Did The World's Craziest Cult Leader Influence ‘Nature Boy?'

Eligio Bishop, the accused cult leader also known as 'Nature Boy,' has garnered media attention following his recent sentencing to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The 'Mosiah' — as his followers refer to him — was found guilty on Friday for rape, false imprisonment, and three counts of prohibition on nude or sexually explicit electronic transmissions, according to WSB-TV.

Throughout history, charismatic individuals asserted a spiritual calling to lead or safeguard the masses, whether from internal challenges or external threats. This pattern seems to persist, creating an ongoing cycle.

In the video below, a specific group of members from the Hawaii/Atlanta based 'Carbon Nation' cult endures verbal abuse from their self-proclaimed divine leader. At the video's start, they collectively address 'Nature Boy' as "God."

@dysetv #natureboy giving out his #bathroom #lectures to his #carbonation #cult members. Says he can't wait for the #members  downloads come in and also he can't wait for the #lbgtq community to come to #carbonation ♬ original sound - Big Dyse

However, Nature Boy is not the first to adopt the title of 'God' or 'God's Chosen,' as 'Ant Hill Kids' Roch Thériaul cult leader preceded him.

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Roch Thériaul, now deceased, was known to his followers as 'Moïse' (Moses). He founded the 'Ant Hill Kids' in Quebec, Canada, in 1977.

Roch firmly believed in an impending apocalypse, seeing himself as the sole savior capable of rescuing humanity from its impending doom. Identifying himself as a holy-spiritual being, he successfully persuaded 12 followers, originally part of the congregation of the church where he once preached, to join him in establishing a commune in the woods.

His manipulative prowess reached such heights that he persuaded eight out of nine women in the group to marry him simultaneously. Roch engaged in intimate relationships with all eight women, resulting in pregnancies and the fathering of 26 children within a few years. He justified this extensive procreation as a religious obligation to repopulate the Earth.

Roch ultimately met his downfall after he was sentenced to life in prison for two distinct periods of extreme violence in 1981 and 1988-1989. In 1981, he killed a two-year-old boy and castrated one of his followers. In the later period, he killed his reported favorite wife in a failed healing ritual and severed the arm of a less-favored wife.

Eligio's commune appears to be a diluted iteration of its Canadian predecessor, exhibiting several similarities that prompt us to question: Was he influenced by Roch's blueprint?

Rejection of Modern Medicine

'Nature Boy' wholly rejected technology and modern medicine, placing his faith in healing through raw foods, natural remedies, and spiritual practices. Similar to Eligio, Roch completely dismissed the advantages of modern medicine. He subjected commune members to spiritual healing rituals, often involving unqualified surgical procedures. These rituals occasionally led to death and consistently worsened the patients' conditions.

Formation of Communes/ Escape from Mainstream Society

'Nature Boy' attracted followers seeking an alternative lifestyle, founding a commune in Hawaii centered on a back-to-nature lifestyle. Living off the land, adhering to raw food diets and adopting natural healing methods, his commune nurtured a community spirit where like-minded individuals congregated to escape mainstream society.

Similarly, the 'Ant Hill Kids' commune was isolated in the Canadian wilderness. Members lived together, and shared the resources of the land and responsibilities. Both groups exhibited a commitment to alternative living and communal practices.

Narcissism

Both Roch and Eligio thought of themselves as superior to ordinary people.

Roch believed he was a divine being with a destiny to save mankind, while 'Nature Boy' saw himself as a "god."

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Control and Manipulation

Both cult leaders enforced a doctrine of isolation from the outside world, creating a dependency among the cult members on their respective leaders.

Violence & Abuse

Nature Boy's actions, while less violent than Roch's, were still troubling. He faced charges related to revenge porn and sexual assault, indicating that disobedience to his will resulted in abusive consequences. In contrast, Roch subjected his followers to extreme punishments, including torture, beatings, castrations, mutilations and murder. His followers also participated in brutal and torturous rituals, believing them to be necessary for salvation.