CultNEWS101 Articles: 8/8/2025

Research, Return to the Land, White Supremacists, Missionary groups, Brazil

PsyPost: Socially anxious people are better at detecting subtle signs of anger

"A new study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy suggests that people with high social anxiety are more accurate at recognizing subtle angry expressions compared to people with low social anxiety. The researchers found that individuals who scored high on social anxiety tests showed stronger brain responses when viewing low-intensity dynamic angry faces. These responses occurred during later stages of processing, which may reflect increased cognitive effort to interpret socially ambiguous cues.

Social anxiety is a condition marked by intense fear of being judged or negatively evaluated by others. People with social anxiety often worry excessively about embarrassing themselves in social situations and may avoid activities like public speaking, meeting new people, or even making eye contact. These fears go beyond shyness and can interfere with daily life. One feature of social anxiety is a heightened sensitivity to social threats, especially in the form of disapproval, rejection, or criticism.

Facial expressions, particularly those signaling anger, play an important role in how people navigate social interactions. For individuals with social anxiety, angry faces can be especially unsettling, even when the expressions are ambiguous or subtle. This tendency to interpret neutral or low-intensity expressions as threatening may contribute to the anxiety and avoidance behaviors often seen in social anxiety."

Times of Israel: 'Return to the Land': White supremacists building whites-only settlement in Arkansas

Sky News visits a 40-member community that claims its classification as a Private Members Association allows it to circumvent civil rights legislation.

"A group of white supremacists is founding a settlement in Arkansas that will only allow in white Christians.

The 160-acre community in the Ozark hills near Ravenden, Arkansas, named "Return to the Land" (RTTL), was founded in 2023 by Eric Orwoll and Peter Csereby, according to a Sky News report that aired this week.

It is explicitly declared a whites‑only settlement, excluding Jewish people, followers of non‑European religions, and LGBTQ individuals, vetting members based on European ancestry via interviews and membership screening processes, Sky News reported.

About 40 people currently live on-site, and hundreds more worldwide have paid for membership. According to Sky News, some of the members are police officers and federal agents.

Those who pass the group's screening processes are offered to buy land as LLC shares tied to personal plots, which RTTL believes allows it to bypass civil rights housing laws.

Because RTTL has a legal status as a Private Members Association (PMA), the group claims that its LLC structure exempts it from the Fair Housing Act. Civil‑rights groups say the arrangement is likely unlawful."

The Guardian: Missionaries using secret audio devices to evangelise Brazil's isolated peoples

Exclusive: Solar-powered units reciting biblical passages have appeared in the Javari valley, despite strict laws protecting Indigenous groups.

"Missionary groups are using audio devices in protected territories of the rainforest to attract and evangelise isolated or recently contacted Indigenous people in the Amazon. A joint investigation by the Guardian and Brazilian newspaper O Globo reveals that solar-powered devices reciting biblical messages in Portuguese and Spanish have appeared among members of the Korubo people in the Javari valley, near the Brazil-Peru border.

Drones have also been spotted by Brazilian state agents in charge of protecting the areas. The gadgets have raised concerns about illegal missionary activities, despite strict government measures designed to safeguard isolated Indigenous groups."

" ... The first device uncovered, a yellow and grey mobile phone-sized unit, mysteriously appeared in a Korubo village in the Javari valley recently. The gadget, which recites the Bible and inspirational talks by an American Baptist, can do so indefinitely, even off-grid, thanks to a solar panel. Up to seven of the units were reported by local people, but photo and video evidence were obtained for just one."

CultNEWS101 Articles: 3/25/2025 (Jehovah's Witnesses, Legal, Brazil, Legionaries of Christ, Book Review, 764)

Jehovah's Witnesses, Legal, Brazil, Legionaries of Christ, Book Review, 764

Correio: Former Jehovah's Witnesses prepare lawsuit against religious organization in Brazil

"Former members of Jehovah's Witnesses are gathering documents to sue the religious organization in Brazil, accusing it of practices such as covering up cases of pedophilia, pressuring people to avoid higher education, public humiliation and what they call "inducing suicide" — referring to the prohibition of blood transfusions, even in life-threatening situations. The lawsuit, which could include up to 28 dissidents, seeks compensation for moral damages. The information was released in a report by UOL.

Among the main complaints is the practice of ostracism, which forces believers to cut ties with family and friends who leave the religion. This policy led Norway to cancel the church's registration in the country in 2021, a fact that inspired Brazilian dissidents to seek similar measures here. "It's as if I had been buried alive," says Ester Lopes Bueno, 42, who has not spoken to her family since leaving the church in 2019.

Reports of sexual abuse are also common among former members. Psychologist Lucas Vasconcelos, 24, claims he was molested at age 15 by a church leader who made him drunk until he lost consciousness. When he woke up, he says he found marks of abuse on his body. Journalism student Mirela Costa, 25, reports having been sexually abused at ages 10 and 12 by two church members and says she was not treated as a victim. "The second time, they asked me if I wasn't in love with the abuser," she says.

