The 5 Worst Cults Of All Time | Answers With Joe

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What makes a person join a cult? What makes a person give up their families, their life savings, even take their own lives in the service of a cult? We often think of cult members as weak-minded or sheep, but the fact is, cults work by employing psychological tactics that work on everybody. And that may be the scariest thing about them.
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Check out Caitlyn Doughty's video on the Branch Davidians here:
• What the Waco Bodies R...
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LINKS LINKS LINKS:
www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
cultrecovery101.com/cult-reco...
cultresearch.org/take-back-you...
www.biography.com/crime-figur...
gizmodo.com/the-online-legacy...
www.ranker.com/list/order-of-...
torontosun.com/news/world/sol...
Documentary on the Order of the Solar Temple:
• The Order of the Solar...
www.vox.com/2018/4/19/1724673...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
Ask A Mortician video on the Branch Davidians:
• What the Waco Bodies R...
www.swordandscale.com/movemen...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
Jonestown: The Life And Death of the People’s Temple Doc
• Video

[@thejesuschrist]

Praise be unto Zoe. Zoe is the truth and the light.

[@realLessonsoflife]

Jesus Christ it´s Jesus Christ

[@ahmednasrulla4766]

Hey man. Are you narcissistic. Joe claimed so. Just asking

[@simplebeansprout]

👍😜👍

[@lich6241]

Amen brother

[@Arrakim1]

Are you the real Jesus Christ?

[@subbdog44]

Its easier to fool people than it is to convince them they've been fooled.

[@mixerD1-]

Absolutely, unbelievably true man...it's nearly impossible to illustrate it. People just don't want to hear it.

[@clmaximus145]

@@mixerD1- or see it.. subversion at its finest.. i can show people actual video and they refuse to believe it.. its like dealing with flat earthers.

[@mixerD1-]

@@clmaximus145 I hear ya bro.👍

[@bettyswallocks6411]

And a lie will be half-way around the World before the truth has got its shoes on.

[@roccov3614]

Amen to that.

[@Cypherwraith001]

Imagine being one of the Heaven's Gate cultists who stayed behind. "We're all going to ascend to a higher level of existence, but we need Steve to stay behind and keep the website running."

[@jamesgornall5731]

A bittersweet experience for Steve

[@cumcumcum148]

I am actually pissed. I am waiting for ascension for 20 years already. Where is my reward

[@TeethToothman]

There are 1 or 2 of those. Literally.

[@FCHenchy]

Steve is a professional. The maintenance contract was paid for, and he can't trust some third party to do the job right.

[@ianisles2537]

I love how Zoe obviously has a pretty good idea of what's happening.

[@nathanhough8156]

Because zoe is Gods GPS

[@RealGrooveRandom]

Zoe? .. really?

[@MisterHaziq]

Imagine being the guy who SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. Like, you go to take a nap, and wake up to everyone BEING DEAD.

[@nancycollins9783]

"28 Days Later" plot!

[@GottaWannaDance]

I wonder if the flies woke him.

[@GenLiu]

I didn't though about this but yeah, must be a hell of a shock.

[@BaseDeltaZero1972]

Dude was probably crashed in his secret shed with his bong in his lap... :D

[@stephenlangsl67]

If Your a member of a Cryonics related cult group, it would be within the realm of possibility that You will wake up from Cryonic Suspension only to find out that hundreds of years have passed and that everything is very different.

[@ianallen9217]

“I've been involved in a number of cults, both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower. But you make more money as a leader.” -Creed Bratton

[@glenmcdonald375]

I'm sure that since many cult leaders have unquestioned sex with many of the followers of their choosing, that they have plenty 'fun' as they make their extreme wealth...

[@deepanjanghosh1651]

A Office Fan

[@spartacus1308]

@@deepanjanghosh1651 depends where you put it

[@Bjorksbackyard]

@@spartacus1308 that’s what she said

[@SirWilliam23]

I was looking for this comment

[@madelinegolding4969]

Watching this once right as I had been leaving the LDS church during Covid and now that I have fully divorced myself from those beliefs is genuinely scary. It’s so easy to think “Yeah but that’s nothing like what I practice.” Until you look back on it with disillusioned eyes and realize how differently your own brain perceived things.

[@ThePearIsJuicy]

Exmormon here too! If you look up the BITE model regarding mormonism, it's really quite crazy how well nearly every single checkbox that makes a cult, a cult, gets checked.

[@carsenhunt9471]

ex Jehovahs Witness here and im thinking the same thing!

[@floofnoodle]

no offense intended, but you nailed the creepy cult leader look with the slick hair and no beard

[@serduncan6933]

"Hey Martha come quick, the strange neighbor is talking to his dog again"

[@pakde8002]

And she's wearing a dress!

[@Trishpage312]

haha

[@davidmacphee3549]

Bewitched

[@joescott]

“At least he’s not still arguing with that tree.”

[@fighteer1]

Joe Scott Nice callback.

[@1894db]

It's absolutely terrifying how genuinely REAL that opening skit felt.

[@petermanda21pkm]

Best intro ever

[@acts9531]

I admit it was a lot of fun but I never got the impression it was _"absolutely terrifying ... genuinely REAL"_ and if that's what you really felt like you probably should talk to someone who can help you get over that kind of thing ... And just appreciate fun and fiction for the fun and fiction it is.

[@1894db]

@@acts9531 Thanks for the concern, but you took what I wrote too seriously. I was just commenting on how a sermon such as the one in Joe's skit has probably actually been performed and been taken seriously, and how sad that is. I'm not hiding under my bed in terror, I'm laughing at how ridiculous reality can be.

