Paranormal Phenomena Met With Skepticism in U.S.

Rachael Yi and Sarah Hogenboom-Jones

Gallup

July 21, 2025 

Paranormal Phenomena Met With Skepticism in U.S.

Two-thirds of Americans are skeptical of paranormal beliefs; none of eight concepts are believed by a majority.

"Americans are broadly skeptical about each of eight paranormal phenomena tested in a recent Gallup poll. Nearly half of U.S. adults, 48%, believe in psychic or spiritual healing. Slightly fewer, 39%, express a belief in ghosts, while between 24% and 29% say they believe in six other supernatural phenomena, including telepathy, communication with the dead, clairvoyance, astrology, reincarnation and witches.

For each of these paranormal phenomena, respondents were asked whether or not they believe in it or are unsure. Roughly one in five Americans are unsure about each of them, while at least half say they don’t believe in clairvoyance (50%), reincarnation (50%), astrology (55%) or witches (60%)."

" ... These findings are based on a Gallup poll conducted May 1-18, 2025.

Americans’ levels of belief in five of the eight paranormal phenomena are statistically similar to Gallup’s 2001 readings. Gallup has previously asked about various paranormal phenomena in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2001 and 2005 surveys. Comparisons to some of these past data are complicated by whether the paranormal questions were preceded by questions about religion, which appear to influence the way people think about communicating with the dead and ghosts or spirits.

The 1994, 2001 and 2025 surveys included religion questions. A comparison of the 2025 results with those from 2001 shows that Americans’ beliefs in paranormal phenomena are largely unchanged. The exceptions are six-percentage-point declines in belief in psychic or spiritual healing and clairvoyance, and a seven-point drop in belief in telepathy."

https://news.gallup.com/poll/692738/paranormal-phenomena-met-skepticism.aspx

CultNEWS101 Articles: 7/23/2025 (Jehovah's Witnesses, Shunning, Video, Opus Dei, Podcast, Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, LDS)

Jehovah's Witnesses, Shunning, Video, Opus Dei, Podcast, Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, LDS

Stop The Shunning: I REFUSED to Raise My Kids as Jehovah's Witnesses ft. Alissa Watson

"Alissa Watson was one of Jehovah's Witnesses for 35 years. But, once she became a mother, her mounting doubts over her religious upbringing eventually motivated her to break the cycle and protect her children."

The Deep Dive Project: EXPOSING Opus Dei's fascist plan for theocratic domination

The Guru: They Infiltrated Cults; Now they Run One

"Who are the two men behind the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light? Their past reveals an explosive secret to their cult-building success. It began in the late 1990s in Mooresville, Indiana, a small town suburb of Indianapolis. Hashem and McGowen attended the local high school and bonded over filmmaking, comedy, and esoteric ideas. They soon became best friends. Hashem then went to Indiana University for comparative religions, and McGowen attended nearby Ivy Tech, studying sociology. The young men would share a strange destiny.

In 2003 Hashem wrote and directed a 50-minute comedy movie called "Apache Tears," and it played at the local Regal Cinemas. One of the stars was a 22 year-old Abbi Crutchfield, who would go on to be a well-known comedian and TV personality, appearing on Hulu and NBC, among others. She told a local reporter the film 'has a lot of twists and turns...and deals with dark matters in a light way.'"

What percentage of Mormon converts leave the faith

Research indicates that **about 50% or more of Mormon converts leave the faith within a year of their baptism**[7][8]. This high rate of attrition is acknowledged by both church leaders and independent studies, with the sharpest dropout occurring in the first months after conversion[3][8].

Longer-term retention rates remain low, with multiple sources confirming that only about **25–30% of converts remain active in the church over time**[3]. This means that **70–75% of converts eventually become inactive or leave**.

These figures reflect a significant challenge for the LDS Church in retaining new members, despite ongoing efforts to improve integration and support for converts[3][8].

Citations:

[1] Ex-Mormon - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-Mormon

[2] Percent of Mormons who leave the LDS Church later? - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/11ncq31/percent_of_mormons_who_leave_the_lds_church_later/

[3] Why Some Dropped Out | Religious Studies Center https://rsc.byu.edu/mormons-piazza/why-some-dropped-out

[4] A Portrait of Mormons in the U.S. - Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2009/07/24/a-portrait-of-mormons-in-the-us/

[5] Are More People Leaving the LDS Church? - Leading Saints https://leadingsaints.org/are-more-people-leaving-the-church/

[6] Who Is Leaving the Church? - BYU Studies https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/who-is-leaving-the-church-demographic-predictors-of-exlatter-day-saint-status-in-the-pew-religious-landscape-survey/

[7] Number of LDS converts, missionaries increasing; conversion rate ... https://www.deseret.com/2015/4/19/20562924/number-of-lds-converts-missionaries-increasing-conversion-rate-declines/

[8] Trends in LDS Member Activity and Convert Retention - Cumorah.com https://www.cumorah.com/articles/lawOfTheHarvest/7

[9] converts leaving the church - Third Hour https://thirdhour.org/forums/topic/31170-converts-leaving-the-church/

News, Education, Intervention, Recover

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

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The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Sunday school teacher jailed for sexually abusing nine children was protected by church leader, Victorian cult inquiry hears

Former Geelong Revival Centre members tell inquiry abuse went unreported because group believed its authority was ‘higher than the law of the land’

Benita Kolovos Victorian state correspondent

The Guardian 

July 23, 2025

A Sunday school teacher who was jailed for sexually abusing nine children was protected by the leader of his fundamentalist church, after parents reported the abuse to him instead of police, a Victorian parliamentary inquiry has heard.

Catherine and Ryan Carey, former members of the Geelong Revival Centre (GRC), gave evidence at the first hearing of the parliamentary inquiry into the practices of cults and organised fringe groups on Wednesday.