The organization, in turn, denies the accusations. In a statement, it stated that it considers sexual abuse "a malicious and repugnant act" and that it complies with the law by reporting cases to the authorities. Regarding ostracism, it argues that "followers should limit contact with the person who is removed from the congregation." Regarding the prohibition of blood transfusions, spokesman Laércio Ninelli highlighted that the practice is based on "biblical instruction" and has been recognized as a right by the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

Another point of conflict is the devaluation of higher education. The organization discourages believers from attending college, claiming that this could expose them to "moral and spiritual dangers." Lara Prado, 27, who left the church at 23, regrets not having followed her dream of studying history or journalism. "I lost everyone I knew. And, most of all, I lost my mother. She is alive, but she treats me as if I were dead," she says.

The lawsuit is also expected to address the ban on blood transfusions, which the dissidents call "inducing suicide." Jacira Araújo, 72, showed a notarized document in which she renounces the procedure. "I have legalized my death in a notarized document. This is a sacrifice of life," she said. Ninelli countered, stating that refusing a transfusion is a guaranteed right and that the church does not induce suicide.

The organization maintains its position, stating that the accusations come from "people making false and slanderous statements." Meanwhile, former members remain mobilized, seeking justice and reparations for the impacts they claim to have suffered."

Readers House: Kevin O'Sullivan Shares His Journey of Resilience, Writing, and Psychological Insight

"From Ireland to Australia: A Journey of Self-Discovery

Kevin O'Sullivan discusses his literary journey, from A Good Boy to Cheaper than Therapy, sharing insights on storytelling, psychology, resilience, and the power of reclaiming one's narrative through writing.

Kevin O'Sullivan is a writer of remarkable depth and honesty, a storyteller who weaves together personal history, psychological insight, and an unflinching curiosity about the human experience. His work spans poetry, memoir, and fiction, each piece infused with a profound understanding of the resilience of the human spirit. Born and raised in Ireland, Kevin's journey has taken him across continents—from the strict confines of a religious order to the liberating landscapes of Australia, where he now calls home.

His memoir A Good Boy (Atelier Books, 2022) is an extraordinary account of survival, self-discovery, and the courage to break free from an oppressive past. In it, he recounts his early years in the Legionaries of Christ and his eventual escape, a story that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. His forthcoming second volume, Cheaper than Therapy, promises to be just as compelling, chronicling the formative years that shaped his path as a psychologist and writer.

Beyond his literary pursuits, Kevin has spent decades as a clinical and forensic psychologist, bringing the same depth of empathy and understanding to his therapeutic work as he does to his writing. His insight into the human psyche, shaped by both personal trials and professional expertise, makes his reflections on belief, resilience, and identity especially compelling."

The Fifth Estate: Exposing 764: On the trail of an extremist 'cult' of online predators (video)

"'764/ is a global cult of online predators — many are teenagers targeting vulnerable children. They coerce minors to self-harm and have even plotted acts of mass violence. Police are struggling to contain what's being called a growing terror threat."

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Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses in Brazil Fight Against Social Ostracism and Seek Dialogue

Discover the stories of Jefferson Alexandrino de Lima and Fabiano de Amo, who challenge the practice of shunning in religious communities. Their experiences shed light on the need for dialogue, respect, and inclusivity.

Saboor Bayat
February 28, 2024

In 2008, Jefferson Alexandrino de Lima's life took a significant turn after joining the Jehovah's Witnesses in Pernambuco, Brazil. Embracing the faith fully, he ascended to roles of responsibility within the community, dedicating years to its service. Yet, by 2020, questioning internal guidelines led to a drastic change, marking the beginning of his social ostracization. This experience of being treated as deceased by friends, family, and community leaders pushed Lima, now a psychology graduate, to explore the depths of 'Religious ostracism and depression' in his academic thesis. Concurrently, Fabiano de Amo, sharing a similar journey of faith and exit, initiated a virtual petition advocating for the rights and respectful treatment of disaffiliated members.

Understanding the Impact of Ostracism

Lima's academic pursuit sheds light on the psychological ramifications of being ostracized by a religious community. His thesis, rooted in personal experience, aims to highlight the profound effects such exclusion can have on mental health, specifically focusing on depression among former Jehovah's Witnesses. This body of work not only contributes to academic discourse but also offers a beacon of understanding and validation for others enduring similar isolation.

The Push for Change and Dialogue

Amo's virtual petition represents a collective call to action from those who have left the faith, seeking to bridge the divide between current and former Jehovah's Witnesses. This movement emphasizes the need for dialogue, freedom, and mutual respect, challenging the practice of shunning those who choose to leave. It is a testament to the resilience and solidarity among ex-members, striving for a future where personal faith decisions do not result in social exclusion.

Institutional Response and the Way Forward

Despite these allegations, the institution overseeing Jehovah's Witnesses in Brazil maintains that leaving the faith is a matter of personal choice and insists that it does not encourage the severing of family or community ties. This stance, however, contrasts with the experiences shared by Lima, Amo, and others, highlighting a disconnect between official statements and lived realities. As this dialogue unfolds, the broader community is urged to reflect on the principles of understanding and compassion, paving the way for a more inclusive approach to faith and belonging.

The stories of Jefferson Alexandrino de Lima and Fabiano de Amo underscore a critical conversation about religious identity, belonging, and the human right to choose one's path. Their courage in facing ostracism head-on, coupled with their efforts to foster change, signals a hopeful shift towards inclusivity and respect within religious communities and beyond.

