Charles Manson Religion

Cults: The World’s Most Persuasive Religion
In 1969, a man by the name of Charles Manson, orchestrated one of the most grisly murders in Los Angeles history. While not actually involved, he influenced members of his so-called “Family” and cult, to commit the crimes. In attempt to cause a race war in Los Angeles, the Family murdered high profile actress, Sharon Tate and three of her close friends in her Hollywood home. Tate also being closely due to give birth at the time of the murder, she was viciously stabbed, as were the rest of the victims. Another cult by the name of Heaven’s Gate, while not committing murder, were in involved in a mass murder of thirty nine of their own members, including their own leader. Marshall Applewhite, who believed
Interestingly enough, all cults have many things in common, such as leadership and how their recruit their followers. Manson had taught his followers of Helter Skelter, preaching his violent acts as peaceful teachings. But Heaven’s Gate focuses on getting to the Next Level, by reaching death. The murders committed by the Family, and the mass suicide of the Heaven’s gate are both tremendously tragic, caused by small groups of easily manipulated people. While both events are not similar in crimes, what causes such tragedy is due to the influence the ideals that each cult carries and are preached amongst its followers.
In a time of free love, counter culture, and progressive ideals, Charles Manson introduced his form of cult-type philosophy that would leave a bloody stain on pop culture forever. Manson’s ideology was Helter Skelter, which was an apocalyptic race war. Mainly focused between black and white societies, and the only group that could be kept safe was his own. Adding that his own interpretation of the popular White album by the Beatles, was the basis of his belief. Manson states in his testimony during the 1969 murder trials about his idea of Helter
Preying on social outcasts with anxiety regarding their place in society. Members were convinced to join the “religious” group by friends or family who had already been personally connected with them, making recruitment easy. Applewhite himself was recruited by his former nurse and platonic counterpart, Bettie Lou Nettles. And as did Manson using music as his own bible to Helter Skelter, he interpreted his own belief of Heaven’s Gate on a story Nettles had written previously in junior high school. The cult was ran like a military operation and Applewhite had strict rules and routines amongst those who followed