Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 162
News Summaries (Vol. 3, No. 2)
Al-Arqam and Al-Maunah
Creating Blind Faith
Zabidi Mohamed, a former senior leader in the Southeast Asian cult Al-Arqam — led by
Asaari Muhammad, who claimed to receive instructions from the Prophet Muhammad — now
says: ―Before the followers of a group turn fanatical, they are guided into believing the
cause by charismatic leaders with sweet promises. ...People want shortcuts to becoming
good Muslims, just like they want to become instant millionaires. So groups like Al-Qaeda
exploit this weakness by saying the fastest way to heaven is through its jihad.‖ Zabidi, who
has written a book on the now disbanded Al-Arqam, was speaking with special reference to
Al-Maunah, a contemporary militant Islamic group in the region. (Reme Achmad, Straights
Times, Internet, 5/31/04)
Al-Muhajiroun
Alleged Bomb Plotter Brainwashed Says Family
The family of Omar Khyam, one of eight suspects in a bombing plot in Britain, says he was
recruited four years ago by the Al-Muhajiroun Muslim sect, taken to Pakistan, and
brainwashed by religious extremists.
Khan‘s uncle says: ―Omar was a normal kid until Al-Muhajiroun started preaching their
hatred around here. They preyed on boys at the mosque and even in the shopping centres,
getting them when they were young and impressionable. They showed them videos of the
injustices Muslims were suffering and then channeled their anger into hatred.‖ (Justine
Smith, The Mirror, Internet, 4/1/04)
Amish
Ruling against Keeping Horses
A Centre County (PA) judge has ruled two Amish men must not keep horses on their
property, which is zoned high-density, multi-family residential, because a Walker Township
ordinance says they must have more than one acre to do so. The judge agreed that the law
poses a burden on the men‘s freedom of religion — their beliefs forbid use of motor vehicles
— but cited countervailing health and safety concerns in his denial of the men‘s appeal for a
variance. (Erin L. Nissley, Centre Daily Times, Internet, 4/9/04)
Arthur Allen/House of Prayer
Minister Denied Parole on Abuse Conviction
The Rev. Arthur Allen, serving a two-year sentence in Georgia for whipping two boys in his
church, was denied parole because, said the state Pardons and Parole Board, ―he has
already proven‖ — by violating an earlier probationary period — that ―he cannot abide by
the conditions of community supervision.‖ Dozens of children in Allen‘s congregation were
taken into custody temporarily when their parents would not agree to prevent Allen from
whipping them. (AP, Internet, 5/19/04)
Children of Thunder
Guilty of Murder in “War Against Satan”
A Contra Costa County, CA, jury has found Justin Alan Helzer, a member of the ―cult-like‖
Children of Thunder, guilty of five murders and extortion. It was alleged that he and a
roommate joined with his charismatic older brother and leader, Glenn Helzer, to murder an
elderly couple with a hammer, eviscerate them, and dismember the bodies with a saw

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 163
before stuffing them in gym bags and dumping them into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
Delta. Glenn Helzer earlier pleaded guilty to the crimes.
The roommate testified that Glenn Helzer led the kidnapping of the murdered couple, for
whom he once acted as stockbroker, in order to extort $100,000 from them to finance his
money-making schemes. These included a prostitution ring that would use sex with
underage girls to blackmail stockbrokers, and an orphanage in Brazil — where he was once
a Mormon missionary — that would train children to kill Mormon leaders in Utah so he could
become the Mormon ―prophet.‖ This was allegedly part of wider scheme to prepare for the
Second Coming of Christ.
In the coming ―sanity‖ phase of the proceedings, Justin Helzer‘s attorneys will have to prove
that a mental disorder rendered him incapable of knowing right from wrong. One of his
attorneys will argue that brother Glenn may have altered Justin‘s personality during secret
Children of Thunder sessions. (Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 6/17/04
Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times, Internet, 6/17/04)
Psychiatrist Says Helzer Mentally Unsound
Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Raffle has now testified that Justin Helzer suffered from a ―shared
delusional disorder,‖ a very rare condition that occurs ―in the context of a close personal
relationship with someone [his brother Glenn Helzer] who already has an established
disorder.‖ The illness, Raffle said, would have rendered Justin unable to distinguish right
from wrong at the time of the murders. Defense attorney Charles Hoehn said the condition
stemmed from Justin‘s fear that he might otherwise lose his connection to Glenn Justin
believed his brother communicated with God. (Simon Read, Tri-Valley Herald, Internet,
6/29/04)
Prophet Accused of Murders Aimed to Take Over Mormon Church
Self-proclaimed prophet Glenn Taylor Helzer, 33, has pleaded guilty to masterminding
five murders in 2000. His roommate and admitted accomplice Dawn Godman said at the
trial of Helzer‘s brother Justin, in Contra Costa, CA, that the murders were part of a wider
scheme including a plan to use adopted Brazilian orphans who would, when they became
teenagers, kill leaders of the Mormon Church in Utah, which would then accept Helzer as its
head.
Godman told the court that Glen, who broke away from the Mormon Church some time ago,
believed he was fulfilling a prophecy from the Book of Mormon.
The trial focused on Glenn‘s charisma and alleged psychological control over his followers.
Godman recounted her troubled past, and told how joining the Mormon Church had given
her purpose in life. She met Glen at a church social in 1999 and came, like Justin, to believe
he was a prophet, an idea Glenn encouraged.
She testified that the three went to a Mormon temple in Oakland where Glenn laid out his
plan, which included defeating Satan and killing innocent people along the way. She though
it ―a great opportunity and a blessing ...to be part of this mission.‖ She never again
questioned Glenn, even as she committed murder. She says that long after her arrest she
believed Glen was ―working with the angels to free her for God‘s work.‖
―My breaking away from Taylor Helzer has been a continuous process for the last four years.
It‘s gone back and forth. It‘s been a struggle.‖ Regarding her belief that he is a prophet, the
prosecutor asked: ―You‘re still not sure, are you?‖ She replied: ―At times, no.‖ (Demian
Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 6/2/04)