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'South Africans like charismatic churches' February 15, 2019
KGOPI MABOTJAIndependent OnlineFEBRUARY 12, 2019The main feature of cult-like charismatic churches is that they thrive on people’s suffering and disillusionment about the state of their lives.This is according to Professor Maria Frahm-Arp, of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Johannesburg.Frahm-Arp said the preachings by leaders of charismatic cult-like churches promising “people miracles” […]
Lyndon LaRouche, Cult Figure Who Ran for President 8 Times, Dies at 96 February 15, 2019
Richard SeveroNew York TimesFebruary. 13, 2019Lyndon LaRouche, the quixotic, apocalyptic leader of a cultlike political organization who ran for president eight times, once from a prison cell, died on Tuesday. He was 96.His death was announced on the website of his organization, La Rouche/Pac. The statement did not specify a cause or say where he […]
Ex-Jehovah's Witness faces new child sexual abuse charges in Mont-Laurier, Que. February 15, 2019
Michel Courtemanche, 63, was acquitted of assaulting 1 of alleged victims in 1996Pasquale TurbideRadio-CanadaFebruary 14, 2019 A former Jehovah's Witness from Mont-Laurier, Que., is facing new charges of sexually assaulting two girls in his congregation in the 1980s — 23 years after he was acquitted of the sexual assault and indecent assault of one of […]
Faith-healing follower sentenced for not reporting sex abuse February 15, 2019
National PostThe Associated PressFebruary 14, 2019NAMPA, Idaho — An Idaho woman who refused to report her husband’s yearslong sexual abuse of young relatives and instead prayed for “the demon” to leave him was ordered Thursday to spend a year in a prison treatment program.Judge Christopher Nye said that if Sarah Kester, 51, fails to successfully […]
The Controversial Guru Who Wants to 'Upgrade Civilization' February 15, 2019
THE BELIEVERSBy VICE StaffFebruary 13 2019To his devout followers, Bentinho Massaro is an inspiration—but his critics have accused him of “cult-like” practices and peddling fringe conspiracy theories.Bentinho Massaro has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, supporters the spiritual guru gained through his teachings about “self-realization,” “enlightenment,” and the idea of “upgrading civilization.” While some […]
Judge orders Nxivm members back in court over defense fund February 15, 2019
Emily SaulNY PostFebruary 14, 2019The six indicted members of upstate sex cult Nxivm have been ordered to appear in court next week, when a judge will kick off his probe into their questionable pooled-together defense fund.Accused cult leader Keith Raniere will appear in court Tuesday before Brooklyn federal court Judge Nicholas Garaufis.“Smallville” actress Allison Mack, […]
Steiner schools celebrate hundredth anniversary with emphasis on internationalization February 14, 2019
Religion WatchVolume 34 No. 4While the schools and educational movement inspired by Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) first spread in German-speaking countries and then in other areas of the Western world, they are now present in other cultural surroundings as well. But the success of Steiner’s educational principles at the 100th anniversary of the first school’s founding […]
Evangelical Apocalypse February 14, 2019
Dale M. CoulterFirst ThingsFebruary 14, 2019It was only a matter of time before journalists dove into an evangelical institution to find skeletons of sexual abuse in locked file cabinets. In the wake of revelations last May surrounding Paige Patterson, the former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Al Mohler warned the Southern Baptist Convention and […]
MEK: Who is this Iranian 'cult' backed by the US? February 14, 2019
TRT WorldFebruary 14, 2019The MEK, an Iranian group that opposes the Iranian government and has committed several terrorist attacks is hugely controversial. But that doesn't stop the US from supporting them.“Iran should be isolated until Iran changes,” US President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, who claimed to be representing the Iranian group the People's Mujahideen […]
The rise of the star-studded, Instagram-friendly evangelical church February 14, 2019
Chris Pratt, Justin Bieber, and the “cool” Christian celebrity.Laura TurnerVoxFebruary 6, 2019It was a Maui street preacher who convinced Chris Pratt, future star of Guardians of the Galaxy and Parks and Recreation, that he needed God. At 19, Pratt had dropped out of community college in his home state of Washington and accepted a friend’s […]
Jehovah's Witnesses prosecuted for breaking law, not over faith, notes Russia’s top court February 12, 2019
Tass February 12, 2019In August 2017, the Russian Justice Ministry included the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization and its 395 local religious branches to the list of organizations that are outlawed nationwideMOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Jehovah's Witnesses has been outlawed in Russia for violating the law rather than due to motives of religious persecution, Chairman of Russia’s […]
Cults, religious sects are not a thing of the past February 9, 2019
Sonal MatharuFIRST POST February 8, 2019 Cults, religious sects, call them what you want, mock them as much as you want, but they are here to stay. The tragic and inglorious end of Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple, Osho’s Rajneeshpuram, Japan’s Aum Shinrikyo and other such associations across the world by no means implies that cults are […]
Cult-like ‘Quranic school’ exposed in Tunisia February 9, 2019
Iman ZayatArab WeeklyFebruary 10, 2019Whether the Regueb institution is a jihadist camp or some sort of a religious cult, we need more than condemnation. We need action.A fierce debate has taken hold in Tunisia, pitting two rival camps against each other: defenders of human rights and Islamists, both so-called moderates and fundamentalists.The debate was set […]
Accused NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere's bail denied for third time February 7, 2019
CANOEAmerican Media Inc.February 6, 2019Accused NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere has been denied bail for a third time by a federal court judge, RadarOnline.com reports.According to new court documents obtained by Radar, the judge overseeing Raniere’s racketeering and sex trafficking case vehemently ruled that he does not deserve to immediately get out of prison, […]
A Modern History of Satanic Panic in South Carolina February 7, 2019
Dustin WatersCharleston City PaperFebruary 06, 2019Note: This story is also available in audio form. Just search for Charleston City Paper in your podcast app and take a listen. More info here. Enjoy!Equal parts lurid and absurd, Diana Vaughan's story quickly spread across 1890s Europe. She had, many claimed, given herself over to Satan during her […]
John of God's sexual assault arrest tarnishes Brazil's spiritist movement February 3, 2019
Eduardo Campos LimaReligion News ServiceJanuary 30, 2019SAO PAOLO, Brazil (RNS) — For decades John of God attracted crowds with his alleged faith healing powers, at first capitalizing on local spiritualist beliefs but soon riding the wave of New Age spirituality to cater to personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and performance artist Marina Abramovic.In December, John […]
Church issues warning over Scientology 'infiltration' February 3, 2019
EVIE ANDREOU Cyprus MailFEBRUARY 1ST, 2019The Church of Cyprus on Friday warned that the foundation for a Drug-Free World was a branch of the Church of Scientology which, it said, was not only one of the most dangerous cults but was also “a disguised financial enterprise”.In a written statement, the Church’s Synod Committee on cults, citing […]
Lawmakers Going After FLDS Polygamy Compound in South Dakota February 3, 2019
AMELIA MCDONELL-PARRY Rolling Stone FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Followers of Warren Jeffs’ former sect are living on a 140-acre compound where there have been no reported births or deaths for 14 yearsTucked in the remote Black Hills of South Dakota lies a 140-acre “military-style” fortress surrounded by a barbed wire fence, shielded by pine trees and guarded 24/7 […]
Russian Trial Of Danish Jehovah's Witness Draws To A Close January 30, 2019
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLibertyJanuary 30, 2019A verdict is expected soon in the trial of a Danish member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a U.S.-based religious denomination that Russia has branded extremist and outlawed.A statement on the website of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia said that final arguments were to continue on January 30 in the trial of Dennis Christensen […]