Cult News 101 - CultNEWS101 Library

ICSA International Conference 2027

2026-09-30T07:38:24.489-04:00

The annual ICSA International Conference, brings together researchers, health professionals, service providers and survivors and their families from around the world to engage in open dialogue on the most pressing themes around cultic studies.

We are excited to announce the location and theme for the 2027 event.

Location: Oslo, Norway

2027 Conference Theme: Shifting Ground: Coercion, Influence, and Control

The landscape of coercion, influence, and control is changing. Digital technologies are creating new avenues for manipulation, surveillance, exploitation, and control, raising particular concerns for children and young people.

While there is growing recognition that autonomy can be restricted in subtler ways through close relationships, social communities, group belonging, and authority structures, these forms of influence and control are often difficult to recognize, both for those affected and for the people around them.

At the same time, legal systems around the world are developing new ways of understanding and regulating coercion, consent, autonomy, and accountability.

The 2027 conference will examine emerging forms of digital influence and control, as well as developments in law and public policy. We welcome proposals addressing the full range of cultic and high-control environments and communities, as well as other interpersonal contexts in which coercion is perpetrated, including human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and gangs. Proposals may explore recovery and healing, prevention, research, professional practice, and lived experience.

We seek contributions that deepen understanding, encourage interdisciplinary dialogue, and identify effective ways to recognize coercion and control, reduce harm, support recovery, and strengthen individual and collective autonomy.

The ICSA International Conference brings together people with lived experience, families, researchers, clinicians, legal and policy professionals, educators, organizations, and others to explore how coercion, influence, and control emerge, are exercised, and are maintained across different contexts.

Study on psychological experiences following group membership

2026-09-29T12:51:35.715-04:00

Study on psychological experiences following group membership

Principal researcher

Victor Laurent

Postdoctoral researcher in psychology at the University of Lille

victor.laurent@univ-lille.fr

Supervisor

Thierry Kosinski

Associate professor in psychology at the University of Lille

This project was approved by the University of Lille Behavioral Sciences Ethics Committee.

Approval Number : 025-891-S137

https://us.list-manage.com/o62neLGgfI7

Latest news and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of September 28, 2026.

2026-09-28T08:09:32.809-04:00

Latest news and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of September 28, 2026.

This week, public attention is turning toward long-standing communal groups facing renewed legal scrutiny, alongside ongoing preparations for major international advocacy summits.

Legal Actions and Survivor Advocacy

The Community of Jesus Lawsuit (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) Legal and public pressure is mounting around the Community of Jesus, a prominent religious community in Orleans, Cape Cod. Recent investigative reporting and ongoing civil litigation have brought forward fresh allegations from former residents detailing decades of institutional abuse, psychological manipulation, and child maltreatment. Survivors and local advocates have organized public awareness gatherings, using the renewed media spotlight to highlight how closed, high-demand communal environments systematically insulate themselves from external oversight and accountability.

Decult 2026 Preparations Preparations are ramping up across Australasia for the upcoming Decult 2026 conference, scheduled for October 24–25 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Building on recognition from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), the conference is positioning itself as a central hub for bridging academic research, survivor advocacy, and public policy. This year's panels are heavily focused on establishing standardized support systems and legal frameworks to address human rights abuses within high-control environments.

Media Spotlight and Institutional Scrutiny

The "Midtown AA" Investigations Mainstream investigative reporting brought fresh attention to the intersection of alternative groups and high-control dynamics. A detailed investigation published by The Guardian examined a rogue Washington, D.C.-based Alcoholics Anonymous splinter group known as "Midtown AA" from earlier decades. Former members detailed a cult-like environment characterized by extreme isolation, psychological dominance, and severe exploitation of younger members by leadership. The reporting has sparked broader public discussion regarding how informal or alternative therapeutic settings can occasionally warp into insular, high-control power structures when left without proper governance or oversight.

India in a Mind’s EyeTravels and Ruminations of an Ambivalent Pilgrim

2026-09-23T06:53:36.720-04:00

Publication Announcement

[Relevance: Cultic Studies]

India in a Mind’s Eye

Travels and Ruminations of an Ambivalent Pilgrim

By Steven J. Gelberg

India in a Mind’s Eye: Travels and Ruminations of an Ambivalent Pilgrim is a work which should be of particular interest to cult-watchers and other observers of the contemporary religious scene. The author, Steven J. Gelberg, is a former member of ISKCON (the Hare Krishna Movement) and author of several important works on the Krishnas, including the widely-influential essay “On Leaving ISKCON.”*

On one level a colorful and eventful journey through India, both modern and traditional, the book also serves as an honest, thoughtful and eloquent critique of a religious movement in crisis - beset by scandal, power struggles and growing disillusionment. Written not long before Gelberg left the organization, it presents the deeply personal musings and insights of one still following a spiritual path, yet questioning his continued commitment to an organization in decline. Neither “anti-cult” polemic nor cult apologetic, India in a Mind’s Eye provides a unique, nuanced view into the complex, many-layered process of religious doubt and disaffiliation. Originally self-published in 2012 in a limited edition, India in a Mind’s Eye is now available in a fully revised edition from Monkfish Publications.

