Randy’s parents rescued their son from an abusive church that denied him food, sleep, and a personal life.

In the hope of helping others who find themselves in similar circumstances, they have written a book about their experiences.

The recently established Association of Anti-Watchtower Activists represents an international group of campaigners against the Watch Tower Society — the legal entity behind a religious cult whose members are known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

The organization’s founders are committed to pursuing responsible and well-informed activism against the Watch Tower Society’s harmful teachings and practices.

An elaborate Internet hoax including fake websites, a Twitter feed and a YouTube video, had many people believing that megachurch pastor Joel Osteen was leaving the Christian faith.

The man behind the hoax explained his motives to NPR. Meanwhile, hoax or not, many Christians chide Osteen for his ‘Christianity Lite’ approach.

In today’s Religion News Briefs, find out why an outfit that calls itself ‘Friends of Narconon’ is misusing the name of one of a former Narconon, Lucas Catton, in classic Scientology-on-the-attack fashion.

The Scientology front groups finds itself under increasing scrutiny and legal pressure.

The trial of Corona, California pastor Lonny Remmers, and two members of his small, house-based church on charges that include kidnapping and assaulting a teenage boy, has been postponed to August 26.

Five years ago this month, an 11-year-old Wisconsin girl died from a treatable form of diabetes after her parents prayed for healing rather than seek medical treatment.

But five years later her parents, convicted of second-degree reckless homicide, have yet to spent a day in jail.

Scientology Amsterdam is seen by the cult’s head office in Los Angeles as ‘a small and failing org,’ says Jenna Miscavige, niece of Scientology’s current cult leader, David Miscavige.

The Amsterdam base has faced rent arrears several times.

Some churches operate more like cults than religious orders, says a member of the advisory board for the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

What definition of a cult he uses is not clear, but

Parents in Asher, Oklahoma are concerned about the fact that controversial Scientology front group Narconon made a presentation — and handed out literature — at a local school.

Narconon Arrowhead currently is the target of three wrongful death lawsuits. Last week, Gary Smith, the chief executive officer of Narconon Arrowhead, and several of the center’s employees had their drug counseling certifications revoked.

The Utah Supreme Court says that 3rd District Judge Denise Lindberg made an error when she secularized a polygamous church’s property trust.

The ruling will not benefit the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, since the sect missed the deadline to challenge Lindberg’s decision.

As it has done throughout its history, the Mormon Church has again adapted its Scriptures.

Although this time around the changes introduced affect for the most part chapter headings, study helps and historical descriptions — those changes are significant — and, as one observer notes, “carry the unmistakable imprimatur of authority.”

Cult? Sect? New Religious Movement? Alternative Religion? The terminology used to describe some religious groups and movements is confusing — in part because the words used are ambiguous.

In his column at Patheos, Christian theologian Roger E. Olson addresses Safe and Unsafe Sects (and Problems with Terms for Alternative Religious Groups). A good article, though the mention of J. Gordon Melton does inspire us to provide a word of caution regarding cult apologists.

Australian authorities are trying to determine why a doctor who lives with a religious cult failed to report the death of his mother, and instead buried her on the sect’s land.

Theologically a cult of Christianity, sociologically the Bruderhof has some cult-like elements as well.

Twenty years ago today, on February 28, 1993, U.S. federal agents attempted to serve a search warrant on the Branch Davidians — a religious sect that lived in a community just east of Waco, Texas. They also tried to arrest the group’s leader, David Koresh.

After a 51-day siege the ill-advised operation ended in tragedy when 76 Davidians, including 21 children, died in an inferno.

The Fellowship of Martyrs (FORM), in Liberty, Missouri, is billed as a Christian ministry that operates like a co-op. But some say it’s more like a cult.

And one man who left the group is now fighting for his marriage and for custody of his children.

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