The inquiry was established in April, after allegations of coercive practices at the GRC, as detailed in LiSTNR’s investigative podcast series Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder. The church has not publicly commented on the allegations contained in the podcast.

Led by the legislative assembly’s legal and social issues committee, the inquiry is not examining specific religious groups or their beliefs but rather the methods they use to attract and retain members – and whether those practices amount to coercion that should be criminalised.

Ryan told the inquiry the man had a valid working with children check at the time of the offending and described the government’s screening process as a “Band-Aid on an amputee”.

“He was convicted last year of molesting nine kids in the Geelong community and the parents that found out reported it to the cult leader – and this was in the judgment – instead of going [to] police,” he said.

“There was a two-and-a-half day lag where this guy was able to destroy evidence – I think [there] was 12 terabytes of child pornography – because the parents didn’t do the right thing and go report this [to] police.”

Catherine said that during this time a child was also left in the care of the man. She said GRC’s leader only contacted police after learning the man had already turned himself in.

Ryan said the abuse went unreported because the GRC acted like a “state within a state” and believed its authority was “higher than the law of the land”.

He said when sexual abuse occurred within families, it was also “covered up” by the GRC and victims “blamed” by their offenders.

“The girls were always seen as the flirts and the ones that were leading the men astray, like it was never the male’s fault, which is, it’s just horrible,” Ryan said.

The podcast’s creator, journalist Richard Baker, also told the inquiry he was aware of another GRC member in Newcastle who is facing “serious child sexual abuse charges” but the centre allowed “to attend a summer camp with hundreds of families”.

“We have ... presumption of innocence and all of that. But also … wouldn’t you have an abundance of caution to say, maybe this isn’t the right environment while someone is facing such serious charges, to be in a campsite with dozens, if not hundreds of children?” Baker said.

“I find that troubling.”

Ryan also told the inquiry the environment within the GRC was “unsafe for kids”, saying it was common for young people to be left alone with elders.

Elders, meanwhile, were regularly instructed to physically punish children – especially those with single mothers.

“If you were in Sunday school or child minding, you could hit kids,” Ryan said. “It was absolutely disastrous. I speak to adults now that are still traumatised.”

Families were also instructed to discipline their children harshly. Ryan told the inquiry he was told to “crush my kids’ will by the time they are three to make them compliant” while Catherine said comparisons were made to “breaking in a horse”.

The couple have since left the GRC and founded the group Stop Religious Coercion Australia. They maintain the centre is a cult, as it uses “friends, family and fear” to control its members and isolate those who leave.

Ryan said his father was “second in charge of the cult” in Geelong and, from the moment he was born, he “answered to the cult and the cult leader”, living in a “constant state of fear” that the “world was going to end”.

Catherine, meanwhile, joined at age 19, during a period when she had experienced trauma and felt isolated and vulnerable, or “ripe to be sucked into a cult”, as she put it.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/23/sunday-school-teacher-jailed-for-sexually-abusing-nine-children-protected-by-church-leader-victorian-cult-inquiry-hears-ntwnfb

Son of executed Aum founder acknowledged as new cult leader

The Asahi Shimbun

July 23, 2025

The second son of executed Aum Shinrikyo leader Chizuo Matsumoto has emerged as the “second-generation guru” and de facto leader of the doomsday cult’s successor group, Aleph, according to the Public Security Intelligence Agency.

The confirmation by the PSIA underscores the government’s continued scrutiny of individuals linked to Matsumoto, who also went by the name of Shoko Asahara.

Matsumoto was executed in 2018. He masterminded the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system that killed 14 people and sickened thousands.

The agency announced on July 22 that his second son has been steering Aleph’s operations for nearly a decade.

It also determined that Matsumoto’s widow plays a key supporting role in aiding her son’s leadership.

Additionally, the agency has submitted a request to a Justice Ministry commission to extend an order that restricts Aleph’s activities, including the use of its facilities and acceptance of donations.

It marks the sixth consecutive request in this regard. The current order, for six months, is set to expire on Sept. 20.

And in an unprecedented move, the agency sought to prohibit Aleph from acquiring or leasing new facilities in 12 prefectures, including Hokkaido, Saitama and Chiba.

As of April 2025, the group operated around 20 facilities nationwide and had an estimated 1,190 followers, according to the PSIA.

In its latest request, the agency for the first time listed the son, along with another individual, as leaders of Aleph.

The announcement comes on the heels of the discovery in April of tens of millions of yen in cash hidden in an apartment in Saitama Prefecture where Matsumoto’s widow and second son lived.

The series of crackdown efforts is being carried out under legislation targeting organizations responsible for indiscriminate mass murder, a law intended to keep Aum Shinrikyo’s successors under surveillance.

NAMED HEIR

According to the PSIA, Matsumoto’s son got involved in Aleph’s decision-making and began performing its religious rituals around 2014. It said he has referred to himself as a guru since at least 2017.

This aligns with the founder’s wishes; Matsumoto designated his son as his successor after his arrest in 1995.

Last fall, voice recordings surfaced on social media in which the son declared himself a new guru. Authorities later confirmed they were authentic.

This, along with other evidence, led officials to determine that the son is the de facto leader of Aleph.

The PSIA acknowledged that it had not been able to fully uncover Aleph’s internal workings until recently, attributing the delay to the group’s “extremely secretive and deceptive nature.”

The son’s rise to leadership follows internal divisions within Aleph.

Around 2013, Matsumoto’s wife and her supporters attempted to install the son as the group’s leader.

This move was strongly opposed by Matsumoto’s third daughter, resulting in a splinter faction known as the Yamada group, which began operating independently in 2015.

