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  <id>36029</id>
  <title><![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]></description>
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        <name><![CDATA[Colin Wilson]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[fellow creepy-cult enthusiasts]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Mon Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 24 19:49:29 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jun 29 08:14:24 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[6/29<br/><br/>Well, Wilson seems to be kind of a strange guy himself when he analyzes and opines on the cults and their leaders, but he's an admirably direct writer as well, transparent style and propulsive momentum (I read the majority of this in one sitting). The subject matter sometimes veers o...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61009024">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[A Syrian intellectual lawyer friend]]></recommended_by>
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  <date_added>Sun Jul 20 13:35:18 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jul 20 13:38:25 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Why do people declare themselves as cult leaders and seek to control people, exert power over them, and use them sexually for their own egotistical purposes? This book deals with that. Colin Wilson is a sheer delight to read for me.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27788767]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>16047345</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Pat]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]>
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  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>32</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]>
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  <date_added>Thu Feb 21 19:51:59 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Feb 21 19:54:06 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Wilson is not Christian and doesn make some stamtent denying the divintity of Christ.  However, other parts of the book are very interesting.  An horrifying look at &quot;false&quot; messiahs!]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16047345]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Aras]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]>
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  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>32</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Nov 11 20:46:09 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Apr 05 06:23:18 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://electric-pages.livejournal.com/74263.html" title="http://electric-pages.livejournal.com/74263.html">http://electric-pages.livejournal.com/74...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]>
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  <published>2000</published>
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  <date_added>Sat Dec 26 00:11:42 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 26 00:11:42 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/82058526]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Rogue Messiahs: Tales of Self-Proclaimed Saviors]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Throughout history, Western culture has been bedeviled by false prophets, charlatans, and self-appointed messianic figures. Their appetites for destruction and depravity have led to broken lives and worse-mass suicide and even mass murder. Why does this occur again and again?</p><p>In <em>Rogue Messiahs</em>, Colin Wilson compellingly recounts the stories and outrageous claims, acts, and abuses of 25 self-proclaimed messiahs who have arisen in the last 300 years. He uncovers the probable factors that turn earnest religious leaders, mystics, or well-intentioned cult leaders into violent, abusive, murderous, and paranoid <em>rogue</em> messiahs.</p><p>This gallery of spiritual fakers includes many familiar names and faces: David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians; Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Supreme Truth cult; Rev. Jim Jones; founder of the infamous Jonestown; Jeffrey Don Lundgren, Mormon con man and murderer; Ervil LeBaron and family, deranged cultist, prophets, and murderers; Rock Theriault, late twentieth-century French Canadian self-proclaimed messiah. Further, Wilson includes a study of others who achieved spiritual insight instead of destruction, and demonstrates that mayhem and benevolence are often two sides of the same coin.</p><p>These would-be messiahs, in Wilson’s analysis, are all driven by a childish dream of absolute power. Almost always, they cross the line from inspiration to paranoia, and from the teaching to killing-genuine aspiration mixed with self-deception, says Wilson. This is an incisive review of the motives and madness of cult leaders, spiritual con men, and would-be saviors.<br/></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

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  <date_added>Sun Jan 25 08:24:45 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jan 25 08:24:45 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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