CultNEWS101 News: 6/30/2026

Culture & Media

Videos

Pseudoscience Buzzwords 101

In this satirical tutorial, creator Pranav from the channel Science Is Dope exposes the linguistic tricks used by scam artists and spiritual gurus to sell pseudoscientific ideas. The video explores how individuals with no background in science weaponize real, advanced physics concepts to build false authority and manipulate gullible audiences for financial gain.

The video highlights several specific buzzwords hijacked by the pseudoscience community:

• Dimension: Used vaguely to redefine basic concepts—like claiming femininity is a dimension rather than a gender—to sound highly sophisticated.

• Vibration and Frequency: Substituted for words like "quality" or "character" to falsely link the "Law of Attraction" with advanced physics theories.

• Quantum: Exploited by figures like Deepak Chopra because the public finds quantum mechanics spooky and difficult to understand, making it easy to mask complete nonsense as legitimate healing.

• Energy: The most versatile and popular word used to lure in believers through terms like "crystal energy" or "bio-energy."

• Entanglement: Leveraged for its air of mystery to explain unprovable phenomena like telepathy or Reiki energy healing.

Pranav also notes a secondary tier of awakening-themed buzzwords, including manifest, consciousness, cosmic, aura, third eye, and pineal gland. He concludes by advising viewers that when these heavily manipulated scientific terms appear out of context, it serves as an immediate warning sign that they are listening to pseudoscience.

Updates

Research & Academic

Evaluating the Effects of Conservative Christian ‘Male Headship’ Theology on Coercive Control in Marriages

The University of Salford, Manchester, invites you to take part in a Master’s Dissertation research study evaluating the effects of conservative Christian ‘male headship’ theology on coercive control in marriages. There is a gap in existing research on the connection between non-physical coercive control and this movement's teachings. This study aims to address this gap and contribute to the body of research on coercive control in intimate partner relationships within the Christian environment.

The survey comprises four questionnaires and will take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete.

Participants are eligible for the study if they are female, 18+, have belonged to a group that teaches ‘male headship’ theology, were married while in the group, and have left that group at least 6 months ago. If a participant is currently suffering from an acute or severe untreated mental health condition, they are strongly advised not to take part. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the researcher or dissertation supervisor at the email addresses below.

Researcher: Derek Johnson (D.M.Johnson2@edu.salford.ac.uk)

Dissertation Supervisor: Rod Dubrow-Marshall (R.Dubrow-Marshall@salford.ac.uk).

Link to participate: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/salford/evaluating-the-effects-of-conservative-christian-male-headship-

Ongoing Focus

Events:

ICSA International Conference 2026

Date: July 1 - July 4

Location: Hilton Bayfront, San Diego

Online Ticket: $150

The Online Experience

The digital stream provides a flexible way to engage with the conference program from anywhere in the world:

• Pre-recorded Content: Access a curated selection of sessions from the live conference program.

• Live-Filmed Sessions: Online attendees will also have access to key sessions filmed live on-site in San Diego.

• On-Demand Access: The online track will be available for streaming at your convenience during the conference days (1–4 July 2026).

International News

BBC: Protests will continue 'until religious group leaves'

Tensions continue in Sheffield, England, where local residents and activists say protests will persist until the religious group at the center of controversy leaves the area.

The demonstrations follow police investigations into allegations involving members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (ARPOL), including claims of modern slavery, forced marriage, and sexual abuse. The group denies wrongdoing, but the controversy has sparked ongoing community protests, increased police presence, and public debate over religious freedom, accountability, and the impact on local residents.

Authorities have urged protesters to remain peaceful as demonstrations continue and concerns grow over escalating tensions in the city.

Group Profile

Hendel v. World Plan Executive Council

Hendel v. World Plan Executive Council (1997) is a significant legal case in which a former longtime participant, Diane Hendel, sued the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement for fraud, infliction of emotional and physical distress, and unfair trade practices.

Core Allegations

Hendel, who joined the TM movement in 1971 at age 14 and later became a teacher and "Governor of the Age of Enlightenment," alleged that the organization induced her participation through a series of systematic misrepresentations:

• False Promises: She claimed the organization promised that TM would lead to a "state of enlightenment"—defined as omniscience and perfect harmony—and that the TM-Sidhis program would grant "extraordinary powers" such as levitation, invisibility, and superhuman strength.

