Anonymous wrote:The daughter of a neighbor became trapped in a cult years ago, and ultimately the cult banished her when she ran out of money to “tithe” and her family cut her off. She had resorted to prostitution on Craigslist and Backpage to earn money to put into the offering plate during services, and that was somehow ok… but when she couldn’t keep coming up with cash they excommunicated her.

Cults seem to be okay with prostitution. Charles Manson had his "girls" prostitute for money and the Children of God would prostitute themselves for money and to increase membership.

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was interesting and the topic of cults comes up here from time to time.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/social-media-age-cults-internet-101706910.html

Also read this recently and thought the topic of cults was handled really well in the plot.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/22/the-running-grave-by-robert-galbraith-review-a-riveting-race-against-time

A friend has an extended family member they are hoping to extricate from a group, sounds heartbreaking and terrifying for the loved ones.

Will check your book rec - looks interesting …


The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith review – a riveting race against time
JK Rowling’s will they/won’t they detective duo return in a hefty but immersive tale of an attempted rescue from a cult

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was interesting and the topic of cults comes up here from time to time.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/social-media-age-cults-internet-101706910.html

Also read this recently and thought the topic of cults was handled really well in the plot.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/22/the-running-grave-by-robert-galbraith-review-a-riveting-race-against-time

A friend has an extended family member they are hoping to extricate from a group, sounds heartbreaking and terrifying for the loved ones.

I saw some news articles on the social media cult leader in jail but had not heard details of his bizarre teachings.

I think public education should include teaching kids to be more skeptical about the many crazy claims influencers make. Hope the young adults are found and get deprogrammed.

6 who went missing may be tied to a cult. Here's how social media draws people in.
Minnah Arshad and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
Updated Sun, January 21, 2024 at 10:31 AM EST

In an era when almost anyone can reach millions on the internet, where is the line drawn between a social media influencer and an influential leader who draws followers to something more sinister?

Six people are missing out of Missouri after investigators believe they were sucked into what appears to be a “spiritual cult” on social media called the University of Cosmic Intelligence. The group is run by convicted child molester Rashad Jamal.

They include Ma'Kayla Wickerson, 25, and her 3-year-old daughter, Malaiyah; 24-year-old Mikayla Thompson; 27-year-old Gerrielle German and 3-year-old Ashton Mitchell; and 29-year-old Naaman Williams. They were last seen at a Quality Inn near St. Louis in August.

Jamal is currently in prison on child molestation and cruelty to children convictions. Authorities say he built up an online following of hundreds of thousands of followers on platforms including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, and shares his theories about Black and Latino people being gods and goddesses, while people of other races and ethnicities are not from this planet. He also shares conspiracy theories in his videos about government controlling the weather and elites and politicians being “reptilian shapeshifters” who drink blood.

The missing people became increasingly isolated from family members, quit their jobs and were seen engaged in nude meditations outdoors, according to the Berkeley Police Department in Missouri.

Anonymous wrote:The daughter of a neighbor became trapped in a cult years ago, and ultimately the cult banished her when she ran out of money to “tithe” and her family cut her off. She had resorted to prostitution on Craigslist and Backpage to earn money to put into the offering plate during services, and that was somehow ok… but when she couldn’t keep coming up with cash they excommunicated her.

That is incredibly sad - I hope she was able to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life eventually …

The daughter of a neighbor became trapped in a cult years ago, and ultimately the cult banished her when she ran out of money to “tithe” and her family cut her off. She had resorted to prostitution on Craigslist and Backpage to earn money to put into the offering plate during services, and that was somehow ok… but when she couldn’t keep coming up with cash they excommunicated her.

I thought this was interesting and the topic of cults comes up here from time to time.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/social-media-age-cults-internet-101706910.html

Also read this recently and thought the topic of cults was handled really well in the plot.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/22/the-running-grave-by-robert-galbraith-review-a-riveting-race-against-time

A friend has an extended family member they are hoping to extricate from a group, sounds heartbreaking and terrifying for the loved ones.