06.26.08
Posted in Moonies / Unification Church at 10:03 pm by Rick Ross | Link
Arizona State Representitive Mark Anderson, a Republican from Mesa, has a long history of loyal and devoted service to Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the self-proclaimed “messiah” (photo below right) and leader of the Unification Church.
Moon’s followers have historically been called “Moonies.”
Almost ten years ago the Mesa Tribune reported about how Anderson’s actions as an elected official were often closely aligned to Rev. Moon’s agenda.
CultNews has now learned from a reliable source that Anderson’s political pandering to his religious leader apparently has continued unabated.
Rev. Moon teaches his disciples that singles should not expect a happy hereafter and that marriage is a requirement for salvation and entering heaven.
Matrimony also plays a pivotal role in Moon’s theology. He calls himself the “Lord of the Second Advent” who provides a “physical salvation,” which Jesus was unable to accomplish, because he was executed and didn’t marry.
It is largely because of these beliefs that Moon has presided over mass weddings, often marrying thousands of his followers simultaneously.
Mark Anderson appears to be dutifully following Moon’s dogma as a state legislator.
In the Spring of 2000 he sponsored a bill that successfully passed and created a “Marriage and Communication Skills Commission.”
Funded by Arizona’s taxpayers, the purpose of the Commission is to recognize “the importance of marriage.”
Beyond this the Commission also doles out funding for “workshops” and “programs,” which are provided through contractors.
And guess who is co-chairman of the Arizona marriage commission?
None other than Mark Anderson (photo left), who has substantial influence concerning which contractors receive state money.
Five states have created marriage commissions including Arizona, South Carolina, Utah, Louisiana and Michigan.
But only Arizona allows its Commission to choose, which community agencies receive a contract.
The selection process includes an objective evaluation process.
That is, because Arizona requires that contracts be awarded to the highest scored vendor.
But are they?
Enter Pastor Leo Godzich, President of the “National Association of Marriage Enhancement” (NAME), a close associate and long-time friend of Mark Anderson.
NAME has been and continues to be the recipient of hundreds of thousands of dollars in state contracts.
But Arizona’s Department of Economic Security (DES) didn’t rank NAME highly through its scoring process as a potential provider for workshops and programs.
Nevertheless Godzich’s group got the money, because the Commission had the power to award a contract regardless of a potential provider’s DES score or ranking.
This isn’t the first time Godzich has gotten money through his buddy Mark Anderson.
In a Mesa Tribune article that raised questions about Representative Anderson’s peculiar mix of religion and politics, Godzich (photo right) is named as one of two “paid speakers” at an Anderson related political event called “Parents Day.”
Should Mark Anderson be helping his cronies with state funds, in what appears to be a blatant breach of public procurement policy in the name of his special interests?
On what basis does his Commission “accept” or “reject” DES recommendations? And what process is in place to ensure that Commission members like Anderson do not have a conflict of interest?
What about NAME and Anderson’s religious agenda?
Doesn’t this potentially represent a violation of the separation of Church and State?
CultNews has been told by a reliable source “that it is unethical for the Commission to have any involvement in ‘recommending’ which community agencies receive a contract award with DES, when the Commission is not involved in the internal DES review, evaluation, and scoring process of the proposals.”
Maybe Rev. Moon should fund Mark Anderson’s pet projects instead of the taxpayers of Arizona.
After all Rev. Moon is a multi-billionaire, while Arizona is currently facing what could become a multi-billion dollar revenue shortfall.
Note: Mark Anderson is running for US Congress. At his Web site Anderson says, “Congress is a mess. Thee is too much partisan bickering, too many scandals and too much wasteful spending of taxpayer’s money.” But given the potentially scandalous and often partisan way Anderson spends taxpayer’s money in Arizona, why send him to Washington to mess around?
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06.24.08
Posted in Miscellaneous at 8:54 pm by Rick Ross | Link
Have you ever been bothered by unwanted visitors at your door trying to sell you on their religion?
Probably the most familiar and persistent door-to-door proselytizers are “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” a sect seemingly historically obsessed with “doom and gloom.”
Witnesses have an apparent fascination some might observe fixation with “The End,” as demonstrated by their repeated efforts to determine its date.
But after a few failed predictions they have conveniently decided that the end date for the world is actually “fluid.”