• Misleading Claims: Hendel argued the organization falsely claimed the practice required only 20 minutes a day with no lifestyle changes, and that its benefits were "scientifically proven."

• Psychological Coercion: She described a high-pressure environment characterized by fear-based tactics, such as the claim that failing to follow the organization’s strict routine—including bedtime curfews—would make a practitioner responsible for triggering World War III.

The Legal Outcome

While the case documented these serious allegations, it did not result in a trial on the merits of the fraud claims. Instead, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the World Plan Executive Council and Maharishi International University, ruling that the lawsuit was time-barred.

The court determined that Hendel had been aware of, or should have reasonably been aware of, the alleged wrongdoing and the harm she suffered long before she filed her complaint in 1989. Because the statute of limitations had expired under the three-year limit, the court affirmed the dismissal of her case without addressing the underlying substance of her accusations.

This ruling is often cited in discussions regarding the difficulty of seeking legal recourse against high-demand groups, as the "discovery rule" for statutes of limitations frequently poses a significant hurdle for former members who may take years to fully process the psychological impact of their experience before seeking legal action.

AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.

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

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

Brahmarishi Mohanji

Here is a comprehensive profile of Brahmarishi Mohanji and the movement associated with him, structured according to your guidelines.

Overview
Brahmarishi Mohanji (born Mohan Pathirisseri Kesavan) is a contemporary spiritual teacher and humanitarian. The movement surrounding him, primarily structured under the Mohanji Foundation, functions not as a traditional religion or a new religious movement, but as a modern, non-dogmatic spiritual and philanthropic network. It focuses heavily on self-realization, liberation from mental conditioning, and selfless service (seva). The organization has a global footprint, claiming a presence in over 80 to 90 countries, and runs numerous humanitarian, educational, and spiritual initiatives.

Historical Context
Founder/Key Figures
• Founder: Mohanji (Mohan Pathirisseri Kesavan).
• Key Figures: His wife, Devi Mohan, who serves as a global ambassador for his foundations. The organization is managed by various regional boards of directors; for example, the US branch is managed by figures like Ganesh Venkatachalam (President) and Ashtamoorthy Kurur (CFO).

Origin Story
Mohanji was born in Kerala, India, on February 23, 1965. He spent 24 years working as a corporate executive in the shipping industry in the Middle East. The turning point in his life occurred in 2000 when his young daughter, Ammu, died in a tragic road accident. This immense personal loss was compounded by health issues, job loss, and a subsequent divorce.

Seeking peace, Mohanji retreated to the Himalayas to explore spirituality and silence. Upon returning to the "world of noises" (society), he began offering free meditations in Dubai around 2007. In 2003, he founded the Ammucare Charitable Trust (ACT) in memory of his daughter. This eventually evolved into a broader global spiritual and humanitarian mission under the Mohanji Foundation.

Core Beliefs and Practices
Mohanji’s philosophy is often described as the "Path of Pathlessness." It eschews rigid dogma in favor of experiential spirituality, teaching that true mastery is mastering one's own mind.
• Central Tenets: The core of his teaching is Ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word, and action), unconditional love, and transitioning from a mindset of "me" to "we."
• Practices: His followers engage in specific practices designed by him, including Consciousness Kriya, group meditations, Conscious Walking, and Mai-Tri healing (a form of energy cleansing).
• Lifestyle: He strongly advocates for a cruelty-free lifestyle. This translates to an emphasis on veganism, animal welfare, and environmental protection (manifested through initiatives like Ahimsa Vegan and Ahimsa Wear).

Organizational Structure
The movement operates with a dual structure:
1. Spiritual Hierarchy: From a spiritual standpoint, it is centered around the Guru-disciple dynamic, with Mohanji serving as the primary guide and source of spiritual authority.
2. Corporate Decentralization: Operationally, the group is highly organized and legally decentralized. It consists of multiple registered non-profits, trusts, and sister organizations (e.g., ACT Foundation, Himalayan School of Traditional Yoga, Mohanji Peace Centres) managed by formal boards of directors and volunteer teams across different countries.

