Cult News

Many seem to think Soka Gakkai is to Buddhism what the Unification Church is to Christianity. The Japanese-based international organization has often been accused of being little more than a personality-driven “cult,” led by Daisaku Ikeda.

Soka Gakkai became known in the United States largely through celebrity involvement, such as rocker Tina Turner, who remains an avid devotee.

Members often claimed they could chant for whatever they needed or wanted. In this respect it is not unlike the equally controversial “Word of Faith” movement within Pentecostal Christianity, where adherents believe they can claim health and/or prosperity in the “name of Jesus.”

In 2001 Soka Gakkai opened a new university campus in Southern California. They promised this would be non-sectarian educational institution.

But now it seems sit-ins are in vogue again as students protest the dismissal of a popular teacher and dean, reports the Orange County Register.

The writing professor and well-known author Joe McGinniss said, “To be honest, if I were a member of Soka Gakkai, there would be no question of my (not) returning next year.”

Soon students may be chanting in protest. But this is not quite the mantra Soka Gakkai may have had in mind.

Once women became “Hookers for Christ” for the “cult” called the “Children of God,” now known as “The Family.” They engaged in what their leader “Moses” David Berg referred to as “flirty fishing.” That is, using sexual attraction to lure and then hook new members.

Berg died in 1994. And “The Family” claims it has abandoned such practices.

But apparently the Japanese “cult” Aum, now known as Aleph, is following in Berg’s footsteps.

Female Aum members are allegedly luring men to meetings, but eventually attempt to introduce them to theit “cult” leader, reports The Mainichi Daily News.

But the latest twist to “flirty fishing” it seems, is to cast the hook out on-line through the Internet.

Aum’s desperation to find new recruits has apparently caused it to embrace an old “cult” tradition.

The Japanese cult Aum will continue to be watched closely by Japan’s Public Security Examination Commission for at least another three years, reports The Japan Times.

The religious cult attacked Tokyo subways in 1995 with poison gas, killing 12 and sending thousands to hospitals.

Some of those Aum members responsible for the attack have been sentenced to death.

Aum’s once supreme leader Chizuo Matsumoto, known as Shoko Asahara, remains in custody and on trial.

Aum is now called “Aleph” and supposedly has a new leader, but the group has not totally and definitively denounced Asahara. He apparently is still revered to some extent.

88 Aum facilities are in operation now in Japan.

Modern Japan known as a homogenous and peaceful society was shocked by Aum’s violence. Since 1995 cult awareness and education have become an important focus for the island nation.

Buddhism seems to be getting a bad rap in Tallahassee.

Without context or qualification a story produced by Knight Ridder was run about “Buddhism” that included the controversial organization “Sokka Gakkai,” within the Tallahassee Democrat.

But critics and former members have often called one Buddhist group named in the article called “Sokka Gakkai” a “cult”.

Apparently reporter Franklin Awori didn’t bother to do much research.

Like many groups called “cults” Sokka Gakkai has a celebrity member. Rocker Tina Turner has touted the group through interviews and it gained attention through her film “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”

But many seem to feel that mainstream “Buddhism” is not that basis for Sokka Gakkai and it is instead largely the idiosyncratic creation of its founder and leader Japanese businessman Daisaku Ikeda.

Sokka Gakkai members believe that virtually anything you want can be chanted for. However, this is not the hallmark of mainstream Buddhism as practiced by Richard Gere, another celebrity named within the Knight Ridder article. Nor is such a belief the focus of Tibetan Buddhism.

It is sad that the author of this article did not make such distinctions and simply lumped all Buddhists together.

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.

Japan’s Public Security Examination Commission wants to extend its official watch over the cult Aum for another two years, reports the Japan Times.

Aum’s founder and one-time guru Chizuo Matsumoto is still on trial for the 1995 gassing of Tokyo’s subway system, which resulted in twelve deaths and thousands of victims hospitalized.

Matsumoto once called himself “Shoko Asahara” and ruled over thousands of disciples, who were so enthralled with him, they even bought his bath water. Now the guru is in jail and likely to receive a death sentence, as have some of his key subordinates.

Matsumoto created an odd eclectic composite religion based upon his own idiosyncrasies. Aum included apocalyptic predictions and pieces of Christianity, Buddhism and neo-Eastern mysticism.

Aum still has more than 1,000 adherents in Japan.

The Japanese group is a frightening historical example of what dire consequences are possible when a cult obtains weapons of mass destruction.

It seems reasonable given Aum’s horrific history that officials want to watch the group closely for years to come. Of course some apologists might call this “persecution,” but it really is simply common sense.

Tomoko Matsumoto the wife of infamous cult leader Shoko Asahara was released from prison after serving six years this week, reports Mainchi Daily News.

Aum was responsible for the 1995 gas attack on Tokyo’s subway system that killed 19 and injured thousands.

Matsumoto’s husband (a.k.a. Chizuo Matsumoto) remains in prison and it’s doubtful that he will ever be released. Instead, the cult leader will probably end his days there with a death sentence.

Asahara’s wife says she is no longer connected to the cult and wants a divorce, but her estranged husband isn’t cooperating.

However, if Mrs. Matsumoto will just be patient she should be a widow soon enough.

Justice grinds slowly in Japan, but it does seem to grind fine and completely.

Seiichi Endo, once “health minister” for the notorious cult “Aum” helped produce the gas used in an attack on Tokyo subways seven years ago. He was sentenced to death by hanging today in a Tokyo courtroom. Endo is the ninth member of Aum to receive a death sentence, reports Mainichi Daily News.

The judge rejected a “brainwashing” defense offered by Endo’s lawyers. Once again proving that such a defense is not viable when violent cult members kill people.

Aum murdered 19 and injured thousands through the 1995 attack.

Aum’s once supreme leader Shoko Asahara has not been sentenced yet. However, It seems certain that he will eventually receive the death penalty.

The “death cult” Aum of Japan, notorious for gassing Tokyo’s subways, is now selling pats on the head. That’s right, for only $12,500 dollars or about 1.5 million Japanese yen, you can receive “sacred energy” by getting a little tap on the top of your head from Aum’s new leader Fumihiro Joyu, according to Mainichi Shimbun.

Apparently Aum needs the cash. The group once sold its former leader Shoko Asahara’s bath water. But Asahara either isn’t taking any baths in prison, or the authorities aren’t letting his used water leak out. So the cult that supposedly went broke in 1995, is now promoting the so-called “Shakty Pat” to raise funds.

Three former Japanese followers of “cult leader” Rev. Moon of the Unification Church decided they didn’t like the spouses he chose for them and wanted out of their arranged marriages. According to Japan Today all three participated in one of Moon’s mass weddings, but later sued their former leader.

A court in Japan awarded the plaintiffs about $75,000 dollars in damages. The judge said, “The followers had no freedom to refuse the partners selected for them, and were made to believe that if they did not participate here, they and their ancestors would not be saved.”

Rev. Moon has been performing his own variation of “shotgun weddings” on a massive scale for many years. But instead of pregnancy making marriage necessary, it’s getting into Heaven. According to Moon singles cannot enter Heaven. Rev. Moon claims it was even necessary for him to officiate over the marriage of Jesus in “spirit world” to help get him in.