Witnesses still have an array of nifty handouts though like their preeminent “Watchtower,” which has depicted the eventual disaster that will consume the earth in graphic and horrific detail.
Who will be destroyed?
Well it seems, anyone that disagrees with their dogma.
According to a survey taken by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Jehovah’s Witnesses are the least tolerant and most closed minded religious group in the United States.
Witnesses ranked number one, with more than a 20 point lead over Mormons, as the religious group least likely to tolerate another point of view.
Only 16% of Witnesses responded positively when asked if it was possible that “many religions can lead to eternal life.”
Mormons came in second at 39 percent.
And only 18% of Witnesses could even imagine the possibility of any other way to interpret their teachings, other than the official explanation, as provided by their “Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.”
Mormons allowed for considerably more wiggle room, fully 43% responded that Mormon scriptures might be subject to interpretation.
This means that the most likely religious salesman to appear at your door, is the least likely to be tolerant of whatever religious beliefs you might express contrary to their own.
So the next time Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormon missionaries knock on your door, maybe you shouldn’t allow them to play too easily upon your sense of tolerance and fairness.
Just tell them you read the Pew survey and that they didn’t come off too well in these categories.
And here are couple of helpful hints about how to handle such unwanted proselytizing.
With Witnesses it’s always good to have a copy of the book “Crisis of Conscience” by Raymond Franz around.
Franz was once a member of the Witnesses’ revered “Governing Body,” which is its highest authority and his book divulges some embarrassing insider secrets about the process for determining dogma within the organization.
Turn down the corners on your favorite pages so that you can quickly find them to read to Witnesses wandering through your neighborhood. This is a virtual lock that they won’t linger long, at least not on your doorstep.
For Mormon missionaries keeping copies of letters nearby from the Smithsonian Institute and National Geographic Society for easy reference concerning the “Book of Mormon” is a safe bet.
Tell the LDS lads that you will be happy to hear them out, but only after they can substantiate with objectively verifiable historical evidence that the peoples mentioned within their scriptures actually ever existed.
Needless to say both Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons may label such a response “narrow mindedness” or even call it “religious persecution,” but then you can bring up the Pew survey again.
After all, who came in last on those issues?
Note: The groups that reflected the most tolerance by the largest majorities allowing for another religious point of view are Hindus 89%, Buddhists 86%, Mainline churches 83%, Jews 82%, Catholics 79% and Orthodox Christians 72%.
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06.19.08
Posted in Endeavor Academy at 9:46 pm by Rick Ross | Link
Chuck Anderson, the head of an unaccredited school called the Endeavor Academy (EA) in the Wisconsin Dells, is dead. He was 83.
Often referred to as a “cult leader” by his critics, Anderson’s followers called him instead their “Master Teacher” (MT).
The self-styled “miracle worker” (see photo left) was a former real estate broker from Chicago. He died quietly while watching television last month on the evening of May 13th, according to “Janice” a spokesperson for the group.
There is no official announcement of Anderson’s death at either the EA Web site or its sister site the “Miracle Healing Center.”
EA adherents consider death a “transition,” but it seems that they may be experiencing some difficulty making the transition to a group without its MT.
Groups called “cults,” defined by a charismatic living leader who becomes the focus and locus of power, frequently crumble after that leader is gone.
This strange announcement was posted at a discussion board about consciousness and mysticism four days after Anderson’s death. “Our beloved Teacher and friend, Dear One, left the body on May 13. Many of you also know Dear One as a teacher of teachers and a beloved friend. We invite you to join us this evening in not just talking about Dear One but BEING with him in a brand new hologram of light that he continues to offer - even now - to everyone.”
Has MT gone from dearly departed to disembodied deity?
Anderson was extolled by his disciples as “a continuing union with the mind of Jesus of Nazareth through the Holy Spirit…a Teacher of God…the Awakener” and “Light Transmitter.”
His teaching “credential” was supposedly “the transmission of the power of Resurrected Mind.”
MT based his teachings on a book titled “A Course in Miracles,” (ACIM) an essentially benign work that according to its author Helen Schucman, originated from a divine source she named as Jesus.
The Foundation for Inner Peace and Penguin Books sued Anderson claiming that he and EA had violated their ACIM copyright. Ultimately though MT prevailed, when the First Edition of the book was declared public domain.
