Cult News

Mary Johnson an ex-Scientologist (1992-1994) has sued her former church. The Irish citizen claims she “suffered psychiatric and psychological injuries and post traumatic stress disorder,” reports the Irish press.

Some former members have said it’s difficult to leave Scientology. And according to Johnson she was threatened and intimidated when she decided deciding to leave the organization.

Historically, those who sue Scientology in Great Britain often have had it easier in court than Americans. Perhaps this will prove true in Ireland too.

The press in the British Isles has also been more outspoken in recent years about Scientology than the American media. Some say the controversial church threatens and intimidates reporters as well as its former adherents.

Fundamentalist Christian and televangelist Jerry Falwell is being compared to cult leaders on an Internet website and he is mad about it, reports Associated Press.

The Virginia preacher is so incensed he has taken the site’s owner and creator to court.

The website puts Falwell on a list of “false prophets” with Jim Jones and David Koresh.

It seems doubtful though that the lawsuit will succeed and it apparently has drawn more attention to the website.

Interestingly, Jerry Falwell remains friendly with a man many have called a “cult leader.” The founder of the Unification Church Rev. Sun Myung Moon, has given the Baptist minister subtantial checks and Falwell has seemingly reciprocated by appearing repeatedly at Moon functions.

It seems ironic that Rev. Falwell is so upset about being lumped together with cult leaders, when he is so tight with one. That friendship seems particularly ironic, since Moon claims to be the “messiah” supposedly sent by “God” to finish the job Jesus failed to complete.

You would think that this would upset any good Baptist? But apparently not Jerry Falwell, or at least not it seems if the so-called “messiah” has money and is generous.

Nicole Kidman will talk about Scientology in her interview with Leslie Stahl slated for this coming Sunday on CBS “60 Minutes,” says Liz Smith.

The former wife of Tom Cruise will supposedly reveal some of her feelings about the controversial church, which has been called a “cult.”

If Kidman brings out negative aspects of the church, it will a first. Typically, people who have left Scientology appear afraid to speak out, especially celebrities. The organization has a reputation for being quite punative when it comes to ex-Scientologists who say things they don’t like.

Kidman has a history of making remarks in interviews that seemed to distance her from Scientology. There has been speculation that Scientology may have contributed to the disintegration of her marriage and subsequent divorce. And also, that Kidman had concerns about its influence upon her children.

Curise remains a devout Scientologist and one of its most ardent public advocates.

Nuwaubian leader Malachi York’s “main wife” was released from jail on $75,000 bail, reports the Augusta Chronicle.

Kathy Johnson, posted bond on December 3rd. She still faces sex charges in a 208 count federal indictment.

It seems unlikely that her husband will be free anytime soon.

The so-called “Animal Liberation Front” (ALF), closely associated with the “Earth Liberation Front” (ELF), set fire to a mink farm in Pennsylvania, reports the Associated Press.

Apparently the activists are not concerned with the rule of law or the democratic process and have instead once again opted for criminal acts like anarchists.

The farm owner said, “They put the lives of our animals, our family and the firefighters at risk.”

It seems ironic that people, who claim they want to preserve life, have such little real meaningful concern about the lives they put in danger through their criminal acts. Thankfully, this time no one was hurt.

Critics of ALF and ELF have pointed out that radical groups like these often operate much like a “guru cult” dominated by a charismatic leader, who heavily indoctrinates followers. Subsequently, the disciples of such a leader appear to largely lose their ability to critically and independently examine the ramifications of the group’s behavior.

When examining the carnage wrought by such extremists, this observation seems to ring true.

Obviously, most animal rights advocates and environmentalists are not violent and instead chose to work within the context of democracy, much like the historic Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

It is sad that fringe groups like ALF and ELF have so little faith in the established American ideals of peaceful protest and democracy. But prefer instead to largely function like totalitarian terrorists such as Osama bin Laden, who want to force change unilaterally through violence.

Tampa parents say their children are “caught in the clutches of a cult.” But rather than a group recruiting on a college campus, this “cult” was allegedly gaining members through a long-term substitute teacher at a high school, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

That high school teacher was Christine Bowen, who was subsequently fired. It seems Bowen recruited her students to attend a “bible study” led by her husband Tom Bowen, a pharmaceutical salesman.

