Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 53
Microwaves and the End of the World
A caravan of vehicles carrying members of the Panawave Laboratory ―cult‖—which claims
thousands of members—wandered remote roads in central Japan for months and came into
popular view when a TV crew reported on them in late April.
White-robed followers believe that an undiscovered planet will soon knock the Earth off its
axis and that electromagnetic waves, from TV cameras for example, or directed by left-wing
guerillas, cause cancer. They say that their guru, Yuko Chino, contracted cancer from such
attacks and that they are searching for an area free from electricity pylons, where she can
recover.
Panawave beliefs seem to be an amalgam of Christianity, Buddhism, and science fiction
created in the 1980s by the ―beautiful and elegant‖ Chino, now 69, who was obsessed by
the notion that the Soviet Union would invade Japan. Chino‘s followers constructed facilities
in remote Fukui Prefecture in 1987 to protect her she became increasingly reclusive and ill
as the years passed. Followers have threatened to take revenge for her possible death with
the extermination ―of all mankind.‖ (BBC News, Internet, 5/6/03)
Fuki locals are not worried about Panawave, saying that the members are strange but
harmless. But ―right-wing‖ residents are upset because Panawave is ―giving anti-
communism a bad name.‖ (Davis McNeill, The Independent, Internet, 5/14/03)
Polygamy
Utah Bill to Curb Plural Marriages
The protests of former polygamous wives who have broken away from the institution is
prompting Utah, after years of ambivalence, to look closely at polygamists who marry
teenagers. There is a bill before the legislature that would provide heavy penalties against
any polygamist convicted of marring a girl under 18 and any religious leader who arranged
such a union.
The attorney general, who considers the marriages of these young women to involve child
abuse, said that the law would ―hopefully ...impact the practice of polygamy and say to
young girls that we‘re not turning a blind eye to their plight.‖ Polygamy is thriving in Utah
among fundamentalist Mormons, and the number of polygamous families in the state is
estimated at 50,000. (Michael Janofsky, New York Times, Internet, 2/28/03)
Rajneesh/Osho/Orange People
Accused of Luring Children
―Sannyasins,‖ members of the Orange People, followers of the movement begun by the
late Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, have been accused of trying to ―lure‖ children as young as
14 to attend a weekend residential youth retreat last December in Byron Bay, New South
Wales, Australia. The group, which once promoted free love among members, reportedly
has some 5,000 practitioners in the Byron Bay region.
The goal of the retreat, which did not take place due to insufficient registration, was to allow
people ―to support each other, to be unique and real, get high on being alive, express
ourselves with intensity and sensitivity, and enjoy creativity.‖ The Federal Minister for
Children and Youth Affairs, who is a local member of parliament, said parents should think
twice about allowing their children to attend any retreats.
The Sannyasins live on communal property, run alternative health courses and personal
development programs, and publish magazines, one of which features cover photos of
naked children with their parents. (Simon Kearney, Sunday Telegraph, Internet, 3/9/03)
Microwaves and the End of the World
A caravan of vehicles carrying members of the Panawave Laboratory ―cult‖—which claims
thousands of members—wandered remote roads in central Japan for months and came into
popular view when a TV crew reported on them in late April.
White-robed followers believe that an undiscovered planet will soon knock the Earth off its
axis and that electromagnetic waves, from TV cameras for example, or directed by left-wing
guerillas, cause cancer. They say that their guru, Yuko Chino, contracted cancer from such
attacks and that they are searching for an area free from electricity pylons, where she can
recover.
Panawave beliefs seem to be an amalgam of Christianity, Buddhism, and science fiction
created in the 1980s by the ―beautiful and elegant‖ Chino, now 69, who was obsessed by
the notion that the Soviet Union would invade Japan. Chino‘s followers constructed facilities
in remote Fukui Prefecture in 1987 to protect her she became increasingly reclusive and ill
as the years passed. Followers have threatened to take revenge for her possible death with
the extermination ―of all mankind.‖ (BBC News, Internet, 5/6/03)
Fuki locals are not worried about Panawave, saying that the members are strange but
harmless. But ―right-wing‖ residents are upset because Panawave is ―giving anti-
communism a bad name.‖ (Davis McNeill, The Independent, Internet, 5/14/03)
Polygamy
Utah Bill to Curb Plural Marriages
The protests of former polygamous wives who have broken away from the institution is
prompting Utah, after years of ambivalence, to look closely at polygamists who marry
teenagers. There is a bill before the legislature that would provide heavy penalties against
any polygamist convicted of marring a girl under 18 and any religious leader who arranged
such a union.
The attorney general, who considers the marriages of these young women to involve child
abuse, said that the law would ―hopefully ...impact the practice of polygamy and say to
young girls that we‘re not turning a blind eye to their plight.‖ Polygamy is thriving in Utah
among fundamentalist Mormons, and the number of polygamous families in the state is
estimated at 50,000. (Michael Janofsky, New York Times, Internet, 2/28/03)
Rajneesh/Osho/Orange People
Accused of Luring Children
―Sannyasins,‖ members of the Orange People, followers of the movement begun by the
late Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, have been accused of trying to ―lure‖ children as young as
14 to attend a weekend residential youth retreat last December in Byron Bay, New South
Wales, Australia. The group, which once promoted free love among members, reportedly
has some 5,000 practitioners in the Byron Bay region.
The goal of the retreat, which did not take place due to insufficient registration, was to allow
people ―to support each other, to be unique and real, get high on being alive, express
ourselves with intensity and sensitivity, and enjoy creativity.‖ The Federal Minister for
Children and Youth Affairs, who is a local member of parliament, said parents should think
twice about allowing their children to attend any retreats.
The Sannyasins live on communal property, run alternative health courses and personal
development programs, and publish magazines, one of which features cover photos of
naked children with their parents. (Simon Kearney, Sunday Telegraph, Internet, 3/9/03)