Accoording to a 1991 report filed by Kalie Picone Anderson promised that he would “enlighten everyone that follow[ed] him” and one day they would “get out of here….flash[ing] out…together.’”
However, MT is gone and his followers have been left behind.
A cadre of loyalists are appaarently intent upon soldiering on and preserving his legacy, administering an MT video library, not to mention the residue of cash and assets strewn in the wake of their “Awakener.”
Darla Hughes, a prominent leader at EA said that there are now many “master teachers” who are “graduate ministers” (see photo right) and that no single leader would replace MT. She and her husband Alden Hughes continue to facilitate workshops.
Ms. Hughes explained that “there is no such thing as death.”
In an expression of what can be seen as either denial or devotion the EA teacher went on to say, “[MT] is still alive in me and I experience him every day.”
Visitors to the EA Web site are greeted by the audio taped voice of Anderson followed by a haunting video invitation to become his pupil.
But what is Chuck Anderson’s real legacy? A man that appeared to yearn for enduring recognition.
MT apparently relished the spotlight, as seen through his stream of self-produced videos, which featured Anderson in the starring role of “Light Tranmitter.”
However, other than his own productions MT achieved little recognition, with the exception of a 1999 CBS “48 Hours” segment titled “The Academy: Miracle or Cult?”.
This became both Anderson’s proverbial and literal “Andy Warhol 15 minutes.”
MT was featured in a critical book by Australian Ian Hamilton, one of his former students. The book is titled “Awake among the Sleeping,” EA was also linked to a well publicized suicide in Australia.
CultNews reported in 2006 that Anderson managed to get attention through a public speaking engagement in California at a “Wellness Weekend,” which featured Deepak Chopra.
But a source said that the octogenerian “wasn’t allowed to go near [Chopra] the whole time.”
A critic of the 2006 CultNews article admitted, “Master teacher is ego maniacal…with both an inferiority as well as a persecution complex…I have seen him do some creepy things.”
“Creepy things”?
Another former EA student elaborated in some detail.
“We all know…that Charles is a fraud,” she said. “I’ve seen Chuckie beating up his people, screaming at them and making absolutely no sense in the process. I’ve seen him raving insanely at other teachers (Not associated with EA) who all out-classed him simply by not defending themselves.”
She added, “I’ve seen otherwise rational people sit, against their wills, and listen to his mad-gabbing for years at a time simply because they couldn’t understand him and thought he knew something they didn’t”
The same former student leveled serious sexual harassment and abuse allegations against Anderson.
“I’ve seen [MT] molesting women on so many occasions I can’t count them, he is not subtle about it either, he puts his hands down their tops and plays with their breasts in public or he yanks at their hair or goes in for the kill and grabs at their sexual organs.”
CultNews received complaints from concerned families that compared MT’s “mind training” to “brainwashing.”
Enlightened being or dirty old man?
Master Teacher or master manipulator?
In the end what will be Chuck Anderson’s epitaph?
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06.13.08
Posted in Miscellaneous at 8:04 pm by Rick Ross | Link
Yisrayl “Buffalo Bill” Hawkins, self-styled prophet and religious entrepreneur runs an operation called the “House of Yahweh” (HOY) near Abilene, Texas.
Recently featured in a segment on ABC 20/20 and interviewed on CNN Nancy Grace, Hawkins held forth on the fate of the world, predicting with alleged Godly authority that June 12th was the beginning of “The End.”
That’s right, yesterday was supposedly a day of reckoning when a “nuclear baby” would be born and explode somewhere in the Middle East ushering in the “End of Time.”
But Hawkins (see photo above), who has a long history of failed predictions, bombed again.
The would-be prophet’s last doomsday date was set for September 12, 2006.
According to the bible prophets are only allowed one mistake, after that it’s time for stoning.
So how is it that a loser like Hawkins still has a following, which rather than throwing rocks, showers him with praise and money?
Diehard HOY members seem determined to stay with this guy no matter what happens.
Last year CultNews (Rick Ross) hosted a special for the A&E Network titled “Mind Control,” which included a hidden camera conversation with one of HOY’s top leaders.
Hawkins’ lieutenant insisted that a failed prophecy doesn’t really make a difference, it’s the intent that matters.