Even after his death, Matsumoto’s influence continues to haunt Japan through Aleph and other affiliated remnants of the doomsday cult.

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/15922824

Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army TV review — a story of abuse and oppression

A sober, sensitive BBC documentary examines the rise of a British evangelical church, with powerful testimonies from ex-congregants

Rebecca Nicholson

Financial Times

July 21, 2025

This excellent two-part documentary follows the rise of the Jesus Fellowship, the evangelical Christian church which began as a small group of worshippers in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, in 1969. Over 50 years, it amassed thousands of converts across Britain, but by the late 2010s, revelations of sexual and physical abuse by church elders had come to light, shattering the movement’s reputation.

Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army takes a sober and sensitive approach to the story. The first instalment explains how its founder Noel Stanton, who died in 2009, was inspired to form the church, following the lead of evangelical and baptist movements in the US. He was particularly successful at recruiting young members, and after a few years, its followers collectively bought farms and local properties, establishing a largely self-sufficient and socially isolated community.

The Jesus Fellowship attracted media interest from its early days, and there is a trove of fascinating archive material for the filmmakers to call upon. A documentary from the early 1970s, The Lord Took Hold of Bugbrooke, shows villagers complaining about congregants singing too loudly; there is footage of followers speaking in tongues and convulsing. Stanton was known for his “charisma”, but as the years went by his beliefs calcified into strict dogma. The idyllic vision of collective living, of distributing goods according to need, and of giving up all Earthly aspirations, darkened into a more oppressive regime, in which arbitrary actions and items — in one case, a packed lunch — were deemed “worldly” and accused of inviting the devil in.

We know this because of the many courageous ex-congregants willing to speak on camera in this film. The history of the movement is broken up with filmed therapeutic sessions with former members conducted by Gillie Jenkinson, a psychotherapist who specialises in cults and was once in a cult herself. These segments invite considerable empathy as Jenkinson gently examines how cults take hold, and how difficult it is for people to notice that they are being indoctrinated. There is an equal sensitivity when looking at the charitable work done by what would be rebranded as the Jesus Army, camouflage-wearing and more militant, launched in the late 1980s. Recognisable in their brightly coloured buses and vans, the Army would go out on to the streets to help those in need, to “move in peace and love” as they evangelised their message.

The first episode ends with revelations that have been hinted at throughout, of violence and sexual abuse, of children raising the alarm and not being believed, of those who questioned Stanton’s authority being excommunicated and cut off. The final episode reveals its hand more explicitly. This is a sad tale, but a powerful one, told with skill and grace.

★★★★☆

On BBC2 on July 27 at 9pm

https://www.ft.com/content/44b53f09-a995-49cf-b9fa-3b4089128f60

Coping with Post Cult Trauma

Coping with Post Cult Trauma (Margaret Singer)

 https://youtu.be/5kXQ09wPLEo?si=XFYqLXinenSEVAlw

Fresh fears of cult activity emerge in Kilifi, nearly two years after Shakahola Massacre

Emily Chebet

Digital Citizen 

July 20, 2025

Fresh fears of cult activity emerge in Kilifi, nearly two years after Shakahola Massacre

Nearly two years after the gruesome discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest shocked the nation and the world, chilling new developments out of Kilifi County are stoking fears that the horrors of 2023 may not be behind us.

Authorities have recovered one body and rescued four severely emaciated individuals just kilometres from the original Shakahola site—raising alarming questions about the possible resurgence of cult-like activity in the region.

Even more disturbing is the revelation that among those arrested is a husband and wife, former victims of the Shakahola cult, who had previously been rescued during the 2023 operation but disappeared again earlier this year.

The couple, originally from Nyadorera in Siaya County, allegedly fled their home in March with six children—aged between 1 and 15 years—before resurfacing in Kilifi under circumstances now under active investigation.

A brother of the male suspect, whose identity has been concealed for safety, confirmed that the family had once been reintegrated into the community but mysteriously vanished months ago.

“Alitoka huko nyumbani na familia yake wakaenda Shakahola mara ya kwanza… wakati watu walikuwa wanatolewa, tuliweza kuwaokoa wakaenda nyumbani,” he said. “Tulijua atareform akiwa nyumbani… lakini amerudi tena.”

The whereabouts of the six children remain unknown. “Nimewaishi na hao watoto,” the brother added. “Nimefuata kujua wako hali gani lakini sijawaona. Sasa nimeachia serikali ifanye uchunguzi.”

Human rights advocates and local authorities fear the emergence of what they are calling a possible “Shakahola Two.” Rapid Response Officer Mathias Shipeta expressed grave concern, saying one of the couple’s children had been among those held during the initial Shakahola raid and placed in a rescue facility. “As we speak, we are concerned that Shakahola 2 inaweza kuwa imeanza,” Shipeta warned. “We are calling upon the police to investigate the matter and ensure we do not have casualties or deaths as in Shakahola 1.”

Ongoing investigations suggest that remnants of the original Shakahola network may still be active, quietly regrouping and continuing indoctrination efforts despite government crackdowns and nationwide condemnation.

“We have been told that some of those previously charged and detained at Shimo la Tewa are regrouping and conducting teachings to continue radicalizing Kenyans,” Shipeta said.

The victim’s brother echoed the growing alarm: “Naomba serikali hii mambo ya Shakahola ikapate kuisha kabisa… isiendelee tena. Inaonekana bado watu wanaendelea kuregroup huko msituni.”

The original Shakahola tragedy, believed to have been orchestrated by controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, claimed over 400 lives and triggered widespread calls for reform of religious and cult-related laws in Kenya.

https://www.citizen.digital/news/fresh-fears-of-cult-activity-emerge-in-kilifi-nearly-two-years-after-shakahola-massacre-n366650

Special prosecutor begins probe into Unification Church executives

Included are allegations of bribery via a religious intermediary, embezzlement of church funds for casino gambling and interference in law enforcement.