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/brazil/ex-jehovahs-witnesses-in-brazil-fight-against-social-ostracism-and-seek-dialogue

Evangelicalism & Brazil: The religious movement that spread through a national team

Marcus Alves
BBC Sport
March 21, 2022

It was derby day in Belo Horizonte, but that wouldn't change anything. Joao Leite believed he had a mission assigned to him by Jesus Christ: to spread God's word among other football players.

So that afternoon in December 1982, just like he'd done for every match for the past three years, the Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper randomly approached an opponent before the big game started.

"Jesus loves you and I have a gift for you," he told Cruzeiro keeper Carlos Gomes as he presented him with a copy of the Bible.

At the time, Gomes found it all a little strange given the circumstances. He even admitted to feeling in some way angry as he was handed the book.

But that initial feeling later changed and he did actually join Leite's religious movement - Athletes of Christ. He was far from the only convert.

An association of evangelical Christian sportspeople, Athletes of Christ counted some of the most influential people in Brazilian football among its membership.

At their first meeting they were four in number. That would grow to about 7,000 across 60 countries, including high-profile footballers such as 2007 Ballon d'Or winner Kaka and ex-Bayern Munich centre-back Lucio.

"It all began with Alex Dias Ribeiro, a Formula 1 driver who competed with 'Jesus Saves' slogans on his cars," Leite, who played five times for Brazil, tells BBC Sport.

"I decided to do the same and played with 'Christ Saves' on my shirt, but then the Brazilian Football Association banned it and threatened my team Atletico with a points deduction.

"It was then that I started to give Bibles to other players. But they were difficult times - there was so much prejudice against evangelical players. Not even the national team felt like a comfortable environment. It was not easy for me."

In 1980, around when Leite set out on his "mission", 88.9% of Brazil's population identified as Catholics. Evangelicalism - a movement within Protestant Christianity - accounted for 6.6%.

The balance has since changed considerably. Research from Datafolha, a polling institute, put those respective figures at 50% and 31% in 2021.

Brazil remains the world's largest Catholic nation, but by 2032 it's predicted evangelical churches will be drawing more worshipers in the country.

From 2018: Evangelical Brazilians to make or break presidential election

When Leite retired from football in 1992, the Athletes of Christ movement was going from strength to strength.

The association had its own TV show in Argentina, presented by ex-Brazil midfielder Paulo Silas and aired three times a week. They even tried, in vain, to convert Diego Maradona.

One of their most prominent figures, Brazil right-back Jorginho, also handed out Bibles to opponents when captaining his club side Bayer Leverkusen, whom he left for Bayern Munich in 1992.

Two years later during the 1994 World Cup, he was one of six evangelical footballers in the Brazil team that beat Italy in a shoot-out to win the final. Five of them formed a circle in the centre of the pitch and thanked God after Roberto Baggio's penalty flew over the bar. The sixth member was celebrating in his six-yard box.

"When Baggio picked up the ball I had no doubt we would win," goalkeeper Taffarel said afterwards. "Anyone who believes in God will never lose to someone who believes in Buddha."

The image of Taffarel, now a Liverpool goalkeeping coach, celebrating with his arms raised to the heavens in front of a dejected Baggio, a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, served as the cover of the book 'Quem Venceu o Tetra?' (Who won the fourth title?).

It included testimony from the players giving credit to God for the victory, which was criticised by legendary coach Mario Zagallo. It marked a turning point.

The Athletes of Christ movement no longer enjoys the popularity it once had. But evangelicalism continues to spread rapidly within Brazil and its influence within the national team has only increased since 1994.

Whereas Leite encountered some hostility towards his faith within the national set-up in the 1980s, nowadays evangelical pastors are granted special access to team camps. They rely on donations from players to travel and hold services in separate rooms designated by the Brazilian FA. In some cases, pastors have even become part of players' entourages.

During the 2002 World Cup - which Brazil also won - defender Lucio, Kaka and ex-Barcelona defender Edmilson would join in prayer.

"You could do whatever you wanted on your days off," Lucio told the magazine Revista Trip in 2010. "For me, those were moments of faith.

"We tried to discuss positive ideas on how to handle the enormous pressure we had to face in those games."

After winning the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, Lucio and other players wore white shirts with devout slogans such as 'I love God' and 'I belong to Jesus'.

Officials told them to remove them, but Lucio resisted and draped his around his shorts as he raised the trophy. The Danish FA publicly complained about the image and a warning letter was sent to Brazil by Fifa, whose rules ban "political, religious or personal statements".

The following year, voices from within Brazil started to question whether evangelicalism had too much influence on the national set-up.

Amid growing pressure for Ronaldinho, then playing for AC Milan, to be called up for the 2010 World Cup, ESPN magazine wrote on its cover page that he wouldn't go because "to play for the Selecao, football is not enough. You have to be a member of the 'igrejinha' (literally 'little church', also meaning 'clique' or 'closed shop')".

Ultimately, Ronaldinho wasn't included in the squad and after Brazil were knocked out by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals there were claims that a long-serving performance analyst had been replaced with somebody who had "more evangelical experience".

