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What is a cult? - Cults are defined by a movement, religion or philosophy. However, the very definition of a cult can cause problems as there are so many different ways to describe them.

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Defined -

The Oxford Dictionary definition is "A system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object". But outsiders only see the tip of the iceberg.

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Excessive - The definition goes further into specifics saying cults include "misplaced or excessive admiration" and "beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or as imposing excessive control".

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University of Queensland -

Earlier this year, University of Queensland (UQ) was being investigated for studies published that were allegedly unethically driven by Universal Medicine (UM), an institution that touts unproven treatments.

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Serge Benhayon - Known as 'The Teacher' of UM, Benhayon took a former client to court for defamation over social media posts that labelled him as a sexual predator and cult leader.

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Universal Medicine - 'The Teacher', believes he is the reincarnation of Leonardo Da Vinci and others, holds no medical qualifications but urges his followers to adhere to a strict diet, sleep regime, as well as sex.

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Truth Fellowship cult - Australia has seen some horrific endings to cults. The Truth Fellowship, headed by Simon Kadwell, spoke on the internet of the end days. Kadwell was actually Gary Felton using a stolen identity.

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Isolated - He gathered followers online, and a few actually moved to the isolated outback of WA with him, his partner Catherine McDougall and their daughter, Leela.

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Pact - He began talking of a suicide pact online shortly before he, Catherine, Leela, who was aged 5, and an unidentified follower went missing in July 2007. None of them have ever been found.

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The Little Pebble cult - William 'The Little Pebble' Kamm founded the Order of St Charbel in Nowra, NSW. Although practising as a deacon, he was not ordained under the Roman Catholic church and rejected clerical celibacy.

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Pope - He prophesied that he would succeed Pope John Paul II, and take the name Pope Peter II.

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Revelation - In 1983, he allegedly received a revelation from the Virgin Mary to populate and educate the earth with his chosen 84 mystical wives.

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Convicted - He was convicted of sexual assault against a girl aged 15, whom he claimed to be one of his mystical wives. He served nine years and was granted parole in November 2014.

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The Family cult - LSD advocate Anne Hamilton-Byrne claimed she was the female reincarnation of Jesus. Starting in the 1960s, she preached a combination of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.

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Trip - During an LSD trip, she allegedly had a revelation that she was to collect children to raise and protect in the Dandenong Ranges, VIC during the apocalypse.

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Master race - The Family represented the "master race". The children's hair was cut, bleached blonde, and they were all dressed in red. Anne was their "mother" and "Messiah".

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Treatment - In 1987, the police raided the commune and found 28 children who were taken from their families, raised by the cult and consistently mistreated.

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Providence cult - Founded in South Korea in 1978, leader Jeong Myeong-seok is a self-proclaimed Messiah, who sometimes goes by the name of Pastor Joshua.

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Brides - Providence went by many other names, and set up a sect in Australia in 1997. Myeong-seok's main focus was recruiting young, beautiful women by "heavenly deception".

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Serial rapist - He has been charged with rape numerous times in South Korea and is currently serving behind bars there. He is still active as the leader of Providence.

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Children of God cult -

Founded by David Berg during 1968 in California, this cult is still active and goes by the name The Family International. He also called himself "The Last Endtime Prophet".

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Communes -

Living in communes, followers were taught that incest was acceptable and encouraged, even with underage people.

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Flirty - A recruitment technique they used was 'flirty fishing', where female followers would offer sex to encourage people to join. The cult established around 130 communities worldwide, including Australia.

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Twelve Tribes of Israel cult -

The Twelve Tribes of Israel was founded by Gene Spriggs in Tennessee during 1972. There is a sect located in the Blue Mountains, NSW.

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Antisemitic -

Although not aligning themselves with any dominations, the sect attempts to recreate the 1st-century church in the Book of Acts.

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Common sense -

The cult has been accused of child labour and corporal punishment. The followers became convinced that negative feelings towards the brutal work regime were Satan's influence. 

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Rajneesh - Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, later known as Osho, founded the Rakneesh 'sex cult' in 1974 opening the first ashram in Pune, India.

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Western focus - His followers came from all over the world to visit the ashram. In an effort to expand during 1981 they relocated to Wasco County, Oregon to create Rajneeshpuram.