Youngjun Kim
UPI
July 9, 2025

SEOUL, July 9 (UPI) -- South Korea's special prosecutor has formally designated Hak‑ja Han, head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, popularly known as the Unification Church, as a criminal suspect.

The office is extending its investigation to include allegations of bribery via a religious intermediary, embezzlement of church funds for casino gambling and interference in law enforcement.

Prosecutors allege that luxury goods -- including designer handbags and diamond jewelry -- were acquired to be given to the former First Lady Keon‑hee Kim, wife of the recently impeached former President Suk-yeol Yoon.

The items had been transferred through Seong‑bae Jeon, known as "Geonjin Beopsa," a spiritual adviser to the church. Investigators are working to establish whether directives came from senior church officials and if funds were misused for political influence.

The special prosecutor's office has announced that summonses will be issued soon to several senior Unification Church executives.

Among those investigators are set to question Young‑ho Yoon, former director-general of the church's world headquarters; Young-ho Yoon's wife, previously a leading figure in church finances; Won‑joo Jung, deputy director at the church's central Cheonmu Institute.

To date, no such individuals have been taken into custody or formally interviewed, but prosecutors have confirmed plans to bring them in for questioning as part of the unfolding inquiry.

A travel ban had been placed on all three. Won-joo Jung had been granted permission last month to visit her critically ill husband. However, to date, she has not yet returned to Korea.

Financial audit teams uncovered records indicating that church donations -- totaling tens of billions of Korean won -- were allegedly used for gambling at Las Vegas casinos, dating from 2008 through earlier this year. Investigators traced rewards‑club reports reflecting substantial bets and gaming sessions attributed to church figures.

Prosecutors are also probing whether the church attempted to obstruct a separate police investigation into this gambling activity. Authorities executed search and seizure operations July 8, seeking internal communications that could demonstrate exertion of political pressure or bribery to obstruct the earlier inquiry.

This probe spans multiple suspected criminal offenses: illicit transfer of luxury goods as political bribes, embezzlement of church funds for gambling, obstruction of justice through interference with police investigations, and potential collusion involving religious leaders, former police officials and political intermediaries.

The formal opening of a criminal case into Hak‑ja Han marks a pivotal escalation in this investigation. As summonses to key church figures draw closer and forensic evidence continues to accumulate, questions are mounting about the church's financial and political entanglements.

This case has generated intense interest in the Korea media over past several months. It represents one of the most high-stakes probes into religious-political influence in South Korea, raising significant questions about institutional transparency and accountability.

Earlier this year, the Tokyo District Court issued an order for the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan -- formerly called Unification Church Japan.


https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/07/08/unification-church-executives-criminal-suspects/6581752003509/

EXPOSING Opus Dei's fascist plan for theocratic domination

The Deep Dive Project
July 12, 2025

https://youtu.be/nWupXlhdPUA?si=NFU6RXRXIb-I9m-u 

I REFUSED to Raise My Kids as Jehovah's Witnesses ft. Alissa Watson

Stoptheshunning
July 16, 2025

Alissa Watson was one of Jehovah's Witnesses for 35 years. But, once she became a mother, her mounting doubts over her religious upbringing eventually motivated her to break the cycle and protect her children.

https://youtu.be/ZJjz9I9UYck?si=eiqq4aDkFraqzoYm

Articles on Doing science

The Conversation 

Research replication can determine how well science is working – but how do scientists replicate studies?

Amanda Kay Montoya, University of California, Los Angeles

Replication research can take the temperature on how accurate science in a given field is, but research replication is easier said than done.

July 16, 2025

What is peer review? The role anonymous experts play in scrutinizing research before it gets published

Joshua Winowiecki, Michigan State University

Peer review is an important step after a researcher has carried out a scientific study but before it gets published by a journal and shared with the world.

July 8, 2025

Scientific norms shape the behavior of researchers working for the greater good

Jeffrey A. Lee, Texas Tech University

While rarely explicitly taught to scientists in training, a set of common values guides science in the quest to advance knowledge while being ethical and trustworthy.

May 22, 2025

Lifecycle of a research grant – behind the scenes of the system that funds science

Kelly S. Mix, University of Maryland

A scholar reveals the ins and outs of how research gets funded, including the checks and balances that ensure high scientific standards and financial integrity at every stage of a grant’s lifecycle.

https://theconversation.com/topics/doing-science-177276

Cults are often known to use ‘Elitism’ to create a sense of exclusivity and superiority among their followers

Damian Adkisson

July 13, 2025

Here are some ways that cults may weaponize Elitism:

1. Creating an "in-group" mentality: Cults often times emphasize that their members are part of a select group, often using phrases like "we're the awakened ones" or "we're the chosen few."

2. Demonizing outsiders: Cults may use language that portrays outsiders as inferior, ignorant, or even evil, reinforcing the idea that their group is superior.

3. Emphasizing exclusivity: Phrases like “they don't understand us" or "we move differently" can create a sense of separation and exclusivity, making followers feel like they're part of a special group.

4. Fostering a sense of privilege: Cults may claim that their members have access to exclusive knowledge, spiritual truths, or experiences that others don't have.

5. Encouraging dependency: By creating this sense of superiority, cults can make followers dependent on the group for validation and self-worth.

This elitist mentality can lead to:

1. Us vs. them mentality: Followers may become wary of outsiders and outside influences and may view them as threats or simply inferior.

