Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2009, Page 63
must be more circumspect in accepting instructions from religious leaders and followers
when treating Jehovah‘s Witnesses. ―The Watchtower Society is still in the lawsuit, so that
means I can still bring forth expert testimony and evidence [that] when it comes to the
issue of consent, I can show ...that the involvement of the religious defendants removed
[Bethany‘s] consent.‖
Critics say that a program developed and taught in both after-school and day classes at
elementary schools in Sherman Oaks by Karen Berg, wife of the of the Los Allen Superior
Court Judge Dan Heath, in Indiana, authorized Dupont Hospital in March to inject a blood
substitute into the anemic daughter of a Jehovah’s Witnesses couple whose faith rejects
blood transfusions in favor of faith healing. But the judge reserved the right to transfuse
human blood if necessary to save the baby‘s life. A bill introduced in the Indiana legislature
a quarter-century ago, following numerous deaths among members of the now disbanded
Faith Assembly, would have made it a felony to deny a spouse or child medical care, even
for religious reasons, if lack of treatment caused serious injury or death. But the bill was
modified before passage it required only that people report situations in which children
need medical services. That law also provides a defense for parents who give ―spiritual
treatment.‖
British intelligence chiefs report that scores of youths have left the UK for ―jihad training‖ in
Somalia so that they can fight in a ―holy war‖ or train in camps. The number who have
emigrated has soared in recent years following the emergence of Somalia as an alternative
base for radical Islamic groups, including al-Qa‘ida. Earlier this year, a suicide bomber from
Ealing [in England] blew himself up in an attack in Somalia that killed more than 20
soldiers, although most would-be jihadists go to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sheikh Ahmed
Aabi, a Somali leader in north London, says: ―I‘m hearing it from parents. They say they
[their children] are joining the jihad. This is a big problem facing our community.‖
Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center‘s leader, Rabbi Philip Berg, is bringing religion into
public education. In one instance, the teacher of ―Spirituality for Kids‖—which aims to teach
children how to make wise choices—tells the students that their reward for figuring out the
rules of a game is ―greater satisfaction,‖ which brings ―spiritual power‖ from one‘s ―inner
light,‖ which is found ―in your heart.‖ The head of elementary school counselors for the Los
Angeles Unified School District says the classes are not religious, and she recommends
them. A 2008 Kabbalah Center-financed Rand Corporation study found that the class
improved children‘s social and study skills as well as leadership and communications, and
helped with behavioral problems. The mother of a child in one of the classes says: ―It was
really teaching a belief system as opposed to teaching situational ethics or ethics in general.
It was a way of approaching life, which I just didn‘t feel was appropriate for a public
school.‖
Leading Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Batzri condemned the warm welcome given Madonna by
Israeli government officials when she visited the country in September. Commenting on the
Roman Catholic singing star‘s study of Kabbalah in America, the rabbi said, ―No one can
study Torah unless he or she is converting to Judaism,‖ and, ―There is no connection
between what the singer learns and true Kabbalah ...No one can learn [Kabbalah] without
abstention‖ (referring to the sexual innuendos that infuse Madonna‘s performances). He
said stars are interested in Kabbalah because their sordid lifestyle makes them ―naturally
attracted to the holiness of Kabbalah‖ as they seek a purer way of life.
Since the court-ordered 2007 closing of its school, which then had some 150 students,
members of the Mission de l’Espirt-Saint, of Joliette, Québec, are either home-schooling
their children or sending them to secret schools in private homes. Members believe that the
world isn‘t round and that the sun is a reflection of Hell-fire. Authorities say inspection of
the school indicated that the group‘s children were not getting a proper basic education.
must be more circumspect in accepting instructions from religious leaders and followers
when treating Jehovah‘s Witnesses. ―The Watchtower Society is still in the lawsuit, so that
means I can still bring forth expert testimony and evidence [that] when it comes to the
issue of consent, I can show ...that the involvement of the religious defendants removed
[Bethany‘s] consent.‖
Critics say that a program developed and taught in both after-school and day classes at
elementary schools in Sherman Oaks by Karen Berg, wife of the of the Los Allen Superior
Court Judge Dan Heath, in Indiana, authorized Dupont Hospital in March to inject a blood
substitute into the anemic daughter of a Jehovah’s Witnesses couple whose faith rejects
blood transfusions in favor of faith healing. But the judge reserved the right to transfuse
human blood if necessary to save the baby‘s life. A bill introduced in the Indiana legislature
a quarter-century ago, following numerous deaths among members of the now disbanded
Faith Assembly, would have made it a felony to deny a spouse or child medical care, even
for religious reasons, if lack of treatment caused serious injury or death. But the bill was
modified before passage it required only that people report situations in which children
need medical services. That law also provides a defense for parents who give ―spiritual
treatment.‖
British intelligence chiefs report that scores of youths have left the UK for ―jihad training‖ in
Somalia so that they can fight in a ―holy war‖ or train in camps. The number who have
emigrated has soared in recent years following the emergence of Somalia as an alternative
base for radical Islamic groups, including al-Qa‘ida. Earlier this year, a suicide bomber from
Ealing [in England] blew himself up in an attack in Somalia that killed more than 20
soldiers, although most would-be jihadists go to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sheikh Ahmed
Aabi, a Somali leader in north London, says: ―I‘m hearing it from parents. They say they
[their children] are joining the jihad. This is a big problem facing our community.‖
Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center‘s leader, Rabbi Philip Berg, is bringing religion into
public education. In one instance, the teacher of ―Spirituality for Kids‖—which aims to teach
children how to make wise choices—tells the students that their reward for figuring out the
rules of a game is ―greater satisfaction,‖ which brings ―spiritual power‖ from one‘s ―inner
light,‖ which is found ―in your heart.‖ The head of elementary school counselors for the Los
Angeles Unified School District says the classes are not religious, and she recommends
them. A 2008 Kabbalah Center-financed Rand Corporation study found that the class
improved children‘s social and study skills as well as leadership and communications, and
helped with behavioral problems. The mother of a child in one of the classes says: ―It was
really teaching a belief system as opposed to teaching situational ethics or ethics in general.
It was a way of approaching life, which I just didn‘t feel was appropriate for a public
school.‖
Leading Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Batzri condemned the warm welcome given Madonna by
Israeli government officials when she visited the country in September. Commenting on the
Roman Catholic singing star‘s study of Kabbalah in America, the rabbi said, ―No one can
study Torah unless he or she is converting to Judaism,‖ and, ―There is no connection
between what the singer learns and true Kabbalah ...No one can learn [Kabbalah] without
abstention‖ (referring to the sexual innuendos that infuse Madonna‘s performances). He
said stars are interested in Kabbalah because their sordid lifestyle makes them ―naturally
attracted to the holiness of Kabbalah‖ as they seek a purer way of life.
Since the court-ordered 2007 closing of its school, which then had some 150 students,
members of the Mission de l’Espirt-Saint, of Joliette, Québec, are either home-schooling
their children or sending them to secret schools in private homes. Members believe that the
world isn‘t round and that the sun is a reflection of Hell-fire. Authorities say inspection of
the school indicated that the group‘s children were not getting a proper basic education.