Finances, Assets, and Network Worth
The aggregate global net worth of the Mohanji Foundation and its associated entities is not publicly consolidated or disclosed, as it is divided among various regional non-profits.
• Finances: The entities operate through donations, voluntary contributions, and program fees. Financial records reflect standard non-profit operations. For example, according to public tax filings for Mohanji Foundation Inc. (USA) (a registered 501(c)(3)), the organization reported 607,029 in revenue** and **247,732 in expenses for the fiscal year 2024.
• Assets: In 2024, the US branch reported total assets of approximately $943,000. The global organization owns or leases various properties worldwide that serve as Mohanji Peace Centres, retreat hubs, and charitable outposts.

Worldwide Membership and Key Locations
• Membership: The organization does not publish an official headcount of initiated followers, but it facilitates events for thousands of people annually.
• Key Locations: The Mohanji Foundation is officially registered in about 15 countries, with activities spreading across 90 countries. Key hubs include India (headquarters for Ammucare), the Middle East (where the movement originated), the United States (Oakton, VA), and strong bases in Eastern Europe (specifically Serbia) and the UK.

Lawsuits
Based on public records and international media databases, there are no major, publicized lawsuits directly implicating Mohanji or the core operations of the Mohanji Foundation. The organization appears to operate in compliance with local non-profit and charitable regulations in the regions where it is registered.

Controversies and Criticism
Mohanji has largely avoided the severe scandals (such as financial fraud or abuse allegations) that have plagued several other contemporary spiritual movements. However, a few areas of critique and controversy exist in the broader discourse:
• Defense of Controversial Figures: In his personal blogs, Mohanji has offered nuanced, philosophical defenses of other Indian Gurus who have faced severe public scandals (such as Swami Nithyananda). He has argued that society and the media often crucify spiritual masters based on "relative truths" or political manipulation, asserting that the true stature of a Guru cannot be judged by conventional morality. While not a controversy about his own actions, critics of the Indian Guru system find this stance problematic as it can be seen as dismissing legitimate abuse allegations within the broader spiritual community.
• Anti-Cult Skepticism: Like almost all charismatic spiritual leaders, Mohanji attracts baseline skepticism from secular observers and anti-cult networks. Critics of the modern "Guru culture" argue that the intense devotion required by such movements can lead to emotional dependency.
(Note: Mohanji actively rejects the label of a "cult," stating in his teachings that cults use fear to bind the mind, whereas his path is designed to liberate it).

Sociological Impact
The group's most tangible impact on broader society is through its philanthropic wings, the Ammucare Charitable Trust and the ACT Foundation.
• Community Service: These organizations operate feeding programs (ACT 4 Hunger), provide disaster relief, support women's empowerment, and run senior citizen homes.
• Member Lifestyles: For its members, the group profoundly influences daily life, structuring it around daily meditation, veganism, and regular volunteering (seva). It provides a cosmopolitan, English-speaking community that bridges ancient Indian spiritual concepts with modern corporate and family life.

Current Status
The Mohanji Foundation is currently in a phase of steady, quiet expansion. Mohanji frequently travels across continents to conduct retreats, satsangs, and oversee the inauguration of new Mohanji Peace Centres. The movement continues to successfully brand itself as a practical, modern approach to ancient Himalayan wisdom.

Self-Description vs. External Perception
• Self-Description: The organization describes Mohanji as an "ordinary man living an extraordinary consciousness," emphasizing his role as a humanitarian and a friend rather than a traditional, remote deity-like figure. The group describes its mission purely in terms of global upliftment, peace, and adding value to society.
• External Perception: Devotees view him as a fully realized, enlightened master (having been conferred the title "Brahmarishi"). The general public and mainstream media largely perceive him as a benign global humanitarian and spiritual life-coach. Skeptics generally categorize the movement as another successful export of the modern Indian Guru-franchise model, though acknowledging its heavy and legitimate focus on charitable works.

References & Suggested Reading
1. Mohanji.org – The official website detailing his biography, the "Path of Pathlessness," and ongoing global initiatives.
2. ACT Foundation (actfoundation.org) – Details on the global philanthropic efforts and disaster relief projects.
3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – Public financial records and Form 990 filings for Mohanji Foundation Inc. (USA).
4. "Mohanji's Personal Blogs" – For his direct philosophical writings, including his perspectives on Guru controversies and the nature of truth.

CultNEWS101 News: 6/29/2026

Culture & Media

Videos

ICSA: Meet the Author! Interview With Alexandra Stein

In this interview, author and cult expert Alexandra Stein discusses her book, Terror, Love, & Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems. Drawing from 25 years of research and her own ten-year experience in a political cult, Stein explores the manipulative social structures that allow authoritarian leaders to control and radically manipulate their followers.