* https://surrealist.org/cults/gelberg1.html

“An extremely interesting book ... His observations in this memoir are tinged with the ‘mind’s eye’ of a skeptic, albeit one laced with dry wit and humor. ... As a travelogue detailing that vast fascinating country, Gelberg’s vivid descriptions reminded me of Paul Theroux’s classic first travel book, The Great Railway Bazaar. Anyone interested in India or Eastern thought or cults, or just fascinating travel writing, will enjoy this wonderfully written and insightful book.”

—Marcia Rudin, International Journal of Cultic Studies

[Vol. 4, 2013]

“[A] transcendent travelogue that offers insight into an uncommon religious experience.”

Kirkus Reviews

_____________________

Praise for India in a Mind’s Eye:

“During the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, tens of thousands of young Americans, inspired by utopian dreams, found themselves attracted to Hindu spirituality in one form or another. But over time, and perhaps especially after visiting India, the homeland of those utopian dreams, many developed a nuanced and less gullible understanding of the movements they had joined. Gelberg has provided an excellent book based on his travel journal, recording the landscapes of India, as well as his own 'mindscapes' as he came to terms with his growing disillusionment with the Hare Krishna movement and its leaders. This is a deep dive into skepticism as a necessary aspect of the spiritual path."

— Dr. Dana Sawyer, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and World Religions, Maine College of Art & Design. Author, The Transcendental Meditation Movement.

“Not unlike a snake charmer, Steven Gelberg entices you into his mind’s eye as he journeys around secular and holy sites of India. Part travelogue, part thought-provoking spiritual exploration, and illustrated with sensitive portraits of fellow seekers on the path, this is a voyage that offers the reader a glimpse into understanding how and why a ‘Hin-Jew’ could become both enamoured of an 'alien' belief and disillusioned by the organisation/people ostensibly embracing its way of life. At times comical, at other times moving, but always engaging - if you have something urgent to do, don't open this book.

— Dr. Eileen Barker OBE FBA FAcSS, Professor Emerita, London School of Economics and Political Science.

“Gelberg has the perspective and temperament of a scholar who appreciates his in-group but is increasingly impatient with that group’s divisions and dictates. He is especially drawn to women devotees who display typically mystical qualities in their demeanor, conversation, and lifestyles. Gelberg doesn’t state this outright, but perhaps he was drawn to these women because they pointed to a purer and cleaner way of devotion that the international movement had seemingly lost sight of during the internecine conflicts among competing gurus.”

— Dr. W. Michael Ashcraft, Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions [Vol. 18, No. 3 (February 2015)]. Author, A Historical Introduction to the Study of New Religious Movements.

“It is Gelberg’s ability to speak clearly about his ambivalence that gives this book its historical importance, since the 1986 trip took place during the critical period of numerous leadership failures and conflicts when many other devotees were going through similar uncertainties about their involvement in ISKCON. Gelberg is now able to view that period from a more mature perspective and give an eloquent voice to the mixed emotions so common at the time – an important contribution to the historical record, and a needed supplement to the numerous writings about the period by former or current devotees that tend to be either accusative or defensive.

. . . Purely as a travelogue, it stands alongside the best ever written. It is much more than that, however, and is – as Gelberg recognizes in his title – a journey of the spirit that helps us understand the ups and downs of ISKCON’s first fifty years. It does not claim to provide a comprehensive history of those years, but it is a valuable contribution to the history that is yet to be written. Anyone who wants to understand India or ISKCON should read it.

— Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, Journal of Vaishnava Studies [23.2 (Spring 2015)]. Author, The Hindu Religious Tradition.

"This illuminating memoir from 'ambivalent pilgrim' Gelberg ... invites readers into [his] journeys throughout India, whose culture, history, and spiritual traditions have long fascinated him and shaped his life. India in a Mind's Eye explores the evolution, over many 'pilgrimages, ' of this former Krishna devotee's understanding of spirituality, identity, and the gap between idealism and reality. ... Gelberg now sees his youthful zeal to convert to Hinduism as 'a quest (however naively idealistic) for radical psychic liberation' and writes with tender frankness of his years with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), demystifying and honoring the Krishna experience while reporting disillusionment with a system affording so much power to all-too-human gurus. Throughout, Gelberg writes with warmth, intelligence, and an engaging conversational tone that makes his deepest reflections a pleasure to connect with ... including marvelous scenes depicting a woman touched with 'insights and ecstasies most devotees can only theorize and pontificate about.' ... Despite Gelberg’s piercing disappointment in the reality of ISKCON ... he movingly celebrates 'Indian pessimism, ' that 'abiding insight into the insubstantiality of the perceived world, the mutability and ephemerality of everything we see, and the centrality of suffering in human experience.' Gelberg makes that beautiful and inviting."

- Publishers Weekly/Booklife [Editor's Pick]

_______________________

* Published by Monkfish Publications / Red Elixir

* Publication date: Sept 15, 2026

* Available from Amazon US: https://amazon.com/dp/1966293496

and other booksellers.

CultNEWS101 News: 9/21/2026

2026-09-21T11:25:46.045-04:00

Culture & Media

New Podcast

jon atack, family & friends: moving beyond the guru - with Joe Kelly
In this interview, Joe Kelly recounts his nine-year involvement with Transcendental Meditation (TM) and his subsequent transition into cult exit counseling. Raised in a conservative Catholic environment, Kelly was drawn to TM in the early 1970s, inspired by the Beatles and the era's counterculture movement. Seeking alternative consciousness and world peace, he quickly escalated from a student to an active volunteer and instructor, interacting with diverse groups of professionals drawn to TM's promised pragmatic and spiritual benefits.