2. Loss of critical thinking: Followers may become less critical of the group's teachings and more likely to conform.

3. Increased loyalty: Followers may feel a strong sense of loyalty to the group and its leader.

By using elitist language and ideologies, cults can effectively manipulate their followers and maintain control. It's important to be aware of tactics such as these and approach groups that use them with caution. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eun7THUBC/

Waking Up: What the Narratives of Former Jehovah's Witnesses Bethelites Reveal About Their Experience of Realizing They Were in a Cult

Andre Jackson

ICSA International Conference 2024

Barcelona, Spain

https://youtu.be/bGmzO-wcQRc?si=-FtiQZy2owWtZ2WJ 

Recovery and Self-Help: Finding a Way to Recovery and Growth After Abuse in a Cultic Setting, and the Role of a Workbook - Gillie Jenkinson

ICSA International Conference 2024

Barcelona, Spain

ICSA International Conference 2024

Barcelona, Spain

https://youtu.be/t1mLbR4Fb2A?si=UAtZ5plgG2-_DhWD 

Mayors demand that the government develop stricter rules against cults

NL Times

July 11, 2025

Mayors demand that the government develop stricter rules against cults

The 14 mayors in the Twente region have issued an urgent letter to the national government, calling for stricter regulations on cults. Among other things, they want cult leaders and abuse to be dealt with more firmly and are calling for the establishment of a new reporting center.

“Municipalities are receiving signals about destructive cults, but current legislation offers insufficient tools to respond effectively,” they wrote to outgoing ministers David van Weel (Justice) and Daniëlle Jansen (Health).

Regional media outlets recently reported that there have been allegations of abuse for years at the Pater Pio Foundation, a controversial Christian group in Tubbergen. According to the mayors, such reports “underline the relevance and urgency of this issue.”

The Cabinet is working on a bill to tighten regulations on cults. The Twente officials are supportive but believe that municipalities should be given more leeway to act earlier when signs of wrongdoing emerge, in order to protect their residents.

At present, there is a lack of coordination in addressing abuses within cults and following up on reports, the mayors stated. According to them, the Public Prosecution Service, inspectorates, and police operate too much in isolation due to the absence of a clear point of contact.

They also fear that, because of the lack of strict regulations, the Netherlands could become a safe haven for cults. Nearby countries such as France and the United Kingdom already have stricter laws in place, and Belgium is also working on such legislation, the officials noted. 

Reporting by ANP

https://nltimes.nl/2025/07/11/mayors-demand-government-develop-stricter-rules-cults

Russia’s ‘Jesus Christ’ Arrested: How Ex-Traffic Cop Turned Messiah Built A Cult After Soviet Fall

Hindustan Times

July 9, 2025

The end of the USSR in 1991 was one of the most cataclysmic events in history, with its aftereffects still being felt three decades on. But there was one such moment triggered at the same time, that was unforeseen. It was the rise of a new religious order in a remote corner of Russia, powered by the 'spiritual awakening' of a man. Meet Sergei Torop, or as he is popularly known, the 'Vissarion'. In the 1990s, Torop claimed he was the reincarnation of Jesus of Nazareth. A new Church was established, Torop amassed thousands of followers but then came his fall from grace, he was subjected to thorough investigation leading to a severe directive from the Russian state.

In this episode of HT In-Depth, we look at the history of Sergei Torop's cult, from his 'divine revelation', to the establishment of his new 'Church', and the perceived end of his massive cult. Watch this video for full details on the Vissarion."

This Florida state park was home to a cult that believed the earth is hollow

MSN

July 9, 2025

"What started as a failed alchemy experiment became one of America's most unusual utopian communities. Cyrus Teed gathered followers who believed the Earth was hollow, practiced celibacy, and built a self-sufficient town in the Florida wilderness.

The Koreshans had their own bakery, power plant, and printing house before their leader's death ended their dream. Here's their story, preserved at Koreshan State Park where you can walk through their world."

" ... Electricity flowed from the Koreshan power plant years before reaching neighboring communities. The settlement generated power not only for themselves but sold surplus to nearby farmers.

Farm records from November 1901 through January 1902 document 250 workdays cultivating crops. Workers planted three acres of sugar cane yielding 370 gallons of syrup that season.

Hog sales brought $43.22 to community coffers in 1902. Financial records show meticulous accounting of all community businesses.

American Eagle newspaper, launched in 1906, gained regional readership beyond Koreshan membership. The publication evolved into a respected horticultural journal providing farming advice throughout Florida."

https://wheninyourstate.com/florida/this-florida-state-park-was-home-to-a-cult-that-believed-the-earth-is-hollow/

International Cultic Studies Association

International Cultic Studies Association 

Empowering Minds. Advancing Research. Supporting Recovery. 

Advancing education, research, and understanding of cultic influence since 1979. 

ICSA advances knowledge and fosters open dialogue on cultic influence through research and education with the aim of supporting survivor recovery and deepening public understanding.

Our mission

ICSA fosters open dialogue and rigorous research on psychological manipulation and cultic influence. We provide education, support resources, and a safe space for survivors, families and professionals to advance understanding and challenge harmful ideologies. 


Our vision

ICSA envisions a world where knowledge and critical discourse empower individuals and communities to recognize and respond to coercive influence, creating safer societies and stronger protections for those affected by cultic involvement. 


OUR PILLARS

Knowledge, dialogue, and support

ICSA is not an activist or advocacy group but a unique non-profit organization grounded in three pillars: advancing knowledge, fostering open dialogue, and supporting recovery from cultic and coercive influence. Since 1979, it has contributed extensively to academic and recovery fields through its global network of contributors, numerous articles, books, and journals. ICSA connects survivors and families with educational resources, peer support groups, and counseling information, while facilitating collaboration across professional and lived-experience communities. 


At its core, ICSA believes that no understanding of cultic influence is complete without engaging with all perspectives, even those that may be controversial or challenging. ICSA’s mission is to create a space where all information, research and viewpoints can be examined, questioned, and debated openly—rather than censored or suppressed. This commitment to intellectual rigor ensures that harmful ideologies can be exposed and countered through critical discussion rather than thriving in obscurity.

