this is a space where i will compile information about big and lesser known cults and their methods. it's primarily to educate on the danger of cults and to explain how they came into being. it's often difficult to discern which organization or community can be considered a cult, or at least cult-like, but I will try my best to be diligent. nothing on this site constitutes professional opinion or advice. if you believe you are a victim of a cult, or want to leave a cult, please contact your authorities. conspiracy theories are often a big part of cult ideology and even though many may appear harmless or silly, they can be very dangerous tools in shaping people's worldview. so i will also talk about those.
cults are in themselves nothing evil. the word 'cult' only describes a system of veneration and devotion to one particular person, idea or object. however, in many cases these cults can develop into dangerous and predatory environments, for their members and for outsiders. dangerous cults are often identified by: pressure to join intense activities, veneration of a leader who has special insight, knowledge or divinity, high levels of secrecy within the group, deceptive recruitment tactics, financial, emotional and often sexual exploitation of group members and manipulation against leaving the group again. most cults fly under the radar because these tactics work. until a cult commits a crime or attracts attention in other ways, it's very unlikely we'll ever hear about its existence.
conspiracy theories are more difficult to grasp. they are a broad term for the belief that an organized effort is undertaken to shape events, keep world-changing secrets, or otherwise skew reality to the favor of one specific group. These theories can seem bizarre (the "hollow earth" theory) or just funny ("aliens built the pyramids") but in most cases, no matter how harmless on the surface, these theories are springboards for extremely harmful, racist and often antisemitic ideologies. the radicalization towards full-blown paranoia of all aspects of society will lead to a break with reality from which it is difficult to return. cults in particular use conspiracy theories in order to indoctrinate new followers and keep their members in a state of emergency in fear, which makes them easier to control.