Ep 6. History's Craziest Cult

In the sixth episode of Join or Die with Craig Ferguson season one, titled "History's Craziest Cult," the host takes a look at some of the most bizarre and unusual cults throughout history. Throughout the episode, Ferguson is joined by a panel of comedians and historians as they discuss and debate which of these cults is the craziest.

The episode starts off with Ferguson introducing the topic and explaining what makes a cult a cult. He goes on to explain that while many cults throughout history have been harmless, others have been downright dangerous. He then introduces the panel, which consists of comedians David Koechner and Margaret Cho, as well as historian Stephen Prothero.

The first cult that the panel discusses is the Heaven's Gate cult, which gained notoriety in the late 90s when 39 members committed suicide in order to catch a ride on a passing spaceship they believed was hiding behind the comet Hale-Bopp. The panel discusses the cult's leader, Marshall Applewhite, and how he convinced his followers to take such drastic action.

Next up is the Branch Davidians, a cult led by David Koresh that was involved in a deadly standoff with law enforcement in Waco, Texas in 1993. The panel discusses the cult's beliefs, which included the idea that Koresh was a messiah and that the end of the world was imminent.

The third cult that Ferguson and his panel discuss is the People's Temple, led by Jim Jones. The cult is infamous for the mass suicide that occurred in Jonestown, Guyana in 1978, in which over 900 people died. The panel discusses how Jones was able to convince his followers to take their own lives, as well as the impact that the tragedy had on American society.

The fourth cult that the panel discusses is the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which was responsible for carrying out a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995. The cult, which was led by Shoko Asahara, believed in various conspiracy theories and the idea of a coming apocalypse.

The final cult that the panel discusses is the Manson Family, led by Charles Manson. Manson and his followers carried out a series of brutal murders in the late 60s, including the Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969. The panel discusses Manson's motives and how he was able to convince his followers to commit such heinous crimes.

Throughout the episode, Ferguson and his panel engage in lively debates about which of these cults is the craziest, with each panelist making compelling arguments for their chosen cult. Along the way, the panel offers insights into the psychology behind cults and the ways in which they are able to manipulate their followers.

Ultimately, the episode ends with Ferguson revealing the results of a Twitter poll that asked viewers which cult they thought was the craziest. While the results may surprise some, they go to show that the discussion about cults and their impact on society is far from over.