Cult News

A church allegedly told a minor child that unless she had illegal sex with a man twice her age, she would lose her salvation and “burn in hell,” reports the Salt Lake City Tribune.

When Ruth Stubbs was only sixteen she was apparently coerced through threats about damnation, to cooperate sexually and become the third “spiritual wife” of Rodney Holm, a Utah police officer.

Stubbs gave in to those threats and became essentially a household concubine for Holm, eventually producing two more children for the polygamist father of 21.

Now Holm is charged with criminal sexual misconduct and bigamy.

It seems that somehow criminal sex with a minor is “holy” within the isolated polygamist communities of northern Arizona and southern Utah.

What most faiths would call “sinful lust” or simply adultery, the so-called “fundamentalist Mormons” say is part of some heavenly plan. Well, it might be heavenly for fundamentalist pedophiles, but it appears to be hell for the young girls they victimize.

Again and again, stories like that of Ruth Stubbs have surfaced through the media, but until recently little if anything was done by law enforcement. Now Utah seems to be taking some steps to enforce its laws and protect the children caught within polygamist cults.

Hopefully, Holm will receive his just reward, and that would be prison not paradise.

A father and son were arrested in Newark, New Jersey for the desecration of human remains, reports Associated Press.

Three human skulls were found in caldrons within a building basement owned by the father. The skulls and other animal remains found are suspected to be the residue of cult rituals allegedly associated with the practice of “Palo Mayombe.”

Palo Mayombe is a West African religion, brought to Cuba by slaves in the 19th Century and more recently to the United States through Cuban immigration.

In the United States since the 1980s there have been often bizarre claims made about human sacrifices supposedly associated with “Satanism“. However, these claims were later proven false. At times religions such as Palo Mayombe have been falsely cited or impugned in the resulting hysteria.

But human sacrifice is not a part of Palo Mayombe. A cemetery was acknowledged by Newark police as the probable source of the body parts regarding this recent arrest, not people from the neighborhood.

It seems likely that the Newark father and son were perhaps involved in their own idiosyncratic composite religion, which included aspects of Palo Mayombe.

The Black Panthers of the 1960s were a grass-roots social movement that began in Oakland. They were dedicated to black empowerment, civil rights and gained a cult following. One of their founders was Bobby Seale who became both a folk hero and media star.

Now Seale is “furious,” but not about racism directed at blacks. His anger is instead directed against a black group generally regarded as both racist and anti-Semitic, which uses the Panther name. Seale feels the group has falsely used the Panther name and expropriated its history, reports the New York Times.

The so-called “New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense,” even doctored a famous photo of historic Panther icon Huey Newton, replacing his image with their own deceased leader and hero Khallid Abdul Muhammad, a former leader within the Nation of Islam.

Seale says the “new Panthers” have done nothing for the black community and it seems he plans to take them to court over the use of the historic name and logo, which are trademarked.

The “new Panthers” now led by Malik Shabazz has gained attention through sensational comments. Shortly after September 11th they named the United States and Israel respectively, the top two terrorist nations on earth.

Shabazz sees “Zionist plots” everywhere and favors vitriolic terms like “white devils” and “bloodsucking Jews.” Commenting about Seale’s effort to preserve the history and name of the historic Panther movement he said they are “working with the Zionists.” And he added, “I think their lawyer is one.”

Perhaps everyone who somehow objects to or opposes Mr. Shabazz is either part of a “Zionist” conspiracy or in league with “white devils”?

Maybe the next doctored photograph produced by Shabazz and his followers will be Bobby Seal’s head superimposed on Israeli leader Sharon’s body touring the West Bank.

“Scientology Volunteer Ministers” cooked and served meals to workers cleaning up after Hurricane Lili in Louisiana, reports the Daily Advertiser of Acadiana.

The same group has done other volunteer work, such as “assisting” workers at Ground Zero after 9-11.

But is this a genuine effort to help, or a thinly veiled publicity stunt using high profile disasters to promote Scientology’s own interests?

A closer look at their recent effort in Louisiana is somewhat revealing through its cost effectiveness. That is, no cost to Scientology. The meals were made from food donated by local residents. Likewise, an area restaurant donated its kitchen and utilities.