One family said the Bowens have “stolen” their daughter.

The Bowens deny all the allegations. But historically, at least two churches have asked the couple to leave their congregations.

Some families now call the small household group the “Bowenites.”

“This is a destructive religious cult,” said father and psychologist Gerald Mussenden. “They basically encouraged kids to sever ties with their parents…[and]…friends.”

Concerned families brought in veteran cult exit-counselor Dave Clark.

Clark has worked in the cult field for more than twenty years and is perhaps best known for his intervention regarding a member of the “Bible Speaks.” He helped an heiress to a department store fortune break away from the group. That woman later won a lawsuit that claimed she was essentially “brainwashed,” which bankrupted the church.

The Bible Speaks is now known as “Greater Grace World Outreach” of Baltimore, Maryland and still led by its founder Carl Stevens.

It is not unusual for destructive cults to begin very modestly, with only a handful of people and/or as a family operation. Carl Stevens began as a milkman with a supposed “gift” for bible study. Simply because a group is small, does not preclude the possibility that it is a “cult” or potentially unsafe.

And the manipulation of the bible to justify isolation, control and commitment to a particular group and/or leader is not new. Infamous cult leaders David Koresh and Jim Jones both deftly twisted scriptures out of context to achieve their ends.

Mary Alice Chrnalogar another veteran cult watcher wrote a book on this very subject titled “Twisted Scriptures” published by Zondervan Press. Within her book Chrnalogar examines in depth how destructive groups can manipulate the bible.

A tight knit group like the so-called “Bowenites” can be potentially more controlling than a larger group, due to the ever-present focus of a leader working personally with only a few individuals.

Hopefully, the concerned families in Florida will somehow work things out with their children, though one has already filed a restraining order, which would preclude contact.

Los Angeles attorney Barry Fisher has made something of a career out of defending the interests of groups called “cults.”

Fisher was recently back in court for the Krishna organization (ISKCON), reports Associated Press.

Apparently a cause for this “activist” is fighting for ISKCON’s right to annoy people in airports. As any frequent flyer knows, Krishna devotees often work air terminals as a place to hawk books and solicit donations.

However, the courts have ruled repeatedly that free speech doesn’t really include soliciting people at LAX, which is not a “public forum” to promote book sales.

But that doesn’t deter Fisher, who historically can’t seem to find a “cult” he won’t defend.

In fact, Barry Fisher once had his expenses paid by the now infamous Japanese cult Aum, to come to its defense in Tokyo, shortly after the cult gassed the city’s subway system killing 12 and sending thousands to hospitals.

What did Mr. Fisher say? He claimed Japanese law enforcement’s response to the horrific attack was somehow an effort, “to crush a religion and deny freedom.”

Right.

Fisher comes with impressive recommendations. The “Cult Awareness Network” (CAN), largely controlled by the Church of Scientology since 1996, recommends him “for information about new religions.” Shortly after the members of “Heaven’s Gate” committed group suicide in 1997 near San Diego, CAN promoted him as a “religious liberty attorney.”

Defending “religious liberty” can be lucrative. Rev. Moon has billions and the Church of Scientology is certainly not poor. And though ISKCON says it may go bankrupt rather than pay damages to children sexually and physically abused within their schools, they seem to have enough cash on hand to cover Fisher.

No doubt Barry Fisher will continue his crusade for “religious liberty.” Probably at least as long as “persecuted” “new religions” can afford to pay his fees and/or expenses.

Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, who calls himself “Guru Sri Chinmoy” from Jamaica Queens, New York is now on a weight lifting tour in New Zealand.

The so-called “guru,” that once inspired Carlos Santana and who many call a “cult leader,” hit the road with his own traveling show.

The Chinmoy “guru show” is apparently designed to demonstrate the “god” qualities of the 71-year-old American, who immigrated to the United States from what is now Bangladesh in 1964 and became known during the “guru” craze of the 70s.

Chinmoy performs supposed weight lifting “feats,” but only with the assistance of his so-called “whatawhata” machine, reports the Waikato Times.

Sheep seem to be his preferred thing to lift “down under” in New Zealand. Perhaps in Texas it would be cows and who knows, in the Middle East Chinmoy might even try a couple of camels.

