Jamie Loftus, podcast host, discusses Marion Petty, a man whose cult was accused of child trafficking and potential CIA involvement. They cover the impact of social media, bizarre experiences, tattoos, Petty's early life, suspected lies, Bill Cooper's wife, Carlos Castaneda's writings, and more.
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Quick takeaways
The Finders cult, led by Marion Petty, engaged in disturbing activities like stealing human remains and had a fascination with the occult.
Marion Petty's early life experiences in the military, as a chauffeur, and engaging in experimental living arrangements shaped his worldview and knowledge of psychology and power dynamics.
The Finders cult operated a game called the 'game caller,' influenced by Carlos Castaneda's writings, where members undertook various tasks and experiences, blurring the line between reality and a role-playing game.
Deep dives
Marion Petty's early fascination with graves and formation of a children's club
Marion Petty, the founder of the Finders cult, displayed an early fascination with graves and formed a children's club where they engaged in activities like stealing human remains. This club was driven by a curiosity in the occult and Petty's desire to have a human skull as a centerpiece for their rituals.
Petty's unconventional education and diverse experiences
Marion Petty dropped out of school at a young age but considered his whole life as an ongoing education. He joined the army early on, potentially as a teenager, and became a master sergeant. Petty claimed to have learned martial arts from a Chinese man named Joe Chang and engaged in experimental living arrangements where he offered his apartment to various people, some of whom he engaged in sexual relationships with. During this time, Petty also worked as a chauffeur for prominent individuals in Washington, D.C., claiming to have interacted with powerful men and learned about psychology and power dynamics.
Petty's alleged encounters with famous figures
Marion Petty claimed to have driven notable individuals such as President Truman, General Eisenhower, and J. Edgar Hoover. He also stated that he had access to conversations among high-ranking officials, enabling him to learn about their perspectives on power and talk about psychology. Petty described these experiences as valuable opportunities for gaining insight.
Petty's lifestyle and relations during wartime
During his time as a chauffeur, Petty was involved in various sexual relationships and maintained multiple apartments in Washington, D.C. He adopted an experimental lifestyle, allowing people to stay in his apartments and engaging in freedom and exploration. This period coincided with the war, and Petty described the era as one of freer attitudes towards sex and a sense of uncertainty as people were unsure about the future amidst the war.
The Finders: Part 1
The first part of the podcast episode introduces the leader of the cult, Marian Petty, and his background in the military and CIA connections. Petty forms a group called the Finders, which is organized around a game that he calls, in which members are assigned various tasks and experiences to learn and grow as individuals. These tasks range from mundane activities like temporary accounting jobs to more elaborate ones like spying on companies or political candidates. The game caller, Petty, takes on the role of a dungeon master, structuring experiences for the members to gain valuable insights. The game gradually escalates over time, leading to more radical decisions in the followers' lives, including changing their diets, clothing choices, and even relationships. The podcast suggests that the Finders have connections to the CIA and that at least some of their spying activities had been noticed by the agency. Part 1 serves as an introduction to the cult and sets the stage for the darker episodes to come.
Carlos Castaneda and the Influence of New Age Mysticism
Part 1 also delves into the influence of Carlos Castaneda's books on Marian Petty and the Finders cult. Castaneda's writings, with claims of mystical self-exploration and apprenticeship with a traditional shaman, captivated the New Age movement of the 1960s. However, his work was later exposed as being riddled with inconsistencies and plagiarism. Despite this, Petty draws inspiration from Castaneda's books and incorporates elements of his purported teachings into the game played by the Finders. The podcast highlights how Petty uses the fantasy and intrigue of Castaneda's work to create arcane rules and rituals for his followers. By embracing elements of both political radicalism and pop-culture occultism, the Finders adopt a mindset that blurs the line between reality and a role-playing game. This combination of influences shapes the unique dynamics of the cult and sets the foundation for later developments.
Robert sits down with Jamie Loftus to tell the tale of Marion Petty, the man whose cult was accused of trafficking children and may have been part of a CIA op. Or not! It's very unclear!
