---

AP, via Mainichi Daily News, USA
May 9, 2007
mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 18202 • Posted: Thursday May 10, 2007  

---

The leader of a group that split off from the doomsday cult behind the deadly 1995 Tokyo subway gassing declared Wednesday that his group no longer follows the teachings of his jailed former guru.

Fumihiro Joyu said Wednesday he has left Shoko Asahara’s AUM Shinrikyo cult with some 160 members to form a new group that bans monotheistic belief, seeks spiritual healing and promotes positive contributions to society.

“To fully achieve our regeneration, we need to eradicate (Asahara’s) influence,” he told a news conference held to announce the formation of his group, the “Ring of Light.”

AUM renamed itself Aleph in 2000. Joyu, one of Asahara’s chief disciples, led it from 2002.

But in September, Japan’s top court upheld a 2004 death sentence for Asahara for the subway gassing and other crimes that killed 27 people altogether, and Joyu decided to ban Asahara’s teachings, along with the use of his image and music in textbooks and videos.

“We do not believe in them,” he said, denying allegations that the move is a cover-up.

Some of his group members “might still have some feelings toward Asahara, but that is not devotion,” Joyu said. “It is definitely not the kind of thing that would lead us to repeat the attacks again.”

Before the subway attack, AUM amassed an arsenal of chemical, biological and conventional weapons in anticipation of an apocalyptic showdown with the government. About a dozen cult leaders have been sentenced to death, but most of the sentences are under appeal.

Joyu said his group plans to shoulder about 20 percent of Aleph’s responsibility to compensate victims of the subway gassing, which left 12 dead and thousands injured.

Aleph remains under close surveillance by the Public Security Intelligence Agency. Police and residents also monitor the new group around the clock outside a condominium housing their Tokyo headquarters.

The cult once had 10,000 members in Japan and another 30,000 in Russia. Authorities say membership has shrunk to about 1,650 in Japan and 300 in Russia. The group split into factions in recent years, including one that remains close to Asahara’s family.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Aum Shinrikyo, Hikari no Wa Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Aum Shinrikyo, Hikari no Wa Read Another Article Previous entry: Al Sharpton Denies Questioning Mitt Romney’s Faith Next entry: Cult group of former AUM leader inspected by public safety agency RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Aum Shinrikyo Most Popular Today Scientology’s feet held to the fire in Australia: Struggle between a church and the state

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.