Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 48
children were routinely tied up for minor transgressions such as talking back to adults and
taking candy without permission.
The Edgars founded the now defunct God’s Creation Outreach Ministry, in Kansas City,
and married when she was 15 and he 17. She is reputed to have been a charismatic leader.
Both she and Boyd, along with five other women, still face child abuse charges dating to
their time in God‘s Creation Outreach Ministry.
Neil Edgar defended himself saying he left discipline to his wife and that he would have
stopped her from going as far as she allegedly did if he had seen what was happening.
The defense spoke of how Christy Edgar was considered a prophet, and manipulated Boyd,
a church member since the age of eight, into ―believing she was doing what God Almighty
wanted.‖ Boyd‘s lawyer described her as a 20-year old woman who functions like a 12-year-
old. A former church member said Christy Edgar told them that the idea of binding as
punishment had come to her from God. It was, the lawyer said, a ―classic situation of
brainwashing.‖
Prosecutors did not allege that Brian was intentionally killed, but that the defendants were
guilty of first degree murder because the child died during an act of child abuse. The
prosecution wanted the jury to consider a charge for less serious crimes, but the judge
refused. (Tony Rizzo, Kansas City Star, Internet, 9/19 and 9/26/03)
House of Prayer
Leader Arrested
House of Prayer leader the Rev. Arthur Allen, Jr., convicted of child cruelty, has been
sentenced to two years in prison for violating his earlier probation sentence. Allen was
recently arrested after eluding authorities for five months following his failure to attend a
hearing to determine if his probation should have been revoked.
Allen and two other church members were convicted last year of cruelty to children in the
beatings of two young boys in the congregation. He was sentenced to 90-days in jail and 10
years‘ probation but refused to attend anger management counseling and objected to a
court order to stop whipping children with a belt. [Allen says that the harsh discipline he
metes out is biblically sanctioned.] (Saeed Ahmed, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Internet,
8/19/03 AP, Internet, 8/25/03)
Kabbalah Centre
Called Authoritarian
The Kabbalah Centre, which popularizes the Jewish mystical discipline of kabbalah, and
includes among its adepts a number of well-known entertainers and Hollywood
personalities, is being accused by critics of high-pressure solicitations, ostracizing members
who fall out of favor, and even undermining personal relationships.
The singer Madonna says that kabbalah — which purports to teach anyone how the spiritual
and physical laws of the universe work so that ―you will achieve greater harmony and
balance, and ultimately gain more control over what happens to you — is ―very punk rock.
It teaches that you are responsible for everything.‖
Marsha Tantros, 60, a retired mortgage broker from Media, PA, tells how she meditated on
the names of God in kabbalah's mystical book, the Zohar, for insight into her bad feelings
about an acquaintance. ―I was able to be detached,‖ she said, ―and get an ‗aha‘ moment,
and release [the feelings]. I really feel that the [Hebrew] letters [in the Zohar] are alive.‖
Another student told how her business improved when she took a Centre course on
―increasing prosperity.‖ Berg claims that kabbalah study can ensure good health.
children were routinely tied up for minor transgressions such as talking back to adults and
taking candy without permission.
The Edgars founded the now defunct God’s Creation Outreach Ministry, in Kansas City,
and married when she was 15 and he 17. She is reputed to have been a charismatic leader.
Both she and Boyd, along with five other women, still face child abuse charges dating to
their time in God‘s Creation Outreach Ministry.
Neil Edgar defended himself saying he left discipline to his wife and that he would have
stopped her from going as far as she allegedly did if he had seen what was happening.
The defense spoke of how Christy Edgar was considered a prophet, and manipulated Boyd,
a church member since the age of eight, into ―believing she was doing what God Almighty
wanted.‖ Boyd‘s lawyer described her as a 20-year old woman who functions like a 12-year-
old. A former church member said Christy Edgar told them that the idea of binding as
punishment had come to her from God. It was, the lawyer said, a ―classic situation of
brainwashing.‖
Prosecutors did not allege that Brian was intentionally killed, but that the defendants were
guilty of first degree murder because the child died during an act of child abuse. The
prosecution wanted the jury to consider a charge for less serious crimes, but the judge
refused. (Tony Rizzo, Kansas City Star, Internet, 9/19 and 9/26/03)
House of Prayer
Leader Arrested
House of Prayer leader the Rev. Arthur Allen, Jr., convicted of child cruelty, has been
sentenced to two years in prison for violating his earlier probation sentence. Allen was
recently arrested after eluding authorities for five months following his failure to attend a
hearing to determine if his probation should have been revoked.
Allen and two other church members were convicted last year of cruelty to children in the
beatings of two young boys in the congregation. He was sentenced to 90-days in jail and 10
years‘ probation but refused to attend anger management counseling and objected to a
court order to stop whipping children with a belt. [Allen says that the harsh discipline he
metes out is biblically sanctioned.] (Saeed Ahmed, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Internet,
8/19/03 AP, Internet, 8/25/03)
Kabbalah Centre
Called Authoritarian
The Kabbalah Centre, which popularizes the Jewish mystical discipline of kabbalah, and
includes among its adepts a number of well-known entertainers and Hollywood
personalities, is being accused by critics of high-pressure solicitations, ostracizing members
who fall out of favor, and even undermining personal relationships.
The singer Madonna says that kabbalah — which purports to teach anyone how the spiritual
and physical laws of the universe work so that ―you will achieve greater harmony and
balance, and ultimately gain more control over what happens to you — is ―very punk rock.
It teaches that you are responsible for everything.‖
Marsha Tantros, 60, a retired mortgage broker from Media, PA, tells how she meditated on
the names of God in kabbalah's mystical book, the Zohar, for insight into her bad feelings
about an acquaintance. ―I was able to be detached,‖ she said, ―and get an ‗aha‘ moment,
and release [the feelings]. I really feel that the [Hebrew] letters [in the Zohar] are alive.‖
Another student told how her business improved when she took a Centre course on
―increasing prosperity.‖ Berg claims that kabbalah study can ensure good health.
