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Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers
How does a Vampire Cult differ from a Satanic Cult? How do seemingly normal or ordinary citizens suddenly find themselves committed to a group whose leader promotes criminal activities and isolation from families and friends? What should you do if a loved one becomes indoctrinated by a potentially dangerous cult? This book focuses on various cults and their often criminal belief systems. Most readers are shocked by stories of mass suicides and ritualized cult killings, but few understand how such crimes come to be committed. Snow, a seasoned police officer with experience working on cult crimes, examines those cults that commit offenses from murder and fraud to kidnapping and sexual assault.
By providing specific accounts of dangerous cults and their destructive acts, Snow illustrates how seemingly innocent groups can turn pernicious when under the sway of a charismatic leader with an agenda, or when members take things too far. He offers advice on how to avoid falling victim to cult indoctrination, concluding with chapters on how to identify cults, how to protect yourself and your family, and what to do if a loved one is ensnared by such a group.
By providing specific accounts of dangerous cults and their destructive acts, Snow illustrates how seemingly innocent groups can turn pernicious when under the sway of a charismatic leader with an agenda, or when members take things too far. He offers advice on how to avoid falling victim to cult indoctrination, concluding with chapters on how to identify cults, how to protect yourself and your family, and what to do if a loved one is ensnared by such a group.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2003
5 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Robert L. Snow
26 books16 followersRobert L. Snow served for 38 years at the Indianapolis Police Department, retiring in 2007 with the rank of captain. While at the police department, he served in such capacities as Department Executive Officer, Captain of Detectives, and Commander of the Homicide Branch. Snow has also been a publishing writer for over 30 years. He has had over 100 articles and short stories published in such magazines as PLAYBOY, READER'S DIGEST, THE WRITER, THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER, THE SAINT DETECTIVE MAGAZINE, and others. Snow is also the author of 18 books, including SLAUGHTER ON NORTH LASALLE, SWAT TEAMS, and LOOKING FOR CARROLL BECKWITH.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 8, 2012
A rather bland, repetitive account of the different types of cults in the (Western) world and how they manage to manipulate people into handing over all of their assets to the leaders and/or breaking the law for them. In the hands of a great writer this would have been un-put-down-able, but the "tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em, tell 'em, tell 'em what you told 'em" writing style and tepid prose had me skimming the last few chapters.
May 20, 2012
This book reads like a college paper.
It's very bland. The author seems to be a little biased at points as well.
The tidbits about cults are great, but let's be honest you can google all of the cults and get the same information without the dull tones of an obvious police involved author.
Still giving it an OK score due to the cults I didn't know about.
It's very bland. The author seems to be a little biased at points as well.
The tidbits about cults are great, but let's be honest you can google all of the cults and get the same information without the dull tones of an obvious police involved author.
Still giving it an OK score due to the cults I didn't know about.
March 16, 2010
It's amazing to me how many crazy people are out there who need so badly to believe in something that they are blinded by their faith!
May 2, 2023
*Trigger warnings for suicide, mind control/manipulation, and several forms of abuse
There are a number of things to be said for this book. Firstly, it definitely reads like a dissertation or term paper. A lot of "in this chapter I will show" or "as I have shown" and this can get repetitive after a while. Secondly, it reads a little dated, as the book came out in 2003. Thirdly, the book could have used a more thorough editing process, as I found several grammar and syntax errors. All that being said, this book does what it sets out to do, which is inform the reader about cults, the crimes they commit, and how to combat them.
Quotes of note:
A millennium doom preacher said "You know, if we keep guessing like this, we're eventually going to get it right." (page 72). This was in regards to failed apocalypse predictions and says a great deal about cult leaders simply coming up with new dates like they're throwing darts at a calendar.
New Age Cults were described as "an eclectic collection of psychological and spiritual techniques that are rooted in Eastern mysticism, lack scientific evaluative data, and are promoted zealously by followers of diverse idealized leaders claiming transformative visions." (page 85)
When in regards to the delusions of cult followers and their leaders, a quote about the philosophy of the Heaven's Gate cult sums up the rejection of scientific thought pretty well: "we think that an alien spaceship is trailing the comet; observation through a capable telescope shows no such spaceship; therefore, let's get rid of the telescope." (page 96) Rather than believe what they can see, cult followers will reject reality if it means affirming the cult's beliefs.