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Free-spirit - With tension building from authorities, an Australian follower plotted to kill a US prosecutor investigating the cult in 1985, and was later convicted for her crimes.

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Aum Shinrikyo - Shoko Asahara founded the Japan-based Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, now known as Aleph, in 1984. They had ties to a town in WA where they were allegedly testing nuclear bombs.

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Sarin - During rush hour on March 20, 1995, the cult coordinated five sarin gas attacks in the Tokyo subway system. The attack killed 12 people and severely injured 50.

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Death - A year later, they committed further sarin gas attacks. The cult leaders were executed in Japan in July of this year. They never admitted to committing these crimes.

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Heaven’s Gate cult - Founded in 1974 by Marshall Applewhite, Heaven's Gate was a UFO religion/doomsday cult. Members sported all-black outfits with Nike sneakers and purple capes.

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Hale-Bopp Comet - They held the belief that the Hale-Bopp Comet would bring extraterrestrial beings to take them through a gate to heaven. In order to 'graduate', they had to abandon their earthly bodies.

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Mass suicide - The 'graduation' meant a mass suicide of the 39 followers including their leader. They were discovered all in the same uniform, including the since-discontinued Nike Decades, which sneaker collectors fork out up to $6,000 in Australia for.

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Branch Davidians - Benjamin Roden founded the Branch Davidians in 1955. David Koresh was the cult leader that became the iconic head of the group in the 1990s.

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Waco Siege - Upon tension with local authorities in the U.S., the Waco commune armed themselves as the FBI carried out a siege. The whole place was burned down as a result of the violent altercation.

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Australian - An Australian within the cult, Graeme Craddock survived, however, he was then convicted and served 13 years in prison. 72 people died including Koresh.

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John de Ruiter -

People from all over the world have moved to Edmonton, Canada to stare into this spiritual leader's eyes.

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Missing - Allegedly one woman has gone missing after leaving to move to Edmonton to be closer to Ruiter, isolating herself from her family and friends.

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Knowing - His teachings include consciousness and profound awakening through silence. He encourages his followers from all over the world, including Aussies, to witness his hours of silent staring.

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Teal Swan -

Online vlogger and spiritual leader, Swan has been controversial in her beliefs of suicide, seemingly encouraging followers to commit the horrific act.

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Online -

To her mass online following, she promotes spiritual healing, but also believes she is destined for world domination.

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Aliens - She also believes she is a sixth-dimensional being, and that aliens exist. She has a large online following in Australia.

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Raëlism - This UFO religion was founded by Frenchman Rael in 1974. They exist to welcome extraterrestrials to earth, and are currently on a search for the perfect headquarters location, including Australia.

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Site - With 400 followers already established in Australia, a Brisbane artist became a priest in the sect.

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Belief - It is their strong belief that "that humanity’s salvation will be determined by extraterrestrial beings".

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Divine Truth -

This Queensland-based religion was founded in 2007 by spiritual teacher Alan John Miller.

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Jesus and Mary - Miller believes he is Jesus of Nazareth reincarnated. And Mary Suzanne Luck, his partner, believes she is Mary Magdalene.

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Predictions - He predicted between 2011 and 2013 that billions of people would die, a 100m tall tsunami would hit Australia, and that a new continent would rise up near Hawaii. None of which, clearly have eventuated.

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Happy Science -

Ryuho Okawa founded Happy Science and believes Australia will be the world's superpower in 300 years.

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Australia -

Okawa believes Jesus Christ, Isaac Newton, Einstein, Nostradamus, Socrates, Kant and more than 500 other "high spirits" help him through talking to him.

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Money -

Okawa preaches that making money is a legitimate way to create happiness.

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Ashtar Command -

Another UFO religion based all over the world including Australia is Ashtar Command. They believe in the extraterrestrial being(s) called Ashtar Sheran.

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Contact - In 1952, George van Tassel is believed to have received the first message from Ashtar Sheran.

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UFOs - In 1994, Australia allegedly received 'memory recall' of times they were transported on 'ships'.

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11:11 Doorway - According to their website, The Doorway of the 11:11 has opened and closed, and now we are in the "descent into the matter".

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Doomsday - It was believed that the Doorway was opened on January 11, 1992, and closed on November 22, 2012.

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Belief - Many Australians believed 2012 would bring with it the end of the world, and the Activation of the Eleventh Gate came in November of that year according to this cult.

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