After fourteen and a half years involved in TM and another group, Kelly describes the profound disorientation of leaving his high-demand environment and returning to a normal life. This transition involved moving back with his confused parents and attempting to rebuild his independence from scratch. He also details participating in a lawsuit against the TM organization, which ultimately concluded with an out-of-court settlement that refunded his financial investments.

Following his exit, Kelly attended a Cult Awareness Network conference where he connected with exit counselor Kevin Garvey. Under Garvey's mentorship, Kelly began using his own experiences to assist others in leaving large group awareness training, eventually becoming an established interventionist and exit counselor himself.

Updates

Legislative & Legal

SocialCare.Today: First national call for evidence on spiritual and cultic abuse The UK government is facing pressure to launch the nation's first call for evidence regarding spiritual and cultic abuse, following an open letter submitted by survivors and advocates. Spiritual and cultic abuse involves coercion, exploitation, and manipulation within religious or spiritual groups, often slipping through the cracks of current protective systems. The campaign, spearheaded by Surviving Universal UK, seeks to understand the true scale of the issue rather than restrict religious freedoms.

According to a survey by the charity, 75% of the groups reported for abuse were registered charities, and nearly 90% were active places of worship, with Black communities being disproportionately targeted. The campaign draws inspiration from a recent parliamentary inquiry in Victoria, Australia, which resulted in 98 findings and 39 recommendations to combat harm in high-control groups. Supporters, including local politicians and child safety campaigners, emphasize that an urgent national inquiry is a vital first step to provide adequate support for survivors and hold abusive organizations accountable.

Courthouse News Service: 10th Circuit affirms dismissal of Mormon church tithing fraud class action as too late A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit accusing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of tithing fraud. Plaintiffs alleged the church misled donors by funneling charitable contributions into a $100 billion investment slush fund, utilizing $1.4 billion to develop a commercial shopping mall in Salt Lake City. The 10th Circuit panel ruled that the plaintiffs missed the statute of limitations to file their claims. The court determined that widespread national media coverage of a December 2019 IRS whistleblower report should have provided sufficient notice to donors regarding the potential misuse of funds. While the court did not explicitly rule on whether the church committed fraud, the decision emphasizes the legal expectation for plaintiffs to act promptly when allegations of institutional financial misconduct enter the public domain.
LawNews: The Latter-Day Saints Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Could Backfire in Ways Nobody Expected The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against John Dehlin, host of the Mormon Stories podcast, alleging the unauthorized use of logos and branding. The church claims the podcast’s marketing deceives listeners into believing it is an official church product, though Dehlin maintains his status as an independent pundit. In a surprising counterattack, Dehlin’s legal team is challenging the church’s intellectual property rights directly. They have requested the court revoke eleven of the church’s trademarks, including the term "Mormon," arguing that church leadership publicly abandoned the term years ago and fraudulently claimed active use to the US Patent and Trademark Office. Legal experts and the ACLU suggest the church’s attempt to enforce these trademarks could backfire. If Dehlin successfully invalidates the trademarks, the church could lose its exclusive legal claim to a term used by communities across North America for generations.
ChosunBiz: Lee Man-hee denies intent in 7.5 billion won tax evasion trial in South Korea Shincheonji Church of Jesus Chairman Lee Man-hee has formally denied the charges brought against him in his first trial concerning a massive tax evasion case. South Korean authorities allege that the controversial religious leader actively evaded approximately 7.5 billion won in taxes. During the court proceedings, Lee’s defense maintained that there was no deliberate intent to evade taxation, challenging the prosecution's narrative regarding the organization's internal financial practices. The trial brings renewed legal scrutiny to Shincheonji, a group that has frequently faced public, legal, and governmental pushback over its high-demand operational tactics and financial transparency.

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Each Witness Now Decides Whether to Accept or Donate Main Blood Components

2026-09-21T09:16:21.394-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Each Witness Now Decides Whether to Accept or Donate Main Blood Components

Position on whole blood transfusion unchanged

WARWICK, N.Y. (September 18, 2026)—The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses announced on Friday that the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood is a matter of personal conscience. Likewise, each Witness must decide whether or not to donate blood for the clearly expressed purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person.

The long-standing refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, a core teaching based on the command to ‘abstain from blood’ (Acts 15:20), is unchanged.

“Blood remains sacred to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God,” Paul Gillies, international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at their World Headquarters, said. “We recognize that medical decisions involving blood components are a matter of conscience between each Witness and their God, Jehovah.”

The adjustment follows earlier updates regarding blood fractions and the use of one’s own blood during medical procedures. Since the Bible does not comment on such decisions, they are a matter of individual conscience. That same reasoning has now been extended to the four main components of blood.

Jehovah’s Witnesses love life and want the best available medical care. They do not practice faith healing, and they seek out doctors who can provide effective treatment in accord with their wishes, values and beliefs.

“Congregations do not involve themselves in personal decisions that rest with the individual conscience. We will continue to respect and support the personal decisions of our fellow believers,” Mr. Gillies said. “We are grateful, too, for the many skilled and compassionate physicians who provide quality medical care that respects our personal wishes regarding blood.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses number over nine million worldwide, in congregations across more than 200 lands.

