Cult News

In the 1970s “Moonies” became the moniker for the growing “cult” following of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church.

Today Moon has moved beyond those humble beginnings to become the friend of presidents, owner of the Washington Times and a tycoon who controls billions of dollars.

But some would say Moon’s burgeoning empire all began as little more than a “religious cult.”

Now there is a new Korean “spiritual” leader with an enterprise sweeping across the United States. It is “Grand Master” Seung Huen Lee and he calls his movement “Dahn Hak.”

Lee boasts “three hundred centers in South Korea…[and] over fifty centers in the United States, including a meditation retreat…in Sedona, Arizona, and a holistic health club in Closter, New Jersey.”

Dahn Hak includes the practice of “brain respiration.”

Lee says, “Brain respiration strips away the mysticism from enlightenment.”

However, others have observed that this “respiration” is more like “brainwashing.” And it “strips away” critical thinking along with a goodly amount of cash.

Dahn Hak’s founder claims in his book Healing Society that he received a pivotal revelation in the midst of an “excruciating headache.”

“The cosmos opened up inside me and swept me into her arms with a loud resounding moment of enlightenment, a deafening crash that seemed to transport me to another world,” Lee claims.

The Grand Master insists that “this voice told me that my body is not me, but mine. It told me that my mind is not me, but mine. It assured me that the Cosmic Mind is my mind and that the Cosmic energy is my energy.”

Lee then felt “the all-encompassing rhythm of life…absorbing and understanding in wonder the Cosmic Order within that governed all things.”

With his newfound powers Lee could purportedly perform “miraculous feats” including “communing with spirits, curing incurable diseases, helping paralyzed people walk, and calming mentally unstable people.”

Unselfishly the “Grand Master” then decided to share his vision. And it was time to “embark on an Enlightenment Revolution, a massive spiritual awakening that will sweep across the Earth.”

Lee’s “little masters” seem to believe in him and they work slavishly for next to nothing, often receiving little more than room and board. The Grand Master’s faithful feel that as Lee says he can “draw in and send forth energy.”

These acolytes also hope he will share with them his “energy-sensitizing and controlling techniques.”

Some practitioners seem to think that Dahn Hak is good place to work out and get rid of aches and pains.

However, Lee explains, “Although Dahn Hak starts out as a physical exercise, its true purpose lies in…becoming a ‘spiritual’ person.”

Sound like a religion with Lee as some sort of “healing” “messiah?”

“Dahn Hak aims at the spiritual enlightenment…a collective Enlightenment Revolution to sweep across the face of this Earth.”

Dahn Hak is also includes a plethora of corporate entities that appear to be making “Grand Master” Lee rich. If money can be defined as “green energy,” maybe Lee does employ some “energy-sensitizing and controlling techniques.”

Was Rev. Moon this man’s mentor? He seems to be following in his footsteps.

Note: MSNBC reports about Scientology “detoxing” 9-11 firefighters. To review the story run at Cult News click here.

Lawyers representing “cult leader” Dwight “Malachi” York have asked that their client be evaluated regarding his competency for trial reported the Macon Telegraph.

The judge ordered the psychological evaluation Monday.

York is charged for sexually abusing 13 minor children. The “cult leader” admitted his guilt as part of a plea agreement, but the judge who wanted more time for the pedophile in prison rejected the deal.

York who once led the group known as the Nuwaubians says he is immune from prosecution due to his status as an Indian chief.

He now calls himself “Chief Black Eagle.”

York has previously assumed titles such as “The Imperial Grand Potentate” and “The Grand Al Mufti Divan.”

The judge will probably not be too surprised if the evaluation shows that the “cult leader” is deeply disturbed. Based upon York’s behavior it appears he is a psychopath, sociopath and/or at least stricken with a serious personality disorder.

But his lawyers insist, “This is not an insanity issue.”

However, “cult leaders” like York often appear to be crazy.

Shoko Asahara the bizarre leader of Aum, who is facing murder charges, mumbles to himself and won’t answer questions in court.

