VideosDeceived - The Jonestown Tragedy
Directed by Mel White, this documentary investigates the 1978 Peoples Temple massacre in Jonestown, Guyana, where 913 people died. Hosted by a pastor and seminary teacher, the film features exclusive interviews with survivors and family members to explore how ordinary, devoutly religious people from diverse backgrounds were subtly deceived by Jim Jones.
Initially, the Peoples Temple attracted followers by offering a deeply warm, racially integrated, and socially active community that cared for outcasts, drug addicts, and senior citizens. However, survivors detail the slow, calculated process of psychological manipulation used by Jones. He systematically replaced existing authorities in members' lives, positioning himself as the ultimate voice of God.
To enforce absolute dependence, Jones systematically isolated members from outside contact, banned regular media, and deliberately tore down nuclear families and marriages by forcing public confrontations. He maintained a punishing environment of severe sleep deprivation, requiring 16 to 18 hours of labor a day to leave followers too exhausted to question his choices. Discipline gradually escalated from whippings to the public torture of children and staged "poisoning" loyalty tests. Furthermore, members were coerced into turning over all personal incomes and properties, accumulating a hidden $26 million fortune while followers starved. The film concludes with the horrific audio recordings of Jones commanding his followers to execute an act of "revolutionary suicide," framing death as mere sleep.
Research & Academic.Two-thirds of Americans think the average person is susceptible to cult recruitment
An October 2025 YouGov survey asked Americans which groups they think use cult-like tactics, which groups could be defined as cults, and who is susceptible to being recruited into cults. Many Americans think the average person is susceptible to being recruited into a cult, but very few see themselves as susceptible.
Majorities of Americans say that political groups (68%), religious groups (64%), and spiritual groups (62%) very or somewhat often engage in coercive or cult-like behavior.
Majorities say the same about each of the social media platforms (56%) and online groups (56%); 48% say this about multi-level marketing businesses.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say cult-like behavior often occurs with religious groups (72% vs. 53%) and spiritual groups (67% vs. 56%). Democrats are less likely than Republicans to say educational groups often engage in cult-like behavior (21% vs. 37%).
Half of Americans say anyone is vulnerable to being recruited by a cult.
About half (53%) of Americans believe that people who join coercive or cult-like groups are mostly victims of manipulation.
About half of Americans believe people who join cult-like groups are victims of manipulation
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans think the average person is very or somewhat susceptible to being recruited by coercive or cult-like groups, including 12% who think the average person is very susceptible.
Far fewer Americans (17%) say they themselves are susceptible to being recruited by cult-like groups. Adults under 30 are about twice as likely as older Americans to say they believe they are susceptible to being recruited by cult-like groups (29% vs. 14%).
About one-third (35%) of Americans have been approached in person by a group or person that was part of a coercive or cult-like group. Americans who live in the West are more likely than those who live in other regions to have been approached by a group or person in a cult-like group (43% vs. 28%).
Only 14% of Americans have been approached online by a group or person that was part of a coercive or cult-like group.
One-third (32%) of Americans say they know someone who has joined a coercive or cult-like group, including 18% with an acquaintance, 12% with a friend, 12% with a family member (12%), and 3% who have personally joined a cult-like group. 40% of Americans who live in the West know someone who has joined a cult-like group, compared to 29% of those who live in other parts of the country.
Nearly half (45%) of Americans say coercive or cult-like groups are more common today than they were in the past. Americans 65 and older are more likely than younger adults to say cults are more common now (56% vs. 42%).
NDTV: Pune 'Godman' Abused Woman For Years, Made Her Drink His Urine
Radheshyam Mishra, aka Radhamohan Mishra, ran what he called a 'modern gurukul' in the Ubale Nagar area of Wagholi in Pune.
In a case from Pune, a self-styled "godman" named Radheshyam Mishra (aka Radhamohan Mishra) and seven of his associates have been arrested for the long-term exploitation of a woman. Operating under the guise of a "modern gurukul" in Wagholi, Mishra convinced the victim that he was an incarnation of God.
Between 2010 and 2016, Mishra systematically isolated the woman, forcing her to divorce her husband and submit to years of sexual abuse, physical assault, and torture, including the use of electric shocks. Furthermore, he blackmailed her using recorded obscene videos and coerced her into committing thefts to enrich himself and his ashram. Following a police raid, authorities seized large amounts of electronic evidence, cash, jewelry, and drugs. Police, currently analyzing the recovered materials, suspect there may be more victims and have called for a thorough investigation. All eight accused remain in custody.
Fox 13: Scientology wins battle over Clearwater street, lawsuit looms
The Clearwater City Council voted 3-2 on Thursday to allow the Church of Scientology to take control of a section of South Garden Avenue. The church plans to use this land, located between Franklin and Court streets, to construct a new venue, "L. Ron Hubbard Hall," as part of an expansion of its downtown campus.
The decision followed hours of heated debate at a meeting that drew over 2,000 people to the Clearwater Main Library, prompting officials to implement a strict public comment system. Proponents argued the closure would enhance church security and provide a space for community events. Conversely, opponents, including Mayor Bruce Rector, criticized the transfer of public land without a plan for an alternative route.
Despite the council's approval, the controversy is ongoing. A grassroots organization called "Save The Garden," which opposes the proposal, has already filed a lawsuit challenging the decision. The legal conflict centers on the contested ownership of the land underneath the street, setting the stage for a judicial review of the city’s action.
SportsNet: How Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease uses yoga to unlock success on the mound
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease has distinguished himself in the major leagues not only for his mound performance but also for his unique approach to mental and physical preparation. A practitioner of yoga and meditation, Cease credits these "internal arts" as fundamental to his success.
Rather than viewing yoga merely as a workout, Cease utilizes it to cultivate internal awareness, body alignment, and the ability to maintain focus under the intense pressure of professional baseball. He has spent significant time studying under the guidance of yogi Sadhguru, learning practices that focus on transcending the mind and building mental resilience. For Cease, these routines help him stay grounded through the natural ups and downs of a long season, allowing him to enter a "flow state" more effectively. This commitment to mindfulness has become a hallmark of his persona, setting him apart from typical clubhouse culture and contributing to his consistency.
AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.
The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly, or Ashlen Hilliard endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.
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