko Asahara
- Lord Our Righteousness Church (Strong City): Wayne Bent
- Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Warren Jeffs
- Providence: Jung Myung Seok
- Westboro Baptist Church: Fred Phelps
- Colonia Dignidad: Paul Schafer
- Ant Hill Kids: Roch Theriault
- Nation of Yahweh: Yahweh Ben Yahweh
- The Forever Family (Church of Bible Understanding) Stewart Trail
- Raelism: Claude Vorilhon
- The Order of the Solar Temple: Joseph Di Mambro
- Unification Church: Sun Myung Moon
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