Media Contact: pressroom@jw.org

JW.ORG® / OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Healing from Emotional, Anger, and Relational Trauma Educational Support Group

2026-09-20T10:37:23.575-04:00

Start Date: Monday, September 28, 2026

Schedule: Mondays at 12:30 PM ET and Wednesdays at 7:30 PM ET (Ongoing, with scheduled breaks)
Platform: Zoom (Link provided upon registration)

Group Overview

Offered by Queens Long Island Community Services (QLICS), this educational support group provides a safe space for former cult members and anyone seeking to recover from relational harm. Facilitated by Dr. Paul Engel, DHL, LCSW, and supported by dedicated QLICS staff, the group helps participants gather, build community, and develop actionable strategies to integrate meaningful change into their lives.

Core Focus Areas

Emotional Regulation: Learning to cope more effectively with anger and intense emotions.
Understanding Manipulation: Navigating the impacts of coercive control, traumatic narcissism, and gaslighting.
Healing & Recovery: Navigating grief, practicing forgiveness, and releasing yourself from emotional pain.

Registration & Contact Information

Registration: Access the sign-up page.
Email Contact: paul.engel@flushingjcc.net
Phone Contact: 516-547-4318

CultNEWS101 News: 9/18/2026

2026-09-20T10:21:45.885-04:00

Culture & Media

New Docuseries

Medical Daily: Coercive Control Warning Signs: Mica Miller and the Netflix Series The deeply tragic and highly publicized criminal case of Mica Miller has thrust the incredibly insidious nature of coercive control into the national public spotlight, prompting urgent and renewed societal discussions about complex psychological abuse.

Unlike overt physical violence, coercive control operates quietly through a highly systematic, calculated pattern of emotional manipulation, forced social isolation, and relentless intimidation designed explicitly to strip a victim of their personal autonomy. Critical warning signs of this abuse often include extreme and irrational jealousy, strict financial restriction, constant monitoring of digital communications, and actively alienating the targeted victim from their protective support networks.
A recent, highly popular true-crime Netflix series has further amplified widespread awareness of this critical issue. The program provides global viewers with a chilling, accurately dramatized look at exactly how domestic abusers slowly and methodically dismantle their partners' independence over time.
Advocates and lawmakers are now actively using the intense public momentum generated from Miller’s heartbreaking case and the series to aggressively push for much stricter legal definitions and concrete protections against emotional abuse. Mental health professionals continually emphasize the absolute importance of early intervention and widespread public education to help vulnerable victims safely recognize and escape these dangerous dynamics.
Reviews

When Prophecy Fails Review – Gripping Dive Into a Doomsday Cult
Published by The Guardian on August 30, 2026, this article reviews a new physical theatre production by the Scottish company Groupwork that explores the true story of a 1950s Midwestern doomsday group. The play is based on the landmark sociological study of Marian Keech, an alias for a woman who believed she was channeling extraterrestrial messages and the voice of Jesus Christ. Keech successfully cultivated a following of seemingly ordinary citizens who became entirely convinced that the world was on the brink of an apocalyptic end, yet held out hope that they would be rescued by aliens from the planet Clarion.
The review highlights how the production effectively captures the eerie ordinariness of the group's followers, demonstrating that susceptibility to undue influence and extreme ideological shifts is not limited to societal outliers. By focusing on the psychological dynamics that allow a charismatic leader to exert coercive control over a dedicated sect, the play serves as a striking reflection of the exact mechanisms researchers and interventionists study in high-demand environments today. It underscores the profound cognitive dissonance that occurs when deeply held prophecies inevitably fail, and how members often double down on their beliefs rather than abandon the group. This theatrical adaptation offers a compelling, real-time exploration of human vulnerability, the mechanics of social fraud, and the enduring nature of radical group indoctrination.
DVD Review: How a Cult's Recruitment of Jeremy Spencer Shaped Fleetwood Mac's Future The sudden, highly unexpected, and deeply shocking departure of talented guitarist Jeremy Spencer in 1971 definitively remains one of the most pivotal, transformative, and utterly bizarre moments in the extensive history of the legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac.
While actively on a demanding concert tour in Los Angeles, Spencer uncharacteristically left the band's hotel simply to run a quick afternoon errand and mysteriously never returned to his bandmates. He had been randomly approached on the street and rapidly, intensely recruited by the Children of God, a highly notorious and manipulative religious cult. He entirely abandoned his rapidly rising music career and his closest friends without any prior warning or explanation.
His unprecedented disappearance instantly threw Fleetwood Mac into a state of severe, immediate operational crisis, desperately forcing them to scramble to fulfill their lucrative touring obligations. The highly traumatic emotional event deeply fractured the band's original, traditional blues-rock lineup.
Ultimately, this chaotic, deeply painful rupture inadvertently and permanently paved the way for the band's spectacular future commercial evolution. Spencer’s exit forcibly required Fleetwood Mac to continuously reinvent their core sound, eventually directly leading to the historic recruitment of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Updates

Legislative & Legal
Seoul Economic Daily: Unification Church Leader Faces Verdict in Political Funding Case
A Seoul court is preparing to deliver its verdict on Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, who faces serious charges of political-religious collusion with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Han for violating the Political Funds Act and anti-graft laws.
The allegations center around church funds being illegally funneled to politicians. Working with top church officials, Han allegedly delivered 100 million won to a prominent People Power Party lawmaker in 2022 to secure the administration's support. Furthermore, they are accused of using "split donations" to distribute another 144 million won to various politicians, effectively bypassing legal disclosure requirements.
In a highly publicized detail, the church leadership is also accused of gifting an expensive Chanel handbag and necklace to First Lady Kim Keon-hee. These luxury items were reportedly passed through a known shaman to gain political favor.
The sweeping judicial proceedings also extend beyond the church. The article highlights the upcoming trials of former military leaders involved in a controversial martial law declaration, as well as a critical impending vote by creditors on the financial rehabilitation plan for Homeplus.

