Aug 26, 2019

CultNEWS101 Articles: 8/24-25/2019




Scientology, Satanic Temple, Transcendental Meditation, Universal Medicine, Mult-level Marketing

EW.Com: Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath to end with two-hour special
"Leah Remini's Emmy-winning docuseries Scientology and the Aftermath will end this summer.

A&E announced Thursday the reality-based program — which chronicles ex-Scientology members Remini and Mike Rinder as they interview former parishioners about the alleged abuses at the hands of the controversial religion — will end on Monday, Aug. 26 after three seasons and 36 episodes. (See the bottom of this post for the church's response to such allegations).

The show will conclude with a two-hour series finale special filmed in front of a live studio audience, featuring King of Queens actress Remini and Rinder, a former high-ranking official in the church, exploring stories about how Scientology's allegedly harmful practices, including hindering "members from reporting instances of abuse and sexual assault to the authorities," per a synopsis.

A team of legal, psychological, and law-enforcement experts will also appear on the program to provide insight on how ex-Scientology followers can seek justice and impact change in the future."

"Scientology previously told EW that "the Church earned its [tax] exemption" after a rigorous examination by the IRS. They deride Remini's charge of "bullying" as "farcical." The Miscaviges' lawyer asserts that the Los Angeles Police Department concluded that Shelly Miscavige was not missing "and that Ms. Remini's false 'missing person' report was 'un-founded.'" The Church denies the allegations of fomenting religious divisions and accuses Remini of spreading "vitriolic religious hate and bigotry" that risks instigating violence. The Church also states it has, along with "individual Scientologists," exercised its "First Amendment rights by complaining to advertisers about their support of this disgustingly bigoted show which spreads lies and incites violent" and will "continue to do so as long as A&E and Disney turn a blind eye to their effort to profit by spreading lies and religious hate." In a July 2018 letter to EW, the church's lawyers further said the church has not followed Ms. Remini, nor does it harass former members. Scientology points viewers to www.scientology.tv for more information."

"An Ottawa heavy metal bar will host The Satanic Temple Canada's Ottawa chapter Saturday in an invitation-only ceremony called an un-baptism.

50 people are expected to attend the unprecedented 'black mass' ceremony at Koven Restaurant in the ByWard Market. Organizers said the ceremony is the first-of-its-kind event in Canada. Followers of Satanism argue they will be practicing their faith much like other religious groups do on weekends.

"We use the idea of Satan symbolically, it has a lot of deeply-held meaning to us because a lot of us have identified with that sort of anti-hero character for a long time," said Satanic Temple Ottawa chapter member Nicholas Marc.

Ottawa's Archdiocese, however, has expressed concern with the Satanic Temple event, calling it blasphemous.
"My concern is for the faith of our people and the offence that this brings. A 'black mass' is vile and sacrilegious, attacking the most sacred reality of our faith, the consecrated host: The body, blood, soul and divinity of our lord Jesus Christ," said Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, who said in a statement provided to CTV News, "We need to pray in reparation for the spiritual harm that is being planned, and that God would turn this blasphemous project into an occasion of grace."

Marc said his religious group has every right to practice their faith and is in no way a threat to Catholicism or any other religion. Marc added the rituals do not promote hate or cause harm.

"I think if people have faith in their Catholicism or their Christianity or whatever they have faith in then they shouldn't be worried someone else is going to come along and threaten that; they should feel secure in the history and tradition of their faith as we are," said Marc, who started practicing Satanism 3 years ago.

'What we're doing right now is asserting our constitutional right, our religious right, even though it may make people feel uncomfortable, we're not hurting anyone, we're not targeting anyone. This is for us, by us, end of story.'"
ABC: Maharishi and Transcendental Meditation Exposed

"Eric Walsh, an acting detective in South Australia, helped more than 30 followers of Universal Medicine (UM) target healthcare activist Esther Rockett in complaints to a federal cybercrime body and NSW police.

Sergeant Walsh claimed the blogger "incited acts of violence" against UM devotees.

He coached followers to pressure a Byron Bay detective to charge Ms Rockett and accused the detective of treating their claims of online harassment and stalking with a "limp wristed fob off".

"He also sought advice from SA police colleagues on ways to silence online criticism of UM, a discredited multimillion-dollar "healing" enterprise run by a former bankrupt tennis coach, Serge Benhayon."

" ... Sergeant Walsh is currently stationed at a Criminal Investigation Bureau in Adelaide.

When contacted by the ABC, he said: "I'm afraid I'm not sure where you've got your information from.

'I think you may have been misled and so I'm not going to comment any further on that.'"
" ... MLMs hook people with the promise of becoming independent business owners with unlimited earning potential. But for many, getting caught up in an MLM turns out to be a nightmare. That's especially true for women, who make up the majority of consultants for these companies.

The business model of an MLM is designed so that the majority of participants see modest earnings to none at all (somewhere between 73% to 99% earn nothing). A select few at the top, however, enjoy major financial success ― not because they're genius salespeople, but because they've amassed huge "downlines" and collect enormous commissions and bonuses based on their sales.

So how do even seemingly intelligent people fall prey to MLMs despite the overwhelming evidence that they're thinly veiled pyramid schemes? Often, it has to do with the cult-like tactics used to recruit and motivate participants."




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Selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not mean that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly agree with the content. We provide information from many points of view in order to promote dialogue.
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