Tag: Bergholz Clan

In this issue: cult leader Debra Burslem, of the Magnificat Meal Movement, has fled Australia for the island nation of Vanuata. An Australian current affairs program tracked her down and confronted the ‘prophetess’ with claims that she has misused funds provided by her followers.

Plus: Does evangelist Reinhard Bonnke perform miracles?

Also: next month marks the 20th anniversary of doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo’s sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

And and in-depth look at the apocalyptic theology that fuels ISIS and other Muslim radicals around the world.

Many more religion news items…

Beard-cutting cult members sent to prisons around the US A renegade Amish cult leader and seven of his followers, convicted last September of federal conspiracy and hate crimes, have been assigned to prisons scattered across the country — some as far as 1,000 miles away from Cleveland, Ohio, where they were sentenced three weeks ago. Samuel Mullet was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Fifteen of his followers received prison terms ranging from one to seven years. The clan was prosecuted for engaging in beard- and hair cutting attacks against fellow Amish they disagreed with. According to The Plain Dealer,

Muslim-American terrorism has declined for the third year in a row, a study concludes. Plus: Amish ask judge to keep a beard-cutting renegade Amish cult leader jailed.

The niece of Scientology cult leader David Miscavige speaks out in a new book that is sure to have the controversial ‘church’ in damage control mode.

Also, two FLDS cult towns owe lots in back taxes to Utah, Arizona.

Renegade Amish bishop Samuel Mullet and 15 of his followers were convicted Thursday of federal conspiracy and hate crimes for a series of beard- and hair cutting attacks on fellow Amish who rejected Mullet’s edicts.

Their convictions could result in lengthy prison terms.

In today’s brief edition of Religion News Briefs: the death of cult leader and self-proclaimed ‘Messiah’ Sun Myung Moon brings out cult defenders.

An Amish bishop testifies against the cult-like group that attacked him. Plus, an Australian doctor — a member of the extremist Exclusive Brethren sect — has been banned from practicing medicine after prescribing a ‘gay cure.’

In today’s issue of Religion News Briefs: Already jailed for violating residential zoning codes, ‘home bible study’ pastor Michael Salman now faces a series of felony charges.

Plus: the condition of cult leader Sun Myung Moon worsens.

A daughter-in-law of Samuel Mullet, the leader of a breakaway Amish group on trial on hate crimes charges, says he coerced her into sex. Meanwhile his sister says Mullet’s group is a cult.

The Israeli government has distanced itself from a new Scientology cult center in Jaffa.

Also: the authors of a new study say the common assumption that natural and supernatural explanations are incompatible is psychologically inaccurate.

Plus, the latest issue of ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) Today has an in-depth article about the history of the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center — non-profit residential treatment facility that provides a program of counseling and instruction to victims of cultic abuse, religious abuse and/or mind control.

Federal prosecutors will be allowed to question witnesses about Amish leader Sam Mullet’s sexual activities when the hate-crime trial of Mullet and 15 followers begins next week, a federal judge ruled Monday.

The judge forbid prosecutors from describing his group with words such cult, sect, clan, band, schism, faction, off-shoot, breakaway, renegade, rogue or splinter group. Witnesses, however, can use any terms they choose.