Anthro Insights Stories

Tag: Mysticism

  • The Bizarre Asceticism of Aum Shinrikyo

    ” Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training, Do your training …” Why is asceticism such an optimal tenet for cultic groups? To begin with, it establishes a series of challenges the follower must overcome. For every test passed, a deeper devotion to the…

  • His Last Spring Break. The Nganga and The Sacrifice of Mark Kilroy.

    “Next time, bring me an American. Someone blonde and soft. Bring me someone I can use. Someone who will scream.” – Adolfo Constanzo to his followers. Setting: 1989. Matamoros, Mexico. The streets are packed with Texas Spring Breakers in various states of intoxication. Thousands of young college students from Texas and the Gulf Coast make…

  • Who was Merry Berg? The true tragedy of Heaven’s Girl.

    [Content Warning- This story involves child abuse both sexual and physical] Few cults are as notorious as The Children of God, now called The Family International. Perhaps what is most disturbing about this group is that they are still alive and operating to this day. I have to ask myself why I’m even re-telling this…