[@holyX]

The dude got pretty good acting skills

[@acts9531]

@@holyX Yeah, it was fun, it was entertaining. It was nowhere near "terrifyingly, genuinely real" though.

[@nemonomen3340]

Back when I was still a Mormon and my mom made me go to church, I’d occasionally refer to the church as a cult. I didn’t even mean it in a negative way. It was just so obviously a cult to me. Needless to say, she never appreciated that.

[@OKSlinky]

I think the Ant Hill Kids would have been a really good fit for this video. Even though the body count wasn't nearly as high, the absolute horrors that took place makes it one of the most disturbing cult stories I've ever heard. That said, I appreciate the content you put together here! A couple cults I had never heard of so it was interesting =)

[@Jeffshighonlife]

The Last Podcast on the Left just did a great series on the Ant Hill Kids.

[@Danishdynamite]

Going to look that up now

[@Garf2004]

Just commented this too, really messed up stuff

[@NinjaRunningWild]

Wendigoon did a video on them.

[@nomimalone7520]

Agreed Truly disgusting evil

[@georgiamcbrayer]

“If you wanna be wealthy, write a science fiction series, if you wanna be rich, start a religion.” - starter of Scientology

[@wolftitan]

Well the Vatican's wealth is put at $10 billion to $15 billion dollars.

[@pervertedbananaa.k.a.nanne9347]

Don't u know you never mock Scientology or mock L. Ron Hubbard's religion/Cult.😂😂 @Smackin watch out u might have people following you now showing up at ur house taking ur picture😬 stay safe homie those fools are dangerous.

[@bug3861]

@@pervertedbananaa.k.a.nanne9347 lol. the gang stalkers

[@StainedBrain]

One of our clients at our vet hospital who believes in Scientology stopped by yesterday 😭 He just stopped off his cat in the lobby 3 hours late and left. He also had fake blue nails? I'm all for men who paint their nails, but they looked really tacky

[@FC-hj9ub]

What's the difference?

[@devinjones1527]

The fact about Jonestown that I always found the most disturbing is that they had enough cyanide to kill all those people at the ready. They were just waiting.

[@meowrkerd4rker_]

I saw a documentary, it was more than they had been under "attack" (from the outside) for months or years apparently, and Jim literally really did see that option as the only way out ? The documentary is here in youtube; he basically terrorized, threathened constantly with violence, sleep deprived them, for months. He led them up to a very ugly situation, and no doubt was planning to kill them long before it happened. He also brainwashed them constantly about it. Asking them to die for him and the cause. So yea it would be expected for them to have the tools to do it at any moment. I do reccomend that documentary.

[@Armera]

Oh shit I never thought of that

[@samiam619]

Maybe Jones was a Boy Scout. Be prepared.

[@Mimi-lf7tq]

They were prepared for it. I watch a documentary about it. Jim Jones conducted mass suicide practice sessions to test the faith of the people. He has conditioned them for it. I always thought that there was no way more than 900 people could just follow one man's word to death but after watching that documentary I realized that it didn't just come down to one day it was a process that took over many years.

[@ExarchGaming]

Cyanide isn't particularly hard to produce, anyone with a basic chemistry knowledge could do it.

[@cannabiscupjudge]

I've watched this one several times, and now, in early 2024, it strikes true more than ever before. Joe, you deserve a great deal of praise for you talents. Thanks.

[@tesshagensieker1700]

Surprised Magdalena Solis' Aztec cult wasn't mentioned in the honorable mentions but that's a really terrifying story of what can happen when someone takes advantage of a village of people with little connection to the outside world. Many died in pretty horrific ways. :/

[@hipsterlord]

It was actually inca. Not the same.

[@tesshagensieker1700]

@hipsterlord it might be my mistake but from the research I have done both are listed frequently. Because the ceremonies preformed by the con men who started it were far more Aztec influenced than Incan I went with that. However, in literature about the event you are right Incan ideas and names are also used by the scammers and Solis.

[@limecandy7099]

It scares me how well you fit into that preacher role

[@barquerojuancarlos7253]

... haven't you ever attended a lecture in a high school or college? ... a "preacher" seldom cites on widely accepted sources, other than sacred texts ... you can trace the sources of a lecturer ... a preacher depends on usually a specific interpretation

[@2001roserose]

Isn’t he from Texas lmao preachers be like that

[@rexrad9735]

@@2001roserose I'm pretty sure he's said he was raised in an uber religous household. He probably watched that routine, 3 days a week as a kid. 🤔

[@TrickOrRetreat]

@@rexrad9735 no wonder they break and shoot up shit. What a horrible life 😤

[@darrelsvids158]

He's probably a Mormon

[@kata7913]

"God has 3 Letters, Zoe has 3 Letters. Can't question that." 😂😂

[@Mrjim6986]

Dog has 3 letters as well

[@lorelaiclubb559]

@@Mrjim6986 and dog spelled backwards is God. *Coincidence?* I think not.

[@Falcrist]

*_Half Life 3 confirmed!_*

[@morkiethuglife2195]

Zoey

[@TheWiseCollector]

@@lorelaiclubb559 gasp a Pixar fan I have found

[@Axemantitan]

Not too many things bring me to tears, but the end of the Jonestown segment did.

[@michaelrundle5279]

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire

[@diamondinvr]

I remember seeing an interview at a cult campsite where they pulled one of the guys aside and straight up said "you know you're in a cult, right?" And the madlad just says "yeah i know, its something to do though" and kept walking on lmao

[@zzodysseuszz]

Lmao mad lad

[@evelynsahoe8896]

Yea people think anyone who joins a cult is just braindead. a lot of them just want to belong somewhere or find a sense of purpose and the cult plays into that.

[@bradybirdy9243]

Anyone have a source on this? Seems interesting!