Stein utilizes John Bowlby’s evolutionary attachment theory to decode how cultic and totalitarian systems operate. She argues that human beings have a core survival need to attach to others for protection. Cult leaders exploit this by isolating individuals from external support and enveloping them in an environment characterized by a destabilizing alternation between fear and apparent safety. This creates a highly damaging trauma bond, known as "disorganized attachment," where followers become glued to an unhealthy authority figure despite it working directly against their own survival interests.

Covering from this systemic control requires survivors to reconstruct a coherent, realistic narrative of their experience, strip away the cult's fiction, and rebuild trusting relationships. Stein notes a severe lack of public understanding, shared language, and trained therapists equipped to help survivors navigate these trauma-based experiences. Ultimately, she underscores that recruitment is accidental, as perpetrators hide their goals behind layers of deception. Stein emphasizes that targeted education on the mechanics of coercive environments is the most effective tool for empowering people to recognize and resist predatory relationships.

Cult Chat: Catching Up on the 2x2's / The Truth with Dr. Kyle Eggleton & Tristan Phipps

In this episode of Cult Chat, hosts Dr. Caroline Ansley, Liz Gregory, and Lindy Jacob catch up with advocates and former members Tristan Phipps and Dr. Kyle Eggleton to discuss recent developments within the high-control religious group known as the 2x2s (also called The Truth or The Church with no Name).

The discussion centers heavily on international pressure, including an FBI investigation into intercontinental abuse allegations, which has caused the opaque organization to tighten control and restrict information. The guests shed light on the group's "Living Witness" doctrine—the belief that salvation is achieved only by hearing God's word directly from celibate ministers (workers)—and trace its historical origins to Ireland. They explore the severe difficulty of tracking the group's financial networks, which involve multi-million-dollar cash donations passed to senior overseers through untraceable personal trust funds.

Ongoing Focus

News

Fox 4: Texas couple charged in $2.5M 'psychic' fraud, preying on grieving victims

The Brief: A Texas couple was arrested for allegedly running a $2.5 million "fortune-teller fraud" scheme that targeted emotionally vulnerable people.
The lead suspect used fake names to convince victims to send cash, credit cards, and gold coins to "cleanse" them of a financial curse.
The suspects face up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted, while the FBI continues to investigate to find additional victims.s

Group Profile

JAMA: "Maharishi Ayur-Veda: guru's marketing scheme promises the world eternal 'perfect health'"

This investigative article by Andrew A. Skolnick, originally published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1991, exposes a deceptive marketing campaign orchestrated by the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement and its brand, Maharishi Ayur-Veda. The movement heavily promoted claims that its products and techniques could grant eternal youth, "perfect health," and supernatural abilities like levitation.

The investigation was triggered after Deepak Chopra and two co-authors published a paper in JAMA portraying Maharishi Ayur-Veda as traditional, science-backed Indian medicine. However, the authors failed to disclose serious financial conflicts of interest. Chopra actually served as a primary officer and stockholder for Maharishi Ayur-Veda Products International (MAPI), the commercial entity profiting from the expensive herbal remedies, health mantras, and pulse diagnostics detailed in the article.

Skolnick uncovers a widespread pattern of misinformation used to manipulate the media and scientific institutions. The TM movement rented university space and sent false-flag letters to prestigious journals to create a veneer of scientific credibility. Prominent researchers were deceptively tied to their literature, including one neuroscience student whose institutional advisers explicitly banned him from claiming their facilities backed TM's herbs. Eminent physicist Heinz Pagels strongly denounced the movement's exploitation of quantum mechanics as a "wish-fulfilling fantasy" designed to deceive the public. Former high-ranking defectors admitted they were actively trained to lie—a tactic known as the "SIMS shuffle"—to exploit media gullibility and advance the guru's multi-billion-dollar empire.

AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

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

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

Gaslighting Doesn’t Always Look Like What You Think It Does

Whiney Hartzell

The Everymom

June 26, 2026

I recently met up with one of my friends for coffee and a good chat session. When I sat down at the table, she pointed at her cup and exclaimed, “The barista totally gaslit me. Do you see how they spelled my name?” I had to admit, the spelling was pretty off, but it also reminded me of how mainstream the term “gaslighting” has become. So mainstream, in fact, that Merriam-Webster made it its Word of the Year in 2022.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Language is empowering. As a therapist, I’ve seen the profound impact that having words for a confusing experience can have on someone. But when a word gets used for everything from coffee shop mishaps to genuinely destabilizing relationship experiences, it can start to water down something that deserves more precision.  

Real gaslighting in a relationship isn’t a mispronounced name or a forgotten appointment. It’s an extreme form of emotional manipulation designed to leave you questioning whether what you experienced happened and whether you are the problem for bringing it up. And the version most people picture when they hear the word? It’s usually not the version that’s hardest to recognize or the most damaging.

So, What Does Gaslighting Actually Mean?  

Most people think of gaslighting as the classic “that never happened, you’re crazy”  moment. A flat-out, undeniable denial of the truth. And while yes, that is gaslighting, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. 

Gaslighting actually has two parts. The first is the denial of someone’s reality, which most people recognize. The second is less talked about: a direct attack on the credibility of the person raising the concern. And this is an important distinction, because gaslighting is not simply a disagreement, a difference of opinion, or even lying; lying is its own thing. What makes something gaslighting is that second component: It’s the moment the conversation stops being about what happened and starts being about what is wrong with you for suggesting it did. 

It’s that second part that makes gaslighting so hard to catch. And it’s the part most people never hear about. 

The Part of Gaslighting in Relationships Most People Miss 

Here is where gaslighting gets truly insidious in a relationship. The denial is disorienting on its own. But what follows is what makes it so hard to recover your footing.

By pairing the denial with a direct attack on the person raising the concern, a gaslighter creates the perfect environment for shame, self-doubt, and confusion. The conversation stops being about what happened. It becomes about what is wrong with you for thinking it did. 

Gaslighting examples can sound like:

“You are always so dramatic.”

“You are so sensitive.”

“You are constantly criticizing me.”

“You have major trust issues.”

“You need to get some help.”

“We both know you are the problem here.”

Not only is someone’s reality being denied, but they are simultaneously being told they are the problem for bringing it up. It is a disorienting and ruthless combination. And the more it happens, the harder it becomes to trust what you know. 

While gaslighting can happen in any relationship, including friendships, workplaces, and family dynamics, the pattern I’m describing here is most commonly documented in intimate partner situations, where women are disproportionately the ones whose reality gets erased.

Why Gaslighting Is So Hard to Recognize While You’re Living It 

I often describe gaslighting as death by a thousand cuts. It rarely looks like one giant blow-up fight. Instead, it works gradually, one denied experience at a time, slowly chipping away at a woman’s sense of self until she can barely remember who she was before the relationship started. 

By the time she starts questioning whether something feels off, she’s already been conditioned not to trust the question. 

Here’s why. Remember those phrases from the last section? “You’re so dramatic.” “You’re  so sensitive.” “You have trust issues.” Over time, a woman who is being gaslit doesn’t just hear those words from her partner. She starts saying them to herself. The gaslighter’s voice becomes her own internal voice. And once that happens, she’s no longer just fighting her partner’s denial of her reality. She’s fighting her own. 

Women experiencing gaslighting exhaust themselves building a case for their own reality. They overexplain and second-guess. They replay conversations, looking for the moment they must have gotten it wrong. Women bring receipts to arguments that were never meant to be won. And at the end of all of it, they still walk away wondering if they’re the problem.

That’s not a coincidence. It’s the point.

Why Confronting It Doesn’t Make It Stop

Many well-intended people, even mental health professionals, will tell someone on the receiving end of gaslighting to gather evidence and confront the behavior directly. Set better boundaries. Show them the receipts. Make them see it. It sounds reasonable, and even makes sense on paper. But it doesn’t work. In fact, it usually makes things worse. 

Here’s why. Gaslighting isn’t a communication problem, but a power and control problem. A gaslighter uses this tactic specifically to assert dominance over someone’s reality. Evidence isn’t a solution to that. Instead, it’s a direct threat to it. And when the power-and control dynamic is threatened, the gaslighting doesn’t stop. It escalates. The denial grows louder, and the credibility attack grows sharper. And somehow, she ends up leaving that conversation more convinced than ever that she was the problem. 

