Tag: Islamism

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…

A collection of links and blurbs highlighting religion news, cult stories — and anything else we think you might like.

Today: New York fails to stop noisy Scientologists. Religious devotees line up to have coconuts smashed on their heads. Nigerian prophet wants to represent a Japanese cult.

Also: South African white supremacist guilty of high treason in Mandela murder plot.

Plus… our yummiest new Twitter follower.

A group of Islamic radicals have been charged with planning to kidnap a French judge.

The head of France’s Central Directorate for Domestic Intelligence (DCRI), Bernard Squarcini, said on Saturday that those arrested the previous day were French nationals involved in “warlike training, linked to violent religious indoctrination”.

Early morning attacks in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi state on Sunday left at least seven Christians dead and a church building destroyed.

The attack on the Evangelical Church Winning All Church 2 was carried out by area Islamic extremists alongside members of the Boko Haram sect, with the church building and surrounding houses bombed.

Islamic extremists threw acid on a church leader on Christmas Eve shortly after a seven-day revival at his church, leaving him with severe burns that have blinded one eye and threaten sight in the other.

On Oct. 15, area Muslim leaders declared a fatwa against him demanding his death.

In yet another Muslim attack on free speech the offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo have been destroyed by a petrol bomb — a day after it named the Prophet Mohammed as its “editor-in-chief” for this week’s issue.

The fiercely anti-clerical magazine said the move, which included renaming the publication “Sharia Hebdo”, was intended to “celebrate” the victory of Islamist party Ennhada in Tunisia’s election.

Muslim extremists have sent text messages to at least 10 church leaders in Khartoum saying they are planning to target Christian leaders, buildings and institutions.

Church leaders said they fear more persecution as they and their flocks become targets of local Islamists.