[@Andytlp]

@@bradybirdy9243 they must be getting asmr tingles when theyre spoon fed total bullshit. Suppose thats one stupid way to get that.

[@bradyolson4690]

Closest thing to a based cult member?

[@gregme0]

Not gonna lie, I'm super into this hour long format

[@SoloAdvocate]

Dang I didn't even realize it was almost an hour

[@Nick-hr2gk]

Same bro. Love listening to this guy speak

[@studioMYTH]

Yup. When I saw this was 50 minutes, I was excited. But having this much content on death cults is kind of unfortunate.

[@avery7690]

Can't watch it right at this moment but I got excited when I saw 50 minutes! Going to watch it tonight at work.

[@Mr2winners]

@@SoloAdvocate if you had seen OLF you would have know it was gone be 50 min, you font follow OLF recomended

[@thomasdickson35]

The LDS church imposes mandatory "tithing settlement" meetings. They AUDIT your income to ensure you've paid your 10% tithing. Fasting is mandatory once per month and the money the entire family would have consumed is required to be given to the church. HOWEVER, you're expected to give as much as possible. It's said to be for feeding those less fortunate but that's not really the case 😬

[@BigGuyJr]

this was an amazing video, I would love to see more of these longer style videos.

[@xinsaneox]

The opening of this could have been the beginning of a Criminal Minds episode

[@tuhmater2985]

Then Reid would read some Bible verse on the plane

[@missstorrm]

No.3 from the video was in one of the Criminal Minds episodes ;)

[@wildfluff8153]

Omg yes

[@froderickalabaster]

zoe is the unsub (1:19)

[@adamgtrap]

Or a normal church service in the south. I'm from Texas, I can say that.

[@michelleg.2267]

"We DO accept checks. Hallelujah" 😂😂😂

[@oumardiop1]

@Gernot Schrader we also take gold certificates and other precious metals

[@HaleKelsey1]

@@oumardiop1 also, your social security number and your birth certificate

[@marthafernandez9220]

Thank you for taking the time and effort to put this together, it takes all the strength a person can muster to leave a cultish environment. You did this eloquently and gently. Much appreciated Joe. Best to you and yours, MER

[@nivision]

As a Texan who is old enough to remember all the crazy media coverage on the Branch Davidians, has looked at the situation critically, and currently lives in a city with a controversial NRM/cult in it... it's not either/or, they WERE a cult, but I also totally think the government probably was responsible for how the siege went and ended. As in, it needed to be stopped, yes, but they could've and should've done better and that in fact was their entire job in the situation. They weren't an imminent threat to the outside world despite possessing a bunch of guns, but the people inside needed to be helped at that point whether or not they personally believed they were okay-- but killing all of them is the obvious opposite of that. Another example of when we need escorted social workers leading a situation and not just a ton of cops rolling in.

[@terrafluent4238]

Are you crazy? They were pedophiles in there hoarding guns and you think social workers should be sent? Sent to do what? To become human Swiss cheese? Sounds like Christians afraid of the consequences.

[@nivision]

@@terrafluent4238 ... I don't know where you're from, but even here if you have children or underage people in the situations of sexual abuse you send a social worker in to take them out before you /storm the place with cops/. Because, you know, they're trauma victims and maybe caring more about their well-being than just punishing the people you're angry at should be higher priority. you know, so you both don't turn THE VICTIMS into swiss cheese, which is basically what happened. roasted swiss cheese at that. Also from living in a pro-gun state, having a bunch of guns doesn't necessarily mean you're going to shoot first and ask questions later just because you see officials on your property that want to talk to you about your activities. It's called de-escalation and police used to be trained on doing that as first priority. Cops ignoring that to the point where I'm not even sure if it's taught anymore are why so many people resent cops, especially from the demographics they did it on the least. Uneven implementation of de-escalation in situations are why white middle or upper class people generally have a better experience with and different opinions of cops-- in this one the white folks managed to get even implementation in the direction of "no de-escalation at all", which is not the direction we should be taking it in. You're reacting to the fact that they were pedos, I'm saying it's not the cops place to be judge jury and executioner. You arrest them and take them to trial, you don't cosplay Punisher that's not your job.

[@terrafluent4238]

@@nivision yes, of course deescalation applies to cult members! why don't you go do that with terrorists and see what happens? Deescalation only applies to certain psychological profiles. If the justice isn't punitive, you best believe society as a whole is gonna get its torches and pitchforks. You should study the history of law and why ultimately justice needs to be punitive. Only an extremely homogenous society that socially bullies its own member into extreme submission like Japan can get away with rehabilitation/deescalation tactics, again due to its psychological profile.

[@lashlarue7924]

Nah F the Branch Davidians, they deserved what they got, children excepted.

[@Lesleris]

"We are living in a climate very conducive to cults" You've convinced me. I am starting my own cult.

[@AZOffRoadster]

Same here. And no one else is allowed in.

[@theonedog6272]

The BEAN Cult is apoon us

[@jakeaurod]

@@theonedog6272 Holy Frijoles?

[@lexecomplexe4083]

@@theonedog6272 the beans cult already exists

[@f.f.s.d.o.a.7294]

May I join?

[@gypsymoth8977]

Way too good at the evangelical leader impression, Joe.

[@stella-vu8vh]

He does the mannerisms REALLY well, beyond the pale for any impressions ive seen, here

[@Hollylivengood]

Yeah, he scared the bejeebers out of me, he must have had parents who dragged him to this stuff.

[@rr8960]

He reminded me of the character Boyd Crowder when he went through his preacher phase in the TV show “Justified”.

