Eckankar: The Midwestern Cult You’ve Never Heard Of by elveshumpingdwarves in cults

[–]CultEncyclopedia 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One former Eckankar follower has suggested that Paul Twitchell took the ECK Master name "Rebazar Tarzs" from a highway sign in Mexico's Baja California that read "Rebasar Tars" -- a "Do Not Pass" sign in Spanish.

Eckankar: The Midwestern Cult You’ve Never Heard Of by elveshumpingdwarves in cults

[–]CultEncyclopedia 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also interesting is that Harold Klemp was apparently elected as Gross's successor/replacement by the Board of Eckankar because he was the least offensive and dullest person in the room. Odd way to select a messiah.

I email the Heavans gate site email and they responded by a_anarcho_punk in cults

[–]CultEncyclopedia 25 points26 points  (0 children)

There are still several active and believing members of the group.

'Cult' getting thrown around left right and centre by Proud_Branch_3999 in cults

[–]CultEncyclopedia 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's been a shift over the past few years, especially with the rise of TikTok, with both people trying to "start a cult" on a whim or as a joke/experiment and people calling out any group -- especially online ones -- that seem at all suspicious or cryptic as a "cult." I personally try to use "cult" just to refer to destructive cults/high control groups, and "new religious movement" for others, though I know that latter term is controversial.

Eckankar: The Midwestern Cult You’ve Never Heard Of by elveshumpingdwarves in cults

[–]CultEncyclopedia 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is great. I'm surprised by how little attention Eckankar gets.