Marshall Applewhite of “Heaven’s Gate” spent time in a mental health facility. He checked himself in.

Joseph Kibwetere who led hundreds of Africans to death in Uganda was likewise once hospitalized.

Charles Manson has also not been described glowingly in psychiatric reports.

The problem is crazy is as crazy does.

This means that crazy cult leaders often do damage through insane acts, such as staging their own personal Armageddon, “Helter Skelter” or leading others to mass suicide as they unravel.

Some cults seem “crazy” because cult followers are most often modeling their behavior after a deeply disturbed leader and/or living out his or her delusions.

Interestingly, York’s followers now think their Indians too and have taken to wearing Native American costumes outside the courthouse during demonstrations of support for their jailed leader.

“Less than a year ago [York] was a Jewish Rabbi and today they were all dressed like Indians again,” observed an amazed Sheriff.

Sounds crazy doesn’t it?

Two sets of Congressional hearings and an independent investigation concluded that David Koresh was responsible for the compound fire that consumed the lives of his followers and their children more than a decade ago in 1993.

However, some surviving Davidians and remaining family members have never accepted such conclusions.

Instead they filed a lawsuit and pursued the federal government for a claim of $675 million dollars.

They lost.

Still not willing to concede, they then filed an appeal.

That appeal has now been denied by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and without dissent, reports Associated Press.

“It’s disappointing because…those who wanted to get the truth out are passing on,” said diehard Davidian Clive Doyle.

What “truth” is Doyle talking about?

David Koresh was an apparent psychopath and proven pedophile, hardly the hero or messiah Doyle makes him out to be.

But conspiracy theorists have worked Waco into an anti-government myth. The problem was when it came time to go to trial the facts took precedence over fiction.

Audio recordings of Davidians discussing the fire and physical proof that it was started by those within the compound, demonstrated that David Koresh ordered his kingdom destroyed, effectively murdering the cult members and their children.

But for a devotee such as Doyle, who lost family in the fire and has given most of his life to the Davidians, the issue of personal equity apparently trumps reality.

Therefore denial, for the deeply devoted cult member, becomes the preferred choice that makes sense.

Interestingly, not long after the fire Doyle actually refused to answer, when questioned by a Texas Ranger if he knew who started the fire.

“We conclude that appellants’ allegations do not reflect conduct that would cause a reasonable observer to question Judge Smith’s impartiality,” stated the Chief Judge of the 5th Circuit Court.

Whatever, Doyle is not discouraged, there is still the Supreme Court where he believes his fantasy may finally be confirmed.

Some say new “sects” or “religious movements” are arising from within the Roman Catholic Church, but a prominent priest connected to a new study told Vatican Radio this is not true, reports Zenit News.

They are instead “religious organizations” that have “a direct line with the leadership of the Church,” said Father Gibellini.

The priest directed a study titled “Movements in the Church,” which was recently released.

Included amongst the groups studied were the Focolarini, Neocatechumenal Way, Communion and Liberation, Emmanuel Community, Regnum Christi, the Community of Sant’Egidio, and charismatic renewal groups.

Regnum Christi, also called the Legionaries of Christ has a deeply troubled history that includes allegations of sexual abuse concerning its founder Fr. Marcial Marcial Degollado.

What also appears to have plagued groups like Regnum Christi and the controversial organization Opus Dei are complaints of excessive authoritarian control.

The “charismatic renewal” within Roman Catholicism has also had its own set of problems.

Largely based upon personal spiritual experiences such as “speaking-in-tongues,” participants at times seem to have more in common with Pentecostal Protestants than Catholics.

The Church at times has banned some charismatic groups.

It seems that the frequently subjective nature of the charismatic experience can at times lead to confusion and invest power in someone who claims “special gifts” and/or discernment within a group.

This was the history of “His Community” led by David Mulligan, which is now known as Christ Covenant Ministries/Community in Vermont and no longer in “direct line with the leadership of the Church.”

The Catholic Church has had problems policing such organizations and people have been hurt.