[@gypsymoth8977]

@Andrew Oliphant Good, I like to hear of people having positive experiences in church. Unfortunately some of us witnessed more of the Fire & Brimstone bs growing up, and he captured the intensity unsettlingly well 😉

[@noemirivera5363]

Okay but Zoe was so good 😂

[@victoriabakhvalova]

Aum Shinrikyos attack led to like 6000 people suffering from sarin poisoning aftereffects. They released sarin into metro system affecting all or most lines during morning rush hour. Hardly just honorable mention status. ((((

[@jussitikkuri6991]

Don't worry dude... Jim Jones is still hard to beat. Good Publicly.

[@jamesgornall5731]

Could do a whole video on Aum Shinrikyo

[@OldCavtrooper22]

Having watched many of your productions, I think this may be your most important work. It so important that we watch ourselves to ensure that we don’t begin to swallow information without question. I am reminded of an awesome quote from a Ridley Scott movie (Kingdom of Heaven): here it is paraphrased. “A king May move a man. A man may claim a son. But your soul is in your keeping alone. You may not stand before god and say that others ordered you thus. This will not suffice.” As a former soldier and as an agnostic (ironic right?) I found this line very profound. We can not blame our informers, politicians, teachers etc for our actions. We alone are responsible. Of course this leads to greater conversations on morality etc. For me at least, an open mind willing to listen to opposing viewpoints has been the key for my own sanity and questionable enlightenment. A rounded education helps to.

[@Macakiux]

This pandemic is bringing out the best of my favorite creators

[@crazy137788]

I agree. Who else do you watch?

[@Macakiux]

@@crazy137788 regularly Adam Neely, Steve Mould, Peter Sirpol, Look mum no computer, the Thought emporium, Journey to the microcosmos, Animalogic... the ones I can remember for now.

[@EnriqueDominguezProfile]

Those are great. Aslo check Technology Connections, Alex the French Guy, Kurtzgesagt, Veritasium...

[@bigboijam9846]

W H A T

[@kutto21]

I can’t believe I just watched almost an hour and was THOROUGHLY entertained! Love this!!

[@zachblack9174]

Pastor Scott scares me with his lack of facial hair.

[@HunterTrujilloCQ]

Joe is a little too good at that. Pray we never see that side of him unironically... Pray, pray, amen.

[@malik_alharb]

Pastor Scott is a good man, take that back

[@haveric24]

All Hail the Might Jo.. The bringer of KNOWLEDGE and TRUTH

[@sawspitfire422]

Zoe has 3 letters, God has 3 letters, can't argue with that. May Zoe bring peace and unity upon the faithful and plagues and fire upon the sinners

[@AZOffRoadster]

Evil Scott wears a goatee.

[@Quadrophiniac]

I found audio recordings of a bunch of Jim Jones sermons when I was like 12 years old, and it took me down the whole rabbit hole back then. This was in like 2001 though, so there was way less information on the internet than there is now. Awesome video!

[@chiefmofo]

Hell, add time share reps to the cult list. I once went to a meeting that lasted for nearly seven hours where you were driven out to the desert outside Las Vegas and they wouldn't let you on the bus back until you finished the exit interview. I almost took out a loan for 50k, until I called a friend who talked me out of it. Then I had to order my own taxi to get back to my hotel.

[@napatora]

omg the way zoe looked at the camera after you say "zoe is your family" absolutely killed me

[@nicanornunez9787]

lol yes

[@svenblackwell4550]

After the debates.....im ready to follow the pooch . She seems far more honest and certainly more informed ( considering her domestic situation) ;)

[@SD-tj5dh]

There are worse religious movements out there than praying to a massively over inbred goblin dog abomination.

[@efleishermedia]

@@SD-tj5dh hahahahaha goblin dog abomination hahahaha

[@Agaettis]

"One person slept through the whole thing..." Sounds about right

[@obi-wankenobi1750]

That guy is my spirit animal

[@alexforce9]

Imagine going to nap and when you wake up EVERYONE around you is dead. Just bodies and bodies around...

[@freds3265]

I thought that meant he didn’t drink and faked his death.

[@dragondan244]

Me as a cult member

[@kymo6343]

he's either the luckiest or unluckiest guy ever depending on ur perspective...

[@ronaldmartin2666]

This video was my introduction to this channel, and I stumbled upon it several years ago as I started my journey out of a somewhat cultish community. I’m a new person now and videos similar to this were powerful to help me see the indoctrination I was experiencing since birth. Thanks, Joe.

[@bopeep268]

Imagine sleeping through the Jonestown massacre, waking up and seeing all of your friends and family dead. Imagine that nightmare.

[@User-uj7nz]

Zoe looks completely unphased by the divine responsibility her human have bestowed upon her. Such a confident, humble Jesus analog.

[@MarquisLeary34]

"I have no idea what is going on and wish I could talk." -Zoe.

[@Smokethis810]

"God has 3 letters. Zoe has 3 letters. You cannot question that!" Love it Joe. There's a number of statements that got me right in the laughs in this video. Good show ole Joe.

[@lillianleigh7316]

When you think about it God spelled backwards Is Dog. Zoe looks pretty intelligent to me.

[@saulsavelis575]

@@lillianleigh7316 Evil from OZ

[@janclarke6501]

Joe has three letters too! COINCODENCE?! 😄

[@andrewaway]

@@janclarke6501 I think not.

[@freds3265]

Joe is three letters

[@glenn6583]

Nice job explaining cults Mr Scot. I thought a lot of this presentation of yours. Well done, Sir, and thanks!

[@colinpurvis423]

Dude I have to give you props on the sermon at the beginning, ON POINT lol. Seen so many like it.

[@zachrengifo932]

You can tell Joe is from a small country town by how well he did the cult sermon in the intro. Flashbacks of Baptist church service.

