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Inside a Cult

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Inside a Cult

Doomsday cult leader Michael Travesser prophesied that the world would end October 31, 2007 -- but what happened? Go inside Travesser's cult to meet its leader, its followers and the dynamics that shape cult behavior.

Inside a Cult , Inside a Cult , Young girls speak about laying naked with a cult leader and self-proclaimed son of God.

Image: Wayne Bent, aka Michael Travesser

Inside a Cult,Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser, aka Michael the Archangel).

Image: Michael Travesser (aka Wayne Bent)

Inside a Cult,Michael Travesser (aka Wayne Bent) and his followers.

Inside a Cult,Desire Travesser (aka Bethany Keele) performing the purity ceremony.

Inside a Cult,Holding the purity bowl during the ceremony.

Image: Congregation with Michael Travesser (aka Wayne Bent)

Inside a Cult,The congregation returning from a purity ceremony.

Inside a Cult,Michael Travesser (aka Wayne Bent) and Amianah Travesser performing a purity ceremony.

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Cult members featured in National Geographic Channel show "Inside a Cult"

Cults by the Numbers

From Heaven's Gate to Jim Jones, cults have been behind some tragic headlines. Today, there are a surprising number of active cults around the world. Here's some astonishing facts...

The word ?cult? is originally derived from the Latin word ?cultus?, meaning ?care? or ?adoration?.
One recent estimate suggests that there may be anywhere from 3000 to 5000 active ?cults? in the US alone.

Over the last two decades, there may have been up to 20 million people involved with cults.
Researchers have suggested that between 2,000,000 and 5,000,000 Americans are involved in cult activity at any time.
It is estimated that there are 180,000 new cult recruits every year.
The world?s worst cult-murder was allegedly carried out by the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God. In March 2000, up to 530 members of the sect died in a fire at their church in Uganda, which police believe was started deliberately. Further police investigations found more bodies in various properties owned by the leaders of the cult, bringing the total body count to 778. Many of those who did not die in the fire had been poisoned or stabbed.
Michael Travesser?s apocalyptic ideas might seem radical, but similar ideas are surprisingly common ? a survey in 1997 revealed that nearly 1 in 4 Americans expect to be alive when Jesus Christ returns to usher in Armageddon and the ?end of the world? as we know it.
Not all cults are doom and gloom ? the Iglesia Maradoniana is a ?church? of 15,000 members devoted to worshiping Diego Maradona, the Argentinean football player. They meet to celebrate his birthday, October 30th, and regard his autobiography as their ?bible?.

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