Also inside: Director of treatment center steps down after brainwashing allegations
Anti-cult conference takes on Scientology
Religious nut claims to be Jesus Christ
Cult leader Warren Jeffs says Mount Olympus will fall on Salt Lake City
Pastor reportedly sends ‘goblins’ to former member of his church.
Sound Doctrine Church pastor convicted
A jury in Enumclaw, Washington, has found Malcolm John Fraser — a pastor at Sound Doctrine Church — guilty of sex crimes committed against a young girl.
The Enumclaw Courier-Herald says
Fraser had been charged with two counts of first-degree child rape and two counts of first-degree molestation. The case involved a girl who was 11 when the incidents took place; she is now 18. The incidents occurred in the girl’s home, while Fraser was living with her family.
The jury found Fraser guilty on all counts.
He was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was read.
A sentencing date had not yet been set.
Fraser is facing 20 to 25 years in prison, as well as a possible fine of $50,000.
Theologically Sound Doctrine Church is a cult of Christianity.
Sociologically there are concerns about the group as well.
Castlewood Treatment Center director steps down
A psychologist sued by four women for allegedly brainwashing them at a treatment center for eating disorders has stepped down from his position as the center’s director.
Since 2011, four women have filed separate lawsuits against the treatment center and psychologist Mark Schwartz.
The women allege that Schwartz brainwashed them into believing they were members of satanic cults.
They also claim Schwartz implanted them with false memories of sexual abuse.
Schwartz, who founded the inpatient Castlewood Treatment Center in St. Louis, MO, twelve years ago, is scheduled to give a deposition in late July.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch a spokesman for Castlewood has called the claims “spurious” and has said the center will “defend this case vigorously.”
The lawsuits: Case 1, Case 2, Case 3, Case 4
Research resources on brainwashing
Anti-Cult organization holds conference in Scientology’s European backyard
European anti-cult organization FECRIS has held a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The city is home to the European headquarters of the destructive Scientology cult.
FECRIS is an umbrella organisation for European family support groups whose members help the families and friends of cult members.
FECRIS president Tom Sackville told The Copenhagen Post that few European governments had enacted legislation to protect citizens from controlling groups that call themselves religions.
“These organisations wreck lives to an extent that normally would lead governments to take some action,” Sackville said. “But by posing as religions, they succeed in convincing civil servants and politicians to back off and fail to take a principled stand.”
Sackville was particularly critical of the Danish government for allowing the Church of Scientology, which was started by the science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1952, to establish its European headquarters in Copenhagen.
The organisation is known for its controversial practices that include urging its members to “disconnect” from friends and family who are not members.
Copenhagen is also the location for Scientology’s Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) where members that have deviated from the cult’s teachings are sent. Critics allege that the RPF functions as a labor camp and private prison.
The cult has several of these camps around the world.
Former IT Specialist Claims To Be Jesus Reborn
From our ‘Religious Insanity’ files: Former IT specialist Alan John Miller heads a religious cult named ‘Divine Truth‘ from Wilkesdale, near the small town of Kingaroy in the state of Queensland, Australia.
He wants people to believe that he is Jesus Christ.
Moreover, his partner, Mary Suzanne Luck, is supposed to be Mary Magdalene.
“I have very clear memories of the crucifixion, but it wasn’t as harrowing for me as it was for others like Mary who was present.
“When you are one with God you are not in a state of fear, and you have quite good control over your body’s sensations and the level of pain that you absorb from your body.”
The networks says the whilst critics dismiss his claims, Miller’s seminars attract large groups of people, up to 150 a time.
Cult experts in Australia and beyond are concerned, as some of Miller’s followers reportedly have given up careers and families in order to join the religious nut.
Do we even need to point out that Miller’s group is, theologically, a cult of Christianity?
Here’s a June, 2012 documentary on the group:
One buyer beware regarding this video: If you ever need a cult expert, make sure you check this information first.
‘Mount Olympus to fall on Salt Lake City’
Cult leader Warren Jeffs continues to use his prison sentence to sharpen his creative writing skills.
Jeffs heads the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), which is theologically a cult of Mormonism.
In August, 2011, he was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two underage followers he took as brides in what his church deemed “spiritual marriages.”
Ever since, the cult leader — who even from behind prison bars continues to rule the polygamous cult with an iron fist — has sent out a series of silly ‘revelations’ and ‘prophecies,’ which he claims were given to him by ‘Jesus Christ, Jehovah Son Ahman.’
‘Son Ahman’ is one of the names of the Mormon version of Jesus Christ.
Most of the alleged revelations amount to doomsday predictions and other warning of dire consequences should Jeffs not be released from prison.
Jeffs’ most recent bit of nonsense includes the threat, “I shall cause Mount Olympus to fall on Salt Lake City.”
His previous predictions included the destruction of Phoenix, an East Coast tidal wave, the destruction of Idaho by fire, an earthquake and tidal wave in Seattle, the destruction of Cincinnati, and damage to the U.S. electrical system.
Prophet sends goblins…
Who says the religion beat isn’t interesting enough?
A woman in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, claims that her former pastor — upset with her for leaving his church for another one — is sending her goblins which steal her g-string panties and whisper insults.