“When the power-and control dynamic is threatened, the gaslighting doesn’t stop. It escalates.”

I would love nothing more than for someone to pull out a stack of text messages, play back a recording, and have their partner say, “You’re right, I see it now.” It happens. But it is not the norm, and betting on that outcome while remaining in a dynamic that actively erodes your sense of self is not a strategy. Instead, it’s a risk to your well-being and safety. 

Understanding that is not hopeless, but instead clarifying. Because it means the path forward isn’t about convincing someone else of your reality. It’s about rebuilding your trust in it yourself.  

What to Do If This Sounds Familiar 

If any of this has resonated with you, I want you to know that what you are experiencing is real. Gaslighting is designed to make you question your own instincts, emotions, and reactions. It is designed to make you the problem. And if trying to prove your side of the story has only made things worse, that is not a failure on your part. That is the dynamic working exactly as it was designed to. 

If you find yourself here, these are some places to start: 

• Trust what your body is telling you
• Gaslighting works hard to convince you that your own instincts are wrong. If something consistently feels off, that feeling is information, not weakness. 
• Seek out people who help you feel grounded in your own reality
• Whether that is a trusted friend, a support group, or a community where your experience is validated rather than questioned. 
• Consider working with a trauma-informed therapist
• You need someone who understands coercive dynamics. Standard therapy advice doesn’t always apply in these situations, and finding someone who understands that difference matters more than most people realize. 
• Start rebuilding trust in yourself

It is something that can be rebuilt. Losing confidence in your own perception is not permanent, and you do not have to find your way back to it alone.

Gaslighting is getting more attention than it ever has, and that matters. But awareness of the word is not the same as recognizing it in your own life. If you have been questioning your reality, doubting your instincts, or wondering if you are the problem, you are not crazy. You are not too sensitive or too much. You deserve support in finding your way back to yourself.

https://theeverymom.com/gaslighting-in-a-relationship/

Complex Trauma Cult Survivor Study

Researchers want to talk to former high-demand group members who have been out of their group or online-based ideology for 1-10 years:

• This research project, entitled “Investigating the Mental Health Needs of People Exiting High Demand Groups,” is led by Dr. Smart at the University of Victoria. Others who are involved in the project are Rayann Gordon (graduate student at the University of Salford), Nazanin Babaei (graduate student at the University of Victoria), and Amanda Reaume and Sydney Klassen (undergraduate students at the University of Victoria).
• The study follows a trauma-informed approach to ensure sensitivity and participant well-being, offering breaks, resource materials, and mental health supports as needed. You can contact the lab at smartlab@uvic.ca if you believe you may be eligible to participate.

What is the study?

This study aims to investigate the lived experience of individuals who have exited a high-demand group (or ‘cult’) that was either fully online or hybrid online/in-person. The study aims to learn more about the challenges and needs of people leaving these groups, including their mental health, identity changes, coping strategies, and access to support services. It is hoped that the results of this project will inform ways to improve mental health care and resources for individuals leaving these environments.

Who is eligible?

• Adults aged 19+ who identify with having been in a cult (e.g., religious, political, new age, and so on), or
• Adults aged 19+ who identify with having been in online high-demand ideologies (e.g., QAnon/RedPill/Incel/Pick-Up, influencer-led communities,
• Individuals who have been out of their group for between 1 and 10 years,
• Individuals who are English-speaking, have access to a computer,
• Individuals who are not in active crises and who can identify a support person (i.e., a therapist, friend, family member).

What’s involved?

1) You can first reach out to our lab at smartlab@uvic.ca to express interest. The lab will then send you a brief screening survey to determine your eligibility.

2) If you are eligible, we will send a link to a 45-minute online questionnaire.

3) If you decide you’d like to participate in a subsequent 60–90-minute Zoom interview, our research assistants will schedule you for one.

4) For a 60–90-minute interview and approximately 45 minutes of questionnaires, the estimated compensation is $50. 

Contact the lab at smartlab@uvic.ca if you believe you may be eligible to participate.

CultNEWS101 News: 6/26/2026

Culture & Media

Videos

Yes Theory: 100 Hours in America's Strange "Cult City"

Yes Theory spends 100 hours in Fairfield and Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, to explore the commhttps://www.cultnews101.com/2018/10/maharishi-ayur-veda-gurus-marketing.htmlunity built around the Transcendental Meditation movement. While acknowledging historical controversies associated with the organization, the team finds the local practitioners in this "cult city" to be welcoming and the experience a positive study in prioritizing mental health.

