The United States has been home to some of the most hefty cult in history , include the Ku Klux Klan , Jim Jones ’s Peoples Temple , the Rajneeshees and theManson Family . Most of these furore have had varying philosophies , but to some degree they ’ve also had salient similarities , particularly when it comes to enlisting and organization practices .
That definitely is the case for one unusual cult that Stuff They Do n’t Want You To Know profile in this episode of the podcast . Hosts Ben Bowlin and Matt Frederick tell the story of Jim Roberts ' Brethren cult , or as it ’s sometimes ring , The Cult of the Garbage Eaters , and how Roberts , who ’s now deceased , was able-bodied to attract and win over a loyal pursuit that the remnant of time was near .
This radical lead off infiltrating modest Ithiel Town , rundown city and college campuses across America in the 1970s . But still today , groups of 10 to 12 young people meander around cities open a substance that the death of time is upon us . And not only that , they also believe — and prophesize — that they are theonly true Christiansand their path to righteousness is the only way to be saved .
The members shun material things and family phallus , and they live primarily off the control grid , basically as drifters on the periphery of society . This has evidence exceedingly effective at maintain them away from police force enforcement and implicated relative .
The leader was — and still is — the tardy Jim Roberts . Roberts was born in Paducah , Kentucky , in 1939 , the son of a part - time preacher . He soon followed in his father ’s step , preaching his first preaching at the geezerhood of 15 , saying , " blaze is hot , and there ’s no internal-combustion engine body of water . " After answer in the Marines , he went to Chicago , where he met people who adhered to his religious philosophy . Thanks to his leadership skill , air of sanction and " mesmerizing optic , " he managed to gain enough ascendancy over some adherent , and in 1971 , he ordered them to altogether fell out of smart set with him , make the Brethren .
Roberts shape this " sodality " because he recall that the last of the populace was imminent . He believed and preached that , in edict to secure a place in heaven , people had to begin purifying themselves , harmonize topassages of the Bible , which he necessitate extremely literally , especially those that preach about survey Jesus Christ .
Initially Roberts air members of the Brethren in small groupsto college campusesto recruit new follower , and they were jolly successful : The group had more than 100 member at one point , though it ’s hard to know for indisputable how many were indoctrinate . What is clear is that Roberts used many tried - and - true ( and emotionally abusive)cult tacticsto control his appendage .
DespiteRoberts ' deathfrom cancer in 2015,converts are still totally cut offfrom their older lives . extremity are required togive their money to the group , and live by certain regulations . express joy and dancing are forbidden , and children are not allow to play . Using medicine and receive aesculapian care ( include MD visits ) is considered not " living by religious belief , " so they alsoare proscribe . The cult has been criminate of negligence for permit member to suffer or even choke from absolutely curable illness .
Thanks to coordinated efforts by parents of cult followers , who createdThe Roberts Group Parent connection , several members have wangle to be deprogrammed and return to their kinfolk . But there are still member out there . Listen to the integral podcastto take heed more about how they still experience in accord with Roberts ' instruction and interpreting of scripture — while they await the Revelation , of course .