That is, if Hawkins is faithfully delivering the message God told him everything is OK, even if God somehow later decides to change His mind and let the world last a little longer.
So if Hawkins is wrong it’s God’s fault?
Who said that political campaigns were the only camps with spin machines, it appears modern-day prophets need spin too.
It was at this point that CultNews wondered just a bit cynically if old “Buffalo Bill” was playing his people for money.
After all, HOY has made the purported “cult leader” a multi-millionaire.
Hawkins controls a religious empire, largely accumulated real estate holdings, worth millions of dollars.
In fact, the 73-year old who started HOY more than twenty years ago seems more like a salesman than a soothsayer.
HOY is a burgeoning business that includes publishing, DVD and CD production, a cable show, ticket sales for feasts and festivals and even a grocery store.
Hawkins is also a landlord collecting rents from many of his followers.
John the Baptist may have wandered the desert destitute, but Mr. Hawkins has learned how prophets can turn a profit.
Part of his prophetic pitch includes selling his compound as a safe haven that “Yahweh” (God) wants the faithful to migrate to before “The Last Days.” And so they come to become Hawkins’ tenants and virtually his captive consumers (see compound photo right).
Hawkins teaches that the outside world is contaminated, which includes its suspect food supply.
So the faithful buy HOY approved products at Buffalo Bill’s grocery store.
Did Jeremiah have a business plan?
It seems like everything at HOY has a price tag, not to mention frequent tithing.
That’s probably why Yisrayl Hawkins won’t be shedding his prophetic mantle any time soon.
After all, predicting the “The End” has worked out well for him.
The only fly in Hawkins’ proverbial anointing oil may be a few legal problems.
The HOY leader was busted for promoting bigamy and child labor violations.
His trial is set for September 15th, that’s if the world doesn’t end first.
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04.22.08
Posted in Miscellaneous at 11:38 am by Rick Ross | Link
New York Times editors and researchers have selected a fugitive sex offender as an official resource about polygamists.
Anton Hein, a former U.S. resident and registered sex offender with an outstanding warrant issued for his immediate arrest regarding a parole violation, runs a Web site called “Religion News Blog.”
Hein recently announced that his site “has been selected (see listings under “Warren Jeffs Navigator”) as a resource by researchers and editors of the New York Times (selection by NY Times has been pulled since this report appeared on-line).
Sure enough a hyper link at Hein’s blog takes visitors to a page about polygamists within the New York Times proclaiming his site at the top of its “list of resources about Warren Jeffs as selected by researchers and editors of The New York Times.”
Isn’t it just a bit ironic though that the man (see photo) supplying news about polygamists who allegedly have sexually abused minor girls plead guilty himself to the charge of a “lewd act upon a child” in 1994? Hein then served jail time, but was eventually released to serve probation.
However, after completing his jail sentence in the U.S. Hein soon left the country heading home for Holland.
Subsequently, California authorities issued a felony warrant (see Anton Willem Hein) in 1996, which remains outstanding for his immediate arrest without bail.
Hein has admitted that he will “never again be able to enter the USA.”
Didn’t the editors of the The New York Times and its researchers, research this information?
Not unlike some of the more notorious polygamists recently in the press, Hein sexually abused his niece, who was at the time 13-years-old.
Hein also claims he is religious and says he operates an “independent, personal ministry.”
However, CultNews could not find any official recognition of Hein as a “minister,” other than his name listed as one of the “various ministers” that have “sexually abused children” at Reformation.com.
Today Hein largely seems to target Americans through his for-profit Web site Apologetics Index, which is in English. Mr. Hein solicits gifts, which he prefers to call “donations.”
Again, much like the polygamists in Texas, Mr. Hein rails against what he perceives as the injustice of American law enforcement.
He says, “anyone who researches the U.S. justice system…knows the system’s shortcomings, and anyone who finds him or herself in a situation similar to mine will understand.”
Understand?
Hein is a registered sex offender in the State of California. His offense is described at that state’s official Web site as “lewd or lascivious acts with child under 14 years.”
But like some polygamists Mr. Hein refuses to acknowledge that he is a sex offender. Instead, he prefers to bash the country that he relies upon for income.
Hein has devoted an entire subsection within his Web site to what he calls “America’s…human rights violations” and “faulty ‘justice’ system.”