A few years later in 2015, the chief of security was fired by the Brazilian FA for allowing an evangelical service to take place inside the team's hotel without coach Dunga's knowledge.

"Today heaven was celebrating during our meeting because three lives accepted Jesus Christ and made the right decision," the pastor posted on social media. Liverpool duo Alisson Becker and Fabinho, former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz and Tottenham's Lucas Moura were among those present.

It's not only in football that evangelicals have grown in number and power in Brazil. It's also in politics.

Far-right president Jair Bolsonaro won the 2018 elections with the support of almost 70% of the evangelical community, including football stars like Neymar and Rivaldo.

Bolsonaro, who was born into a Catholic family and later re-baptised in the Jordan river by an evangelical pastor, promised to appoint a Supreme Court judge who was "terribly evangelical". And he has delivered.

When in December 2021 Andre Mendonca, an attorney and evangelical pastor, was confirmed for the role, a video of first lady Michele Bolsonaro shouting 'Glory to God' and speaking in tongues went viral.

While acting as attorney general, Mendonca had used verses from the Bible to defend the reopening of churches during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said his appointment was, "one small step for man, one giant step for evangelicals".

The evangelical expansion in politics can be traced back to 1986, when a rumour that Brazil was considering making Catholicism its only official religion started to spread. That year, 32 evangelical federal deputies were elected. Now there are 105 such deputies, as well as 15 senators.

It's not unusual to find some of them holding services at the Chamber of Deputies. When former leader Dilma Rousseff was impeached in 2016, 58 legislators dedicated their vote to God.

Critics link evangelicalism in politics with a strengthening of the conservative agenda and a rise in intolerance that does not leave room for those of other religious beliefs, especially those of African origin, to express themselves.

While Bolsonaro's national approval rating recently dropped to 22%, with the next presidential elections set for 2 October, many evangelical footballers like Neymar remain loyal and are seen as playing a key role in boosting his appeal.

Former Brazil international Walter Casagrande, now a pundit, has criticised the Paris St-Germain forward, claiming he's become Bolsonaro's "vassal".

So when Bayer Leverkusen striker Paulinho scored for Brazil in a 4-2 win over Germany at last year's Olympic Games, it was interesting to note his celebration.

Taking a stand against religious persecution, the 21-year-old made the gesture of an archer in homage to Oxossi, his orixa (a spirit deity) in the Candomble religion.

A mixture of traditional Yoruba, Fon and Bantu beliefs originating from different regions in Africa, Candomble has long been practised in Brazil, in the past often in secret. Even now it still comes under occasional attack from radical evangelicals, who regard the religion to be satanic.

But Paulinho seemed determined to remind others back home that there is still room for all religions in Brazil - and in the national team.



https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60483820

CultNEWS101 Articles: 2/16/2022 (Lawrence Ray, Legal, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Podcast, John of God, Brazil)

Lawrence Ray, Legal, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Podcast, John of God, Brazil

Daily News: Accused acolyte of Sarah Lawrence sex cult leader served as his madam: feds

"A devotee of a Sarah Lawrence College cult leader recorded him beating a victim in a Manhattan hotel and served as a madam in his sick sex ring, prosecutors charge in new court papers.

The role of Isabella Pollok — who was indicted alongside Lawrence Ray in 2021 for serving as his "trusted lieutenant" in the creepy cult — was thrown into sharp relief in a Manhattan Federal Court letter filed Monday. Prosecutors wrote that Pollok stood apart from other young victims, giving the most detailed description yet of her alleged participation in Ray's scheme.

"In contrast with the other college roommates who became the defendant's victims, Pollok became his trusted lieutenant within the Enterprise, acting as his lead agent in carrying out extortion, sex trafficking and money laundering for the benefit of the Enterprise," Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon wrote.

Pollok, 30, was so committed to Ray that she arranged prostitution dates for one of his victims — and then reveled in Ray's beating of that same victim, prosecutors wrote."

SI Live: Former Staten Island priest charged with molesting Pa. boy, report says

"A former Staten Island priest has been charged with molesting a Philadelphia boy decades ago, according to a report.

The Rev. James Garisto, 73, was arrested Thursday and charged with endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors and indecent assault, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. He is accused of attacking the child hundreds of times from 1995 to 2002, according to the report."

Butterflies and Bravery: Lost In Salvation: Abandoned in the Name of God

"Our guest this week shares her enthralling story of overcoming incredible odds. When her parents felt called to "serve the Lord" in another country, Joyce and her younger brother were abandoned in Brazil. While Joyce was able to navigate and survive the cult, her brother had a difficult time surrendering himself completely to the cult teachings. He was a rebel, and they did not like rebels. After severe and cruel punishment didn't work, he bounced around from commune to commune, eventually ending up on the streets of Brazil. Joyce shares the heart breaking story of the unforgettable events that followed and how she learned to stand on her own feet."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

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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.

