cult

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Haggis: I Ditched Scientology Because It's Anti-Gay

More from the New Yorker: 'Moral issue' finally breaks tie, screenwriter

(Newser) - More from the New Yorker's 26-page Scientology takedown: Screenwriter Paul Haggis finally broke with Scientology after years in the cult because of its stands against homosexuality, he has revealed. "I was in a cult for 34 years. Everyone else could see it. I don't know why I couldn't,"...

'Suicide Cult' Leader Held for Psych Probe

Mom Reyna Marisol Chicas on 72-hour mandatory mental watch

(Newser) - The head of a southern California cult police feared planned to commit mass suicide is being held in a locked-down mental health ward for psychiatric evaluation. Reyna Marisol Chicas, 32, was taken into custody after she and 12 members of her group, including as many as eight children, were found...

Cops Hunt 'Cult,' Suspect Suicide Mission

Religious group left behind notes that talked of 'going to heaven'

(Newser) - California cops are hunting a breakaway religious group they call "cult-like" after five adults and at least eight kids went missing last night—leaving behind deeds, cellphones, final notes that referred to "going to heaven," and the strong indication they were on a mass suicide mission, reports...

Cops Nab Woman Suspected of Leading of Killer Cult

Kenyan woman allegedly inspired serial killer

(Newser) - A high school teacher has been detained in Kenya, after a self-confessed serial killer said that she told him to kill 100 people for good fortune. Philip Onyancha, 32, has confessed to killing 17 people, mostly women, and says he did so because teacher Elizabeth Wambui inducted him into her...

WikiLeaks Founder Shares His Secret Past

Paranoid Julian Assange says he grew up on the run from cult

(Newser) - Julian Assange is a paranoid man. The WikiLeaks founder believes he is constantly under surveillance, and that his site has enemies in governments around the world. Several members of his team are known by initials only, and the site's complex server system is “vastly more secure than any banking...

Russia Bans Scientology Texts

  Russia Bans Scientology Texts 
Apr 22, 2010 4:27 AM CDT

Russia Bans Scientology Texts

Works of L. Ron Hubbard labeled 'extremist'

(Newser) - The works of L. Ron Hubbard are no longer welcome in Russia. Officials say they intercepted a shipment of books and recordings by the Scientology founder and decided that they should be banned as extremist literature that "undermines the traditional spiritual values of the citizens of the Russian Federation....

Island Cult Worships... Prince Philip?

On Tanna, they believe Queen's hubby will return in glory

(Newser) - To most of the world, Prince Philip is the Queen of England’s gaffe-prone husband, but on the tiny island of Tanna in Vanuatu, he’s the messiah. Philip’s never actually been to the island, but he and the Queen did visit Vanuatu in 1974, and that’s probably...

Duggar Critics See Fringe Cult
 Duggar Critics See Fringe Cult 
19 kids & counting
Mar 3, 2010 10:56 AM CST

Duggar Critics See Fringe Cult

Enquirer notes link with group that wants to overthrow government

(Newser) - If the National Enquirer is to be believed, the Duggars don’t have 19 children simply because they love kids: No, it’s because they belong to a cult that plans to take over the US government. Jim Bob and Michelle, stars of TLC’s 19 Kids & Counting, are...

Cult 'Starved Tot for Not Saying Amen'

1 Mind Ministries members on trial for boy's murder

(Newser) - Not saying "amen" at an age when many children can't say their own name was a death sentence for a Baltimore baby boy, a prosecutor told a court yesterday. Queen Antoinette, leader of the now-defunct 1 Mind Ministries cult, ordered that food and water be withheld from year-old Javon...

Ex-Scientologist Actor: Return My $120K

After 33 years, Larry Anderson wants out

(Newser) - After 33 years as a Scientologist and a star turn in a widely disseminated orientation video, actor Larry Anderson wants out—and he wants his money back. Anderson, a magician turned TV actor and game-show host, says the organization owes him $120,000. A Scientology rep tells the St. Petersburg ...

