Religion News Blog

How Scientologists pressurise publishers

Religion News Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:13:56 +0000

Scientology has a long history of trying to suppress material written about it that it doesn't like. Several times they've taken legal action to try and stop websites revealing their teachings – particularly those which, to outsiders, might look a bit odd. (I won't quote them, but just type "Xenu" into a search engine, then sit back and marvel.)

It's hardly surprising that, despite all the money they spend on PR, the Church of Scientology has such a poor public image.

Couple bites and bludgeons 13-month old to death in ‘exorcism’

Religion News Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:32:29 +0000

They claim they were trying to drive the demons out of the 13-month-old, but law enforcement officers say the bottom line is a Rusk County couple bludgeoned the little girl to death with a hammer and other objects and bit her more than 20 times in the most grotesque murder the seasoned officers can remember.

Blaine Keith Milam, 19 and Jesseca Bain Carson, 18, both of Henderson, remain jailed on $2 million bonds each. They are charged with capital murder for the Tuesday morning death of Carson’s daughter Amora Bain Carson.

FBI and child welfare officials show up at Tony Alamo compound in California; Arkansas officials seize 6 more children

Religion News Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:51:59 +0000

FBI agents and child welfare officials on Wednesday visited a Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound just outside of Los Angeles, officials said.

Louise Grasmehr, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, told The Associated Press that officials likely went to the compound in Santa Clarita at the request of federal agents. Grasmehr said no children were taken into state custody.

Evangelist Todd Bentley romantically involved with nanny; seeks divorce from wife

Religion News Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:14:06 +0000

Todd Bentley, an atypical evangelist who drew thousands to a series of summer revivals in Lakeland, plans to divorce his wife amid revelations that he is romantically involved with the nanny of his children, according to his ministry.

Ministry leaders write, "Having spoken with Todd in recent days, he is resolute in his intentions to divorce Shonnah, and in his mind, the restoration he is seeking is one which would not include reconciliation with his wife. Todd admits to being 100% responsible for the divorce."

Attorneys for FLDS leader Warren Jeffs file Supreme Court appeal

Religion News Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:16:52 +0000

Faulty jury instructions and a juror's substitution are among errors alleged in a Utah Supreme Court appeal that seeks a new trial for polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs.

The appeal, filed last week, asks the court to reverse Jeffs' convictions and order a new trial or require 5th District Judge James Shumate to reconsider a motion for retrial after hearing jurors testify about the status of their deliberations before an alternate was seated.

8 new sex charges against evangelist Tony Alamo unsealed

Religion News Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:41:47 +0000

An indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses evangelist Tony Alamo of eight more counts of transporting underage girls across state lines for sexual purposes over the past 14 years, including at least one violation that occurred while Alamo was completing a prison sentence at a halfway house in Texarkana.

The original indictment against the 74-year-old leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, a multistate ministry with headquarters in southwest Arkansas, accused him of transporting a girl across state lines in 2004 and 2005.

Islamic extremists coached into using YouTube for their hate campaigns; US to use Web 2.0 to win “war of ideas”

Religion News Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:18:55 +0000

Islamic hate criminals are being encouraged to use the online site through postings on other Islamic forums on the Internet, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

Last week, an extremist authored step-by-step instructions on posting video to YouTube, which he described as "one of the most famous and biggest international sites that publish sections of videos from all over the world."

Sex cult leader jailed for forcing girlfriend into sex with others

Religion News Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:56:08 +0000

Lee Thompson's followers lead a sadomasochistic lifestyle inspired by a series of 1960s fantasy novels, Chronicles of Gor.

In the books, written by US college professor John Norman, women are viewed as natural slaves to men.

At Teesside Crown Court, Thompson - who describes himself as a pagan - admitted two counts of procuring a woman to have sexual intercourse.

Author believes Tom Cruise pressured Amazon to stop selling book critical of Scientology

Religion News Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:34:30 +0000

Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith insists it was simply Britain’s tough libel laws that forced Amazon.co.uk to yank “The Complex.” The book, available on Amazon.com as of last Tuesday, is now “temporarily out of stock,” according to the American Web site.

Lawyers for the complaining member, a noncelebrity, want to keep it that way: They’ve demanded the “destruction” of the books.

Smith says: “We definitely want to offer it to our Amazon.com customers. We just don’t have the inventory.”

Mormon church publishes journal of founder Joseph Smith

Religion News Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:51:49 +0000

Historians have long criticized the Mormon church for glossing over the unflattering parts of its history and censoring materials of interest to scholars.

Publishing Smith's papers marks a brave departure from that past, said Jan Shipps, a professor of religious history and a Mormon expert at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

"It's saying our story is there for anybody to see," said Shipps. "They are becoming a full-fledged religious tradition and they are not trying to hide the details."