[@fmapls]

Old joke: “What’s the difference between a cult and a religion? About a century.”

[@ahaveland]

Many a truth said in jest.

[@Koozomec]

@@oktilian1873 are you sure about that ?

[@Markovian_]

Was going to say nothing.

[@mugwump7049]

@@oktilian1873 Are you somehow oblivious to the pedophilia scandals that go rampant in the Catholic church? Or that Muhammad had a 9-year-old wife?

[@mr.almezeini647]

@@mugwump7049 in the qur'an in surat "an-naml" it reads (وترى الجبال تحسبها جامدة وهي تمر مر السحاب صنع الله الذي اتقن كل شيئ) it translates to ( you observe the mountains and they apear to you as if they are still yet they move afloat like the clouds. That is the creation of god) how could a man 1400 years ago know that the earth crust and the mountains are floating on lava and they are constantly moving?

[@freeshrugs63]

What a thorough discussion of cults. Always interesting, Joe

[@aresking9207]

I’m currently taking a course on religion and violence, and we just covered cults/NRMs-one of the most interesting things we read were several researcher’s arguments that a key part of cults is the relationship between cult and dominant society-cults are often cut off from access to things they need, like long term space to be and food/money, so they might turn to more unconventional methods (which can be perceived as, if not being literally (esp. physically) violent); with the perception of the cult on the part of dominant society and govt. already being that cults are dangerous, these methods can confirm that belief; and these beliefs become the standard perception of cults-the things is, most cults are reactions to dominant society (like Jonestown), and if the cults believe that the government or society at large is out to get them or prevent them from existing, then actions like the ATF raid on the Branch Davidians confirms this belief; tl;dr: the relational nature of how groups are conceived and perceived is nuanced as hell and never one-sided (sources we read: violence and new religious movements; chapters 2, 7, and 9 by James Richardson, Martin Repp, and Jean-Francois Mayer

[@ianisles2537]

Cool info. Seriously, I grew up Jehovahs and am kind of obsessed with this stuff.

[@viv8871]

"And we do accept checks. Hallelujah." I AM WHEEZING. Also, great content, I LOVE the research and humor you pack into these videos.

[@hufflewoof325]

SAMMME ahahahah

[@francesbernard2445]

Me too because he is never afraid of including information from a more diverse array of sources regardless of what subject he is discussing instead of only just making sweeping generalizations about concept after concept while expecting everyone to just take his word for it when learning them all while maybe mentioning only 1 example supporting detail during the whole hour people are being expected to pay attention to him.

[@nataliaschuler3949]

the beginning of this is scarily accurate! also, I was mid-sip of water at the moment that Zoe was revealed to be a tiny dog in a dress, and I almost choked (and escaped to paradise right there) from laughing too hard.

[@erniebuchinski3614]

I'm glad you're still with us to enjoy more of Joe's videos! That Zoe is a little cutie, isn't she?

[@zim.is.emo.]

All hail zoe!!

[@HermicraftAddict]

I laughed out loud when he said "you don't need your money give it to Zoe." As a former Mormon that hit a spot with tithing.

[@arielraine1642]

I found out about a year or two ago that my grandpa had assisted with handling the bodies from Jonestown once they got to the U.S. Delaware has the biggest mortuary and we receive those who died in combat. There are multiple veterans in-state that have PTSD regarding working with the victims back then. My relationship was bad with my grandpa for several years leading up to his death, but I really want to know how he felt about it all.

[@D-me-dream-smp]

When you hear about some of the horrific acts committed in the name of cults it can be quite “easy” to judge the followers but given the right circumstances and emotional state pretty much anyone can be susceptible to the well established, effective methods utilised (oftentimes along similar, albeit more extreme, versions of techniques many of the socially accepted religious organisations employ). Obviously there is a spectrum but major red flags are an insistence of isolating people from anyone outside that belief system and excessive control over day to day life including financial and behavioural, usually associated with some type of threat or fear of harm (emotional, psychological or physical). I remember hearing a recording or Jim Jones speaking and he was a very powerful and charismatic orator who spoke with genuine passion and zeal and I finally understood why so many people became enticed to follow him.

[@nikitakudrin7513]

I did not realize this video was 50 minutes only after I finished watching it. Interesting 🤔

[@TrickOrRetreat]

When i am truly entertained i lose track of time 🤗 i know

[@clairefugate855]

i didn’t realize this video was 50 minutes long until i read this comment

[@EmpoweredAngels]

Oh wow didn't feel or notice 59 minutes. I guess it was that interesting.

[@speshulgay]

Didn’t feel that long this guy is very captivating

[@cameronsmith8092]

Same here. I only realised when I read this comment towards the end of the video!

[@pattoneill2402]

Joe, I was in a cult for 13 years and managed to get myself out, both physically and mentally. You have given the best, most concise, simplest explanation of cults. Congratulations. I highly recommend it.

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

Highly recommend what? Cult membership, or Joe’s simple down to Earth common sense?

[@pattoneill2402]

@@bootstrapperwilson7687 Joe's explanation, of course.

[@emmad4308]

I'm so happy that you got out!!! I hope you are thriving now and are happy

[@ianisles2537]

Yes congrats for getting out. It ain't easy

[@asherikamichaela8425]

Kudos to you! My family is largely still deeply involved, but I thankfully never fell in with it. Good thing, or I probably wouldn't be alive today.

[@susannahkoch]

Most of these stories Ive seen covered in MANY other videos and documentaries, but the information you covered at the beginning and end of the video gave me a lot to think about, and they are points that I feel like often are not discussed when people talk about cults. I was especially interested in how you talked about how cults or cult like devotion can form around things other than religion. Ive noticed behavior in groups that surround some content creators, and it made me think how easy it would be for some content creators to pick up the reins and guide groups of people into really crazy decisions. I think you are right about how tough times may affect the popularity of groups that turn into cults. Its certainly something to think about.