However, what the old guru-with-a-gut lifts, is actually of little consequence. The mechanical device Chinmoy uses does the real work, not the peripatetic “god-man.”

Almost anyone could lift sheep or whatever else they wanted with such an apparatus. An Auckland grandmother might use it moving furniture for an intensive house cleaning, though it would be awkward in a living room.

What then, is the point?

The point is that this guru will do whatever it takes to get attention, press coverage and another photo op.

One Chinmoy disciple watching the recent stunt in New Zealand said, “He is selfless and so humble.” But a more obvious conclusion is that the New York guru has an insatiable need to feed his ego.

Chinmoy has been staging stunts like this for years. He also has encouraged his devotees to do some pretty ridiculous “world record” feats, such as pogo stick hopping underwater. One follower made it all the way into the Guiness Book and onto “Oprah.” And of course this was an opportunity to promote and praise his guru publicly.

But the truth is that weight lifting “feats” are not the only phony thing about the aging guru. The man, who claims to be a spiritual celibate, actually has a history of being a sexual predator, who has used devotees as little more than “sex slaves.”

And Chinmoy’s former followers have been speaking out on the Internet.

So as the guru’s sheep show winds its way through New Zealand, it might benefit the public more if the press reported the real story about Chinmoy.

It may be fun to write about this “portly man” and his “whatawhata” machine, but Chinmoy is not so funny to the many individuals and families he has hurt over the years.

Lisa Marie Presley 34 has ended her 3-month marriage to Nicholas Cage. She says, “We shouldn’t have been married in the first place. It was a big mistake.”

A “factor in the breakup is thought to have been Ms Presley’s devotion to the Church of Scientology,” reports the Herald Sun in Australia.

Australians now have a much keener interest in Scientology since the richest family in that country is now apparently entangled with the controversial group.

This is Presley’s third marriage. Her first, to a devoted Scientologist, produced two children. Her second, a strange union with singer Michael Jackson, lasted two years. The Jackson-Presley marriage apparently ended largely due to the pop singer’s refusal to be involved in Scientology.

Couples of different religious beliefs often marry and work things out. But it appears that Scientology does not approve of a prominent member like Presley, marrying outside of the church. That is, unless there is some hope of recruiting a spouse. When that fails, divorce appears to be the likely alternative.

Scientologist Kirstie Alley apparently divorced largely due to disagreements about Scientology. And there seemed to be some strain in the marriage of Tom Cruise to Nicole Kidman over the religion. Kidman kept insisting it wasn’t the focus of her life and emphasized her Catholicism, while Cruise remained a deeply devout practitioner and promoter of Scientology.

Nicholas Cage, like Michael Jackson, was probably pitched to take study courses promoted by the controversial church. But apparently the Oscar winning star passed. That may have easily led to the rapid disintegration and ultimate break-up of the marriage.

Will Elvis’s daughter ever find wedded bliss? Unlike baseball, three stirke outs doesn’t end this mating game. Just look at Elizabeth Taylor or Zsa Zsa Gabor, many celebrities like to keep on swinging.

But whatever happiness Elvis’s heir may find through matrimony, it is likely to only be within the arms of a practicing Scientologist.

George Harrison once sang “My Sweet Lord” in honor of Krishna and he donated property to the Hare Krishna group (ISCKON) near London.

But in the end the former Beatle did not leave ISKCON, which has often been called a “cult,” anything from his $150 million dollar estate, reports the Times of India.

The group somehow believed Harrison would leave them $30 million. However, that appears to have been a delusion, perhaps brought on by excessive chanting.

Krishna devotees previously made the bizarre claim that Harrison’s ashes would be spread on the Ganges. This too proved false.

Maybe Harrison, like many disgruntled Catholics who are now cutting back on their donations to the church, was offended by litigation filed against the religious organization?

There is a $400 million dollar class action lawsuit currently moving through the courts, which exposes years of gross sexual and physical abuse suffered by children, at the hands of Krishna devotees.

Krishna Temples seem to prefer bankruptcy, rather than paying damages to the children who were abused. But it is likely that ISKCON’s actual assets far exceed George Harrison’s estate.

Whatever help the former Beatle naively provided ISKCON during his lifetime, he can now rest in peace. ISCKON can no longer use his name or his money to promote their interests.