Nevertheless he wants to sell advertising to Americans and collect ad revenue from American companies like Amazon.com and Google.
Kind of like the polygamists that have often damned the “system” outside of their communities, while collecting welfare and food stamps.
Can it be there is some sort of strange logic as to why the New York Times editors selected Anton Hein as a source for information about polygamists?
Perhaps the newspaper’s editors feel since he has much in common with criminal polygamists, he can provides a unique understanding based upon his personal experience?
Note: Since this report was filed the New York Times has apparently reconsidered recommending Anton Hein as a news source about polygamists. CultNews can’t find any links at the NY Times Web site to Hein. If any readers see something new pop up please let CultNews know.
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03.13.08
Posted in Miscellaneous at 4:32 pm by Rick Ross | Link
For some time Oprah Winfrey has been drifting further and further out to the fringes of “New Age” philosophy, which is strewn with “self-help” claims. And her fans have faithfully followed the star without much meaningful critical thinking, somewhat like cult members enamored with a self-styled messianic leader.
Oprah’s ongoing spiritual odyssey last year included a revelation called “The Secret” (see YouTube clip), a DVD concocted by Rhonda Byrne, a former Australian television and film producer.
Ms. Byrne’s supposed spiritual breakthrough consisted of little more than a synthesis of existing “positive thinking” theories based largely upon what is called the “law of attraction,” essentially you get what you want if you wish hard enough for it.
Skeptic Magazine reporter Michael Shermer labeled Byrne’s bromides “incredibly materialistic and narcissistic…magical thinking…”
But there is a rather dark flip side to the “law of attraction” through its apparent indictment of those that somehow are blamed for attracting negative things.
John Norcross, a psychologist and professor at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania who researches self-help books stated within a news report, “So that would mean that if you’re poor, you have somehow earned it by your thinking, If you’ve been sexually abused, you’d be surprised to hear that someway, you’re responsible for that…Cancer victims. Sexual assault victims. Holocaust victims. They’re responsible? The book is riddled with these destructive falsehoods,” Norcross concluded.
Nevertheless many of Oprah’s rapt devotees were ready to believe whatever “secret” she had to share, after all, who better than a billionaire talk-show host to lead them into the “promised land.”
For decades Winfrey has cultivated a cult following. And millions of Oprah fans appear willing to do whatever Winfrey wants, whether it’s buy a book or a DVD.
But this year has Oprah Winfrey “jumped the shark“?
Now she is enrolling her TV following to receive enlightenment.
That’s right, USA Today reports that more than 700,000 Oprah fans have recently signed up for a 10-week Web seminar with their talk show sage and her latest guru Eckhart Tolle, author of A New Earth, yet another self-help book recommended by Oprah’s Book Club.
However, this guru’s bio is just a bit strange.
After a somewhat sketchy foray into academia and years of severe depression, Tolle (photo left) on his 29th birthday, found himself in the midst of suicidal despair. He has said, “I couldn’t live with myself any longer” and Tolle “felt drawn into a void.” It was at this juncture that his “mind-made self, with its heaviness, its problems, that lives between the unsatisfying past and fearful future, collapsed.”
Then suddenly “the next morning ” when Tolle woke up “everything was so peaceful” and he had “no explanation for this.”
Some might observe that the young Tolle snapped and had something like a nervous breakdown, but according to Oprah’s latest revelation, this is when her guru became “enlightened” (see Tolle interview)
To see how strange Tolle can be watch this YouTube clip.
Eckhart Tolle’s version of enlightenment includes a belief in what he calls “painbodies.”
Tolle’s painbodies appear similar to what Scientologists call “Body Thetans” (BTs), a pesky, negative and nasty thing that should be shed as soon as possible.
Oprah Winfrey apparently has bought into this “magical thinking.”
Has she been hanging out too much with Madonna and Tom Cruise?
But it just isn’t enough for Winfrey to simply embrace such beliefs herself, she wants to proselytize and convert her television audience.
Are we witnessing the beginning of the Oprah Winfrey cult?
Hundreds of thousands of diehard Oprah fans that not only adore the star, but are willing to embrace whatever belief system she preaches and praises through her television talk-show pulpit?