Scientology provided the labor of 50 “volunteers,” which doesn’t cost the church anything. Those volunteers then prepared and delivered the meals wearing bright yellow T-shirts with the logo “Scientology Minister” across the front. They probably paid for their own gas.

So for virtually nothing out of pocket, the controversial church got a photo op and some publicity for little more than rounding up some of its faithful to work for free.

It seems that authorities have finally decided to crack down on the most powerful polygamist group in Utah.

A policeman from Hildale, Utah, which is dominated by the polygamist group known as “Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” (FLDS), has been charged by Utah’s attorney general with bigamy and illegal sex, reports the Associated Press.

FLDS member Rodney H. Holm 36 has three wives and two of them are sisters. His third wife, his first wife’s sister, bore Holm two children before reaching 18.

Holm’s first wife is also criminally charged for abetting the crimes of her husband.

The polygamist policeman’s lawyer, who also represents the FLDS, claims his client is being persecuted. He says Holm is guilty of nothing more than “living [his] religion and teaching it.”

This seems to be a common refrain when members of some religious groups called “cults,” are held accountable for their actions by authorities. They seem to feel that anything done in the name of their beliefs is legal, or at least should be immune from prosecution.

But certainly a lawman like Holm should have known better than that.

Newly created Catholic Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, is accused of once being a friend of Francisco Franco, the former dictator of Spain, reports The Guardian.

Balaguer apparently never made a point of voicing any meaningful criticism of the fascist who was once supported by Nazi Germany. He also supplied Franco with ministers from amongst his own following.

Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer was the founder of Opus Dei, a controversial ultra-conservative sect within Catholicism, which has received approval and considerable encouragement from the current Pope.

Opus Dei has been described as “cult-like” by critics and some former members that say its methods are often harsh, manipulative and controlling.

European fascism of the 1930s was characterized by personality-driven regimes. First there was Italy’s Mussolini then Germany’s Hitler and ultimately Spain’s Franco. But Franco unlike his contemporaries, ruled long after the war ended, until his death by natural causes.

Fascism can easily be seen as “cult-like.”

Perhaps the authoritarianism and order tha Franco brought to Spain was not that unsettling to Balaguer, who after all created a seemingly authoritarian right-wing order of his own.

The criminal case against Dwight York (aka “Malachi York”), the leader of the Nuwaubians, may be the largest case regarding child molestation in the history of the United States, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

A Putnam County grand jury in Georgia on October 3rd handed down a 208-count indictment. York is named in 197 counts. This almost doubles the previous counts York was charged with.

It appears that York, who once served a sentence for a felony conviction in New York State, may end up being incarcerated for the rest of his life in Georgia if convicted.

Child molesters don’t do well in prison. If York is locked up he will probably be put in protective custody. Sadly, it seems that there was little meaningful protection for the many children and families York allegedly harmed within his cult over the years.

According to the father of al-Qaeda terrorist Richard Reid, the “shoe bomber” who attempted to blow up a plane bound for the United States from Britain, his son was once “gentle and caring,” reports the BBC. But then Reid’s father says his son was “brainwashed” by Muslim extremists to do things “not by our family beliefs.”

However, the father of John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban,” apparently doesn’t see his son as “brainwashed,” despite his strange transformation from a California child of affluence to an Afghan “freedom fighter.”

Frank Lindh instead seems to think that his son found his “inner Muslim.” Mrs. Lindh explains, “As a parent, you want your kids to follow their heart,” reports Time Magazine.

Frank Lindh takes the stance of almost an apologist. He concludes, “John went (into Afghanistan) to help the mujahedin, as he understood the people Ronald Reagan called the ‘freedom fighters.'”

Mrs. Lindh explains, “When kids get a certain age, you let them go. You wish them well, and you help them, and you support, and you never stop loving them, but you let them explore the world and find themselves.”

The Lindhs not only let their son go, they paid $6,000 for him to be “brainwashed” at an Islamic school in Yemen and quite literally were his “support” financially to “explore the world” of radical Islam.

Should the Lindhs have paid closer attention to their vulnerable son? Did their permissiveness and money enable John Walker Lindh to ultimately become an “American Taliban”?

John Walker Lindh apologized and wept when he was recently sentenced to twenty years in prison. Now the Lindhs will only be a part of their son’s life through scheduled visits observed by guards.

Richard Reid laughed when he pled guilty in a Boston court and boasted of his commitment to Osama bin Laden. His father expects him to die in prison.

