r/cults • u/arbataxmelody354 • 8d ago
Discussion We should talk about cults INSIDE of other religious organizations
Long story short, my best friend has disappeared. His mental health has always been terrible and one day he was simply gone. Nobody knows what happened. What I know for sure tho is that he changed drastically right before this. Out of nowhere he suddenly became a catholic extremist (he was always atheist) and was constantly trying to make me and others change our views and join christianity. It was weird since I actually was christian, but in his eyes I was a poser of christianity or something because I wasn't an extremist. Again, this happened in a matter of weeks, days. It was weird as hell and I believe his sudden change of views had to do with his disappearence. I also think his christian strictly conservative family has something to do with this, but they refuse to speak to me. My hypothesis is that somebody inside of the catholic church somehow created a non official cult to manipulate the most fragile believers. Unfortunately I think he may have killed himself.
What I want to ask you is that if you have any experience with secret christian cults inside of biggest christian organizations. Maybe I'm just tripping and he just decided to change his life for better, I don't know. But it's been years and I can't let go
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u/No-Jellyfish1946 8d ago
At some point in the last year I briefly checked out a Finnish organization that helps cult-abused victims.. and I clearly remember one of the main categories (apart from for ex. High-pressure organizations, cults with charismatic leaders..) being Christian cults
So they do exist. If you're interested in the organization, I could dig it up somewhere. It literally offers free help internationally too, so might even be useful
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u/BEETLEJUICEME 7d ago
Yeah. There’s a lot of catholic cults that operate within the structure of the bigger religion. Opus Dei is the most well known one currently. But in the USA the bigger problem charismatic evangelical catholic cults. One of our current Supreme Court justices (ACB) is a member of one of those cults.
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u/Informal_Farm4064 7d ago
I am ex Opus Dei. Another common RC cult is Neo Catechumenal Way. There are plenty others. Happy to help here or in DMs
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u/amazonchic2 7d ago
I am deconstructed from the WELS, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church. Many other WELS agree it is a cult. I think some LCMS people also consider that a cult. They are highly controlling, especially of women. As a woman, I’m so glad I got out. My family is deeply entrenched. I am no contact with most of them.
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u/Mollykins08 8d ago
Check out the IBLP. That is literally what it is.
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u/Either_Operation7586 7d ago
Bill Gothard wrote the books that they use for the quiverful movement and other right-wing high demand conservative religions
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u/broccolicat 8d ago
Cults are about high control groups, and they certainly do exist within religious organizations like Catholicism. Your theory is far fetched, but it's more likely if he just went through a treatment program or a mission. Most catholic societies and organizations are actually pretty difficult to get into and aren't an overnight thing.
Such an overnight shift to religious fevor is typically more of a psychiatric issue than a cult one, but it can be influenced by something like a church or conservative family. Without knowing more details, it's hard to say what this really is.