http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:08:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23252/strong-city-cult http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23252/strong-city-cult#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:08:07 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23252 A New Mexico cult member who was taken from the cult's compound near Clayton more than two ago after a hunger strike is back at the compound.

The 25-year-old woman, known as Esther, stopped eating in protest of the 10-year prison sentence given to the cult leader, Wayne Bent.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23252/strong-city-cult/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23231/starving-for-wayne-bent http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23231/starving-for-wayne-bent#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:24:52 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23231 Eyewitness News 4 investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola spoke with the woman, known as Esther, just hours before deputies took her away from her cult compound near Clayton, New Mexico. It is where she has lived in isolation since she was six years old, along with others who believe Wayne Bent to be the messiah.

“I swear by God that he is in jail over a lie, and I won’t support that,” said Esther. “I’m willing to die on what I stand on, which is purely God’s instructions to me. I wouldn’t be doing this if God hadn’t told me to, but I’m willing to die doing what God told me to do, and in essence, yes, it would be for Wayne Bent.”]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23231/starving-for-wayne-bent/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23224/strong-city-3 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23224/strong-city-3#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:32:37 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23224 A member of a northeastern New Mexico religious sect has been removed from the sect’s compound near Clayton by sheriff’s deputies so they can convince her to eat.

The woman has been starving herself since the day cult leader Wayne Bent entered prison on a 10-years sentence.

According to an entry on the Strong City Web site of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, a woman named Esther was taken by Union County deputies late Wednesday night, a day after they had checked on her condition at the sect’s compound.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23224/strong-city-3/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23212/strong-city-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23212/strong-city-2#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:46:40 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23212 On Monday, deputies visited the Strong City Cult compound in Northeastern New Mexico to check-up on a young woman who's been starving herself since Wayne Bent was sent to prison, according to Bent’s son.

The cult leader was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for touching a naked underage follower.

Before he entered prison Ben vowed to starve himself to death if and when jailed.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23212/strong-city-2/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23117/wayne-bent-end-hunger-strike http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23117/wayne-bent-end-hunger-strike#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:42:07 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23117 Just a few days into his 10-year prison sentence, cult leader ('son of God' and false prophet) Wayne Bent has ended his hunger strike -- now referring to it as a 'religious fast.'

Throughout his trial, the 67-year-old sect leader repeatedly said he would refuse to eat if he was sent to prison:

"If I go to jail again, I am not going to live there. I will not," he told the court. [video] ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23117/wayne-bent-end-hunger-strike/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23115/wayne-bent-sentenced http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23115/wayne-bent-sentenced#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:53:52 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23115 The leader of a New Mexico cult has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The judge sentenced 67-year-old Wayne Bent to the maximum of 18 years on Tuesday, then suspended eight years.

Bent was convicted of 1 count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor earlier this month. [video]]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23115/wayne-bent-sentenced/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23106/wayne-bent-sentencing http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23106/wayne-bent-sentencing#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:27:55 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23106 Cult leader Wayne Bent, convicted on sex abuse charges, will be sentenced tomorrow.

The self-proclaimed Messiah could be sentenced to up to 18 years behind bars.

He has said that he probably would not eat if he were locked up.

Son Jeff Bent said he believed it was the “end of the road for the world” because of his father’s conviction.

He has refused to say what would happen to the sect if his father were imprisoned.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23106/wayne-bent-sentencing/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23074/wayne-bent-8 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23074/wayne-bent-8#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:20:30 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23074 On his website, Bent continues to claim he was crucified and falsely convicted like Christ.

"The jury was a very good picture of the world and by convicting the Son of God for a crime that he did not commit, as they did with Jesus Christ, they have convicted themselves," Bent said in the statement.

He will be sentenced later this month. [video]]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23074/wayne-bent-8/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23063/wayne-bent-7 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23063/wayne-bent-7#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:52:36 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23063 The leader of an apocalyptic sect convicted of sexual misconduct with young female followers isn't hoping for a break when he's sentenced and likely wouldn't live long in prison, his son says.

Jeff Bent said he believed it was the "end of the road for the world" because of his father's conviction.

He sidestepped questions about whether the 45 or so church members would fast if Wayne Bent did while he was in prison. Church members had indicated last week that they would.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23063/wayne-bent-7/feed http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23052/wayne-bent-guilty http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23052/wayne-bent-guilty#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:22:52 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23052 Jurors in Taos on Monday convicted the leader of an apocalyptic northeastern New Mexico sect on one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Prosecutor Emilio Chavez told jurors the case was not about religion and that Bent must be treated like anyone else. [updated] [video]]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23052/wayne-bent-guilty/feed