http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:50:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24086/scientology-the-religion-of-the-stars-infiltrated http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24086/scientology-the-religion-of-the-stars-infiltrated#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:56:18 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24086 In Scientology: The Religion of the Stars author Ian Halperin goes undercover to reveal never-before-told secrets of the strange, science-fiction inspired church of the stars.

Halperin infiltrates the Church of Scientology posing as a gay actor attracted by the church's claim that it can cure homosexuality. Rebuffed until he claims that his uncle is a rich millionaire thinking of joining the church, he is given unprecedented access and allowed to video his entire experience. The results are explosive. ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24086/scientology-the-religion-of-the-stars-infiltrated/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24085/australian-senator-challenges-scientology-cult-to-agree-to-senate-inquiry http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24085/australian-senator-challenges-scientology-cult-to-agree-to-senate-inquiry#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:42:36 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24085 ''I challenge the Church of Scientology - if they are so confident of their position, they should welcome a Senate inquiry where they can give evidence,'' Senator Xenophon said yesterday.

The 'Church' meanwhile portrays a group of its critics as a 'hate group' -- an act of hypocrisy given Scientology's lengthy history of hate- and harassment activities.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24085/australian-senator-challenges-scientology-cult-to-agree-to-senate-inquiry/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24071/william-rex-fowler-thomas-cianco-murder-case http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24071/william-rex-fowler-thomas-cianco-murder-case#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:44:27 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24071 A DNA test was ordered today for William Rex Fowler, a 58-year-old businessman and founder of an Adams County software company accused of killing his former business partner.

Fowler's wife, Janet, reportedly told investigators that her husband is a Scientologist "and would not have gone without a fight." [video]]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24071/william-rex-fowler-thomas-cianco-murder-case/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24070/mans-scientology-faith-ripples-through-murder-probe http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24070/mans-scientology-faith-ripples-through-murder-probe#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:25:45 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24070 Among the mysteries in software firm founder William Rex Fowler's alleged killing of ex-partner Thomas Ciancio is whether Fowler's self-professed devotion to the Church of Scientology played a role in the workplace shooting.

Employees told investigators that Ciancio quit the firm in November because he was upset that Fowler had allegedly taken $200,000 from the company "without permission and gave it to a church or some type of charity," the arrest warrant affidavit said. [video]]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24070/mans-scientology-faith-ripples-through-murder-probe/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24056/man-who-starred-in-scientology-recruitment-film-wants-his-money-back http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24056/man-who-starred-in-scientology-recruitment-film-wants-his-money-back#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:01:13 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24056 After 33 years as a Scientologist, the past 13 as the star of Scientology's recruitment video, Larry Anderson is walking away.

He says the church failed to deliver the spiritual gains it promised.

Naturally he wants his money back...]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24056/man-who-starred-in-scientology-recruitment-film-wants-his-money-back/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24050/scientology-critic-adds-volume-to-inquiry-call http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24050/scientology-critic-adds-volume-to-inquiry-call#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:23:08 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24050 A leading critic of Scientology is to travel to Australia to support Senator Nick Xenophon's campaign for an inquiry into the tax-exempt status of the church.

As a Scientology, Gerry Armstrong tried to debunk criticism of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard but says, "I discovered that the lies that I was trying to debunk were actually the truth and that Hubbard had lied..."]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24050/scientology-critic-adds-volume-to-inquiry-call/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24033/daughters-of-st-paul-unfazed-by-threats-from-church-of-scientology http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24033/daughters-of-st-paul-unfazed-by-threats-from-church-of-scientology#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:38:44 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24033 In Italy, the pre-Christmas release of the book "The Courage to Speak Out - Stories of ex-Scientologists" was met with a promise from the National Church of Scientology of Italy to bring legal action against the author and "whomever has assisted her."

The publisher's press officer says "it won't be up to the reactions of Scientology to determine the choices of the editor and this is not because we wish to be noticed, but because we carry out a service to the Church and to society."]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24033/daughters-of-st-paul-unfazed-by-threats-from-church-of-scientology/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24027/scientology-cult-releases-l-ron-hubbard-lectures http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24027/scientology-cult-releases-l-ron-hubbard-lectures#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:05:05 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24027 More than 1,000 unreleased recordings of lectures by L. Ron Hubbard and reams of corresponding writings have been unveiled in the culmination of a 25-year project to locate, restore and transcribe lost pieces of the Scientology founder's work.

Records show that the science fiction author made up many details of his own life.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24027/scientology-cult-releases-l-ron-hubbard-lectures/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24020/italy-scientology-cult-sues-catholic-author-and-publishing-house http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24020/italy-scientology-cult-sues-catholic-author-and-publishing-house#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:38:16 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24020 The Church of Scientology in Italy has announced it is initiating legal proceedings against the Daughters of St. Paul and Maria Pia Gardini, a Catholic author who was formerly a Scientologist and has returned to the Catholic Church.

In 2007 the Daughters of St. Paul's publishing house published Gardini’s first book, ” I miei anni in Scientology” (“My years in Scientology”).

The first week of December, 2009 they released her second book, “Il coraggio di parlare - storie di fuoriusciti da Scientology” (“The Courage To Speak Out - Stories of Ex-Scientologists”).]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24020/italy-scientology-cult-sues-catholic-author-and-publishing-house/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23984/scientology-religious-liberty-lawsuit http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23984/scientology-religious-liberty-lawsuit#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:51:51 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23984 The sue-happy Scientology Church is coming to Sandy Springs, Georgia -- but the cult is also suing the town because it won't get all the space it asked for.

The controversial church, recently convicted in of fraud in France, will pursue a 'religious liberty' lawsuit. ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23984/scientology-religious-liberty-lawsuit/feed 0