It seems like that old Oprah, which audiences often identified with, is slipping away and a new identity is emerging.
Oprah may be shedding the cocoon of simple celebrity stardom to evolve into and come forth as something else–a kind of tranformational guru and televangelist.
Stay tuned, but don’t “drink the kool-aid.”
Note: CultNews (Rick Ross) has been a guest on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” twice (1989, 1992). And the old Oprah coffee mug still sits up on the shelf.
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03.06.08
Posted in Miscellaneous at 11:20 pm by Rick Ross | Link
A purported “cult” based near Albany, New York, seems to have moved from primarily targeting business executives to the potential recruitment of college students, attending singing events.
NXIVM, a corporation that sells workshops also known as “Executive Success Programs” (ESP), is linked to entertainment events for A capella college singing groups. One was staged during December and another event is planned for next month (April 4-6 in) in Albany.
There are reportedly 15,000 A capella singing groups at colleges across the country.
NXIVM/ESP devotees are called “Espians,” and they are led by failed multi-level marketing guru Keith Raniere (photo left), whose followers call him “Vanguard.”
It appears that college students, a traditional target for groups called “cults,” may have become the latest focus for NXIVM.
In a paid advertisement run by the Albany Times-Union made to look like a news report Raniere proclaimed, “The event [was] intended to get people out to support these college students and share in their joy for producing music.” He added that the audience would be “uplifted by the art and really experience an inspired closeness towards fellow humans.”
However, a suspicious and much older A capella group called “Simply Human,” which is not composed of college kids and reports that Keith Raniere is one of its “musical directors,” “hosted and created” the event, according to CASA (Contemporary A Capella Society).
A Capella Innovations,” the orgnaization behind the December event, which took place at a large and popular venue The Albany Egg, also seems to be linked to NXIVM. The orgnaization says its purpose is to “promote innovation, evolution and unity in the A Cappella community.”
Long-time NXIVM supporter Clare Bronfman, daughter of billionaire Seagrams heir Edgar Bronfman Sr., was the December event’s producer. And Ms. Bronfman’s brother, Edgar Bronfman Jr. head of Warner Music Group, flew in to judge participating college singing groups.
Interestingly, Edgar Bronfman Sr. once told Forbes Magazine that his daughter was involved in a “cult.”
The Forbes article titled “Cult of Personality“ reported, “people see a darker and more manipulative side to Keith Raniere. Detractors say he runs a cult-like program aimed at breaking down his subjects psychologically, separating them from their families and inducting them into a bizarre world of messianic pretensions, idiosyncratic language and ritualistic practices.”
Popular acts were booked at the December Albany event deliberately designed to attract a young audience, such as the House Jacks, Denise Reis and The Fault Line. College a capella groups that reportedly performed included UMass Dynamics, MIT Resonance, Brandeis Voicemale, Binghamton Crosbys, RW Vocal Infusion, BU in AChord, UMass Doo Wop Shop, U Maine Bear Vocals, UVM Hit Pause, Clarkson Golden Knotes and Smith Vibes.ednnovations Conference
The young audience’s interest was probably also piqued by the featured attendance of TV actresses Kristin Kreuk and Allison Mack, from the Warner Brothers series Smallville, who acted as “Masters of Ceremonies.”
CultNews previously reported that Kristin Kreuk (photo right), who plays Lana Lang on Smallville, has been involved in NXIVM.
Apparently Ms. Kreuk’s involvement, which seemed to begin around June 2006, has continued unabated.
Clips of Kreuk hosting the event can be seen on YouTube, she is posed in front of a banner with a quote attributed to “Keith Raniere.”
If all Vanguard and his Espians want is to support the arts, that’s fine.
But if Raniere’s interest in singing is simply a ploy to lure college students into NXIVM, those invited or attending such entertainment events should beware.
See the following reports:
“A Forensic Psychiatrist Evaluates ESP”
“A Critical Analysis of Executive Success Programs Inc.”
“Robert Jay Lifton’s eight criteria of thought reform as applied to the Executive Success Programs”
Some NXIVM program participants have sought psychiatric treatment subsequent to attending the group’s intensives, one participant was hospitalized and another committed suicide.
Note: Tempermental A cappella enthusiasts often insist on various spellings and combinations regarding this phrase or musical term.