Each year, ICSA brings together researchers, mental health professionals, service providers, survivors, and families at its annual conference—an inclusive space for learning, connection, and community-building. Additional regional events, webinars, and virtual gatherings further expand access to vital resources and shared knowledge, particularly for those affected by cultic dynamics.
With a global reputation, diverse board, and relationships with major organizations across multiple countries, ICSA serves as a leading hub for knowledge, dialogue, and support in the field.

https://internationalculticstudies.org/

‘Jesus of Siberia’ Cult Leader Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

The Moscow Times

June 30, 2025

A court in Novosibirsk on Monday sentenced a Siberian cult leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ to 12 years in prison for harming the mental and physical health of his followers.

Sergei Torop, a former traffic officer who calls himself “Vissarion,” founded the Church of the Last Testament in 1991 after what he described as a divine revelation. He attracted thousands of followers to remote settlements in Siberia, including a core group of about 300 living in isolation atop a hill they called the Abode of Dawn.

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office said Monday that Torop and two of his associates were found guilty of creating a religious organization that violated the civil rights of its members and caused bodily harm.

Prosecutors accused Torop of using psychological manipulation to exert control over and exploit followers for labor and money between 1991 and 2020.

His actions, they said, caused 16 people “moral harm,” left six with “serious health problems” and one with “moderate” harm.

news

Samara Region Police Open ‘Nazi Rehabilitation’ Probe After Teenagers Sing Ukrainian Song

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Torop, 64, was arrested in a helicopter raid on his Krasnoyarsk region commune in 2020. His associates — Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedyornikov — were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison, respectively.

All three men denied wrongdoing. It was not immediately clear if they planned to appeal their sentences.

The court also awarded 45 million rubles ($572,000) in damages to the victims and state prosecutors.

Vissarion’s movement grew in popularity during the post-Soviet ideological vacuum of the 1990s and further isolated itself after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, shutting its communes to outsiders.

AFP contributed reporting.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/06/30/jesus-of-siberia-cult-leader-sentenced-to-12-years-in-prison-a89618

I'm not mad at them...but the Transcendental Meditation leadership is either ignorant or lying. Either way, they should probably stop.

June 30, 2025

" ... I believe that Dr. Tony Nader and, by extension and association, the board of trustees of both Maharishi International University (MIU) and the global Transcendental Meditation (TM) organization are acting either incompetently or dishonestly. I can’t be sure which, but I will demonstrate that it has to be one or the other."

" ... MIU encourages deep spiritual exploration, but we still have no full-time licensed, trauma-informed therapists and no modern crisis-response protocol.

During my first year, I served as Student Health Representative and personally witnessed the fallout of this gap. Three students were hospitalized for psychiatric emergencies. One of them had no way to get home from the psychiatric facility hours away—I had to drive them myself. Another student, struggling with suicidal ideation, was offered no professional follow-up, only vague encouragement to meditate more. These are not isolated incidents and are a small portion of the incidents that have happened on campus during my time here in relation to mental health.

We also cannot ignore that in 2004, an untreated student experiencing psychosis fatally stabbed Levi Butler in the dining hall after an earlier stabbing that same day had gone unreported. The university later admitted it had “done almost everything wrong.” More than twenty years later, what has actually changed?

During the meeting each of us got about ten minutes to speak, followed by a brief conversational exchange with Dr. Nader. After Andrade finished he appeared concerned, and responded with something to the effect of: “I have not heard of any of this, we will be sure to look into it more closely.” This response means that one of two things must be true: either he is somehow genuinely ignorant of these issues despite their deep historical prevalence at the university as well as the TM community at large, or he was lying. I’m usually suspicious of black-and-white dichotomies but in this case, logically speaking, it has to be one or the other—and to be honest I’m not sure which is more problematic.

In either case, it demonstrates an aspect of what I personally consider to be this organization’s biggest handcuff: authenticity. TM is without question—speaking both intellectually (i.e., on the back of scientific/academic research) and from my own personal experience—extremely powerful. It is by far the most powerful catalyst of personal growth I’ve ever encountered. More powerful than SSRIs, more powerful than therapy, more powerful than diet, exercise, and sunlight. This is not to say that these other modalities lack effectiveness, as they are certainly well-supported and undeniably helpful (with the exception of SSRIs which, as a former user, I’m happy to say are gradually being rejected by the psychiatric community due to their dangers seemingly outweighing the benefits)."

Read article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-165596253

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Wellness industry's dark side: Experts warn of dangers in RNZ podcast The Lodge

RNZ

June 28, 2025

The global wellness industry, valued at approximately $5 trillion, harbours a dangerous underbelly, according to a new RNZ podcast.

Unproven therapies and charismatic gurus can lead vulnerable individuals away from life-saving medical treatments, the investigation reveals.

"The Lodge", an eight-part series by journalist Phil Vine, examines the rise of wellness culture through the story of Aiping Wang.

Wang, a Chinese-born guru established a following first in Eastern Europe, then in New Zealand's remote Fiordland. She offered her followers the possibility of healing without medicine.

Several experts featured in the podcast warn that social media has supercharged problematic wellness claims, creating an environment where influencers can reach millions with unproven health advice.

"What's new is the rise of social media and many digital technologies that enable ordinary individuals to build a brand online and to reach a vast global audience," explains Dr Stephanie Baker from City University in London.

She's the author of Wellness Culture: How the Wellness Movement Has Been Used to Empower, Profit and Misinform.

The podcast explores how wellness movements often exploit legitimate distrust in conventional healthcare systems, what Dr Baker calls the "low trust society."

