Michigan’s cult chronicles: A look at 5 controversial groups

Discover all the cults with solid ties to Michigan, from the Twin Flames Universe to the Church of Scientology.

Society has long been fascinated by cults, from the Manson family to the Peoples Temple. These organizations generally uphold beliefs or practices that are considered extreme or bizarre by the general public. Members are often expected to exhibit unwavering devotion to the cult and its leader. 

While the Manon family and Peoples Temple no longer exist, tons of other cults are still active in the United States, and many have a presence right here in Michigan. Keep reading to learn all about the cults with ties to Michigan. 

1. Twin Flames

Regular Netflix viewers might already be familiar with the Twin Flames Universe. The Michigan-based organization was the subject of the streaming platform’s 2023 docu-series “Escaping Twin Flames.” Twin Flames, founded by Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, self-described spiritual healers and relationship gurus, is a business that’s “illuminating the path home to eternal love.”

The idea is that Jeff and Shaleia will help you find your twin flame, which is essentially a more intense version of a soul mate. 

“A twin flame is your best friend in the entire universe. This person was designed for you by God, and you were designed for this person by God, to be your eternal companion … for all of eternity,” Jeff said in a 2017 YouTube video.

But instead of finding true love, followers were often exploited and gaslit. In the Netflix series, former members share stories of manipulation and psychological abuse. According to a Vice investigation, members are encouraged to cut ties with their families and discouraged from seeking mental healthcare. 

There’s also a financial commitment. In order to be a member, you’re required to purchase Jeff and Shaleia’s book, “Twin Flames: Finding Your Ultimate Lover,” and are also pressured to buy courses, workshops, and seminars that the couple shares online. On the Twin Flames Universe website, you can buy an All-Class Pass for $4,444. 

2. IFB

The Independent Fundamental Baptists, or IFB, is another group media executives found fascinating enough to dedicate a series to. Investigation Discovery’s “Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals” is a four-part documentary that features interviews with former members of the ultra-conservative church and sheds light on the abuse and exploitation they endured. Grace Baptist Church in Gaylord, Michigan, is the subject of the series’ first episode.

In 2019, Gaylord Grace Baptist Church’s founding pastor, Jon Jenkins, resigned after being in the headlines for months for his involvement in criminal sexual conduct cases against the church. A former member of the church created a Facebook group with more than 7,000 followers for other members who were abused by the church.

There are more than 6,000 IFB churches and about eight million members—with Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of TLC’s reality show “19 Kids and Counting,” among the most famous. Notably, the show was canceled in 2015 after it was discovered that the couple’s oldest son was accused of sexually abusing girls. 

There have been more than 400 abuse allegations against IFB churches throughout the U.S. and Canada, and a 2018 report revealed that 168 IFB church leaders were convicted or accused of sexually abusing children.

3. Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology, made famous by celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, has a presence in several Michigan cities, including Battle Creek and Detroit. 

Scientology, which was created in the 1950s by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, has been called a cult and a scam and has been the center of its fair share of controversies. According to its website, “true spiritual enlightenment and freedom for all” is the ultimate goal of Scientology, but many claim profit is the organization’s top priority, and it’s only been able to obtain legal recognition as a religious group in some countries (France, for example, classifies it as a dangerous cult). 

One well-known “service” the group provides is called auditing, which supposedly removes recordings of traumatic events in the mind and, of course, costs money. A federal court ruled auditing and other medical claims made by the group were phony and could no longer be considered scientific treatment. This led Hubbard to pursue First Amendment protection for Scientology’s rituals. 

“Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious, and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen. No cult extracts more money from its members,” an executive director of the Cult Awareness Network told Time magazine.  

4. Twelve Tribes

Twelve Tribes, described by Southern Poverty Law Center as a Christian fundamentalist cult, was founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the 1970s and has since spread across the globe. 

Followers forfeit their material possessions to the group and live communally. Many work on the communes or volunteer at one of Twelve Tribes’ businesses, including a restaurant called The Yellow Deli and a tea shop named Mate Factor. 

Twelve Tribes has gained notoriety for its racist, homophobic, and misogynistic views. It has also been linked to allegations of child abuse. One former member told the Denver Post that the abuse he experienced as a child was ultimately what led them to leave. 

“I was under no circumstances going to beat my kids the way I was beaten. I just could not do it. And you have to if you are there. If you are not beating your kids, you are going to be in big trouble,” he said. 

In January 2024, Twelve Tribes sold its farm in Michigan, citing a large factory being built next door as the reason. On its website, Twelve Tribes said it was relocating its farm, home base, and bakery to Raynham, Massachusetts, and other group members were moving to Oak Hill, New York. The website also notes that while there is no longer a community presence in Michigan, Twelve Tribes hopes to return to the state eventually. 

5. Israelite House of David

Israelite House of David was founded in Benton Harbor in 1903 by Ohio preachers Benjamin and Mary Purnell. Members lived on a commune and followed strict rules. They practiced celibacy and avoided meat, alcohol, and tobacco. The commune was sprawling and featured its own tailor, carpentry shop, and cannery. The group also owned its own electricity plant, as well as a zoo and a popular amusement park. 

The once-thriving community split into factions in the 1920s after Benjamin Purnell was accused of sexually assaulting young girls. He died several years later in 1927, and his widow, Mary, took charge of one of the newly formed groups. 

Today, it’s believed there are only a few, if any, Israelite House of David members, though the group’s website is still active. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.