One theologian opined, “I think that these movements revitalize the Christian community fabric.”

This may be true much of the time, but there have been apparent and/or notable exceptions.

For the sake and safety of that same “community fabric,” which seems to have been torn more than once by such groups, some caution might also be exercised.

Australian authorities raided a “cult” compound yesterday searching for a minor child reported the Courier-Mail in Queensland.

Carloads of police “swooped” on the property controlled by the Magnificat Meal Movement (MMM), but failed to find the 12-year-old girl.

Law enforcement was acting upon a custody order issued by a Family Court on behalf of a custodial parent that apparently wanted their child removed.

“Cult leader” Debra Geliesky and MMM have a deeply troubled history in Australia and Ireland, where the group has historically recruited members.

Persistent allegations of abuse, medical neglect, malnutrition and the general manipulation and exploitation of members by Geliesky have been reported by the press.

Geliesky often preaches about a dark global conspiracy, which includes Jews and Freemasons.

“Jews masquerading as Christians are responsible for modernism in the Catholic Church,” she says.

The group observes a “Catholic” mass, though it has been denounced and banned by officials of the Roman Catholic Church.

Geliesky tells her followers; many with a history of devotion to Roman Catholicism, that she sees Jesus and Mary and has been “chosen to report messages from God.”

Tom Cruise has engaged in what looks increasingly like a well-organized media blitz to promote Scientology’s teachings, or as he might say Hubbard “Study Tech.”

The movie star has been holding forth fervently lately about his deliverance from dyslexia. The actor’s recovery wasn’t a “mission impossible,” because Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard apparently came up with a cure for almost anything, including reading disabilities.

Well, at least Hubbard said he did.

In a revelation that might become a script for another “movie of the week,” the middle-aged actor confessed that he was once a “functional illiterate.”

However, the former “Top Gun” offered no objective verifiable evidence, or scientifically peer-reviewed proof. Instead, it was just essentially an anecdotal story that consisted of his personal testimony.

Was this testimonial staged within a tent revival for a traveling faith healer?

No.

It was recounted uncritically within a “five page spread” published by People Magazine, harshly critiqued yesterday by Fox News.

People did another glossy celebrity puff piece, but this one included a virtual infomercial for the star’s latest Scientology related crusade.

Cruise is a “founding board member” of the Hollywood Education Literacy Project (HELP), an effort to supposedly eradicate illiteracy through Hubbard “technology.”

Fox took People to task for being “so desperate to get a Cruise interview that they didn’t mind shilling for [Scientology].

So what else is new?

Scientology celebrities do this all the time and media outlets often cooperate.

The controversial organization has a stable of well-known actors and Hollywood types that they can easily trot out to promote one program after another through rather contrived personal appearances.

And some in the media appear anxious to get that face time, no matter what harm the touted program, product or cause might potentially do to others.

John Travolta likes to recruit celebs for Scientology, Kirstie Alley promotes Narconon, while lesser lights such as Juliette Lewis and Anne Archer do talk shows to knock certain prescription drugs and by inference the mental health profession.

Some publications and TV shows don’t seem to care; it’s good for circulation and ratings.

Celebrity-driven mags know that Scientology has been called a “cult.” And it’s easy to access information about the litany of lawsuits filed against it by former members for personal injuries. The organization is currently in court regarding a wrongful death suit.

Never mind. The effusive puff pieces keep coming and look more like infomercials than balanced reporting.

One expert quoted by Fox said that HELP “is no more a secular learning methodology than wine and communion wafers are a Sunday morning snack.” He added that the program promotes “acceptance of L. Ron Hubbard as authority figure” and does “much to soften [participants] up for future recruitment into Scientology itself.”

But don’t expect any detailed disclosure about this from Scientology or meaningfully balanced reporting on this subject within the pages of People. All you are likely to see is photo of Tom Cruise grinning over a personal endorsement.