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

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

CultNEWS101 Articles: 2/27/2022 (John of God, Brazil, Podcast, Polygamy, Church of Latter-day Saints, Kingstons, Women, Lioness)

John of God, Brazil, Podcast, Polygamy, Church of Latter-day Saints, Kingstons, Women, Lioness 

9News: 'Do You Believe in Miracles?' How celebrity faith healer was exposed as rapist and abuser

"Over four decades, he worked as a celebrity faith healer in Abadiânia, a small town in central Brazil.

It was there - conducting bizarre and unproven medical procedures - that João Teixeira de Faria became known as John of God, building a legion of believers across the world, including a band of loyal followers in Australia who were happy to open their wallets for his supposed miracle-giving touch and ethereal blessings.

Each week, people from all corners of the globe flocked in their thousands to John of God's compound, Casa de Dom Inacio, 130km south-west of Brasilia.

There, dressed in all white, many hoped to find a cure for cancer, blindness or to stand and rise from their wheelchairs.

Faria's rising fame was elevated to a new trajectory, courtesy of some Hollywood star dust, when Oprah Winfrey came calling in 2010 for a series titled "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

In a since-deleted column on oprah.com, Winfrey wrote how she was overwhelmed by the experience of seeing Faria cutting into the breast of a woman without anaesthesia and that she left feeling "an overwhelming sense of peace".

That appearance on Oprah's mega platform ensured John of God attracted even more international attention, with Faria's faith healing compound reportedly luring celebrities and stars, including supermodel Naomi Campbell and Brazilian footballer Ronaldo.

In 2012 Oprah Winfrey traveled to visit de Faria to record a special for her talk show, Super Soul Sunday. She told Brazilian media at the time that the experience was overwhelming. "It was so strong that I had to sit down because I felt like I was going to pass out," she told Band TV Goiania. (Supplied)"John of God is not a surgeon, he is not a trained doctor," Michael

But it was regular people - often vulnerable - who were John of God's bread and butter.

It was the stream of those visitors which allowed Faria to amass a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars before his world caved in under an avalanche of explosive accusations that he had sexually abused hundreds of women, and claims he had operated an international baby-trafficking ring from his compound.

Among his followers, Faria became famous for conducting "psychic surgeries" that he said could cure diseases, including cancer.

The "psychic surgeries" involved supernatural invisible procedures using only the power of what Faria called the "Entity" - some kind of divine connection - to cure illnesses."

Maxwell's Kitchen Podcast: Episode 57 - Ashlen Hilliard

"In this episode, Ashlen and Maxwell discuss Polygamy, hyper-conservative, Catholicism, Utah, Salt Lake City, Kaysville, Mormon, LDS, Church of Latter-day Saints, trying to convert people to different religions, Alexander Campbell, Joseph Smith, colonialism, hermeneutical methodology, recruiting people to the church, evangelism at Temple Square, polygamist groups, Kingstons, similar to the Mafia, preserving the bloodline, Aryan, marrying young girls off early, inbreeding, white supremacy, tracking devices, and trying to save women leaving these groups."

Protocol: Meet the women bringing tech's worst secrets out of the shadows

Here's how a two-person startup became a powerful source for holding major companies accountable.

"Nearly two years before Better.com CEO Vishal Garg fired 900 workers in a phone call that made him infamous as one of 2021's worst bosses, half a dozen of his employees got on the phone with two women at a tiny startup in Brooklyn, New York to talk about the problems with Garg.

Garg didn't magically become a pariah on that day he fired 10% of his workforce without apology or warning. Ariella Steinhorn and Amber Scorah knew just how miserable his workers were in 2020 — before the pandemic began — because they sit at one end of a vast whisper network of internet-savvy workers who share gossip and tips about how to take your (usually horrible) workplace story and bring it into the public light, without going to traditional journalists.

The whispers go a little something like this: Scared of your non-disclosure agreement? Need legal help? Don't trust reporters? Lioness sells itself as the destination for those who just really want to share their story with someone. With very little advertising and no search engine optimization — their website is very hard to find on Google — Steinhorn and Scorah have achieved a word-of-mouth reputation that leads a few dozen people every week to reach out about a problem at work.

Coordinated groups of legal, strategy and media teams for tech whistleblowers started to emerge in the late years of the Obama administration (think Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning), according to Delphine Halgand-Mishra, the founding and executive director of a whistleblower support organization called The Signals Network. (The Signals Network was founded in late 2017.) Prominent whistleblowers like Frances Haugen and ex-Pinterest employee Ifeoma Ozoma made the importance of a coordinated legal and media strategy well-understood across the tech industry specifically, Halgand-Mishra said.

Lioness is one of the newer entrants to the developing whistleblower support space. Though most organizations like The Signals Network fund themselves through grants in a nonprofit model, Lioness is funded primarily by paid partnerships with law firms. Law firms pay Lioness as a partner, and Lioness will refer clients to their attorneys for help and receive pro bono legal advice when they need it. Though Lioness has received venture funding offers, the women turned down the investments because they want full control over their work.

Scorah and Steinhorn said it's not exactly a lucrative job. "We always say, this would be the perfect job for a trust-fund kid," Scorah said (which neither of them are, they clarified). And they aren't immune from trying to make a buck off a hype cycle; they minted a non-fungible token for the art attached to one essay on their platform as an experimental funding source, and they are now accepting donations in cryptocurrency. "Whomever buys the NFT, we don't know who they are necessarily. They don't have any control over us," Steinhorn said. "There is so much money sloshing around in that ecosystem, if someone were to buy it, it could be a revenue stream for us that doesn't conflict us." Lioness is also exploring documentary film projects, which tend to be more lucrative avenues than written stories for companies in the media industry."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultEducationEvents.com

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.