[@Nikki_with_the_blikki]

I'm a new subscriber and I've just been letting KZbin keep playing your videos so I guess I'm now in the Cult of Joe 😭 Love the content!

[@Blanschee]

My dogs name is Zoe, and while I was watching the vid she reacted to her name, stood up and walking in front of the TV. It was realy funny, even though she probably only wanted to find out who is calling her the whole time it looked like she was "I am the lord and saviour??"

[@MeganVictoriaKearns]

😆😆😆😆

[@lt7378]

I had a terrier named Zoe, too. We were inseparable .

[@into_the_void]

She is

[@kurgans]

My cat's name is Hange. She does not react to the TV calling her name when AoT is on

[@ripadipaflipa4672]

I love it. Thanks for sharing

[@patrickking5883]

“You just can’t beat Jonestown” - Joe Scott, Minister of Tourism of Guyana

[@erniebuchinski3614]

I'm "proud" to say that I was born exactly on "Uncle Jim's" 25th birthday. And just as coincidentally, the Pope was shot on my 25th birthday. But much more important than all that: WATCH OUT FOR THAT FLAVOR AID LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! (It, uh, tastes awful . . .)

[@spldrong]

"If you cant beat em, join em" - Democrats

[@whyiseverysinglehandletaken2]

Come home to Jonestown!

[@artdonovandesign]

This Is is a hell of an episode, Joe. Fantastic research and narration!. Incredibly important. Thank you., Joe

[@sjc3532]

I'm new to your channel and I'm fascinated by your topics, your delivery, and your knowledge in so many unsolved subject matters. Keep them coming

[@biovmr]

“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” -- Gen. George S. Patton Jr. "Poke holes in your information bubble." -- Joe Scott

[@umbralveritas]

I think Scientology deserves at least an "honourable mention" lol

[@ethanschaefer8327]

Probably didn't want to deal with the lawsuits

[@threestans9096]

@@ethanschaefer8327 this deserves more likes

[@urbangorilla33]

Ding ding ding! My first thought.

[@chriss3625]

That, and many many others

[@marknasia5293]

then he would flagged off youtube

[@patwawryk7717]

I literally love the sketch in this, ZOE IS THE LIGHT AND THE DARK!

[@heavnnnsent]

Thank you for discussing colts they are so fascinating. You really wonder why anyone joins a cult and puts up with all that crazy stuff. It boggles the mind

[@vandergrad]

As someone who spent 19 years of my life in a religious cult, I appreciate how knowledgeable and thoughtful you are on this topic. What I always tell people is that key to successful group-think is incrementalism. Just like an abuser, a cult slowly and carefully grooms its followers over time until the group's thoughts are your thoughts, and you don't even realize it is happening. In fact, you would adamantly deny it. But the desire to go along to get along runs deep in the human psyche. When I left my group, I almost couldn't recognize the person I had become. No, strike that... I almost didn't recognize the person I had been. And it took me two years to find that person again. --- Keep up the good work. I really enjoy your content.

[@vandergrad]

@@lyndanorris The Way International

[@vandergrad]

@@lyndanorris I could spend hours and days explaining this group but to keep it simple I'll just say... start with your basic Christian beliefs, but remove the trinity, and add the manifestations of the holy spirit practiced in daily life. Then mix that well with required classes, required behaviors, a ridiculous level of obligation, an even greater level of big-brother-oversight, and then top that all off with an overriding fear that leaving the group = turning your back on God himself.

[@mattches7791]

@@vandergrad Sorry you went through that I'm glad you made it out. Crazy that when googling "the way international", it takes a lot of scrolling to get to content about their cult behavior. Insidious.

[@rinnittt]

@@vandergrad that sounds terrifying, thank you for sharing your experience. im so glad you were able to reclaim your individuality and get your freedom back!

[@lrn_news9171]

@@vandergrad Sounds familiar, sort of an anti trinitarian sect?

[@wanderinggypsy3203]

I love when Zoe looks at the camera like.... oh god here he goes again.

[@tonidiane6153]

😂

[@yamsnmac]

This is a 2 year old video but I’m hooked on this channel now. Wish I found it sooner

[@haandotexe]

I LOVE Zoey's nervous side-glances during the sermon LOL- an ACTRESS Edit: AND THE LIL HIGH-FIVE TOO OMG!!! ADORABLE!!!

[@billkeon880]

Eventually even if you are starting to doubt some things in the cult or religion, the “sunk cost fallacy” starts to take over and makes you self censor that doubt. If you’ve sunk so much of your life and feelings into something, it’s really hard to admit it and give it up and start your life over again

[@billyalarie929]

This hit me in a way I don’t really care to think about but thanks for opening that wound.

[@bj.bruner]

Especially when your family is all in it and you're afraid of the backlash you'll get from them if you decide to leave

[@jussitikkuri6991]

@@bj.bruner Family Friends Girls You Like.... that are all into it. Then you step aside at the "check-out" line and let them all make their own decision.

[@ericaclay4746]

the one person who slept though the thing is a legend

[@vgames1543]

Just imagine waking up and everyone around you is dead. That poor dude lol.

[@joescott]

Seriously though could you imagine waking up to that?

[@ericaclay4746]

@@joescott They must have been scared sh*tless. Seeing all those bodies of their friends and neighbours not knowing what f*ck happened.

[@procrastinator41]

Our college dorm fire alarms were concussive, brutally loud, but a guy downstairs would sleep through them every time.

