------------------------------------------------------------------- F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library and preservational electronic archive. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ===================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Central London Church of Christ Prunes Ranks From the Fair News (London) Winter 1992/93 The Central London Church of Christ [CLCC, an offshoot of the Boston (USA) Church of Christ movement], has drastically pruned its ranks, saying that the expelled members "failed to attract new recruits and were not "true disciples," according to the Evening Standard (1/22/93). The situation of the those who were sacked is summed up in the statement of an Italian member who lived in a flat with eight "brothers" until told to leave: "I've repented my sins to the leaders several times in the last few days, but they all refuse to believe what I'm saying. They have told me I'm damned. I've had problems evangelizing. I've tried my hardest, but it's not easy. Because I haven't brought many people into the church, they told me to leave. I've got nowhere to go. I don't know what to do." There are bound to be a great many more badly hurt and disillusioned young people among those sacked. Building an elite force and mercilessly discarding weaker members is in stark contrast to the message of Christ whose name the group uses in its official title. The London Student, meanwhile, reports that the CLCC has been targeting students at University College London. The group is banned from UCL Students' Union property, but this has not stopped members from recruiting in residence halls. (The Students' Union is also investigating Sahaja Yoga, which recently sought the right to become an affiliate society of the Union. Action on the group's application has been postponed pending an investigation, says Kay Mitchell, External Affairs and Welfare Officer at the UCL Union. She is also concerned that Scientologists have such a high profile in a street very near the University College. Government Pledge The Jewish Chronicle carried a brief notice (11/13/92) about cults and broadcasting stating that "The government gave a pledge in the House of Lords this week not to permit religious cults, extremists and fanatics to broadcast on radio and television. Government spokesman Lord Astor told peers in a debate that the Broadcasting Act required the treatment of religious issues in the electronic media to be 'responsible and not exploitative.' He added that safeguards were necessary to avoid abuse." 2 Korea: Prophets of Doom apologize [Lee Jangrim] South Korea's biggest doomsday church has apologized, saying it would disband after the failure of a prophecy of the world's end. The prediction of doom for late last year caused many followers, including overseas Koreans, to sell their property and even have abortions in preparation for being lifted up to heaven. Some observers feared another Jonestown. "We are sorry for creating problems to [sic] the nation and the established churches by misinterpreting the Bible," said a statement from the Mission for the Coming Days Church. Founder Lee Jangrim, who approved the statement, is now in jail for swindling parishioners. (Take a Closer Look, Perth, Australia, December 1992, 16-17) 3 Japan to France: French Father Meets Children of God The Children of God (COG) seem to be living up to their reputation, according to a long story in the weekly Shukan Bunshun (6/13/92) describing the activities of the COG colony, known as the "21st Century International School" in Tateyama. Up to 180 people live there, among them many children. Residents rotate through the place, usually staying no longer than 2-3 months. Activities are said to include "sex time after dinner" and children's sex. Sanitary conditions are reportedly horrendous, with overcrowded conditions and water rationed. "Flirty fishing" (sexual favors from female members to third parties for money, influence, and recruiting) goes on in hotels and nightclubs in the Ginza, along with extortion and blackmail. A Japanese TV station last summer invited a visiting retired French physician, Dr. Richard, to speak about his situation; his son Olivier has been a COG member for about 15 years. When Dr. Richard told his story on TV and radio, and to the press, COG attempted to organize a media confrontation between father and son. The doctor would very much like to see his son (and four grandchildren) again, but without the press present. The confrontation apparently never took place, and after visiting two COG colonies, which he was not allowed to enter, and sharing his views of COG with both the government and media, Dr. Richard returned to France. In September, an "Association of Victims of ADFI" [the leading cult education network and referral organization in French-speaking countries] called a press conference in a cafe in Le Mans, the provincial town where Dr. Richard lives. It became evident that the press conference organizers were in fact