My Cult Your Cult

How Cults Destroy Truth and Bolster Authoritarian Power

De: Sean Prophet

Narrado por: Sean Prophet, Fred Register

Sean Prophet was vice president of a millenarian cult that predicted nuclear war and prepared to survive it—building massive underground bomb shelters and stockpiling food and weapons for thousands of followers.

My Cult Your Cult is part insider case study—and part personal reckoning.

Prophet was born into Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT), which began as The Summit Lighthouse. The cult was founded in 1958 by his father, Mark Prophet, and later led by his mother, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, both of whom claimed to channel “Ascended Masters.” CUT drew from Theosophy, Agni Yoga, Rosicrucianism, and the Mighty I AM—a lineage steeped in spiritual elitism, racialized mythology, and authoritarian control.

During its most extreme period, Prophet held a position of apparent authority as CUT’s vice president, yet remained firmly under his mother’s spiritual dominance—constrained by a system of secrecy, loyalty, and manipulation. In 1987, she predicted a Soviet nuclear strike for 1989—setting in motion one of the largest private bomb shelter construction efforts in American history. When the prophecy failed, he left the organization and began the long process of confronting his complicity and emerging as one of its sharpest critics.

The book draws powerful parallels between CUT’s apocalyptic dogma and the authoritarian tactics of contemporary movements including MAGA, Christian Nationalism, and online cults like QAnon. Prophet’s analysis shows how cults and authoritarian governments alike weaponize divine claims to exploit fear, suppress dissent, and dismantle human rights.

Audiobook Companion Document including all images and captions from the print edition available at: exoprophet.substack.com/p/audiobook-companion

©2025 Sean Prophet (P)2025 Sean Prophet

Great, insightful, thought-provoking book!

I have never belonged to a cult, and I didn’t expect to see myself reflected in these pages — but I was surprised by how insightful and thought-provoking this book turned out to be.

What struck me most is how approachable and clear the writing is. Prophet doesn’t sensationalize or judge. Instead, he calmly walks the reader through the psychology of belief, influence, and groupthink in a way that feels grounded and respectful. At several points, I found myself pausing to reflect — not because I recognized cult behavior in my own life, but because the book gently highlights how all of us, in one way or another, are influenced by narratives, leaders, and systems we rarely stop to question.

The book helped me better understand why people join cults without portraying them as weak or naive, which I appreciated. It broadened my perspective and gave me a deeper sense of empathy, not just for people in cults, but for anyone navigating strong belief systems of any kind.

My Cult Your Cult isn’t alarmist or preachy — it’s thoughtful, curious, and genuinely enlightening. Even as someone with no direct experience in cults, I walked away feeling more informed, more self-aware, and more appreciative of how complex human belief really is. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that challenge you quietly, intelligently, and without judgment.

A Thoughtful and Valuable Work

Sean Prophet’s journey through and out of the religious cult he was born into provides invaluable insights for all of us.
That he has narrated his own book in such a professional and heartfelt way makes it even more impressive.
I unreservedly recommend both Sean’s book and Sean’s narration of his book. It will benefit many people.

Sean Prophet is a welcome new voice

First of all, as a California native that was awar of the New Age and religious movements spawned here and abroad, I knew about and had read books by Elizabeth Claire Prophet.
From Theosophy, to the Mighty I Am, and finally to Church Universal and Triumphant, there was an interesting lineage here. The research, history, and Sean Prophet's first person narrative are top notch. Ultimately though, this is a book about personal agency and freedom to choose, and how to use it. I found it immensely entertaining. It's the best book I read this summer.