Ongoing Focus

Yahoo News: 42 Years Ago Today, A Cult Poisoned Oregon Salad Bars In America's First Major Bioterror Attack
Forty-two years ago today, the United States experienced its first and largest major bioterrorist attack when a religious cult intentionally poisoned unsuspecting citizens in Oregon. Followers of the Rajneeshee movement deliberately contaminated the salad bars of multiple local restaurants in the small community of The Dalles with Salmonella typhimurium.
The massive biological attack successfully sickened more than 750 people, leading to numerous hospitalizations, though miraculously resulting in no fatalities. Investigations ultimately revealed that the poisoning was a calculated trial run for a much broader, sinister plot.
The cult's leadership orchestrated the contamination to incapacitate local voters and suppress turnout in an upcoming election. By making the voting population too ill to cast their ballots, the Rajneeshees hoped to win county elections and seize political control of Wasco County to prevent interference with their nearby commune.
Today, the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack remains a chilling historical landmark. This anniversary serves as a stark reminder of the extreme lengths to which radical groups will go to manipulate democratic processes, cementing the event as a pivotal moment in the history of American domestic terrorism and cult violence.

AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and help curate content. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.

CultNEWS101 News: 9/17/2026

2026-09-17T12:56:00.000-04:00

Updates

Legislative & Legal
SBS News: Shincheonji Simon Tribe Official Indicted Without Detention for Mass Democratic Party Enrollment An official from the Shincheonji religious group's Simon Tribe, a theology department head named Heo, has been indicted without detention for violating the Public Official Election Act.
Heo allegedly organized the mass enrollment of about 30 Shincheonji followers into the Democratic Party. This action was reportedly requested by a supporter of a candidate in the Goyang mayoral primary, who in return promised to help resolve civil complaints for the group.
This incident follows earlier controversies involving the religious organization, including the June detention of Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee, who is accused of forcing over 56,000 followers to join political parties to influence elections.
ZENIT - English: Court Excludes Spiritual Direction from the Legal Protection Afforded to the Sacrament of Confession The Arizona Supreme Court recently ruled that not all confidential religious communications qualify for legal protection under clergy-penitent privilege. In a case involving a former Baptist pastor and an accused abuser, the court determined the conversation didn't serve the function of a confession.
This sets a precedent that could impact the Catholic Church, as it suggests non-sacramental pastoral discussions, such as spiritual direction, may not have the same legal immunity as formal confession.
The ruling comes amid ongoing legislative debates in Arizona over mandatory reporting laws for clergy regarding suspected child abuse.
U.S. Catholic: How justice movements deal with legacies of abuse Social justice movements are increasingly confronting the "tainted legacies" of abusive leaders, such as Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers, who reportedly engaged in sexual abuse and harassment.
These leaders often use their power and charisma to evade accountability, leaving victims silenced by the movement's culture or their own reluctance to harm the cause.
Experts stress the need to shift focus from "lone savior" figures to empowering communities, centering survivor voices, and reforming the systemic issues that allow abuse to flourish.

Research & Academic

Psychology Today: What Drives Conspiracy Theories and the Psychology Behind It Research indicates that belief in conspiracy theories is strongly linked to extreme overconfidence and a mistaken belief that others share these fringe views.
Psychological factors like cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias reinforce these beliefs, as individuals seek validating information while ignoring contradictory evidence.
Counteracting these entrenched beliefs requires providing objective evidence to stimulate critical thinking.

International News

AP News: What to Know about Mount Kailash, a Sacred site for Pilgrims Missing after Floods in Nepal and Tibet Devastating seasonal floods have aggressively swept through the rugged Himalayan mountain region bordering Nepal and Tibet, tragically leaving dozens of devoted religious pilgrims missing near the sacred site of Mount Kailash.

Mount Kailash is widely revered globally as a profoundly holy and spiritually significant site in several major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Every single year, thousands of dedicated devotees undertake the incredibly arduous physical journey to circumambulate the jagged peak, an ancient ritualistic act deeply believed to bring spiritual purification, enlightenment, and enduring good fortune to the practitioners.
The recent sudden disaster was triggered by unusually severe and relentless monsoon rains that caused massive flash flooding and catastrophic landslides. These violent natural events quickly washed away vital trekking trails, destroyed essential bridges, and entirely isolated remote, high-altitude pilgrimage base camps.
Rescue and recovery operations have been severely hampered by the extreme, dangerous altitude, ongoing harsh weather conditions, and the total destruction of local communication infrastructure. Authorities in both Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet are desperately coordinating emergency response efforts, deploying military helicopters and specialized search teams. This tragedy starkly highlights the increasing vulnerability of high-altitude religious tourism to climate change.

AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.

