VOLUME 8 |ISSUE 1 |2017 3937
as it was during the rule of the Hindu god Ram, according
to mythological Hindu texts. Vartak, who holds a bachelor’s
degree in science, is the spokesman of Sanatan Sanstha,
a radical Hindu organization in India that aims to establish
the kingdom by 2023… The Hindu fringe group, with its
cult-like beliefs and behaviors, has a following in three states
in southwestern India. It has emerged as the prime suspect
behind the murders of three prominent secular thinkers in
recent years. Indian authorities in June arrested a Sanatan
member in connection with the 2013 assassination of activist
Narendra Dabholkar. In September, another Sanatan member
was arrested for the 2015 killing of author and politician
Govind Pansare, 81… Established as a charitable trust in 1990
by hypnotherapist Jayant Athavle, Sanatan is based in the
coastal state of Goa and maintains strict secrecy around the
ashrams it operates.” (Los Angeles Times, 08/07/16)
Mexico sees spike in death cult, demonic possession,
exorcisms
“One cleric who regularly performs exorcisms, Pastor Hugo
Alvarez, attributes the rise of demonic possessions to increased
dabbling in the occult, including black magic, Santeria,
witchcraft, sorcery, Satanism and especially the cult of Santa
Muerte. Alvarez, author of Deliverance: A Ministry for the
Church, said that ‘Santa Muerte is one of the trickiest and most
dangerous practices, since they present a saint, but there’s
a demon behind it. Satan’s greatest deceit is making people
believe he doesn’t exist,’ he said… In his visit to Mexico last
February, Pope Francis denounced the devotion to Santa
Muerte, telling the Mexican bishops that he was particularly
concerned about ‘those many persons who, seduced by the
empty power of the world, praise illusions and embrace their
macabre symbols to commercialize death.’ … The President
of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco
Ravasi, has also condemned the cult of the skeleton saint as
‘sinister and infernal’ and called for both Church and society to
mobilize against devotion to Saint Death. ‘It’s not religion just
because it’s dressed up like religion it’s a blasphemy against
religion,’ he said. ‘Everyone is needed to put the brakes on
this phenomenon, including families, churches and society in
its totality,” Ravasi said, adding that the Santa Muerte cult ‘is
the celebration of devastation and of hell.’” (13 Breitbart News,
09/29/16)
Ultra-Orthodox rabbis ban women from going to university
“Ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis have banned women from
going to university, The Independent has learned. The strict
Satmar sect issued the decree, seen by The Independent,
warning that university education for women is ‘dangerous.’
The decree was issued from the sect’s base in New York and
will apply to followers of the faith group around the world.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews follow a pre-enlightenment interpretation
of traditional Judaism and discourage interaction with the
modern or secular world. Men wear 19th century Eastern
European dress including long black coats and black hats, while
married women must dress modestly and cover their hair.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews estimates that there are
around 30,000 strictly Orthodox Jews living in the UK, of which
Satmar is the largest sect… It was condemned by Dr. Sharon
Weiss-Greenberg, Executive Director of the Jewish Orthodox
Feminist Alliance… ‘There are probably other factors at play,
but, ultimately, the results are devastating. Because people
from similar communities are not provided with a foundational
primary education, they cannot pursue higher education nor
careers. When one does not have access to education, career
opportunities are out of reach. It forces one to stay within the
community as everyone’s personal lives are tied up with their
professional lives as well.’” (The Independent, 08/23/16)
Child-abuse Royal Commission: Children lived in fear of
yoga ashram leader
“The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child
Sexual Abuse has examined the handling of complaints made
against the former spiritual leader of the Satyananda Yoga
Ashram, at Mangrove Mountain on the New South Wales
Central Coast, Swami Akhandananda Saraswati, and his
former partner Shishy. The allegations were made over a period
of 40 years and related to sexual abuse that occurred in the
1970s and 1980s. During public hearings in October 2014, six
survivors each called for a $1 million compensation payment…
The ashram is now called Mangrove Yoga, having previously
traded as the Satyananda Yoga Academy. The commission
said the case study would help identify the potential problems
with power imbalances involving a charismatic leader at an
isolated institution the isolation of children from their parents
and the community, and meeting the needs of survivors of
child sexual abuse.” (ABC Online, 09/14/16)
Church of Scientology defends use of Sydney school
children in advertising
“The children, from Newtown’s [Australia] Athena School,
appeared in advertisement for the church alongside their
principal Fiona Milne in July’s I’m a Scientologist promotional
video. Schools associated with the Church of Scientology
are receiving large portions of state funding in comparison
with state schools. In this promotional video produced by
the church, Sydney school principal Fiona talks about what
Scientology means for her and her students. ...The church
has strenuously maintained the school and the church are
separate organizations. The school teaches the ‘Way to
Happiness’ philosophy of Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard,
but does not disclose that philosophy’s link to the church on
any promotional material. ...‘It’s very weird, the ANZO buses
come and they all march down the street in black at 8:30 in
the morning before leaving at 11:30 at night,’ said a neighbor
who asked only to be referred to as Karen. ‘They are entitled to
their beliefs, they’ve been very welcoming, knocked on doors
and invited us over,’ she said. ‘My partner is worried about
house prices, but I think maybe rich Scientologists might buy
in the area instead, so we might be lucky,’ she said.” (The Sydney
Morning Herald, 10/30/16)
Leah Remini reportedly suing Church of Scientology for
$1.5M
“Leah Remini has reportedly demanded the Church of
Scientology pay her $1.5 million after it tried to persuade a
TV network to shut down her new docuseries, Scientology
and the Aftermath. ...The actress was blacklisted after she left
the church in 2013 (she joined as a child), and she claims the
