Have there ever been any powerful female cult leaders?
4 thoughts on “Have there ever been any power…”
Sister Aimee invented the megachurch, Angelus Temple. She was as charismatic, flamboyant and scandalous as any male cult leader. She went through men the way she went through shoes. I grew up in L.A. and even dead, she still was famous. There are movies and documentaries about her; she seldom turned down an opportunity to appear in front of a camera. The Depression-era politicians went out of their way to seek her endorsement. She was very Hitler-like in her ability to hypnotize masses of people.
If there was, she’d probably have no trouble getting any number of men to take the blame.
I guess you’d have to define what you mean by ‘cult’ because I’ve heard Madalyn Murray O’hair described as a cult leader for her work removing school prayer. And I don’t know if this would count, but The Lady of Cao in South America. She was a Pre-Inca warrior princess who was found mummified (the only instance of a woman being mummified in the Americas outside of the Chinchurro mummies). She was also tattooed (another male rite) as well as buried with weapons, sewing notions and several of her assistants were murdered to help her in the afterworld. She is considered to be the most powerful woman of Pre Inca times.
Sister Aimee is close to what I was wondering about. Thanks for that link, as I’d never heard of her. Going to do some reading about her after the holidays.
In history, as in somewhat ancient, I could think of a few, but really not quite what I was looking for. I was thinking something more along the lines of a David Koresh or Heaven’s Gate or other truly bat crap crazy groups (possibly of the suicidal cult variety or at least with the “godhead” kind of leader). I can’t think of any, and thus the new year will begin with research!
Ekim: As funny as your statement is, it is also true. I do recall a husband and wife team that had some weird end-of-the-world cult that I think took off to Mexico (decades ago and might have been somewhat local to this area), and the woman did seem to be the one in charge, but it was still considered “his” following.
And no, Murray O’Hair doesn’t count. She was one of my idols. OK, she might have been a little “out there” but I liked her (much to the chagrin of my parents).
Anyway, if there hasn’t been a bat crap crazy female godhead cult leader, I think I shall demand my equal rights to this position and begin my domination of the universe in 2010. :lol:
Sister Aimee invented the megachurch, Angelus Temple. She was as charismatic, flamboyant and scandalous as any male cult leader. She went through men the way she went through shoes. I grew up in L.A. and even dead, she still was famous. There are movies and documentaries about her; she seldom turned down an opportunity to appear in front of a camera. The Depression-era politicians went out of their way to seek her endorsement. She was very Hitler-like in her ability to hypnotize masses of people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson
If there was, she’d probably have no trouble getting any number of men to take the blame.
I guess you’d have to define what you mean by ‘cult’ because I’ve heard Madalyn Murray O’hair described as a cult leader for her work removing school prayer. And I don’t know if this would count, but The Lady of Cao in South America. She was a Pre-Inca warrior princess who was found mummified (the only instance of a woman being mummified in the Americas outside of the Chinchurro mummies). She was also tattooed (another male rite) as well as buried with weapons, sewing notions and several of her assistants were murdered to help her in the afterworld. She is considered to be the most powerful woman of Pre Inca times.
Sister Aimee is close to what I was wondering about. Thanks for that link, as I’d never heard of her. Going to do some reading about her after the holidays.
In history, as in somewhat ancient, I could think of a few, but really not quite what I was looking for. I was thinking something more along the lines of a David Koresh or Heaven’s Gate or other truly bat crap crazy groups (possibly of the suicidal cult variety or at least with the “godhead” kind of leader). I can’t think of any, and thus the new year will begin with research!
Ekim: As funny as your statement is, it is also true. I do recall a husband and wife team that had some weird end-of-the-world cult that I think took off to Mexico (decades ago and might have been somewhat local to this area), and the woman did seem to be the one in charge, but it was still considered “his” following.
And no, Murray O’Hair doesn’t count. She was one of my idols. OK, she might have been a little “out there” but I liked her (much to the chagrin of my parents).
Anyway, if there hasn’t been a bat crap crazy female godhead cult leader, I think I shall demand my equal rights to this position and begin my domination of the universe in 2010. :lol: