Religion News Blog

Matthew Meinck, an Australian-born former monk, believes that people retain in their bodies memories of abuse that can be retrieved during intense deep-tissue massage, regressive therapy and gruelling meditation sessions lasting up to two weeks.

During long retreats at his property, people became convinced they had been sexually abused by parents, extended families, workmates and – eventually – each other.

cults use a method that experts now refer to as coercive control – an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim into conforming.

Religion and cult news articles of note: Colonia Dignidad, Warren Jeffs, heresy.

Plus other highlights from Religion News Blog’s Twitter feed.

Handbooks published by the so-called ‘Islamic State’ call for exactly the type of attacks we just saw happen in Berlin. Such attacks may be hard to prevent.

Also inside: In March 1997, 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate UFO cult committed mass suicide. But the cult’s website is still online — maintained by two ex-members.

Plus: Not surprisingly, the dwindling Scientology cult reacts with its usual venom against Leah Remini and others who expose the cult for what it is.

The ‘cult wars’ of the 1980s and 1990’s have largely abated, but those who fight for the right of “New Religious Movements” seemingly continue to worry more about such groups than about the impact “cultic deviations” have on victims of cults ands sects.

A brief look at an overview and comments by religious historian Jean-François Mayer, the founder and chief editor of Religioscope.

Today’s edition includes stories about a radicalisation prevention program that may backfire. A protest against Whole Foods over its link to Marc Gafni. Iglesia ni Cristo, a powerful cult of Christianity, endorses presidential candidates.

In 1981 Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh spent $5.75 million on a remote piece of property in Oregon and invested millions more to build Rajneeshpuram as a spiritual retreat for thousands of his red-frocked followers.

A few years later some of his followers were convicted of infecting salad bars with Salmonella, as well as other crimes: arson, wiretapping, immigration fraud, election fraud and attempted murder.