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03.04.08
Posted in Moonies / Unification Church at 5:44 pm by Rick Ross | Link
A new book has been released about the business, religious, media and political empire constructed by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, designated “messiah” and leader of the Unification Church.
Bad Moon Rising: How Reverend Moon Created the Washington Times, Seduced the Religious Right and Built an American Kingdom by John Gorenfeld published by Polipoint Press was released March 1, 2008, and is now available at Amazon.com.
Gorenfeld says:
“Years ago, Moon was widely considered a dangerous madman, like Jim Jones or L. Ron Hubbard, the inspiration for TV specials with names like ‘Escape From The Moonies.’ His group was notorious for prying young people from families, persuading them to sell flowers to pay for Moon’s mansions and yacht, and marrying them to strangers as a show of domination. Not only is he still around, but he is richer and more influential than ever.”
CultNews has often been asked, “Whatever happened to the Moonies?” As if the purported “cult” had suddenly disappeared after becoming marginalized and insignificant.
But as Gorenfeld reveals Rev. Moon instead became a multi-billionaire and a formidable fixture in American politics, who exerts his influence through media assets such as the Washington Times and United Press International (UPI).
The Bush family in particular has forged friendly ties to the would-be messiah, who has donated to their political campaigns, presidential libraries, pet charities–not to mention handing out generous honorariums for speaking engagements.
President George H. Bush has reportedly made millions on Moon’s lucrative lecture circuit.
At one time “Moonie” David Caprara ran the so-called “faith-based initiative” from an office in the White House.
The growing political influence of Moon reaches even into the UN, where his long-time devotee Josette Sheeran is now heading the UN World Food Program.
Neil Bush, younger brother of George W. Bush, just days ago called upon Paraguay’s president courtesy of a business federation founded by the Rev. Moon, reported Associated Press.
Gorenfeld’s book reveals how Moon’s influence crept from the fringes of America into the mainstream of American politics.
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03.03.08
Posted in Benny Hinn at 11:26 pm by Rick Ross | Link
No one knows exactly what salary evangelist Benny Hinn pays himself annually from his ministry’s funds, but a decade ago he stated it was more than $500,000.
Since then sources say Hinn has apparently quadrupled his take to somewhere around $2 million per annum.
Estimates have placed the annual gross contributions made to Benny Hinn’s ministry at about $200 million.
How is it that this oily preacher manages to haul in so much cash?
Has everyone forgotten the televangelist scandals of the 1980s, which landed PTL Club founder Jim Bakker in prison and his wife Tammy Faye in divorce court?
Now incredibly even Bakker is back in business, plying his trade again by using virtually the same pitch.
Perhaps given such a startling reversal, it’s not hard to understand the continuing success of Benny Hinn, the peripatetic “prophet,” who hops around on a Gulfstream jet, stays overnight in presidential hotel suites and maintains a fleet of luxury cars.
After all, Hinn’s multi-million dollar so-called California “parsonage” has parking for ten.
Maybe a borrowed donkey and night sleeping under the stars was good enough for Jesus, but doesn’t this 21st Century “Man of God” deserve more consideration?
Meanwhile, Iowa senator and Baptist Charles Grassley doen’t seem much impressed by Hinn’s supposed spiritual authority. Grassley is currently investigating the minister’s finances and wants some detailed disclosure.
But Pastor Benny apparently thinks that opening up his books may be “sinful” or even “satanic.”
The evangelist envoked the Constitutional doctrine of church and state, hoping to hide behind what has been called the “wall of separation,” for his salvation.
But does making money in the “name of God,” mean special treatment when it comes to the tax code?
In a recent visit to Brisbane Pastor Benny drew audiences in the thousands. One night Hinn cooked up quite a convenient revelation. “This is a prophecy,” he said. “You are about to see the biggest transfer of wealth in the history of the world. You are going to see prosperity like you never dreamed of. Money is being transferred from sinners to the righteous.”
“Are you righteous?” Hinn asked the crowd.
Of course those assembled answered in the affirmative, anxious to get their slice of the heavenly kingdom.
But to get what they want from God, according to Benny, believers first need to put up some earnest money.
He explained, “The Jews were taught by God how to give. When they brought their gifts to the Lord, it was only the best…God deserves the best. You give God the best and you’ll get the best from him. Are you here for God’s blessing? What are you going to give the Lord tonight?”