Israeli With Huge Harem Accused of Rape, Incest

Reports say he has 32 wives, 89 children

(Newser) - Israeli police have arrested polygamist cult leader Goel Ratzon on suspicion of enslavement, rape, and incest. They’ve also detained 17 of his “wives” and 37 of his children for questioning; police say some of the children are also his grandchildren. According to some reports, Ratzon has a total...

Yoga Guru Actually Cultmaster: Lawsuit

Former employees allege fraud, grueling physical trials

(Newser) - Former employees of a worldwide yoga chain allege its founder is actually the leader of a cult that demands cash and torturous exercise from those caught in its spell. Dahn Yoga, founded by Ilchi Lee, operates more than 100 locations in the US and more than 1,000 internationally, and...

Scientology Guilty of Fraud, Rules French Court

But ruling stops short of outright ban

(Newser) - A Paris court has convicted the Church of Scientology's French branch of fraud and fined it $600,000, but stopped short of the ban on the group that was sought by prosecutors. Church leaders were found guilty of pressuring members into paying large sums of money for questionable financial gain....

Cruise Hails Scientology at Secret Confab

'We never took our eyes off prize,' actor tells faithful

(Newser) - Tom Cruise was one of the inspirational speakers at a secret Scientology confab in Britain, apparently attributing his success to his membership in the controversial organization. Cruise was joined by Katie Holmes and daughter Suri, John Tavolta and Kelly Preston, and some 4000 other guests at the hush-hush international gathering...

Thousands Marry in Mass Moonie Wedding
 Thousands Marry in 
 Mass Moonie Wedding 
slideshow
Oct 14, 2009 8:19 AM CDT

Thousands Marry in Mass Moonie Wedding

40,000 gather for blessing of Sun Myung Moon in Korea

(Newser) - He is nearly 90 years old, but Sun Myung Moon—cult leader, Washington Times founder, self-proclaimed Messiah—can still draw a crowd. The leader of the Unification Church led a mass wedding for some 40,000 people outside of Seoul today, on the campus of, yes, Sun Moon University. It...

'Reborn' Jesus Leads Vegans in Russia

Known as Vissarion, former traffic cop preaches against war

(Newser) - A former traffic cop in Russia has declared himself a reincarnation of Jesus and amassed a following of 5,000 devotees, including artists and intellectuals, the Daily Mail reports. Sergei Torop, "reborn" as "Vissarion" after losing his job in 1991, preached against the evils of war and harming...

Manson 'Harem' Angles for Freedom

Atkins up for parole; filmmaker makes case for van Houten

(Newser) - With Squeaky Fromme, who aimed a gun at President Ford, set for parole next Sunday, other members of the murderous “Manson Family” are pushing for release, the Telegraph reports. Susan Atkins, who at first said she’d stabbed actress Sharon Tate 16 times, plans to plead for freedom at...

Online 'Pied Piper' Urges Followers to Ditch Families

Philosopher preaches that the parent-child relationship is artificial

(Newser) - A libertarian web philosopher who counsels converts to cut off contact with their families is being accused of operating a cult, the Toronto Globe & Mail reports. Stefan Molyneux preaches through his Freedomain Radio site that the parent-child relationship is inherently abusive and encourages troubled young people to break away....

Right's Ridicule of Obama 'Cult' Appeal Masks Jealousy

Conservatives 'freaked out' by rabid following

(Newser) - Conservative griping about Barack Obama’s supposed cult of personality is both misplaced and hypocritical, Jonathan Chait writes in the New Republic. Pundits’ case against the Democrat relies on willful misinterpretation of his slogans. “Did you know that McCain’s slogan, ‘Country first,’ could be translated via...

Cult Starved Toddler Who Wouldn't Say Amen: Cops

Mom and 4 others charged in boy's death

(Newser) - A toddler was starved to death in a religious cult for refusing to say "amen" at the end of meals, according to police. The body of the 2-year-old was stuffed in a suitcase when the 1 Mind Ministries cult fled from Baltimore to Philadelphia, authorities said. The toddler's mother...

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