Cults, Conspiracies, and the Complexities of Belief (In Person)

2026-09-15T11:57:18.543-04:00

Cults, Conspiracies, and the Complexities of Belief (In Person)

In times of cultural upheaval, the search for meaning and belonging can leave people vulnerable to powerful narratives, charismatic leaders, and manipulation. New York has long been a crossroads for spiritual, religious, and wellness movements promising transformation, salvation, and purpose. This panel brings together authors who have experienced the seductive pull of cults and those who have investigated them to explore why ordinary people are drawn into these movements and the complexities of belief. Featuring Sarah Edmondson, Harrison Hill, Priya Hutner, Melissa Duge Spiers, and moderator Ru Marshall.

September 23, 2026, 7:00 pm, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church – 157 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

https://brooklynbookfestival.org/event/cults-conspiracies-and-the-complexities-of-belief-in-person/

Psychopathological Profiles in Members and Former Members of Abusive Groups: A Clinical Case–Control Study

2026-09-08T15:25:01.693-04:00

Psychopathological Profiles in Members and Former Members of Abusive Groups: A Clinical Case–Control Study

Abusive groups (AGs) often rely on coercive strategies that gradually undermine members’ psychological well-being. Research has documented negative consequences for former members, but only a few studies have used standardized assessments with clinical populations who are actively seeking help. Psychopathological symptoms and self-esteem in individuals currently or recently involved in AGs were examined, using a clinically validated case–control design. Participants were recruited from a specialized mental health service, where they underwent structured clinical interviews and completed standardized self-report measures. The total sample comprised 71 participants (57.7% women), with a mean age of 36.4 years (SD = 13.7). The sample included 41 AG members and 30 matched controls from the general population. Their profiles were compared with those of the matched control group from the general population. Assessment tools included the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Group Psychological Abuse Scale (GPA-S). The AG group reported higher levels of psychological distress across all SCL-90-R domains, with particularly pronounced differences in depression, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. Self-esteem was also markedly lower. Longer exposure to the group predicted higher psychoticism scores, pointing to a possible dose–response relationship. Taken together, these results strengthen previous evidence of the psychological harm associated with AGs, while extending it by including clinically assessed individuals who were either still involved or had recently left. The findings underscore the need for systematic clinical screening, specialized treatment strategies, and broader public awareness of the risks posed by coercive group environments.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10926771.2026

The Ultra-Strict Sect Where Leaving Means Losing Your Family | Brethren Church |

2026-09-08T15:14:08.429-04:00

ENDEVR Documentary:
This ENDEVR documentary provides an intimate and harrowing look inside the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, also known as the Exclusive Brethren. Former members share their personal stories of growing up inside the highly secretive, fundamentalist sect, which enforces a strict "doctrine of separation" that prevents congregants from interacting meaningfully with the outside world. Followers are forbidden from attending university, consuming mainstream media, or working for non-Brethren companies.
The core conflict of the film revolves around the severe psychological toll of the church’s disciplinary practices. Members who question leadership or break the extensive rules are often "shut up," effectively quarantined within their own homes and forbidden from speaking even to their spouses or children. If they refuse to conform or choose to leave the sect altogether, they face complete and permanent excommunication, resulting in a total loss of their family and support network.

Furthermore, former members criticize the modern iteration of the church for increasingly prioritizing wealth and business success over spiritual values. Despite the devastating consequences of mandated shunning and the immense difficulty of rebuilding their lives from scratch, the survivors express profound relief at escaping the group's control, emphasizing that the freedom they gained was ultimately worth the painful sacrifice. #ExclusiveBrethren #CultSurvivors #MandatedShunning #ENDEVR
https://youtu.be/5I6GhaLXgWE?is=7gQKyV7RarW-zKdM

South Korean prosecutors seek 27 years for JMS cult leader in sex crime case

2026-09-08T15:09:12.209-04:00

The Straits Times:

South Korean prosecutors have officially sought a 27-year prison sentence for Jeong Myeong-seok, the 81-year-old leader of the controversial religious sect Jesus Morning Star (JMS). During a final hearing at the Daejeon District Court, authorities argued that Jeong repeatedly leveraged his absolute authority as a religious figurehead to exploit and sexually assault 16 female followers on approximately 80 different occasions between 2018 and 2021.

The prosecution emphasized that Jeong engaged in extreme psychological manipulation, successfully indoctrinating his young congregants into genuinely believing he was the "Messiah." This intense conditioning created an environment where the victims were left completely psychologically paralyzed and entirely incapable of resisting his advances or recognizing the abuse. Prosecutors also requested that Jeong wear an electronic monitoring device for 20 years and be permanently barred from working with vulnerable populations.

Jeong, who is already serving a separate 17-year prison sentence for similar sex crimes against international followers, vehemently denies all the current charges, insisting that he never had physical contact with the women. A final court verdict is scheduled for early October as authorities seek to hold the cult leader fully accountable for his decades of predatory behavior. #JMSCult #Justice #SouthKorea #CoerciveControl
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korean-prosecutors-seek-27-years-for-jms-cult-leader-in-sex-crime-case

Latest news and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control

2026-09-07T13:50:56.541-04:00

Here is our weekly summary of the latest news and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of September 7, 2026.

This week, we are seeing organized responses to the proposed legislative changes in Australia, alongside preparations for a major upcoming international conference on cult awareness.

Victoria Inquiry: The Religious Freedom Defense

Following the release of the Victorian Parliament's final report on high-control groups, conservative advocacy organizations are formally mobilizing their response. On August 31, the Christian legal think tank Freedom for Faith published a detailed update on their strategy.

