Inside America’s UFO Cults: A Look at Manipulation and Misinformation in the UFO Counterculture
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In the perplexing subculture of UFO beliefs, individuals with cult-like followings and frequent claims associated with dubious “whistleblowers” aren’t uncommon. But how can you separate genuine voices from those leveraging UFO lore for personal or financial gain?
In a new documentary, Dark Alliance: The Inside Story of the Cosmic Con, filmmaker Darcy Weir dives into one section of the UFO counterculture, narrowing in on two well-known figures: David Wilcock and Corey Goode, presenting them as case studies in manipulation and the spread of misinformation within the UFO community and its associated areas of belief. In Dark Alliance, Weir takes his viewers on a journey of exploration into how these two controversial figures came to fool not only the community they serve, but also some of the people who brought them to the top.
However, the cautionary tale Weir presents is far from new: the events he chronicles echo the actions of cults and similar groups from over the years, many of which bear a resemblance to some of today’s alleged UFO whistleblowers, self-proclaimed insiders, and cult leaders.
According to psychologist Dr. Steve Eichel, there may be up to 10,000 cults currently operating in America, ranging from those focused on religion, to political groups, and even doomsday cults. UFO-themed cults, while fewer in number, have nonetheless also been a prevalent fixture in American culture since the years after World War II. Among these, William A. Ferguson founded a religious cult called the Cosmic Circle of Fellowship, elements of which were detailed in his 1947 book My Trip to Mars. In it, Ferguson states that he teleported to Mars and was greeted by “celestial beings who indicated the Martians are ready to help mankind pass through a great crisis.” Ferguson also claimed he could instruct others on how to achieve interdimensional travel through deep relaxation. With time, Ferguson’s claims would become even more wild as he began manufacturing a device he called the Zerret Applicator, which he professed could cure various ailments or diseases through what he called “z-rays,” a concept created by Ferguson and later disproven by the FDA. In 1954, fresh out of prison after a two-year sentence for selling his “Martian-inspired” medical devices, Ferguson turned his life around in a way that was truly out of this world: he released a quirky, 13-page pamphlet detailing his journey to Mars, sharing several of his curious insights and the teachings he claimed to have received from his Martian associates.Although similar cults have cropped up throughout the years, few that involved unfounded belief in visitors from beyond Earth have managed to capture so much public attention as Heaven’s Gate, a new religious movement in the United States whose members committed mass suicide in a San Diego suburb called Rancho Santa Fe in 1997. There, a group of 39 dedicated followers of the cult, led by mastermind Marshall Applewhite, died believing that Comet Hale–Bopp was being followed by an alien spacecraft, and only through their death by ritual suicide could they could eventually join it.
More recently, an online subculture referred to as The Alien Cult has emerged on TikTok, centered around themes involving aliens and UFOs. Originating from a popular meme, the group has rapidly grown, showing up en masse in comment sections and sharing mostly humorous content, though some members have been known to spread misinformation at times, while at others debunk outlandish claims.
Another group, the “Starseeds,” believes they are beings from other dimensions meant to guide humanity. While these groups largely seem harmless, their structure—especially when leaders are idolized—can lead to risks of manipulation and echo chambers that discourage critical thinking and individual growth.
Content retrieved from: https://thedebrief.org/inside-americas-ufo-cults-a-look-at-manipulation-and-misinformation-in-the-ufo-counterculture/.