Dr Jon-Patrick Allem, Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences from Rutgers University, New Jersey, notes this dynamic in his research.

"The wellness industry is so appealing to people because there's a lot of problems with medicine," Allem explains. "There's a lot of problems with how one interacts with their physician, when they see their physician, what their physician is versed in to communicate."

The podcast documents real-world consequences through the stories of Wang's followers who rejected conventional treatment for conditions including: breast cancer, melanoma, and HIV after hoping for cures through "energy healing".

Allem highlights a particularly concerning wellness trend: "What I am seeing in the social media space is individuals claiming to have alternative ways to not just prevent a cancer diagnosis, but to cure a cancer diagnosis."

Dr Emily Yang from Western Sydney University, who has trained in traditional Chinese medicine, warns against using unproven therapies as substitutes for evidence-based treatments: "For example I would never claim Tai Chi can treat cancer," she says, advocating instead for complementary approaches alongside conventional medicine.

The podcast examines the psychological appeal of wellness gurus, with Baker noting that people often turn to such figures during tough times - an aspect she calls "situational vulnerability".

"It could be the situation involving the death of a loved one or possibly divorce. A moment when one feels less stable. They're often searching for answers, for meaning."

New Zealand cult expert Anke Richter identifies a clear warning sign in wellness practices: exclusivity. When practitioners insist their method is the only acceptable approach and discourage conventional medical treatment, it can have fatal consequences.

"There's a quiet death toll," Richter explains.

The podcast connects these modern wellness trends to the rise of figures such as Dr Joe Dispenza, who claims to cure cancer through "coherence healing" and has amassed 3.6 million Instagram followers.

Allem warns listeners to be sceptical of practitioners who make expansive claims: "The wellness industry, broadly defined, is so appealing to people because there's a lot of problems with medicine. But that doesn't mean that wellness practices should replace proven treatments."

Baker offers advice for those concerned about loved ones who may be falling under the influence of questionable wellness practitioners: "Don't cut them off. It's the worst thing you can do. Through maintaining a sense of common ground with these people, rather than just dismissing their belief system, you can help them see contradictions."

For consumers navigating the wellness landscape, experts recommend maintaining open communication with conventional healthcare providers and being wary of any practitioner who suggests abandoning proven medical treatments entirely.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/565374/wellness-industry-s-dark-side-experts-warn-of-dangers-in-rnz-podcast-the-lodge

Ex-2x2 Stories of Deconstruction

Beyond Religion with Meliesa Tigard

Beyond Religion

June 27, 2025

Meliesa takes us on a journey through her experience growing up in the 2x2s, and into her experience as a worker for a short time. Her experiences led her down a winding path from the 2x2 version of Christianity, to new age spirituality, and ultimately embracing the unknown.

Meliesa has written a book that allegorizes her 2x2 experience, which I highly recommend. "Little Mouse and the Purple Door" can be found on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/3AkeImr

CultNEWS101 Articles: 6/27/2025 (Shunning, Jehovah's Witnesses, Norway, Book, MISA, 2x2)

Shunning, Jehovah's Witnesses, Norway, Book, MISA, 2X2

Stop Mandated Shunning: What next in Norway? An interview with Jan Frode Nilsen

" ... Jan Frode Nilsen [offers] an insightful update on the evolving situation in Norway. Jan shares why he remains optimistic that mandated shunning by Jehovah's Witnesses will eventually be consigned to history. He also offers thoughtful guidance on the journey from victim to survival—and ultimately, to thriving after leaving Jehovah's Witnesses."

Freedoms Embrace

"This is a true account about a couple who met and fell in love while being members of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Jehovah's Witnesses. Both born into the religion in separate geographical areas. As children they grew up within this secretive and highly controlled environment. From babies they were repetitively taught that they, "were no part of the world". The world outside of their true religion was evil and controlled by Satan himself and it was imperative to remain vigilant from Satan and his demons as he looks to entice you from the Organisation and into his world that leads to total destruction.

Marc and Cora were both divorced. Marc had left the religion at 15 and joined the forces. Partly to escape his abusive alcoholic Jehovah's Witness father. Cora remained inside the religion and was eventually married at 20 to a man whose father was a Presiding Overseer within their congregation. A powerful senior position locally and closely connected to the policing and rigid controls at the behest of the hierarchy in London and the USA HeadQuarters.

Cora's divorce did not meet the religions scriptural requirements, this led the hierarchy to decree that she was no longer free to marry anyone else. To go against this decree and marry again would lead to a world of patriarchal judgments, punishment and eventual shunning from all she knew and loved. The risks were very high when she met Marc who moved into the congregation and was trying to repent and be accepted back within the fold. The very close observations placed on Marc because of his past were very real, surrounded in suspicion and mistrust of him. Cora too was under strict control and scrutiny by the elders of her congregation. Marc had a long way to go before being accepted back as a fully fledged Jehovah's Witness. The story goes on to tell how they eventually take risks to court each other, fall in love, then marry against the will of the whole community and the pain they experienced for three years as a result.

This is a story about Love, fear, control, punishment, endurance and learning to rely on each other. The story covers other characters whose names have all been changed, who tried their very best to cause as much harm as possible to Marc and Cora. They are both eventually disfellowshipped (banished) from the religion. No one is allowed to talk to them again, they are dead in the eyes of all Jehovah's Witnesses. From this point onwards they are determined to prove Cora was free to marry all along and so they go to every meeting at the Kingdom Hall with their two youngest children for three years while being shunned slandered and hated and without a single word being said to them in the Kingdom Hall (church). The story eventually vindicates their marital position, where more lies are exposed about how the elders held back vital information from the couple. After three long enduring years they are reinstated and everyone loves them again. But for Marc and Cora they are totally burnt with the experience and plan their resignation from the religion for good. Leaving behind family and their childhood indoctrination. After much intensive research of the religion that had controlled their lives for so long they decided to become activists and are known worldwide for their work in supporting other JWs who are in trouble with the organisation. The work has led to many true friends being made around the world and in some cases led to suicide prevention."