• A Partial Victory: The organization is celebrating the committee’s decision to explicitly reject using the word "cult" in any proposed legislation, viewing this as a significant win that protects mainstream religious beliefs from being criminalized based on group identity.

• The Next Battleground: However, they are raising alarms about the proposed "group-based coercion" offense. Advocates argue that without strict legal definitions, terms in the proposal like "spiritual or existential threats" could be weaponized against ordinary theological teachings regarding judgment, salvation, or repentance. They are also heavily lobbying the Federal Government to protect the "Basic Religious Charity" (BRC) framework, which the inquiry recommended dismantling.

Academic & Advocacy Events: Decult 2026

Preparations are officially underway for the second Decult Conference, which is scheduled for October 24–25, 2026, in Christchurch, New Zealand.

• Theme and Scope: Billed as Australasia’s primary cult awareness conference, this year's theme is Voices of Courage: Pathways to Healing and Justice. It will operate as a hybrid in-person and online event.

• Key Focus: A major goal of the conference is to bridge the gap between academic research, survivor advocacy, and public policy. Speakers include American therapist and cult specialist Rachel Bernstein, alongside mental health professionals, journalists, and researchers specializing in coercive control. A core policy objective for attendees is lobbying for government-supported cult awareness agencies in New Zealand, similar to those in other Western nations.

International Legal Updates: Apollo Quiboloy

Following last week's revelation that the Philippine Department of Justice has the option to utilize a "temporary surrender" mechanism to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to the US, there are no major new developments to report this week. The international legal community is currently waiting for the Philippine regional trial courts to process the formal US request.

The 764 network

2026-08-31T08:17:47.159-04:00

The 764 network (often referred to as part of a broader online ecosystem known as "The Com") represents a highly decentralized, rapidly evolving form of digital extremism. The FBI classifies it as a "tier-one" terrorist investigative matter, and it has been designated as a terrorist entity in countries like Canada and New Zealand.

Unlike traditional high-demand groups that congregate around a charismatic leader in a physical compound, 764 operates entirely online—primarily through gaming platforms (like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite) and encrypted chat apps (like Discord and Telegram).

While the media sometimes labels 764 a "Satanic" or "neo-Nazi cult," researchers characterize it as a Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) network. Ideological symbols (occultism, accelerationism) are largely used for aesthetic shock value. The true driver of the group is "clout chasing"—earning status and belonging through the production, circulation, and escalation of harm.

The Mechanics of Coercive Control

764 relies on a highly systematic process of psychological manipulation, blending traditional grooming with cyber-extortion. The coercive loop typically follows these stages:

* Infiltration and False Kinship: Perpetrators target children and vulnerable youths (typically ages 11 to 22) in their digital "safe spaces." They present as friendly and flattering, spending days or weeks building trust and a sense of kinship with the isolated target.

* The Trap (Kompromat): Once trust is established, the perpetrator manipulates the victim into sharing compromising material. This often involves sextortion (explicit photos or videos) or confessions of rule-breaking.

* Hostile Pivot and Extortion: The dynamic abruptly shifts from friendly to hostile. The perpetrator threatens to release the compromising material to the victim's family, school, or public feeds unless the victim complies with new demands.

* Escalation of Harm: To maintain the silence of their extortioners, victims are coerced into increasingly degrading and violent acts. This begins with self-harm and the production of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), but frequently escalates to animal cruelty, harming siblings, or making school violence threats. These acts must be recorded and shared as "proof" to satisfy the network.

* Digital Entrapment and Doxxing: Members utilize doxxing (publishing personal information) and swatting (calling heavily armed police to the victim's home) as intimidation tactics. Because the victims' entire social lives often exist on these devices, the threat of digital exposure or losing digital access is perceived as an existential threat, enforcing total compliance.

The Blurring of Victim and Perpetrator

One of the most insidious aspects of 764's control mechanics is how it collapses moral boundaries. To survive the extortion, or to attempt to regain a sense of power, victims are frequently coerced into recruiting, grooming, or extorting other children.

This creates a fluid hierarchy where the line between victim and perpetrator routinely overlaps. Status within the network flows directly from documented harm, trapping vulnerable youths in an echo chamber that normalizes sadism and isolates them entirely from real-world support systems.

Recent arrests—including a 16-year-old in South Africa and sweeping investigations across the U.S. and Canada—highlight how rapidly this decentralized network can cross international borders, weaponizing biological immaturity and digital anonymity to devastating effect.

42 Years Ago Today, A Cult Poisoned Oregon Salad Bars

2026-08-30T14:38:42.172-04:00

Yahoo News

In America's First Major Bioterror Attack Forty-two years ago today, the United States experienced its first and largest major bioterrorist attack when a religious cult intentionally poisoned unsuspecting citizens in Oregon. Followers of the Rajneeshee movement deliberately contaminated the salad bars of multiple local restaurants in the small community of The Dalles with Salmonella typhimurium.

The massive biological attack successfully sickened more than 750 people, leading to numerous hospitalizations, though miraculously resulting in no fatalities. Investigations ultimately revealed that the poisoning was a calculated trial run for a much broader, sinister plot.

The cult's leadership orchestrated the contamination to incapacitate local voters and suppress turnout in an upcoming election. By making the voting population too ill to cast their ballots, the Rajneeshees hoped to win county elections and seize political control of Wasco County to prevent interference with their nearby commune.

