http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:35:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23505/scientology-exposed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23505/scientology-exposed#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:21:38 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23505 Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder, the highest-ranking executives to leave the Church of Scientology, are speaking out for the first time.

Two other former executives who defected also agreed to interviews with the St. Petersburg Times: De Vocht, who for years oversaw the church's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, and Amy Scobee, who helped create Scientology's celebrity network, which caters to the likes of John Travolta and Tom Cruise.

One by one, the four defectors walked away from the only life they knew. That Rathbun and Rinder are speaking out is a stunning reversal because they were among Miscavige's closest associates, Haldeman and Ehrlichman to his Nixon.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23505/scientology-exposed/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23504/scientology-fraud-trial-france http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23504/scientology-fraud-trial-france#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:36:24 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23504 A French prosecutor on Monday recommended a Paris court should dissolve the Church of Scientology's French branch when it rules on charges of fraud against the organization.

The cult claims the fraud case against it violates freedom of religion but in France, as in many other places, it is merely considered a for-profit cult.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23504/scientology-fraud-trial-france/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23482/scientology-fraud-trial-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23482/scientology-fraud-trial-2#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 14:15:37 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23482 The Church of Scientology, which many view as a commercial enterprise masquerading as a religion, is in trouble again.

While the movement is considered a 'religion' in the USA, many others countries view it as a cult whose sole aim is to separate gullible people from their money by selling quackery and false promises.

In France, the cult is now on trial for fraud and practicing 'medicine' without a license. ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23482/scientology-fraud-trial-2/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23481/scientology-france-trial http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23481/scientology-france-trial#comments Sat, 23 May 2009 09:19:01 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23481 Despite celebrity followers such as John Travolta, the Church of Scientology is viewed with suspicion in some countries.

Now the organisation faces a legal battle in France, with a trial starting next week threatening its operations there. [video] ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23481/scientology-france-trial/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23461/scientology-prosecution-belgium http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23461/scientology-prosecution-belgium#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 09:39:00 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23461 A court in Belgium that was to decide whether to prosecute the Church of Scientology as a criminal organization has postponed its decision indefinitely.

Lawyers for the cult filed requests for additional research to be performed.

These requests must first be evaluated on their merit before a decision to prosecute can be made.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23461/scientology-prosecution-belgium/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23422/religion-news-pareidolia http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23422/religion-news-pareidolia#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:01:07 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23422 The RNB Religion News Roundup for Friday, Apr. 24, 2009 includes items about Scientology, Aum Shinrikyo, Korean cult leader Jeong Myeong-Seok, the continuing popularity of Aum Shrinrikyo's jailed cult leader, and China's on-going ban on Falun Gong.

Also: • A US state must pay benefits to the wife of a Jehovah's Witness who died after refusing a blood transfusion  • A killer turned pastor upsets his victim's son  • Nigerian preacher speaks out against witch hunts  • Vampire story gets demoted...

Plus: what do you see? Pareidolia?]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23422/religion-news-pareidolia/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23391/scientology-quackery-28 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23391/scientology-quackery-28#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:22:41 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23391 The Utah Legislature continued funding a Scientology-based treatment for police officers exposed to methamphetamine, despite a state-funded study that was unable to find a connection between the drug and officers' illnesses.

As lawmakers were slashing funds for other state programs, they sidestepped public debate and appropriated $100,000 -- enough cash for about 20 police officers to undergo the regimen of exercise, sauna time and large doses of antioxidants.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23391/scientology-quackery-28/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23367/former-scientologists-sue-cult http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23367/former-scientologists-sue-cult#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:11:55 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23367 Two former employees who worked more than a decade at the Church of Scientology's Golden Era Productions enclave near Hemet have filed lawsuits alleging the church violated federal and state labor laws and engaged in human trafficking.

The cult's compound has been in the news recently due Scientology's efforts to curtail free speech outside its property.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23367/former-scientologists-sue-cult/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23355/scientology-news-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23355/scientology-news-2#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:47:07 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23355 A Scientology mission holder speculates about membership numbers, Scientology in the press, and its commonality with 'other' religions.

A drowning tragedy in England may have a Scientology connection.

Scientologists who wonder where their money goes may soon be able to see how it was invested in a lavishly-decorated Scientology hotel.

And the cult wants to expand its presence in Nashville (Scientology + celebrities = free PR).]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23355/scientology-news-2/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23341/narconon-sued http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23341/narconon-sued#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:19:37 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23341 A Florida man is suing Narconon Southern California, saying a brief stint in its Newport Beach drug rehab house subjected him to sexual assault, unwanted medication and demeaning work.

In the suit, Mendoza also complains about Scientology being practiced at Narconon. “It was never revealed that Narconon is a Scientology facility."]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23341/narconon-sued/feed