There is little sympathy for “brainwashed” Islamic extremists in the United States. The hijackers who murdered more than 3,000 people on September 11th ended that.

As other terrorists and extremists are arrested, more sad stoies will likely emerge of children lost to “brainwashed” fanaticism. But hopefully these fanatics will be stopped before murdering the members of other families.

Richard Reid’s father said, “I am just grateful that he did not succeed. There were 196 other souls on that plane other than my son.”

The burgeoning growth industry of self-improvement within the United States continues to include exotic spiritual mentors. And India has been a fount for a litany of purported “gurus,” “swamis,” “yogis” and other would-be “god-men” that have enthralled Americans.

But in India such supposedly “spiritual” types are increasingly seen as simply tricksters or confidence men. And the police in Bombay are busting them, reports Reuters.

One Indian official who has exposed more than a few explained, “[Our] campaign is meant to be an eye-opener. We want to put a complete stop to those posing as god-men.”

But in the United States the First Amendment precludes putting a “complete stop” to any “religious” endeavor. So many of the “god-men” of India have immigrated to a more open market. After all, why work Bombay when you can come to America and make the big bucks?

Since the sixties a virtual wave of Indian gurus has washed upon the shores of North America. And seemingly gullible Americans have proven over and over again that they are willing to buy the wares of these “god-men” and a few “god-women” too.

The list of such spiritual entrepreneurs keeps growing.

There was Swami Satchidananda (now deceased), Guru Sri Chinmoy (still carrying on in Queens New York), Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (perhaps the richest guru on earth), Guru Maharaji (a boy wonder), Swami Prabhupada (deceased founder of “Krishna Consciousness”), Sai Baba, Swami Muktananda (deceased founder of Siddha), Yogi Bhajan of 3HO, Swami Rama and let’s not forget the notorious Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh who was deported before he died.

A new female “guru” is breaking into the American market named “Chalanda Sai Ma.” She is apparently a former pupil of Sai Baba and others, but is now touring solo.

Of course the United States appears to have plenty of homegrown flim flam, which includes an assortment of psychics, faith healers, mediums and even snake handlers. And American authorities are often far less vigilant than their Indian counterparts, when it comes to protecting the public.

Still, despite easily accessible homegrown holy men, there seems to be something about flowing saffron robes, mantras and exotic India that exicites the imagination of many within the US spiritual marketplace. Many “god-men” seem to know how to tap into that market, or that is, turn on the tap to cash in.

The historic success of Indian gurus in the US seems to have inspired a growing list of American wannabes that have taken on Indian names and titles.

Frank Jones from Brooklyn is now “god-man Adi Da,” Fred Lenz was called “Zen Master Rama,” a former New York housewife Joyce Green calls herself “Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati,” Mike Shoemaker became “Swami Chetananada” and Donald Waters became “Swami Kriyananda,” just to name a few.

Some of the “god-men” have turned out to have feet of clay. There have been several scandals and a few lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct and other allegations.

The old consumer adage “buyer beware” seems to be equally appropriate advice within the spiritual marketplace.

One Indian activist intent upon exposing “god-men” as simply con-men said, “It’s easy money — without any investment. As long as fear exists among people such god-men will thrive.”

In George Orwell’s seminal classic “1984” “Big Brother,” the omnipresent totalitarian society that controls his fictional world, seeks to wipe out any history it doesn’t like.

It appears that Scientology is now vying to become “Big Brother” of the World Wide Web.

Lawyers representing the organization that Time Magazine once called “The Cult of Greed,” have successfully persuaded an Internet historical archive to purge its files of material Scientology deems inappropriate, through its interpretation of the controversial US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, reports England’s Times on Line.

According to noted experts, destructive totalistic cults seek to control information.

Robert Jay Lifton, author of “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism” wrote, “The totalist environment seeks to establish domain over all that [it] sees and hears, reads or writes, experiences, and expresses…It creates an atmosphere uncomfortably reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984.”

Lifton has often been cited to explain the mindset of destructive cult members and the process cults often use to produce that mindset.

Now Scientology seems to be demonstrating not only its apparent propensity to foster parallels with Orwellian themes, but also revealing aspects of its seemingly totalistic tendencies as well.

Has the “cult” created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard cast itself as the Internet’s “Thought Police”?