Cults and Manson

Charles Manson was a cult leader in the 1960's and 1970's. He had his followers kill nine people in different locations in the summer of 1969, and was convicted in 1971. I'm making this post because Manson died just a few days ago, on November 19th, 2017. Manson was 83 years old, and he died of natural causes. He dubbed his cult the "Manson Family." One of the victims of his cult was Sharon Tate, an actress. His cult consisted of about 100 members, who actively used drugs such as LSD. Manson took no part in the actual killings, but he had his four most loyal followers carry out the murders for him. Cults are often based on religion, and Manson's cult was no different. His followers believed that Manson was a God. "I am what you have made me and the mad-dog killer fiend is a reflection of your society." -Charles Manson

   

Serial killers aren't often in cults, but the Manson Family is definitely a cult to be remembered.  The four followers who carried out the murders by Manson's command were Tex Watson (alive), Patricia Krenwinkel (alive), Susan Atkinds (dead), and Leslie Van Houten (alive). 

To my surprise, cults are not as prevalent in serial murder as I would have thought. Some other murderous cults include The Vampire Clan, The Fall Rivers Cult, The Carny Cult, and The Children of Thunder. In the case of the Kallingers, Joseph Kallinger asked his thirteen year old son Micheal to assist him in murdering and castrating young boys, to which Michael agreed. This is just one example of how abuse as a child can turn into psychotic tendencies as adults.