Tag: Exorcism

Controversial televangelist dies; Nativity scene party poopers; Scientology ads

You won’t believe what most nativity scenes in the Spanish district of Catalonia include — and this year around there’s a controversy to boot.

Some children have been confronted with ads for Scientology displayed on a games website.

And the controversial televangelist who, together with his wife, was the face of the world’s largest ‘Christian’ television network, has died.

‘Black Jesus’ killed * Teenage Exorcists * Syria in prophecy?

Bob Larson, who views himself as a ‘reverend’ and a ‘cult expert,’ nowadays markets himself via his team of Teenage Exorcists. Uhuh…

Jehovah’s Witnesses are in for yet another major doctrinal change which will drastically change their position.

Meanwhile, some Christians see the current problems in Syria in light of prophecy.

And in Papua New Guinea, a man known as ‘Black Jesus’ has been killed.

Woman banished from Westboro Baptist Church will publish memoir

Lauren Drain spent 7 years in the Wesboro Baptist Church. Her parents are still part of the hate group.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the UK’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, resigns after being accused of “inappropriate acts” towards fellow priests.

And the Church of Scientology in Australia is in damage control — this time over claims that it held a woman hostage. .

Also: Irish exorcists. Plus the Ex-Scientology Kids website has a new look.

Appeals court upholds conviction in baby’s ‘exorcism’ death

In today’s Religion News Briefs: An appeals court has upheld the capital murder conviction of a woman whose baby was killed during an alleged ‘exorcism.’

The Salt Lake Tribune introduces two new reporters for its Polygamy Blog.

A U.S. publisher is researching the possibility to publish a tell-all book on the notoriously litigious Scientology cult in Canada — despite that country’s antiquated, free-speech curtailing libel laws.

Plus: a baker in Oregon claims his religious convictions prevent him from baking a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.

European rights court orders France to pay four million euros to sects

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that that France infringed the religious freedom of two religious sects and an evangelical church when it taxed their donations.

The State of Georgia is investigating Scientology front-group Narconon for insurance fraud. Plus: a waitress gets fired over posting a receipt documenting how a ‘pastor’ stiffed one of her colleagues.

Also inside: God and game fixing, Calvary Chapel, and more about the Mexican ‘slavery cult’ that calls itself “Defensores de Cristo” (Defenders of Christ)

Religion News Briefs: a UFO cult, a killer cult, a former cult

news roundup In today’s roundup: a UFO cult promotes the Swastika; yet another one of Jehovah’s Witnesses needlessly dies in obedience to the cult’s teachings; and the Trinity Broadcasting Network is reeling from yet another revelation.

Also: do people join cults due to depression? Plus: links to additional religion news stories of note.

Belgium court charges six people in deadly exorcism of Muslim woman

Latifa Hachmi A court in Brussels opened the trial of six people charged in connection with the 2004 murder of a young Muslim woman in a deadly act of exorcism, a practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person believed to be possessed.

The woman was reportedly deceived into believing that she could not have children because she was possessed and that she had to undergo a practice of exorcism.