Tragic events regarding cults can have many triggers, but "history shows that a suicide event in a cult is often tied to some force outside the cult-one that is pushing it even deeper into a psychological position of defense...the cult leader may begin to lose power, or the calculations of the leader on the basis of reality begin to lessen." (page 117)
Often, cult members do not feel that they should be subject to the laws of man, that they are above any form of reproach, and this is where things can get dangerous. An example is that a cult leader "found that the donations gathered by her followers were not enough to meet her expenses. She told her followers that God was angry because of the paltry donations they were getting. She ordered them not to ask politely for money anymore but just to take it...the Queen's three manservants, however, told the court that they should all be set free because God had given them permission to do what they were doing. "I know that we plundered the earth," one of them said, "but we plundered the earth with permission."" (page 126) The cult leader will use this belief to get seemingly ordinary people to do heinous things in their name.
"Three things, all three of them as old as mankind, draw men to these groups: A shot at life after death. A special role in the universe. Someone to believe in." (page 134)
"Social psychologist Dr. Robert Cialdini has found through his research that there are six principles that are used to influence others. These principles are the rule of reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity." (page 146)
"Although failed prophecies by cult leaders can cause some members to leave, many don't because of a psychological phenomenon called "cognitive dissonance." This phenomenon makes some cult members become even more dedicated to the cult after a prophecy fails. The cult member ties up a great deal of his or her existence in the beliefs of the cult, and then something happens, or rather doesn't happen, that threatens that existence. Because individuals have a psychological need to maintain order and balance in their lives, in these instances, the only way they can do that is by rationalizing why the predicted event didn't occur, but to do it within the framework of the cult belief system...If they radically changed their behavior by leaving the group, they would also have to radically change their belief systems and attitudes...they would have to admit to themselves that they had been completely and totally wrong in everything they had believed and done... instead, it was much easier for the group members to accept the leader's explanation for the failure of the prophecy...than to change their belief system." (pages 154-155)
"Scientists use the term groupthink to refer to this obedience to a decision that has the likely potential to be harmful and disastrous. Researcher Irving L. Janis coined the word groupthink for a type of decision making that causes highly cohesive groups to emphasize consensus rather than a careful and thorough analysis of a problem and its possible solutions." (page 166)
Finally, the book offers 9 signs that a group might be a cult:
"Keep in mind, however, that some legitimate, benevolent groups may exhibit one or two of these traits, while cults will exhibit all or most of them.
1. The group is focused around a living leader to whom the members show unquestioning obedience and commitment.
2. Group members are encouraged to associate only with other group members and to exclude anyone from their lives, including family members, who doesn't embrace the group's beliefs.
3. Group members are required to live in a facility with other group members.
4. Independent thought, dissention, or questioning of the group's values is discouraged through peer pressure or punishment.
5. The group leader makes every decision for group members, even the most minor.
6. The group is obsessed with recruiting and fund-raising.
7. Members are expected to give everything they own to the group, including property co-owned by nongroup members.
8. The group believes and preaches that it is an elite organization, has a world-saving mission, and anyone who disagrees with the group is the enemy. Many religious cults preach that nonmembers are not only the enemy but are also agents of Satan.
9. The group claims to have an answer for every question of life." (pages 186-187)
There are a number of things to be said for this book. Firstly, it definitely reads like a dissertation or term paper. A lot of "in this chapter I will show" or "as I have shown" and this can get repetitive after a while. Secondly, it reads a little dated, as the book came out in 2003. Thirdly, the book could have used a more thorough editing process, as I found several grammar and syntax errors. All that being said, this book does what it sets out to do, which is inform the reader about cults, the crimes they commit, and how to combat them.
Quotes of note:
A millennium doom preacher said "You know, if we keep guessing like this, we're eventually going to get it right." (page 72). This was in regards to failed apocalypse predictions and says a great deal about cult leaders simply coming up with new dates like they're throwing darts at a calendar.
New Age Cults were described as "an eclectic collection of psychological and spiritual techniques that are rooted in Eastern mysticism, lack scientific evaluative data, and are promoted zealously by followers of diverse idealized leaders claiming transformative visions." (page 85)
When in regards to the delusions of cult followers and their leaders, a quote about the philosophy of the Heaven's Gate cult sums up the rejection of scientific thought pretty well: "we think that an alien spaceship is trailing the comet; observation through a capable telescope shows no such spaceship; therefore, let's get rid of the telescope." (page 96) Rather than believe what they can see, cult followers will reject reality if it means affirming the cult's beliefs.