[@trevorharyett]

Great video. I'm normally not a huge fan of long skits but your cult leader character was pretty good lolo You could pull off that character in a big budget movie. Nailed it. Why aren't you an actor?

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

One of your best! I look forward to joining up on Nebula! I rake it the second coming will be using this as The Path....ok it's too early for humor.....Seriously excellent video and yes I look forward to enjoying more good carefully thought out content Thanks G

[@likebot.]

Instructions unclear. Joined Zoeyastrianism.

[@awkwardsp00n]

The instructions were perfectly clear and you did exceptionally. Praise Zoe!

[@SirTorcharite]

Praise Zoey! 101!

[@TommyCrosby]

15 years ago I believed that the internet age would bring an era of massive knowledge and the end of misinformation...

[@robinsmith8846]

Lol turned out to do the opposite... Especially one orange lump.

[@jjdogg0]

@@robinsmith8846are you sure that YOU are not that lump?

[@harperg5890]

@@jjdogg0 Hm? I'm not sure if that was meant to be offensive, or a joke

[@robinsmith8846]

@@jjdogg0 Everyone in the world knows who people mean when they say orange lump today...sorry but that is true. When he loses...don't cry too long....!

[@Pretermit_Sound]

Robin smith I’m on your side, but we can’t get cocky about it. He could still win. Even if he is defeated in the election, it’s won’t be over until there’s actually a peaceful transfer of power, and he’s out of the people’s house. Things could still change, radically between now and Nov. 3rd. The polls were in favor of the democrats in 2016, and Trump still got in. Whatever the results, we have to at least try to start healing the division in this country. Otherwise, it won’t matter who gets in, because we might just end up destroying each other 😓

[@loraburke-mulkey3119]

I could have seen myself convinced in the early years that Jim Jones. The hippy chick in me loved how they worked together and race was not an issue. I grew up during terrible race riots and was quite confused why my playmates suddenly hated me, called me a honky, and beat me up when a week before we all were the best of friends. I also grew up in 60s and 70s when communal living looked like the ideal world. So you can see why I might have gotten caught up in Jim Jones

[@powerstation0872]

Idk why I scrolled past this video so many times. It might be your best work. Bravo, Joe.

[@spellbinder3113]

Same could be said for abusive relationships. They don't start off that way - if they did no sane person would stay. It starts off small. A small dig at you. A sharp tongue. So you check yourself and you think you maybe did something wrong. And then it escalates slowly - it creeps up on you. Until before you even realize it bad things are happening and you swore that you would NEVER be the person that could get into a situation like that - until you are. IMO cults play you the same way.

[@bingbong7206]

Damn, you good?

[@emd344]

This

[@spellbinder3113]

Michael LaGrasse I’m good now thanks

[@J3nJ3nl0llip0p]

Very true. Lots of overlap

[@mrhatman675]

Shut up literature boy

[@dp6447]

That intro was absolute gold Joe, you nailed being the preacher lmao

[@Mamamel81]

I thoroughly enjoyed that as well 😂😂

[@wyattb3138]

I’m a Christian, and I enjoyed that too.

[@ineffablemars]

Well, he is from Texas after all 👀

[@Sekir80]

The southern accent made it even better :D

[@Abdul_Jack_Cool_Salsalami_69]

Thanks for these... mind opening specially the last part... Makes me remind myself of what I was taught wayback my Psychiatric Nursing days❤❤❤... From the deepest of my heart.... THANK YOU!

[@CharleyDaly]

I was in a cult and even after I'd left took me years to really rid myself of the mindset and sometimes I can still hear it in my head

[@A-Duck]

That whole preacher bit was, and I cannot stress this enough, _too real._ Even with the pug.

[@pointlessopinion611]

I was thinking that too, but everyone under the bible belt, like me, have heard countless evangelicals that are so stereotypical that it almost feels like a joke.

[@macklinillustration]

I agree, but she's a French-bulldog 😊

[@robinsmith8846]

I am nearly convinced Joe grew up listening to preachers????

[@batmilk7395]

That intro is disturbingly realistic

[@boathousejoed9005]

He did that a little too good! Are followers of this channel a cult?

[@batmilk7395]

@@boathousejoed9005 Joe Scult?

[@ieshi23]

Living in Texas gives him preacher powers

[@bradlemmond]

@@ieshi23 That's basically what I was going to say.

[@soberhippie]

The outro is a lot better

[@jasonm7634]

Exceptional video. Loved your narration at the end of the video. Very well done.

[@niovibist3632]

I was making a puzzle while listening to this and in the end when you said “so this was a long video” I was like no? And it was 50 mins ,Jesus ur vids are super entertaining and interesting, it looks like you put a lot of effort in them too!

[@westernoutdoors7736]

I yelled BRUH after he glossed over “some of the men submitted to castration” without any reaction 😭

[@albertancanucklehead4063]

That was my exact reaction too 😆

[@JanjayTrollface]

LMAO! and then goes on with '...they were fairly innocuous.' And yeah, I cherry-picked this part of the sentence to take it out of its context but it still made me lose my shit when he said it *8 )

[@TrickOrRetreat]

Always make me clinch 😳

[@jakethegreatest473]

He was doing a huge info dump

[@sammyjo8935]

SAME! But I went "daf*q?".

[@ClayandPapyrus]

Everybody Gangsta until 39 Aliens show up and say “Hey Guys! Remember us?”

[@wild360]

You currently have 39 likes. Coincidence?!

[@phantomwalker8251]

@@wild360 70 likes.&,he,s right..but,ill be very surprised if they come back.even though some,maybe not them,are here now..sumerian tablets..are the only truth of our history. viper vids

[@shannonjackson464]

75 likes & the Aliens NEVER LEFT.............

