Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2009, Page 71
belief systems. One approach—Stenger calls it ―Quantum theology‖—offers quantum physics
as a way for God to act in the world without violating natural laws. Transcendental
Meditation provides an example of this specious way of thinking. ―Quantum spirituality‖ is
equally untenable. It is rooted in the idea that quantum physics connects the human mind
to the universe, allowing people to create their own reality. But there is no evidence,
Stenger says, that the brain operates quantum mechanically.
Beatles Ringo Star and Sir Paul McCartney spoke earlier this year about what
Transcendental Meditation had done for them. They were appearing in a concert at Radio
City Music Hall, in New York City, organized by filmmaker David Lynch to help bring TM to a
million children. McCartney told the audience, ―It started for us when we met the Maharishi
in India, and it is going to get bigger and bigger and rule the world.‖ At a press conference,
Starr said, ―‖Over 40 years ago, we ended up in Rishikesh. That is where we hung out with
Maharishi. ..Since then, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, I have meditated. It‘s a gift
he gave me.‖
The University of New Hampshire‘s Diamond Library has mounted an exhibition of materials
bequeathed it by the late Betty Hill, who with her late husband Barney became the most
celebrated, and some say credible, supposed alien abductees in history. The lives of these
civil rights activists—who were invited guests at Lyndon Johnson‘s inauguration—changed
radically when, they said, they first encountered aliens, in 1961. The artifacts on exhibit in
the library include Mrs. Hill‘s voluminous diaries recounting her UFO sightings right up to
the time of her death in 2004. ―She seemed to see and hear UFOs everywhere.‖
White Supremacist activity is on the rise in the Phoenix area, one example being the
vandalization of a Hispanic family‘s home while they were away on vacation in Mexico. The
perpetrators completely ransacked the place, scrawled ―obscene juvenilia,‖ swastikas, and
KKK hats on the walls, and painted ―White Power‖ on a rug.
Agus Imam Solihin, leader of the 35-member cult Satia Piningit Weteng Buwono, went
on trial in Jakarta in May for allegedly ―inciting hatred and committing blasphemies against
one of the religions [Islam] observed [practiced] in Indonesia.‖ Prosecutors say that he:
claimed to have received, in a 1999 dream, ―spiritual guidance‖ from the country‘s first
president, Sukarno forced four couples to perform sex orgies— witnessed by him and two
teenage girls—calculated to test the participating couples‘ loyalty to him ―banned‖ a
woman, who subsequently died, from taking her medication and banned his Muslim
followers from praying and fasting.
Thousands of children in Nigeria, and great numbers in other parts of Africa and the rest of
the world similarly accused of witchcraft, are incarcerated, sometimes by their churches,
ostracized and abandoned by their communities, and suffer punishing exorcisms. Many of
the victims have traits that distinguish them—learning disabilities, stubbornness, and
ailments such as epilepsy, according to Gary Foxcroft, program director of Stepping Stones
Nigeria, a non-profit that helps so-called ―witch children.‖ The UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, who recognizes the problem, says, ―We are trying to see whether it is a neglected
protected issue [sic].‖ A Lagos, Nigeria, minister says he identifies in his dreams individuals
―suffering from witchcraft.‖ Aid organizations acknowledge that belief in witchcraft is
acceptable and popular in some communities they are simply opposed to the abuse it often
leads to. Foxcroft made a documentary last year entitled, ―Saving Africa‘s Witch Children.‖
Fifty yogis met in New York City recently to consider hiring a lobbyist and raising funds to
fight a state proposal to require certification of yoga teacher-training programs. Yoga
enthusiasts say autonomy is fundamental to what they do but state government wants a
piece of what is said to be a $6 billion industry nationwide, with 16 million practitioners. It
has been difficult to regulate yoga studios without appearing heavy-handed or infringing on
religious freedom. Last year, the state said training schools would face $50,000 fines if they
belief systems. One approach—Stenger calls it ―Quantum theology‖—offers quantum physics
as a way for God to act in the world without violating natural laws. Transcendental
Meditation provides an example of this specious way of thinking. ―Quantum spirituality‖ is
equally untenable. It is rooted in the idea that quantum physics connects the human mind
to the universe, allowing people to create their own reality. But there is no evidence,
Stenger says, that the brain operates quantum mechanically.
Beatles Ringo Star and Sir Paul McCartney spoke earlier this year about what
Transcendental Meditation had done for them. They were appearing in a concert at Radio
City Music Hall, in New York City, organized by filmmaker David Lynch to help bring TM to a
million children. McCartney told the audience, ―It started for us when we met the Maharishi
in India, and it is going to get bigger and bigger and rule the world.‖ At a press conference,
Starr said, ―‖Over 40 years ago, we ended up in Rishikesh. That is where we hung out with
Maharishi. ..Since then, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, I have meditated. It‘s a gift
he gave me.‖
The University of New Hampshire‘s Diamond Library has mounted an exhibition of materials
bequeathed it by the late Betty Hill, who with her late husband Barney became the most
celebrated, and some say credible, supposed alien abductees in history. The lives of these
civil rights activists—who were invited guests at Lyndon Johnson‘s inauguration—changed
radically when, they said, they first encountered aliens, in 1961. The artifacts on exhibit in
the library include Mrs. Hill‘s voluminous diaries recounting her UFO sightings right up to
the time of her death in 2004. ―She seemed to see and hear UFOs everywhere.‖
White Supremacist activity is on the rise in the Phoenix area, one example being the
vandalization of a Hispanic family‘s home while they were away on vacation in Mexico. The
perpetrators completely ransacked the place, scrawled ―obscene juvenilia,‖ swastikas, and
KKK hats on the walls, and painted ―White Power‖ on a rug.
Agus Imam Solihin, leader of the 35-member cult Satia Piningit Weteng Buwono, went
on trial in Jakarta in May for allegedly ―inciting hatred and committing blasphemies against
one of the religions [Islam] observed [practiced] in Indonesia.‖ Prosecutors say that he:
claimed to have received, in a 1999 dream, ―spiritual guidance‖ from the country‘s first
president, Sukarno forced four couples to perform sex orgies— witnessed by him and two
teenage girls—calculated to test the participating couples‘ loyalty to him ―banned‖ a
woman, who subsequently died, from taking her medication and banned his Muslim
followers from praying and fasting.
Thousands of children in Nigeria, and great numbers in other parts of Africa and the rest of
the world similarly accused of witchcraft, are incarcerated, sometimes by their churches,
ostracized and abandoned by their communities, and suffer punishing exorcisms. Many of
the victims have traits that distinguish them—learning disabilities, stubbornness, and
ailments such as epilepsy, according to Gary Foxcroft, program director of Stepping Stones
Nigeria, a non-profit that helps so-called ―witch children.‖ The UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, who recognizes the problem, says, ―We are trying to see whether it is a neglected
protected issue [sic].‖ A Lagos, Nigeria, minister says he identifies in his dreams individuals
―suffering from witchcraft.‖ Aid organizations acknowledge that belief in witchcraft is
acceptable and popular in some communities they are simply opposed to the abuse it often
leads to. Foxcroft made a documentary last year entitled, ―Saving Africa‘s Witch Children.‖
Fifty yogis met in New York City recently to consider hiring a lobbyist and raising funds to
fight a state proposal to require certification of yoga teacher-training programs. Yoga
enthusiasts say autonomy is fundamental to what they do but state government wants a
piece of what is said to be a $6 billion industry nationwide, with 16 million practitioners. It
has been difficult to regulate yoga studios without appearing heavy-handed or infringing on
religious freedom. Last year, the state said training schools would face $50,000 fines if they