Scientologists (including Scientology's European coordinator, Daniele Gounord, former head of Scientology in France), and they apparently paid for the son, Olivier Richard, to travel from Japan to read a long, rambling statement about his horrible father. Dr. Richard was challenged to meet his son, and despite the unpleasantness, went to the news conference with his daughter, Olivier's sister. They tried to have a "normal" conversation, but to no avail. Olivier Richard said he was a Christian missionary persecuted by his father; some local journalists knew nothing of COG. The attempt to discredit and destroy Dr. Richard by having his son slander him publicly is particularly nauseating, but it fits with the goal of certain cooperating cults to destroy those whom they perceive as capable of impeding their activities by speaking the truth about them. Cult groups know that critical individuals, and associations like ADFI, do not have enough money to pay legions of lawyers, while Scientology, for example, has inexhaustible resources and is able to harass perceived "enemies" psychologically day after day, which they do throughout the world. (Cult Observer Report from Emmanuele Kaufmann in Paris) 4 Australia: Guru Maharaj Ji Still Active [Divine Light] Maharaji Rowat, apparently the grown-up Divine Light Mission Guru Maharaj Ji, so prominent during the late '70s and early '80s, continues strongly to influence a great number of devotees from the West. He recently brought his self-fulfillment message, along with his wife and children from his California home to a rural conference center at Peak Crossing, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, which over 2,000 30-40-year-olds from all over the world attended. (From "Mystery: Secretive multitude flock to hear word," by Peter Hansen, The Sunday Mail, Brisbane, 10/18/92) According to Australian cult watcher Adrian Van Leen (in Take a Closer Look December 1992), during the '80s the DLM underwent major changes, not least changing its name to ƒlan Vital. The group stopped its public open advertising and promotion and went underground, but continued its meditation activities. New members came from personal and private invitation rather than public promotion. 'Gumraji', now known as Maharaj Ji' (dropping the 'Guru' part of his title), has been travelling the world in his own private Lear Jet (upgraded recently to a larger Challenger). Australian followers have been asked to pay for the jet and its regular use and upkeep. In the last couple of years Australian followers had been raising money in the hope that the new International Learning Center could be established in West Australia. 5 Philippines: Cultists Deflate Tires [Flat tires key to salvation] Religious cultists convinced that flat tires were the key to salvation deflated tires on scores of buses and cars in Manila on December 29, and police arrested 32 of them. When pressed to give the reasons for their actions, the cultists said only that their leader, Alelio Bernaldez Pen told them it was God's will. Said one: "This is God's order to let out air. Air is from God. This is the solution to the crisis in our country." (From "Deflating Tires Seen As Road to Salvation in Manila," AP 12/29/92) ================================================================= If this is a copyrighted work, you are acknowledging by receipt of this document from FACTNet that on the basis of reasonable investigation, you have not been to obtain a copy elsewhere at a fair price, and that you are and will abide by the following copyright warning. WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photo copies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified by law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." 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For additional verification see image files contained in the file with same name and .ZIP extension. UPDATED ON: UPDATED BY: F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CARD CATALOG ENTRY DOS FILENAME OF TEXT FILE: CO0293AC.TXT DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: none ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: OK SECURITY CODE: SCO DISTRIBUTION CODE: RO DESCRIPTION FOR BBS FILE LISTING: The Cult Observer March 1993 SORT TO: AFF CONTRIBUTOR: American Family Foundation (AFF) LOCATION OF ORIGINAL: American Family Foundation (AFF) NOTES: Back issues and selected reprints of the Cultic Studies Journal are available from the American Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 33959-2265. FOREIGN STORIES: | 1 Central London Church of Christ | Prunes Ranks | 2 Korea: Prophets of Doom apologize | [Lee Jangrim] | 3 Japan to France: French Father | Meets Children of God | 4 Australia: Guru Maharaj Ji Still | Active [Divine Light] | 5 Philippines: Cultists Deflate Tires | [Flat tires key to salvation] For additional verification see the contributor of the document. UPDATED ON: 8/22/94 UPDATED BY: FrJMc =================================================================