And the Cruise/Scientology/HELP bandwagon gained momentum this week. The star’s story made it onto the Associated Press wire in an abbreviated version. Then Cruise and his cause rolled through the wire services like a wave washing over the US and breaking around the world.

Scientology has done it again.

There simply is no “cult” in the world today with the experience and resources to play the media as effectively through a revolving cast of celebrity proxies.

Members of a Florida-based organization called the “Kashi Ashram” led by a former Brooklyn housewife turned “guru,” are working LA streets handing out food to the homeless reports the Ventura County Star.

Apparently the group, which has been called a “cult,” hopes to offset its bad press back in Florida with some positive spin.

Joyce Green, known now as “Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati,” has devotees that claim she is their “cord” or “conduit” to God.

Now it appears Ma wants to make nice with the media. And whatever Ma wants she seems to get through her followers, which act as her own “conduit.”

Virtually everything about the Kashi Ashram is wrapped around Ma.

The guru’s devotees wrote, “Ma loves you” on many of the lunch bags they handed out. Ma even chooses names for some of her followers that translate to rather revealing things like, “Always at the Feet of the Guru.”

Kashi faithful even have email addresses, which includes the motto “ma4me.”

This might cause objective observers to call the group little more than a personality-driven “cult.”

But the California reporter that covered the Kashi food program seemed somewhat impressed by Ma’s supposed “fearlessness and empathy.”

Does “a paper sack filled with a brownie, banana and ham-and-cheese on a bagel,” offset former member’s repeated allegations of “abuse,” “brainwashing,” “cult” manipulation and the claim that the guru blew group funds through gambling?

Well, maybe in Ventura.

First there were the ubiquitous Scientologists running around at Ground Zero clad in “Scientology Volunteer” T-shirts offering help.

Then there was a well-publicized celebrity Scientologist visit by John Travolta.

One volunteer Scientologist later tried to cash on her experience through a book about working at Ground Zero. But it didn’t do so well.

Scientology, an organization often called a “cult,” doesn’t give up easily and now they seem to have found a way to make some money from the 9-11 tragedy.

A clinic has opened for business called “Downtown Medical” on Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan. It offers treatment for WTC workers exposed to toxins through the cleanup.

The clinic is closely associated with the “International Academy of Detoxification Specialists.”

The Academy states that its detoxification approach is based upon L. Ron Hubbard’s book “Clear Body Clear Mind.”

Hubbard is of course the founder of Scientology.

Scientologists use something called the “purification rundown,” which is most often associated with their Narconon program for drug rehabilitation.

This process supposedly eliminates toxins from the body. It includes saunas and large doses of niacin, that some say may actually be a health risk.

One medical expert said, “There is no documentation to show that the Hubbard method of detoxification… conforms to scientific standards and medical experience.” And he added, “The risks and side effects of the treatment method have also not been evaluated in a serious way.”

However, the New York City Firefighters Union apparently sees no problem with the treatment.

Long-time Hubbard fan, Narconon advisory board member and Senior Medical Advisor for the Academy David Root wrote a featured article that was published within the June issue of Fire Engineering Magazine, a national publication that is sent to firemen across the nation.

And Scientology was so impressed with its program’s success amongst NYC firemen; they ran a story about it at their own official website.

“It’s just a great program…I got my life back,” says one NYC fireman quoted.

But James Woodworth the Executive Director of the Academy is also the head of another Scientology related program called HealthMed in California.

HealthMed has a deeply troubled history of controversy, which includes serious allegations. The LA Times has reported this within a series of articles.

Doctors at the California Department of Health Services accused HealthMed of making “false medical claims” and of “taking advantage of the fears of workers and the public about toxic chemicals and their potential health effects, including cancer.”

Never mind. The Firefighters Union has invited Woodworth to speak at its yearly delegates meeting.

How far will all this go?

Maybe someone should ask officials at the NYC Fire Department and the Firefighters Union?

Who should determine the parameters and/or identity for a religious denomination?

Most people would answer that the historically established leadership of a religion and/or denomination has this exclusive and traditional right and role.

But some disgruntled former members and/or splinter groups seem to think otherwise.