Facebook

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Cults101.org resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics.

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

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

'Do You Believe in Miracles?' How celebrity faith healer was exposed as rapist and abuser

Mark Saunokonoko
9News
January 3, 2022

Over four decades, he worked as a celebrity faith healer in Abadiânia, a small town in central Brazil.

It was there - conducting bizarre and unproven medical procedures - that João Teixeira de Faria became known as John of God, building a legion of believers across the world, including a band of loyal followers in Australia who were happy to open their wallets for his supposed miracle-giving touch and ethereal blessings.

Each week, people from all corners of the globe flocked in their thousands to John of God's compound, Casa de Dom Inacio, 130km south-west of Brasilia.

There, dressed in all white, many hoped to find a cure for cancer, blindness or to stand and rise from their wheelchairs.

Faria's rising fame was elevated to a new trajectory, courtesy of some Hollywood star dust, when Oprah Winfrey came calling in 2010 for a series titled "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

In a since-deleted column on oprah.com, Winfrey wrote how she was overwhelmed by the experience of seeing Faria cutting into the breast of a woman without anaesthesia and that she left feeling "an overwhelming sense of peace".

That appearance on Oprah's mega platform ensured John of God attracted even more international attention, with Faria's faith healing compound reportedly luring celebrities and stars, including supermodel Naomi Campbell and Brazilian footballer Ronaldo.

In 2012 Oprah Winfrey traveled to visit de Faria to record a special for her talk show, Super Soul Sunday. She told Brazilian media at the time that the experience was overwhelming. "It was so strong that I had to sit down because I felt like I was going to pass out," she told Band TV Goiania. (Supplied)"John of God is not a surgeon, he is not a trained doctor," Michael

But it was regular people - often vulnerable - who were John of God's bread and butter.

It was the stream of those visitors which allowed Faria to amass a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars before his world caved in under an avalanche of explosive accusations that he had sexually abused hundreds of women, and claims he had operated an international baby-trafficking ring from his compound.

Among his followers, Faria became famous for conducting "psychic surgeries" that he said could cure diseases, including cancer.

The "psychic surgeries" involved supernatural invisible procedures using only the power of what Faria called the "Entity" - some kind of divine connection - to cure illnesses.

Faria's other surgeries were much less whimsical.

He would slice people open without anaesthesia or push forceps deep inside the noses of patients who were willing to trust him with tools usually reserved for the hands of trained surgeons, which Faria was most definitely not.

Thousands of Australians, some terminally ill or suffering from debilitating sicknesses, reportedly visited his compound over the years, despite critics arguing the faith healer was nothing more than a charlatan, fleecing his believers for millions of dollars.
Crystal beds, blessed pills and cash

John of God's entire compound was something of a cash cow.

An Australian 60 Minutes investigation in 2014 found visitors to the compound were prescribed sessions on crystal beds, costing $25, which were believed to earn John of God $1.8 million a year.

From a John of God pharmacy, blessed water in standard plastic bottles was sold for $1 and blessed herbal pills $25 a bottle.

It is estimated the pills generated sales of $40,000 a day, a haul of more than $14 million over one year.

An Australian doctor who travelled with 60 Minutes tested the pills and found they were nothing more than simple passionflower herbal supplements.

But Australians didn't always need to make the long and expensive pilgrimage to Brazil to meet Faria.

In 2014, he came to them.

That year, despite concerns from NSW Fair Trading, the John of God roadshow rolled into Sydney, where an estimated 6000 people paid $295 for a day ticket, or $795 for the full three-day experience.

John of God flew back to Brazil with his bank account boosted by a seven-figure deposit.
Sexual abuse allegations hit like tidal wave

But in 2018, John of God's self-proclaimed divine touch was being questioned and put under the spotlight.

Claims of sexual abuse at Faria's compound had swirled years before a tidal wave of women went public with their stories.

In 2014, 60 Minutes had even put Faria on the spot with questions about his alleged sexual abuse, which he ignored, fleeing the interview and walking away from cameras.

But there was to be no escaping what was coming.

By early 2019, more than 250 women, including Faria's daughter, had come forward to allege abuse that ranged from being inappropriately touched during treatments to rape.

Through his lawyer, Faria denied all accusations and was adamant there was no evidence to back up the claims.

But police and prosecutors pushed on, and the mounting accusations turned the then 77-year-old spiritual guru into Brazil's first major figure to go down in the #metoo era.

In a damning account of her father, Faria's daughter described him a "monster".

And Zahira Lieneke Mous, a Danish choreographer, recounted how Faria had chosen to treat the trauma of her past sexual abuse.

During a first consultation, she said he placed her hands on his penis, and in a second encounter penetrated her from behind.

On 16 December 2018, as the number of sexual abuse accusations climbed to 600, Faria surrendered himself to the police.

Court documents showed that John of God tried to withdraw nearly $12 million from his bank accounts before he gave himself up.