LPR Presents: The Cult of Synanon

Origins and Evolution

In 1958, recovering alcoholic Charles "Chuck" Diederich founded a grassroots, peer-led drug rehabilitation space in Santa Monica called The Tender Loving Care Group.  It strictly banned chemicals and physical violence.

Diederich soon developed "The Game", a fierce form of attack therapy designed to tear down psychological walls aggressively. Rebranded as Synanon, the group expanded rapidly. Diederich began recruiting wealthy, non-addicted people and secured a highly profitable tax-exempt status in 1966.

Shift to a Tyrannical Cult

By the late 1960s, Synanon had devolved into an authoritarian cult. Diederich broadcast mandatory sermons via a nationwide loudspeaker system. After his third wife, Betty, died in 1976, his policies turned extreme. He abolished monogamy, separating committed couples and re-pairing them. Diederich also mandated shaved heads for women, vasectomies for men, forced abortions, and put children into military-style boot camps. 

Violence and Downfall

L. Diederich built a brutal shadow security force called the Imperial Marines and officially allowed physical violence. After his marines beat a concerned father into a coma, investigative lawyer Paul Morantz launched a successful lawsuit against the organization. In retaliation, Diederich ordered Morantz's assassination. On October 10, 1978, two Imperial Marines placed a de-rattled rattlesnake in Morantz's mailbox. Morantz survived the bite. Police subsequently raided the compound and arrested Diederich while he was heavily intoxicated (56:48). Due to failing health, he received probation instead of prison, but was permanently banned from the group. Sunk by back taxes, Synanon filed for bankruptcy in 1991.

Ongoing Focus

Spectrum News 1: Judge rules Diocese of Buffalo can use proceeds from sale of Christ the King Seminary toward settlement

A federal judge has ruled that the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo may use 150 million portion of a settlement for sex abuse survivors.

Key details from the report include:

• Property Sale: The 117-acre seminary site in East Aurora was sold at auction in 2024 to the World Mission Society of God.

• Background: The seminary had closed in 2020 following years of declining enrollment and financial difficulties, which were compounded by the fallout from the abuse scandal.

• Diocese Statement: A spokesperson for the diocese welcomed the ruling, confirming that the proceeds will be directed to the settlement fund as previously agreed upon with the Creditors Committee.

Events:

ICSA International Conference 2026

Date: July 1 - July 4

Location: Hilton Bayfront, San Diego

Online Ticket: $150

The Online Experience

The digital stream provides a flexible way to engage with the conference program from anywhere in the world:

• Pre-recorded Content: Access a curated selection of sessions from the live conference program.

• Live-Filmed Sessions: Online attendees will also have access to key sessions filmed live on-site in San Diego.

• On-Demand Access: The online track will be available for streaming at your convenience during the conference days (1–4 July 2026).

Group Profile

How to understand the Raja Kingdom – Part 8: Why is the Global Country of World Peace dangerous?

According to investigative findings published by RajaLeaks, the Global Country of World Peace (GCWP)—the leadership framework of the modern Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement—has evolved into a high-control system that poses several serious dangers:

• Financial Opacity and Exploitation: Following the death of founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the ruling "Rajas" (kings) established a new corporate structure utilizing offshore companies. This system funnels massive amounts of public funds, royalties, and course fees away from public scrutiny and bypasses original, traditional TM organizations.

• Authoritarian Control and Silencing: The leadership operates as a strict, non-transparent hierarchy. Members or leaders who question these questionable rules or demand accountability are systematically excommunicated, cast aside, and publicly discredited.

• Deviating into Extremism and Cult Practices: Critics argue that the Rajas have warped what was originally marketed as a secular, science-backed meditation tool into a cultic, right-wing Vedic theocracy. They have drawn intense condemnation for forming highly controversial alliances with external entities, including the RSS (a right-wing Hindu nationalist paramilitary group) and the scandal-plagued Sai Baba movement.

• Severe Mental Health Stigmas: The pressure to maintain a facade of absolute inner peace within GCWP hubs, such as Maharishi Vedic City, has created severe toxic positivity. This collective denial isolates struggling practitioners, exacerbating severe mental health and suicide crises locally by punishing those who express suffering.

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