Movie star Mel Gibson belongs to just such a group composed largely of former Roman Catholics. The actor was raised from childhood within such a religious environment.

Gibson and his fellow religionists consider themselves “traditional Catholics.”

But ironically such so-called “Catholics” have abandoned perhaps the most established tradition of Roman Catholicism, which is the teaching of one church under the direction and ecclesiastical authority of the Pope.

“We just want to be good Catholics,” says one “priest” from a schismatic group quoted by Knight Ridder Newspapers.

However, a “priest” like this has no standing in the Roman Catholic Church and is very often an excommunicate.

But some media reports persist in calling such groups “traditionalist Catholics,” whatever that means.

There is an old axiom, “If you want to be a member of the club you must abide by its rules.” But somehow this doesn’t seem to apply to “traditional Catholics.”

Instead they apparently want to have it both ways. That is, to have the status of being in the club generally, but make up their own rules.

Isn’t that non-traditional?

Catholic authorities seem to regard such splinter groups largely as a nuisance and there are only about 20,000 members in the US. An insignificant number, given the size of Roman Catholicism worldwide.

The present Pope excommunicated a renegade French priest, Cardinal Marcel Lefebvre, once a key figure in the so-called “traditionalist” movement.

Lefebvre has since died, but his faithful followers soldier on. The largest single group is the Society of St. Pius X; perhaps named after the last Pope they really liked.

The Roman Catholic Church has endured an assortment of schismatic “kooks,” “crazies” and “cult leaders,” who claim to speak for Mary, God and/or the Holy Spirit.

This burgeoning list of former Catholics includes Caritas of Birmingham, William Kamm known as the “Little Pebble,” the Army of Mary, His Community/Christ Covenant Ministries, Four Winds Commune, Friends of the Eucharist and the Magnificat Meal Movement.

The most destructive and tragic group of former Catholics was the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments, responsible for the mass murder/suicide of hundreds in Uganda.

Not unlike the problems posed by pseudo-Catholics the Mormon Church also has its share of troublesome splinter groups.

Polygamist groups that are often called “fundamentalist Mormons” practice their faith largely in Arizona, Utah and parts of Canada. They are an embarrassment to the Mormon Church, which abandoned the practice of polygamy more than a century ago.

Yet some media reports confuse the public with the label “fundamentalist Mormons” to describe these disparate sects, frequently run by absolute leaders much like “cults.”

Recently, an author apparently striving for better book sales said, “Mormon authorities treat the fundamentalists as they would a crazy uncle — they try to keep the ‘polygs’ hidden in the attic.”

His book titled Under the Banner of Heaven, places grizzly murders within the context of so-called “Mormon Fundamentalism” reported Associated Press.

An official church spokesman made it clear that such groups have nothing whatsoever to do with the Mormon Church and that those Mormons. And when Mormons do become involved with them they are excommunicated, much like former Catholics in schismatic groups.

Recently since the 1960s Jews have also endured apostates setting up their own so-called “Jewish” groups.

Interestingly, these groups, which are composed of converts to fundamentalist Christianity such as “Jews for Jesus” and so-called “Messianic Jews,” are closely aligned and supported by Protestant denominations within the “born-again” movement.

These “Jews” like the polygamists and former Catholics have no standing in the organized Jewish community.

Israel’s “Law of Return” does not recognize them as Jews and recently a Canadian court rejected one such group’s attempt to use historical Jewish symbols for self-promotion reported Canadian Jewish News.

But some media reports continue to confuse readers with a mixed bag of historically incoherent labels and/or oxymorons, such as “traditionalist Catholics,” “fundamentalist Mormons” and “Jews for Jesus,” that are self-referentially incoherent.

Even if such a group has a celebrity sponsor like Mel Gibson, it’s unlikely to be a meaningful substitute for the Pope’s blessings.

And there is a historic right of denominational leaders to determine the parameters of their own faith’s identity, which should be recognized by responsible and objective journalists, rather than misleading the public.