By “the Lord,” what Hinn really means for practical purposes, is himself.
So “sowing the seed” with “God,” literally means giving your money to Benny Hinn.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald Hinn hauled in about $800,000, through just three performances.
Benny Hinn would make the fictional “Elmer Gantry” blush.
After all, in the end Gantry appears to have a conscience, but Benny Hinn does not.
Preying upon people that are sick and suffering by telling them that they must pay to receive God’s blessings, sounds more like blackmail than preaching the Gospel.
CultNews receives regular emails from Benny Hinn supporters, who say that criticiszing him is tantamount to “coming against God.”
This self-proclaimed prophet is supposedly an “annointed” hero, and not a huckster.
CultNews has also been told that it’s a plan of the “devil,” to raise questions about Benny Hinn, which could incur God’s holy wrath.
But Jesus answered questions and advised his followers to “love” their “enemies.”
And critically evaluating leaders is certainly well-within the parameters of the New Testament. In Galatians Paul quite harshly criticized and then condemned corrupt leaders.
And as recorded in Acts Peter didn’t automatically rebuke Paul’s critique of his teachings. Instead, Peter slept on it and subsequently realized that Paul was right.
So should Pastor Benny receive any more consideration than Jesus or the apostles?
Charles Grassley certainly doesn’t seem to think so. And it probably didn’t take a “prophecy” to prompt the Iowa senator’s concern about Pastor Hinn’s finances.
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03.01.08
Posted in Sri Chinmoy at 3:41 pm by Rick Ross | Link
CultNews reported the death of Sri Chinmoy in October of last year, the guru often called a “cult leader,” died of a heart attack at his home in Jamaica Queens, New York. He was 76.
Chinmoy considered a “holy man” by his disciples, was dubbed “sleazy Sri” by the New York Post, when it was revealed that he exploited some of his female followers for sexual favors.
The Chicago Tribune called Chinmoy the “gonzo guru” for his incessant publicity stunts, which included lifting massive weights with the help of a mechanical device.
Chinmoy seemed willing to do almost anything to get his name in print.
Despite their guru’s apparent egomania, Chinmoy’s devotees persistently attempted to spin him into some sort of selfless saint pursuing peace.
But it looks like a posthumous title for Chinmoy might be the “greedy guru,” denoting a man more selfish the saintly.
CultNews obtained a copy of the “Will of Chinmoy Kumar Ghose” (aka Sri Chinmoy) and rather than demonstrating that he had few concerns about the material world, his final testament proves that cash was often the focus of his consciousness.
Chinmoy left behind a financial residue totaling millions of dollars in net assets, which were held by him personally rather than the nonprofit he controlled called “Sri Chinmoy Centre Church Inc.”
The “estimated testamentary assets of the estate” were “in excess of $2 million” according to a statement filed by Chinmoy’s designated executor David K. Burke of Jamaica, Queens, where many of his remaining followers continue to reside.
According to Burke the guru had $150,000.00 in various bank accounts, and “six real properties” all under his name.
Four of the properties are located in Jamaica Queens.
Two properties appear to be private residences, one is located in Victoria, British Columbia and another in Tarpon, Florida.
Did these properties serve as Sri Chinmoy’s selfless seasonal retreats?
The guru stated in his will that he had no “surviving relatives” and left everything after his death to the “Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc.,” which will continue to perpetuate his name.
Benjamin Spector, a former devotee wrote, “Many of Chinmoy’s disciples will go into their senior years with no social security and ineligible for Medicare…”
Spector says, “Most of us gave up college and our careers for him.” The former follower worries, “After ten, twenty, thirty years of living in a cult, who will look after these ‘weird’ people in whites and saris? They have no job skills, and most were too poor to ever see a doctor or dentist.”
Will any of the guru’s millions be set aside to take care his past or present disciples?
Or will everything continue to fuel an endless posthumous promotion of his name?
What about the living?
Spector recalls, “The Guru promised us all ‘a ticket to heaven’ and all we had to do was to become his devoted unconditional slaves and willingly sacrifice our current lives for the promise of a heavenly future.”
Maybe David Burke should consider offering some compensation for former and current Sri Chinmoy devotees interested in redeeming those tickets.
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