Sects Ed

Content Warning: Abuse, Murder, Terrorism

In this episode, we examine the beliefs and history of Aum Shinrikyo, a new religious movement and criminal organization responsible for the infamous Tokyo subway sarin gas attack in 1995.

In 1961, science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein released the groundbreaking novel Stranger in a Strange Land. Little did he know that his book would inspire the first pagan church in the United States, the Church of All Worlds. Join us for this episode of Sects Ed as we discuss paganism, science fiction, and...unicorn breeding?

In the second part of our first two part episode, we examine another new religious movement from the French Revolution. After excising the new French government of followers of the Cult of Reason, Maximilien Robespierre attempted to establish his own deist religion, the Cult of the Supreme Being.

Join us for our first two part episode as we head back to French history for a look at some of the religious aspects of the French Revolution, and the emergence of state sponsored atheism in the form of the Cult of Reason.

In this episode, we discuss the Shawnee religious leader Tenskwatawa, Prophetstown, and The War of 1812 with our first guest, Adam Franti.

In Episode 4 of Sects Ed, we discuss the beliefs and history of the group that ultimately came to be known as Heaven's Gate.

In this episode, we discuss the Shakers, an American Christian sect known for their emphasis on gender equality, work ethic, self sufficiency, and celibacy.

Welcome to Sects Ed, Episode 2: Nobody’s Perfect. In this episode, we cover the history and beliefs of the Cathars, a gnostic Christian sect who lived and worshiped in medieval France, and we try to give an overview of history of the Albigensian Crusade.

Welcome to Sects Ed, Episode 0! In this introductory episode, we introduce ourselves, the podcast, and some of the terms that we're going to be using over the course of this project.

Welcome to Sects Ed, Episode 1: Strang-er Things. Here we discuss the rise, fall, and theology of King James J. Strang and his followers, the Strangites.