America's Extreme Cults: The End of the World That Never Happened | USA Cult Documentary

Through the eyes of a group of people convinced that they knew the date of the end of the world, ‘Right Between Your Ears’ explores how people believe, and how we turn beliefs into certainties and then mistake them for the truth.

Many people have a strong sense that their views are right and couldn’t possibly be wrong. So how do we come to hold an unshakable conviction and why is it hard to consider that we could be mistaken?

A stock trader with a young family, a philosophy student about to graduate and a retail manager who became so convinced she quit her job of 18 years. As they face the consequences of their conviction, neuroscience and social psychology offer insight into how we can become convinced that we’re right, even when we’re wrong.

“A fun and warmhearted look at a community of doomsayers as they face the day of judgment, it ends up saying a great deal about how we all think.” — Louis Theroux

This documentary was produced by Aniku and directed by Sheila Marshall. It was first released in 2016.

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[jataim]

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."---Mark Twain ❣️ 🐶 🐕

[dissidentfairy]

I wish this documentary went into the real harm that was done by Camping. What about the woman who slit her daughters throats because she believed Camping's prediction? What about the people who gave All of their money to Camping? Sold their homes? What about the suicides? The people in this video were able to regroup but many were not. My cousin was one who was duped by Camping. He sent the guy $100 per month. In the last year prior to May 21st. my cousin received a letter from Camping asking him to Double his monthly donation, and my cousin did. He sent Camping $200 a month. So much for Camping claiming his literature was Free and rejecting the $5. That family became rich over it. They walked away with Millions Also, my father (not a Camping follower) who is a brilliant man, did the math based on Camping's self-proclaimed Biblical calculations and discovered Camping had miscalculated Biblical genealogy based on simple math.. He wrote Camping to show him his error but never heard back from him. He was a fraud.

[nicylee]

It’s the guy graduating with a degree in philosophy but still doesn’t possess the capabilities to question this. In addition to basing his beliefs on his feelings over logic… my mind is blown.

[amazonarms]

My gosh, I just got out of the Jonathan Kleck Cult! This is so spot on with the behaviors of people and the “prophet” that they listen too! Thank you so much for your work!

[mirandasapphire]

Neuroscience is so fascinating. I am in my second year of studies in the psychology field. I just finished a sociology course and am in social psychology now. I love learning about these things whereas my mother would scare me to death about judgment day when I was younger. Granted, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and quite intense. It's amazing how people form decisions and magnetize to such beliefs. I felt bad when the woman said they weren't illiterate or naive. I believe that, but people can get so sucked up into something when they seek the "truth" or just need something that feels tangible to them to believe in.

[plushcat]

It's actually very sad how people go so far as quitting their jobs, etc...the power of cult thinking is astonishing...

[plantsntrance]

“Humans aren’t rational creatures. We are RATIONALIZING creatures.” A person could take literally ANY stance/position and justify it to Hell until it makes some sort of sense. Truly fascinating.

[Bethofbna]

What CHILDREN of people like this have to endure breaks my heart.

[ljohnson]

Shame on those who perpetrated this. So many neighborhood teens and young adults showed up at my mother’s door terrified over this prediction. She did her best to calm them, but the fear in their eyes was awful.

[samuelschick]

Interesting that Camping was worth $75 million and never gave it away before May 21, 2011. After telling others they would not need money, jobs, houses and to give those away.

[Dearartemisart]

My father believed in Harold Camping and his May 21, 2011 prediction. He was a dedicated follower of Mr. Camping and would listen to Open Forum on Family Radio daily. It was sad to watch his delusional decline. On May 21, 2011 at 6pm he gathered our family at the table. He prayed and wept. He genuinely believed. I remember being terrified. It had a very big impact on my departure from Christ.

[Seekerx]

His true nature is revealed when asked about the people who are left with nothing due to his teachings.

[RLS-bubj]

I got a job because the person who had it left to go spread this message. Our coworkers tried to get him to not quit, but he said he was an adult and would do what he wanted to do. After it didn't happen, his sisters tried to get his job back. The company told him no. He rebounded, but I always felt awkward

[wheressteve]

"We're special and everyone else isn't" is a cornerstone of milking money from the sheeples.

[wow]

Thank you for this thoughtful account of the Harold Camping debacle! I listened to his call-in radio show for several years prior to 2011, and the format Camping followed allowed him to manipulate and bully callers by just steamrolling over them. He would frequently begin an answer with, “well you see, the fact of the matter is…” thus allowing him time to pull something out of his hat. Sometimes he would not even answer a thoughtful question and just babble. What I found dangerous was his propensity to quote himself! He had been writing books and doing the show for so many years that he would quote earlier quotes from his own books! I also thought that many lonely people were soothed by his deep, sonorous voice, but his failure to take any responsibility for his own words was so disturbing. I hope and pray that his former followers have found some greater knowledge and peace.

[Mavick]

It's amazing to me how sad and disappointed everybody looks that millions of people didn't perish.

[YoungTang]

These people are sad/disappointed because they didn't die... that's a new level of craziness.

[FionaKumariCampbell]

This kind of stuff terrifies and traumatises children

[jamessoltis]

“Religion began when the first scoundrel met the first fool.”
-Voltaire

[Lily-qbxv]

I remember kids in middle school freaking out over this. When I saw them next, I asked them what happened… they all got mad at me lol.

Religious indoctrination is abuse, especially when it comes to children.