Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2006, Page 76
showing me truth. This is why I left [her fiancé and son]. It was not right by God for me to
be in that situation.‖
Central Church of the Holy God
Tamotsu Kin, leader of the Central Church of the Holy God, in Japan, has been
sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping seven girls he threatened with Hell if they
resisted or spoke out against him. He told them the rapes were a test of faith, and a
religious rite. The church once had 20 branches and some 3,000 adherents. Kin demanded
$300 from followers to finance church expansion and denounced those who failed to
contribute.
Chapel Hill Harvester Church
Bishop Earl Paul, 78-year-old founder of the Chapel Hill Harvester Church, in Decatur,
GA, who is now involved in his fourth sex scandal, is currently preaching to a fraction of his
once 12,000-strong congregation. One former congregant alleges in a lawsuit that he used
his religious influence, including the promise of salvation, to seduce her.
Colonia Dignidad
A Chilean judge is investigating the discovery of an unmarked grave, thought to contain
dozens of bodies, on the property of the former Colonia Dignidad settlement. Human
rights groups say the colony‘s leaders helped repress left-wing activists during the era of
military rule.
Former members of the Colonia Dignidad cult have published a full-page letter in a
leading Chilean newspaper apologizing and asking forgiveness for 40 years of child sex and
human rights abuses. They say Paul Schafer, who founded the commune in southern Chile
and settled it with 300 German immigrants, dominated their minds and bodies and molested
children. ―We have come to understand that our community lived its religious faith as a
hermetic sect which accepted the transformation of personalities of its members and made
them incapable of making decisions contrary to his wishes as sole leader,‖ they wrote.
Dahn Hak
Critics say that the Dahn Hak yoga organization, a psychological healing facility in Sedona,
AZ — with 600 centers worldwide — is harmful. ―People that I‘m counseling who have been
in this group show all the signs of symptoms of people in other mind-control cults,‖ says a
cult expert. The family of one former patient has filed a suit alleging that Julia Siverls was
drugged and killed by the group. Dahn Yoga was founded by Dr. Ill Chi Li, who has
designed devices that include ―little vibrating brains.‖ He also claims to have supernatural
powers.
Falun Gong
Denmark has granted ―a permanent home‖ to eight Falun Gong refugees who were being
held in Thailand following their demonstration in Bangkok against the alleged rape of two
Falun Gong practitioners by Chinese police in Hubei province. ..Practitioner Zhang Mengye,
who says he was brainwashed and tortured in detention, has appealed from exile in Taiwan
to his former classmate, Chinese President Hu Jintao, to respect the Chinese people‘s ―rights
and religious beliefs.‖ ...A prominent lawyer who has defended Falun Gong followers says
that security forces might be responsible for a recent attempt to kill him. ..Results of
searches using ―sensitive‖ terms on Google‘s English and Chinese search engines give
precedence to official Communist Party viewpoints, which are highly critical of Falun Gong
...Meanwhile, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has voted to condemn persecution
of the Falun Gong movement.
showing me truth. This is why I left [her fiancé and son]. It was not right by God for me to
be in that situation.‖
Central Church of the Holy God
Tamotsu Kin, leader of the Central Church of the Holy God, in Japan, has been
sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping seven girls he threatened with Hell if they
resisted or spoke out against him. He told them the rapes were a test of faith, and a
religious rite. The church once had 20 branches and some 3,000 adherents. Kin demanded
$300 from followers to finance church expansion and denounced those who failed to
contribute.
Chapel Hill Harvester Church
Bishop Earl Paul, 78-year-old founder of the Chapel Hill Harvester Church, in Decatur,
GA, who is now involved in his fourth sex scandal, is currently preaching to a fraction of his
once 12,000-strong congregation. One former congregant alleges in a lawsuit that he used
his religious influence, including the promise of salvation, to seduce her.
Colonia Dignidad
A Chilean judge is investigating the discovery of an unmarked grave, thought to contain
dozens of bodies, on the property of the former Colonia Dignidad settlement. Human
rights groups say the colony‘s leaders helped repress left-wing activists during the era of
military rule.
Former members of the Colonia Dignidad cult have published a full-page letter in a
leading Chilean newspaper apologizing and asking forgiveness for 40 years of child sex and
human rights abuses. They say Paul Schafer, who founded the commune in southern Chile
and settled it with 300 German immigrants, dominated their minds and bodies and molested
children. ―We have come to understand that our community lived its religious faith as a
hermetic sect which accepted the transformation of personalities of its members and made
them incapable of making decisions contrary to his wishes as sole leader,‖ they wrote.
Dahn Hak
Critics say that the Dahn Hak yoga organization, a psychological healing facility in Sedona,
AZ — with 600 centers worldwide — is harmful. ―People that I‘m counseling who have been
in this group show all the signs of symptoms of people in other mind-control cults,‖ says a
cult expert. The family of one former patient has filed a suit alleging that Julia Siverls was
drugged and killed by the group. Dahn Yoga was founded by Dr. Ill Chi Li, who has
designed devices that include ―little vibrating brains.‖ He also claims to have supernatural
powers.
Falun Gong
Denmark has granted ―a permanent home‖ to eight Falun Gong refugees who were being
held in Thailand following their demonstration in Bangkok against the alleged rape of two
Falun Gong practitioners by Chinese police in Hubei province. ..Practitioner Zhang Mengye,
who says he was brainwashed and tortured in detention, has appealed from exile in Taiwan
to his former classmate, Chinese President Hu Jintao, to respect the Chinese people‘s ―rights
and religious beliefs.‖ ...A prominent lawyer who has defended Falun Gong followers says
that security forces might be responsible for a recent attempt to kill him. ..Results of
searches using ―sensitive‖ terms on Google‘s English and Chinese search engines give
precedence to official Communist Party viewpoints, which are highly critical of Falun Gong
...Meanwhile, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has voted to condemn persecution
of the Falun Gong movement.