as it was during the rule of the Hindu god Ram, according
to mythological Hindu texts. Vartak, who holds a bachelor’s
degree in science, is the spokesman of Sanatan Sanstha,
a radical Hindu organization in India that aims to establish
the kingdom by 2023… The Hindu fringe group, with its
cult-like beliefs and behaviors, has a following in three states
in southwestern India. It has emerged as the prime suspect
behind the murders of three prominent secular thinkers in
recent years. Indian authorities in June arrested a Sanatan
member in connection with the 2013 assassination of activist
Narendra Dabholkar. In September, another Sanatan member
was arrested for the 2015 killing of author and politician
Govind Pansare, 81… Established as a charitable trust in 1990
by hypnotherapist Jayant Athavle, Sanatan is based in the
coastal state of Goa and maintains strict secrecy around the
ashrams it operates.” (Los Angeles Times, 08/07/16)
Mexico sees spike in death cult, demonic possession,
exorcisms
“One cleric who regularly performs exorcisms, Pastor Hugo
Alvarez, attributes the rise of demonic possessions to increased
dabbling in the occult, including black magic, Santeria,
witchcraft, sorcery, Satanism and especially the cult of Santa
Muerte. Alvarez, author of Deliverance: A Ministry for the
Church, said that ‘Santa Muerte is one of the trickiest and most
dangerous practices, since they present a saint, but there’s
a demon behind it. Satan’s greatest deceit is making people
believe he doesn’t exist,’ he said… In his visit to Mexico last
February, Pope Francis denounced the devotion to Santa
Muerte, telling the Mexican bishops that he was particularly
concerned about ‘those many persons who, seduced by the
empty power of the world, praise illusions and embrace their
macabre symbols to commercialize death.’ … The President
of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco
Ravasi, has also condemned the cult of the skeleton saint as
‘sinister and infernal’ and called for both Church and society to
mobilize against devotion to Saint Death. ‘It’s not religion just
because it’s dressed up like religion it’s a blasphemy against
religion,’ he said. ‘Everyone is needed to put the brakes on
this phenomenon, including families, churches and society in
its totality,” Ravasi said, adding that the Santa Muerte cult ‘is
the celebration of devastation and of hell.’” (13 Breitbart News,
09/29/16)
Ultra-Orthodox rabbis ban women from going to university
“Ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis have banned women from
going to university, The Independent has learned. The strict
Satmar sect issued the decree, seen by The Independent,
warning that university education for women is ‘dangerous.’
The decree was issued from the sect’s base in New York and
will apply to followers of the faith group around the world.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews follow a pre-enlightenment interpretation
of traditional Judaism and discourage interaction with the
modern or secular world. Men wear 19th century Eastern
European dress including long black coats and black hats, while
married women must dress modestly and cover their hair.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews estimates that there are
around 30,000 strictly Orthodox Jews living in the UK, of which
Satmar is the largest sect… It was condemned by Dr. Sharon
Weiss-Greenberg, Executive Director of the Jewish Orthodox
Feminist Alliance… ‘There are probably other factors at play,
but, ultimately, the results are devastating. Because people
from similar communities are not provided with a foundational
primary education, they cannot pursue higher education nor
careers. When one does not have access to education, career
opportunities are out of reach. It forces one to stay within the
community as everyone’s personal lives are tied up with their
professional lives as well.’” (The Independent, 08/23/16)
Child-abuse Royal Commission: Children lived in fear of
yoga ashram leader
“The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child
Sexual Abuse has examined the handling of complaints made
against the former spiritual leader of the Satyananda Yoga
Ashram, at Mangrove Mountain on the New South Wales
Central Coast, Swami Akhandananda Saraswati, and his
former partner Shishy. The allegations were made over a period
of 40 years and related to sexual abuse that occurred in the
1970s and 1980s. During public hearings in October 2014, six
survivors each called for a $1 million compensation payment…
The ashram is now called Mangrove Yoga, having previously
traded as the Satyananda Yoga Academy. The commission
said the case study would help identify the potential problems
with power imbalances involving a charismatic leader at an
isolated institution the isolation of children from their parents
and the community, and meeting the needs of survivors of
child sexual abuse.” (ABC Online, 09/14/16)
Church of Scientology defends use of Sydney school
children in advertising
“The children, from Newtown’s [Australia] Athena School,
appeared in advertisement for the church alongside their
principal Fiona Milne in July’s I’m a Scientologist promotional
video. Schools associated with the Church of Scientology
are receiving large portions of state funding in comparison
with state schools. In this promotional video produced by
the church, Sydney school principal Fiona talks about what
Scientology means for her and her students. ...The church
has strenuously maintained the school and the church are
separate organizations. The school teaches the ‘Way to
Happiness’ philosophy of Scientology leader L. Ron Hubbard,
but does not disclose that philosophy’s link to the church on
any promotional material. ...‘It’s very weird, the ANZO buses
come and they all march down the street in black at 8:30 in
the morning before leaving at 11:30 at night,’ said a neighbor
who asked only to be referred to as Karen. ‘They are entitled to
their beliefs, they’ve been very welcoming, knocked on doors
and invited us over,’ she said. ‘My partner is worried about
house prices, but I think maybe rich Scientologists might buy
in the area instead, so we might be lucky,’ she said.” (The Sydney
Morning Herald, 10/30/16)
Leah Remini reportedly suing Church of Scientology for
$1.5M
“Leah Remini has reportedly demanded the Church of
Scientology pay her $1.5 million after it tried to persuade a
TV network to shut down her new docuseries, Scientology
and the Aftermath. ...The actress was blacklisted after she left
the church in 2013 (she joined as a child), and she claims the