Tragic events regarding cults can have many triggers, but "history shows that a suicide event in a cult is often tied to some force outside the cult-one that is pushing it even deeper into a psychological position of defense...the cult leader may begin to lose power, or the calculations of the leader on the basis of reality begin to lessen." (page 117)
Often, cult members do not feel that they should be subject to the laws of man, that they are above any form of reproach, and this is where things can get dangerous. An example is that a cult leader "found that the donations gathered by her followers were not enough to meet her expenses. She told her followers that God was angry because of the paltry donations they were getting. She ordered them not to ask politely for money anymore but just to take it...the Queen's three manservants, however, told the court that they should all be set free because God had given them permission to do what they were doing. "I know that we plundered the earth," one of them said, "but we plundered the earth with permission."" (page 126) The cult leader will use this belief to get seemingly ordinary people to do heinous things in their name.
"Three things, all three of them as old as mankind, draw men to these groups: A shot at life after death. A special role in the universe. Someone to believe in." (page 134)
"Social psychologist Dr. Robert Cialdini has found through his research that there are six principles that are used to influence others. These principles are the rule of reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity." (page 146)
"Although failed prophecies by cult leaders can cause some members to leave, many don't because of a psychological phenomenon called "cognitive dissonance." This phenomenon makes some cult members become even more dedicated to the cult after a prophecy fails. The cult member ties up a great deal of his or her existence in the beliefs of the cult, and then something happens, or rather doesn't happen, that threatens that existence. Because individuals have a psychological need to maintain order and balance in their lives, in these instances, the only way they can do that is by rationalizing why the predicted event didn't occur, but to do it within the framework of the cult belief system...If they radically changed their behavior by leaving the group, they would also have to radically change their belief systems and attitudes...they would have to admit to themselves that they had been completely and totally wrong in everything they had believed and done... instead, it was much easier for the group members to accept the leader's explanation for the failure of the prophecy...than to change their belief system." (pages 154-155)
"Scientists use the term groupthink to refer to this obedience to a decision that has the likely potential to be harmful and disastrous. Researcher Irving L. Janis coined the word groupthink for a type of decision making that causes highly cohesive groups to emphasize consensus rather than a careful and thorough analysis of a problem and its possible solutions." (page 166)
Finally, the book offers 9 signs that a group might be a cult:
"Keep in mind, however, that some legitimate, benevolent groups may exhibit one or two of these traits, while cults will exhibit all or most of them.
1. The group is focused around a living leader to whom the members show unquestioning obedience and commitment.
2. Group members are encouraged to associate only with other group members and to exclude anyone from their lives, including family members, who doesn't embrace the group's beliefs.
3. Group members are required to live in a facility with other group members.
4. Independent thought, dissention, or questioning of the group's values is discouraged through peer pressure or punishment.
5. The group leader makes every decision for group members, even the most minor.
6. The group is obsessed with recruiting and fund-raising.
7. Members are expected to give everything they own to the group, including property co-owned by nongroup members.
8. The group believes and preaches that it is an elite organization, has a world-saving mission, and anyone who disagrees with the group is the enemy. Many religious cults preach that nonmembers are not only the enemy but are also agents of Satan.
9. The group claims to have an answer for every question of life." (pages 186-187)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2020
Informative but dry account of types of cults, how they operate and methods of removing people from them. The author comes from a law enforcement background so this reads more like a police report at times, but it's a good introduction for someone interested in the topic.
March 3, 2021
Must read. Well written accounts from cults throughout history.
September 24, 2014
Information was interesting but the whole thing is incredibly clunkily written, it reads like when you haven't quite made the wordcount on an essay and go back adding superfluous words and repeating yourself.
January 1, 2012
Bill Bryson's book on the history of science. It explains a lot of stuff, like Evolution and the Big Bang in simple layman's terms.
Good narration too.
Good narration too.
July 13, 2013
3 and 1/2 stars
August 1, 2015
Bland, repetitive, disorganised. Ebook could use some pictures.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews