Strange and Curious Sects

  • Strange and Curious Sects I: John Frum (February 13, 2008)
    The strange and curious sect of John Frum, one of the largest surviving World War II Pacific “cargo cults,” whose adherents believe in a savior who will one day return bringing marvelous technology from across the ocean.
  • Strange and Curious Sects II: Jesus Malverde (April 4, 2008)
    The strange and curious sect of Jesus Malverde, a mythical Robin Hood figure who is believed to do miracles on behalf of drug smugglers from the impoverished Mexican state of Sinaloa.
  • Strange and Curious Sects III: Sabbatai Zevi (July 23, 2008)
    The strange and curious sect of Sabbatai Zevi, a medieval Jew who attracted a major following based on his claim that he was the long-awaited Messiah.
  • Strange and Curious Sects IV: The Millerites (December 10, 2008)
    The strange and curious sect of the Millerites, an 19th-century Christian group that believed the end of the world was imminent, and which has given rise to multiple modern Christian denominations.
  • Strange and Curious Sects V: Koreshanity (March 30, 2009)
    The strange and curious sect of the Prophet Koresh, a Civil War-era eccentric who believed that the Earth is hollow and humanity is living on the inside surface.
  • Strange and Curious Sects VI: Raelism (July 29, 2009)
    The strange and curious sect of Raelism, a UFO cult founded by a French race-car driver who believes that life on Earth was created by alien biologists, and who wants us to clone ourselves so as to follow in our creators’ footsteps.
  • Strange and Curious Sects VII: Asatru (November 4, 2009)
    The strange and curious sect of Asatru, a modern religion that’s resurrected belief in the ancient Germanic pagan gods such as Odin and Thor.
  • Strange and Curious Sects VIII: Chabad Messianism (February 1, 2010)
    The strange and curious sect of Chabad Messianism, a group of ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jews who believe that their deceased rabbi was (and is) God’s chosen messiah.
  • Strange and Curious Sects IX: Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (August 18, 2010)
    The strange and curious sect of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a cult whose followers committed bioterrorism and plotted murder to spread teachings of enlightenment and universal love.
  • Strange and Curious Sects X: David Koresh (July 13, 2011)
    The strange and curious sect of the Branch Davidians, who continue to revere their child-molesting messiah David Koresh many years after his ignominious and violent death.