ExMISA: Bivolaru is hidden behind the panties of "sacred eroticism"

LAURA MCCONNELL: Doesn't she know the baby is teething?

" ... I've written and spoken on violence within Truth 2x2 and fundamentalist (mainly rural) communities for a while now, predominantly in women's magazines. Every time I've published a piece; I've carefully crafted around disclosing too much of my own story. Underpinning my writing on violence in these communities is a very real, lived experience.

If you've been around here awhile, you'll know I was trying to protect my own family. I know the experiences the women in my family survived. I have a deep respect and understanding that their lives were difficult. I have never wanted to cause more harm or distress by naming what they've done to contribute to violence.

However, this piece is to say: I'm done. I want to talk specifics about the violence.

I grew up surrounded by violence, coercion and abuse. Some of it was perpetrated by women. That is a difficult and extremely nuanced conversation in a culture where men perpetrate the majority of violence, and where the manosphere likes to accuse women of equal levels of violence as a deflection technique. I want to be clear here – my talking about women who abuse should not be used to deflect from the very real issue of men's use of violence.

What I'm writing on here is nuanced – these women are abusing in the context of high control, high demand, cult communities. These communities allow (encourage in my opinion) women to use violence on their children.

Violence and abuse by the women in my family still flares up in my life. Often after I've had something published in mainstream media, one or more of them will reach out in email or via DM's on social media, with paragraphs of vitriolic hate mail. Right now there is content galore to flare them up – a Decult documentary released which includes me. A Victorian inquiry into cults and fringe groups, which I'm playing an active part in. They can find information about me and my work unsolicited in their social media feeds, and it's quite upsetting for them, it seems.

What they could do is be proud when this information about me crosses their paths. They could think 'How amazing is it that one of OUR OWN is breaking intergenerational cycles?'

Instead they lash out."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

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The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.

Pathways to Freedom

Robert Crompton

Pathways to Freedom offers a helping hand to former Jehovah's Witnesses who can too easily become stuck in the transit zone between the Watchtower and new life. How do you let go of the baggage that weighs you down all along the way? How do you start to make new friends when you've always had it drummed into you that you could trust nobody outside the Witnesses? How do you stop the constantly nagging doubts about whether you did the right thing to break free? Pathways to Freedom is here to help.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pathways-Freedom-Watchtower-New-Life/dp/B08VRN2YWL

Thy Will Be Done

WCCO: Moore Report, Thy Will Be Done January 3, 1980

Produced in 1979 and aired January 3, 1980, Dave Moore hosts a documentary on the rise and controversies of religious cults in Minnesota and across the United States.

Digitized by TCMediaNow a 501c3 dedicated to preserving Twin Cities film and video.

https://youtu.be/kA1Y34QBpek?si=Q6oASpPqv5ln64CB

How I became a brainwashed cult bride

ABC Conversations Podcast

June 27, 2025

"Liz Cameron was 18 years old when a stranger approached her in a book shop. It was the beginning of her induction into a cult, and it was an experience Liz barely survived.

The process of brainwashing happened gradually, first came the love-bombing and the allure of finding a new purpose in life. Then came the isolation from friends and family, along with sleep deprivation, overwork and sexual manipulation.

Liz was one of the many women chosen to become a kind of bride for the leader of an infamous Korean religious group.

It wasn’t until she became critically ill, that her family were able to get the help she needed to escape and to begin the process of being deprogrammed."

Liz Cameron’s memoir is called Cult Bride: How I was brainwashed and how I broke free.

https://youtu.be/sJcivQsVLNU?si=5tNZIJynj7Wzb7cl 

CE Course Title: "Working with Cult Survivors: A Basic Certification Course for Mental Health Clinicians"

CE Course Title: "Working with Cult Survivors: A Basic Certification Course for Mental Health Clinicians"

Time: Self-Paced (8 hours)

Location: Online

Instructors: Dr. Janja Lalich and Natalie Fabert, Ph.D.

Overarching CE Goals: This course will help therapists attain the foundational knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to work with self-identified cult survivors.

Learning Objectives:  At the end of this CE course, students will be able to: 

    1.    Describe why specialized knowledge is essential when supporting clients with lived experience in cultic environments.

    2.    Evaluate key socio-historical and contextual factors that shape contemporary discourse and public understanding of cults.

    3.    Describe the defining characteristics of cults, including the four core structural dimensions that distinguish them from other groups.

    4.    Investigate the individual and group-level influences that contribute to cult involvement.

    5.    Explain theories of cult member retention and radicalization, focusing on social psychological mechanisms.

    6.    Identify the biopsychosocial impacts of cultic abuse, and asses the hierarchical needs of cult survivors. 

    7.    Implement evidence-based strategies to build trust, ensure psychological safety, and foster collaborative engagement in therapeutic work with cult survivors.

8.    Develop trauma-informed treatment planning strategies tailored to the complex clinical needs of cult survivors.

Target Audience & Instructional Level: Introductory; Mental Health Care Clinicians 

CE Credits: 8 hours

Cost: $250 for CE-seeking participants

The Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Presented by Janja Lalich, PhD., internationally recognized expert on Cults and Coercion, and Natalie Fabert, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, with guest appearances from other experts in the field, including: 

Rachel Bernstein, LMFT 

Dr. Jamie Marich 

Daniel Shaw - author, Traumatic Narcissism 

Khristina Berger 

Melanie Friedman

https://lalichcenterce.thinkific.com/courses/lalichcenterCE