In December 2019, Faria was handed the first of several sentences, jailed for 19 years and four months for four rapes of different women.

More convictions followed, with latest media reports in Brazil stating Faria has now been sentenced to a total of more than 63 years.

https://www.9news.com.au/world/joao-teixeira-de-faria-what-happened-to-john-of-god-after-claims-of-sex-abuse/91055ac8-b277-441f-bbd0-98845d8e68a8

CultNEWS101 Articles: 1/13/2022 (John of God, Brazil, Legal, Sexual Abuse, Twelve Tribes, Flow)

John of God, Brazil, Legal, Sexual Abuse, Twelve Tribes, Flow

9NEWS: 'Do You Believe in Miracles?' How celebrity faith healer was exposed as rapist and abuser

"Over four decades, he worked as a celebrity faith healer in Abadiânia, a small town in central Brazil.

It was there - conducting bizarre and unproven medical procedures - that João Teixeira de Faria became known as John of God, building a legion of believers across the world, including a band of loyal followers in Australia who were happy to open their wallets for his supposed miracle-giving touch and ethereal blessings.

Each week, people from all corners of the globe flocked in their thousands to John of God's compound, Casa de Dom Inacio, 130km south-west of Brasilia.

There, dressed in all white, many hoped to find a cure for cancer, blindness or to stand and rise from their wheelchairs.

Faria's rising fame was elevated to a new trajectory, courtesy of some Hollywood star dust, when Oprah Winfrey came calling in 2010 for a series titled "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

In a since-deleted column on Orpah . com, Winfrey wrote how she was overwhelmed by the experience of seeing Faria cutting into the breast of a woman without anaesthesia and that she left feeling "an overwhelming sense of peace"."

Independent: Everything we know about Twelve Tribes 'cult' living on land where Colorado fires allegedly began

"Authorities have narrowed possible ignition site of devastating fires to area occupied by Christian sect.

As investigators continued to probe the cause of devastating fires last week which levelled more than 1,000 structures northwest of Denver and burned 6,200 acres, they were zeroing in on a specific site - which is home to members of a fundamentalist fringe group called The Twelve Tribes.

Who are The Twelve Tribes?

The Twelve Tribes describes itself on the group website as "an emerging spiritual nation".

"We are a confederation of twelve self-governing tribes, made up of self-governing communities," the website proclaims. "By community, we mean families and single people who live together in homes and on farms. We are disciples of the Son of God, whom we call by His Hebrew name Yahshua.

" ... The Twelve Tribes has come under fire for its teachings on race and homosexuality in addition to its treatment of children.

According to a 2018 article in the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report, the organization is "a Christian fundamentalist cult ... little-known to much of the country".

It continues: "Beneath the surface lies a tangle of doctrine that teaches its followers that slavery was 'a marvelous opportunity' for Black people, who are deemed by the Bible to be servants of whites, and that homosexuals deserve no less than death.

"While homosexuals are shunned by the Twelve Tribes (though ex-members say the group brags about unnamed members who are "formerly" gay), the group actively proselytizes to African Americans, yet one of its Black leaders glorifies the early Ku Klux Klan.

"The Twelve Tribes tries to keep its extremist teachings on race from novice members and outsiders, but former members and experts on fringe religious movements who've helped its followers escape paint a dark picture of life in the group's monastic communities — especially for Black members, who must reconcile the appalling teachings on race with their own heritage and skin colour. "

On top of that, the group has been under investigation in the US for child labour violations; no charges were filed but the organisation did lose various contracts after questions were raised about its use of juvenile members in work. In Germany, the Twelve Tribes has butted heads with authorities over its practices and homeschooling, which is illegal in the country except for rare circumstances."

" ... Members of the Twelve Tribes' Boulder-area community live on land that has emerged as a focus of investigations into wildfires last Thursday that were the most devastating in Colorado history.

Despite initial reports that downed power lines had sparked the blazes - which swept through the region thanks to hurricane-force winds and dry conditions - Colorado authorities said over the weekend that telecommunications lines, not power lines, had been found.

Instead, video footage of a burning shed - combined with eyewitness accounts - raised questions about whether the fire originated on Twelve Tribes' land.

Neighbour Mike Zoltoswki told Colorado Newsline that he saw a blaze and went to the sect's property, meeting two men and seeing about seven children and five women, "where he estimated 20 to 25 people on average live at any given time".

"When I went over there to help them, their entire field was on fire," Mr Zoltowski said.

Given the tinderbox conditions, authorities had banned burning of any kind."

Science Alert: The Science of 'Flow States', Explained by a Cognitive Science Researcher

"Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's research on flow started in the 1970s. He has called it the "secret to happiness." Flow is a state of "optimal experience" that each of us can incorporate into our everyday lives. One characterized by immense joy that makes a life worth living.

In the years since, researchers have gained a vast store of knowledge about what it is like to be in flow and how experiencing it is important for our overall mental health and well-being. In short, we are completely absorbed in a highly rewarding activity – and not in our inner monologues – when we feel flow.

I am an assistant professor of communication and cognitive science, and I have been studying flow for the last 10 years. My research lab investigates what is happening in our brains when people experience flow. Our goal is to better understand how the experience happens and to make it easier for people to feel flow and its benefits.

