How To Become A Cult Leader?

This is the best time to create a cult. It’s not me saying it; it’s stated in a Netflix show called How To Become A Cult Leader, narrated by Peter Dinklage. And the scary part is that it seems right. Let me summarize the show and explain my thoughts.

The show is a dark, satiric True Crime Docuseries released in 2023. The series takes a close look at six cult leaders. How they managed to gain power, and how they were able to control other people’s minds, lives and souls. It’s kind of like there is a secret cult leader’s playbook.

Spot the red flags

It was very informative and helpful to see the red flags in people, and if you recognize these signs, you will know that it’s time to leave a group, even if it seems nice. I don’t like people who try to control others, but I have a supportive nature and like to join groups and meet new people. That’s why I thought I needed to become brighter on how to spot red flags.

Who else would the first episode be about if not Charles Manson? It’s a shame that we still talk about his life, but at least it shows how psychopaths find ways to grab power. If they have lots of soft skills or can pretend they care, they usually choose to be founders of religions.

In this Netflix docuseries, you will get to know more about Jim Jones, Jaimie Gomez, Marshall Applewhite, Shoko Asahara, and Sun Myung Moon and their impact on people. The survivors and former cult members tell what it was like to be a member of a cult church, a friend of a cult leader, and how the founders destroyed everyone's lives there.

In the docuseries, experts of Psychological Manipulation, Cults, Coercion, and a former FBI Special Agent offer viewers a chance to witness the inner workings of the mastermind’s mind. It gives a more serious tone, the one that this topic deserves.

More thorough season, please

Cults are fascinating topics, and it’s nice to see that people are trying to warn society to be more skeptical, especially in this age, where random people have followers. This series is an excellent place to start, but I miss the deep dive into the topic. Hopefully, there will be a next season, and Netflix dares to put the cults that are now conquering the 21st century under a magnifying glass. There are many of them if I start applying the knowledge from this series.

Here is the link to check the series.

Let me know what you think about this topic in the comment section.

Thanks for reading!

The Witty Witch