Another cult for you this week dolls! This time, we head to Japan for a new religious movement and doomsday cult founded by Shoko Asahara in 1987. There is a lot to unpack in this episode, and as per usual it begins with a fairly innocent movement surrounding yoga, mediation and positive thinking. But of course, things turn terrible and we cover the cults ultimate demise due to a deadly Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995. We might have a case of the giggles in this episode but make no mistake, this is a nasty one.

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Episode sources: Delong, W. & Serena, K (February 1, 2019). “Aum Shinrikyo Believed They Alone Would Survive The Apocalypse – So They Decided To Start It On Their Own”. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/aum-shinrikyo

No by line. (July 6, 2018). “Aum Shinrikyo: The Japanese cult behind the Tokyo Sarin attack”. BBC.com. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35975069

MasterClass. (November 11, 2022). “ What Is a Cult? 4 Types of Cults and Common Characteristics”. MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-cult

McCurry, J. (July 6, 2018). “Japan executes sarin gas attack cult leader Shoko Asahara and six members”. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/06/japan-executes-sarin-gas-attack-cult-leader-shoko-asahara-and-six-members-reports