[@surfside75]

I'd be like.. hey, you are our ancestors from Mars right✔️😁🍻

[@phantomwalker8251]

@@surfside75 not mars,.our creators came from far away.earth was mined,before we were created.they built the ,all,the pyramids / obalisks, around the earth,as a world wide power source..can we transport 100 ton blocks over mountains,,no..

[@jomama5186]

I love the dog in the dress part. It was hilariousness!

[@1thommyberlin]

Hey Joe, love the new rig, yes I hate wearable mics too, and thank you for a great run. Ok two things: 1 - I'm sober. was a heroin addict for a very long time but thank the Gods with lots of help, I got sober. One of the things necessary is a commitment to strict honesty. I'm practice that every day - so I can stay sober. I'll have 17 years next Dec. 5. 2 - I'm from Miami. The Reno's were family friends. Mark Reno (Janet Reno's younger brother) worked with my dad for years. I've been to their Miami place many times, enjoyed pig BBQs, parties, family visits etc, so I have as clear a picture of Janet Reno has ANYONE alive today has - ask me about Al Webb's children who Janet adopted and raised...(Al Webb was a late Miami artist and a drunk who died young and left two kids orphaned) Okay... If Janet Reno said something, it was true. If she said the sky turned green, I'd bet my life on a green sky. I don't give a flip that conservotwats said she was lying - I would bet my balls she didn't lie ONCE. She NEVER lied. Not about ANYTHING. (No wonder Republicans hated her.) She had more integrity in her pinky toe-nail then everyone I ever met had. So when she said the lunatics in Waco were abusing children - THEY WERE. When she said the guy running it was a child rapist HE WAS. She would NEVER have said any such a thing without direct evidence. They went in to stop the - ongoing - abuse. She said THEY started the fire (s) to destroy evidence. So the only controversy is why do some people lie on those better than their feeble imaginations could reach with twenty people helping..

[@jamesgornall5731]

I've no doubt that's true but like cops who hit a Mum and child while involved in a high speed chase, moving in with tanks just inflamed the situation forgive the pun where more time and thought mightve resolved the situation without so much loss of life. Yes, I think he was a child rapist but f me, it isnt as though they could've escaped

[@shayneelizabeth358]

The little high 5 with Zoe and her getting a treat had me laughing my ass off!

[@BRBTechTalk]

It scares me how good Joe is at being a preacher of Zoe, I almost broke out my PayPal wallet.

[@TrickOrRetreat]

Bow to zoe, infidel 🤗

[@homerg2724]

🖖🏻

[@timothybarthel8738]

Amen!!

[@PinkSwan146]

🤣😂😅😂🤣

[@cynhanrahan4012]

All Praise Zoe! Caitlin's video (Ask The Morticians) on the Branch Davidians is extremely well done.

[@quackenbush723]

Always thought the best way to divide a cult from a religion is whether it survives the founders death. If it continues after the founder/leader dies, then it graduates from cult to religion. Might not be the accepted difference but its the only one i see that matters.

[@sharronlay6150]

Zoe is getting tired of Joe antics, and at this point Zoe is only in it for the treats! LMAO

[@lyndonjones4251]

Lmao

[@skipads5141]

Candy cult

[@isaacs8694]

I grew up in a cult and was able to get out in my very early teens. The family that I still have there was ridiculed, publicly shamed and told all kinds of things about me to get them to cut me off. I don't feel bad, I don't feel like a survivor, there was nothing to survive. Cult life is a way of life, and when you're born into it there's nothing different. There's been some pretty fucked up shit that's happened there, and I feel bad for the youngest generation being born there, but maybe if I'm lucky, the leader won't be around too many more years and my family will finally be free.

[@ianisles2537]

Yeah I grew up Jehovahs Witness, and had to go full atheist for awhile before I got over myself. I hope I'm healthily agnostic these days.

[@jgobroho]

Was it scientology?

[@jamesofallthings3684]

Sounds like JW to me.

[@ianisles2537]

@@jamesofallthings3684 maybe. But as a former JW we wouldn't refer to a church leader, or 'elder' as a leader, but there are many sects of JW (though they will deny this) so maybe so.

[@isaacs8694]

@@jgobroho No. It was a tiny little shitshow in a midwestern state.

[@vidabreve]

Hi Joe!! Long time viewer here. I was revisiting This video of you, the conclusion was amazing!! Do more pls!!!

[@dmonkeylife8012]

I still go back and watch old videos of his. No complaints about this content 👌

[@selihom]

I honestly didn't realize that I had been watching this for 50 minuets, I didn't see how long it was before I played it. Wow. Good job Joe you are one of the best KZbinrs out there.

[@olarmariusalex]

There is no way this was 50 minutes! Man this is creepy! It is 50 minutes long and only now I realise this.... I feel it something like 20 mins or so.

[@mizera_mykle]

Grandma poured money into a cult to wipe her evil guilty soul clean. One year the cult leader was holding a seminar an hour away so grandma called to ask them for a ride and was rudely shut down. My mom, hoping to show her that the cult was crap called them to suggest they look at grandma's donations. Grandma got a call saying they would pick her up and that night a big fancy limo picked her up like royalty. Grandma's response to her daughter telling her she called and they were just after her money...her standard lines, "You're a liar" and "You don't know what you're talking about" and the most used, "They *love* me!" Until grandpa learned the shocking amount and shut it down.

[@FC-hj9ub]

Really? Also apart from being insecure what did she do that polluted her soul so badly?

[@MsPiinkFllamingo]

Wow, you actually shared some content I’ve never learned before. 🙌🏻

[@baylinkdashyt]

My favorite definition of a cult is lightly adapted from something Robert Heinlein said in one of his novels: A cult is any 'religion' more than half of whose members joined it in adulthood.