What it is like to be in flow?
People often say flow is like "being in the zone". Psychologists Jeanne Nakamura and Csíkszentmihályi describe it as something more. When people feel flow, they are in a state of intense concentration. Their thoughts are focused on an experience rather than on themselves.

They lose a sense of time and feel as if there is a merging of their actions and their awareness. That they have control over the situation. That the experience is not physically or mentally taxing.

Most importantly, flow is what researchers call an autotelic experience. Autotelic derives from two Greek words: autos (self) and telos (end or goal). Autotelic experiences are things that are worth doing in and of themselves. Researchers sometimes call these intrinsically rewarding experiences. Flow experiences are intrinsically rewarding.

What causes flow?
Flow occurs when a task's challenge is balanced with one's skill. In fact, both the task challenge and skill level have to be high. I often tell my students that they will not feel flow when they are doing the dishes. Most people are highly skilled dishwashers, and washing dishes is not a very challenging task.

So when do people experience flow? Csíkszentmihályi's research in the 1970s focused on people doing tasks they enjoyed. He studied swimmers, music composers, chess players, dancers, mountain climbers and other athletes. He went on to study how people can find flow in more everyday experiences.

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

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

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CultNEWS101 Articles: 11/3/2021 (Brazil, Indigenous, Lev Tahor, Guatemala, Satanic Organization, Religious Freedom, Witchcraft)

Brazil, Indigenous, Lev Tahor, Guatemala, Satanic Organization, Religious Freedom, Witchcraft

Mongabay: Brazil court upholds ban on missionaries trying to contact isolated Indigenous

Brazil's highest court has upheld a ban on missionaries entering reserves that are home to isolated and recently contacted Indigenous people during the pandemic.

The decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Indigenous organizations against a law passed in July 2020 that allowed missionaries to remain inside these reserves despite the pandemic, in violation of Brazil's official policy in place since 1987.

According to Indigenous organizations, it's crucial to reaffirm the non-contact policy under the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro that has pushed to "integrate" Indigenous people into society, and has been cozy with the evangelical movement.

Besides the risk of disease spread, the presence of missionaries in these reserves undermines traditional cultures and social cohesion, and compels these nomadic communities to settle down, making the land more vulnerable to invasions by illegal ranchers and loggers, activists say.

Jerusalem Post: Extradition of senior Lev Tahor leaders to US from Guatemala approved

"A court in Guatemala has approved the extradition to the US of two senior leaders of the Lev Tahor ultra-Orthodox cult – brothers Yaakov Weingarten and Shmuel "Shmiel" Weingarten – where they face child exploitation offenses.

The Third Criminal Sentencing Court in Guatemala authorized the extradition of the two men on Thursday and Friday, after they were charged in April this year by the US attorney for the Southern District of New York for the kidnap of a 14-year old girl and for smuggling her across the US-Mexico border to reunite her with her adult husband.

According to media in Guatemala where the Lev Tahor cult is currently located, the court has verified that there are currently no legal proceedings against the Weingarten brothers and that the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry is therefore authorized to begin extradition proceedings.

It was reported the brothers intend to appeal the decision, with an attorney for the two describing the legal process against them as "persecution."

There have, however, been numerous charges and allegations against members of the cult for kidnapping, forced underage marriage, and various forms of child abuse.

Yaakov Weingarten was arrested in March this year during a police raid on the Lev Tahor compound, while Yoel and Shmuel Weingarten were arrested in a separate raid in April, all due to the charges against them in the Southern District of New York.

The extradition case against Yoel Weingarten has yet to be brought to court since the US authorities have reportedly not yet sent the relevant documents to their Guatemalan counterparts.

The cult has recently tried to move to Iran on several occasions to avoid its legal problems tied up in its child abuse and other criminal activities, but have been unsuccessful so far.

Relatives in Israel of children in the group have lobbied Israeli authorities to help prevent the group reaching Iran, where it would be harder to extract children from the cult."

WPVI: SATANISTS CONVINCE DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ALTER DRESS CODE

"A local Satanic organization has convinced a school district in Delaware County that its dress code was discriminatory against Satanists.

Joseph Rose, the founder of a local organization called Satanic Delco, says fellow Satanists with children attending schools within the Rose Tree Media School District made him aware of the verbiage in the dress code banning any clothing or gear that are "satanic in nature."

"The idea that a public school would allow religious expression in school, but choose to single out and prohibit the expression of one specific religion obviously seemed like a problem for us," Rose said."

USA Today: 'We're in the middle of a witch moment': Hip witchcraft is on the rise in the US

"On Halloween night, Charlene Dzielak will light candles and incense in front of an altar and invite her departed loved ones to join her in a "dumb supper," a feast eaten in silence out of reverence for the dead who can't speak.  

After a yearlong hiatus because of COVID-19, Dzielak is reuniting with her coven — or congregation of witches — in Old Bridge, New Jersey, to celebrate Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter. Pronounced "sow-in," Samhain, which is believed to have been the precursor to Halloween, literally means "summer's end" in Gaelic."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultEducationEvents.com

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.

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