Cults, Sects

Throughout history, various sects and cults have had negative connotations attached to them because of their extreme view points on religious beliefs and practices. According to Religious Tolerance. Org, a sect is a small religious group that is a result of an established religion or domination. An example of such religious sects would be the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors of Putnam County, Georgia. Originated in Brooklyn, New York in the 1970s by Malachi Z, York, the Nuwaubians are a tribe compilation of religious teachings, tribal and fraternal organizations and cultural practices that is versatile and forever changing.
The Nuwaubian Tribe is composed of borrowed ideas from various religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Sufism, Islam, Egyptian religions, African tribal religions, Masons etc. Malachi York, or the “Supreme Grand Master” claims to be extraterrestrial being from the planet Rizq of the 19th Galaxy of Illyum. The Nuwaubians came to establish Lodge 19 of Ancient Mystic Order of Malachizodok in Eatonton, Georgia in 1994 when he moved from New York. The 2003 CIS Masonic Reporter stated that the group came to arrive in Eatonton because of their attraction to a Native American ancient rock eagle formation at Rock Eagle State Park. Lodge 19 s major attractions were extensively built pyramids, temples and living headquarters.
In 2002, Suspicions of alleged child molestation and racketeering incidents at Lodge 19 led to the arrest of York. York was arrested and convicted with over a hundred counts of sexually molesting children and engaging in other criminal acts. He was sentenced to over 135 years in prison.
All though the Nuwaubian Tribe is only only one example of various other large sects or cults, history shows that such orginizations have a way of manipulating and controling what people think and believe. Ironically, these orginizations are formed around some type of religion, however, the immoral acts of sexual and physical abuse depict no moral conduct or religious values.

Leigh Ann