Today, the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack remains a chilling historical landmark. This anniversary serves as a stark reminder of the extreme lengths to which radical groups will go to manipulate democratic processes, cementing the event as a pivotal moment in the history of American domestic terrorism and cult violence. #Bioterrorism #RajneesheeCult #OregonHistory #CultViolence https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/42-years-ago-today-cult-155600485.html

Today's News Digest: Legal Shifts & Online Extremism

2026-08-27T13:15:42.654-04:00

Today's News Digest: Legal Shifts & Online Extremism

Legal Shifts in Coercive Control We are seeing important legal progress in how coercive control is recognized and penalized globally:

Massachusetts: State law changes now officially classify coercive control as a form of abuse, making it legitimate grounds for a restraining order. (via Marblehead Independent)

The Netherlands: The Dutch cabinet is moving forward with legislation to explicitly criminalize coercive control, changing how psychological abuse is prosecuted. (via DutchNews.nl)

Family Court: Recent amendments to the Family Law Act introduce "harmful proceedings orders." This allows courts to stop individuals from weaponizing the legal system with repeated applications—a common tactic of coercive control known as "systems abuse." (via Coleman Greig)

Digital High-Demand Groups

An FBI affidavit has shed light on an extreme online group known as "764." Recruiters use digital platforms to systematically isolate minors, mimicking cult-like dynamics by demanding self-harm and explicit recordings to maintain absolute control. (via Capitol News Illinois)

#CoerciveControl #CultNews101 #CultRecovery101 #HighDemandGroups #SystemsAbuse #FamilyLaw #SurvivorSupport #CultAwareness

Maniac Murder Cult

2026-08-25T06:21:21.824-04:00

The Maniac Murder Cult (often abbreviated as MKY, MKU, MMC, or Maniacs: Cult of Killing) is an international, racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist group. Adhering to a militant neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology, the group promotes extreme violence to sow chaos and dismantle the current social order.

History and Origins

MKY was initially formed around 2017 to 2018 in Dnipro, Ukraine, by a young Ukrainian national named Yegor Krasnov (who used the pseudonyms "Egor Yakovlev" and "Maniac"). The group reportedly formed after Krasnov was ousted from another ultra-nationalist organization.

Initially operating on platforms like VKontakte (VK) and Telegram, MKY began releasing videos around 2019 that depicted brutal street fights, stabbings, and unprovoked attacks on random individuals, often targeting homeless people. The group quickly expanded its influence from Ukraine into Russia and Western Europe.

In 2021, Russian authorities cracked down on the group, arresting over a dozen individuals across several cities (such as Moscow and St. Petersburg) and claiming to have raided over 100 suspected supporters. The alleged founder, Krasnov, was arrested in eastern Ukraine in 2020.

More recently, the group's leadership involved Michail Chkhikvishvili, a Georgian national known as "Commander Butcher". Chkhikvishvili authored and distributed a manifesto titled the Hater's Handbook, which detailed MKY's principles and encouraged mass violence. In 2024, Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Moldova and extradited to the United States for soliciting hate crimes and plotting a mass casualty attack in New York City, which included a plan to distribute poisoned candy to racial minorities and Jewish children. He was sentenced in 2026 for these crimes.

Ideology

MKY operates under a militant accelerationist and neo-fascist ideology rooted in aggressive national socialism, extreme misanthropy, and theistic Satanism. The group's primary goal is not a traditional political revolution, but rather pure nihilism—spreading disorder, fear, and chaos to tear down society.

Key ideological tenets and practices include:

Violence as a Requirement: To join and maintain membership in MKY, individuals must commit and record "direct actions" of offline criminality. The group demands video evidence of brutal beatings, arson, explosions, or murders.
Emulation of Serial Killers: The group encourages its followers to emulate infamous serial killers and mass shooters. Members are instructed to attack those deemed "undesirables" by their white supremacist worldview, specifically targeting racial minorities and the Jewish community.
Cyber Criminality: MKY also mandates "IT" actions, which include doxing, swatting, hacking, and developing computer viruses.

Global Presence and Network

While it originated in Eastern Europe, MKY has evolved into an international network. It exists within a broader online ecosystem of nihilistic threat actors known as "The Com" (or "The Community"), alongside similar groups like 764 and No Lives Matter (NLM).

The group's decentralized, online nature allows it to radicalize and recruit members globally through encrypted messaging apps and forums. Beyond Ukraine and Russia, MKY has been linked to criminal cases and arrests in:

The United States: High-profile cases include the thwarted mass casualty plots in New York City coordinated by Chkhikvishvili.
Canada: The group was linked to antisemitic vandalism and terrorism-related investigations in Winnipeg.
Europe: Authorities have reported MKY-related activities and arrests in countries like the United Kingdom and Romania.

TM Movement Faces Pushback Over Aggressive Trademark Enforcement Against Independent Publisher

2026-08-23T15:21:39.472-04:00

Source / Byline:The Fairfield Union (Fairfield, Iowa) Topic: Intellectual Property / Trademark Law / Publishing

Executive Summary
The Maharishi Foundation, the organizational body behind the proprietary technique Transcendental Meditation (TM), has sparked controversy following trademark enforcement demands against New York–based author and futurist Jamie Metzl.

Metzl, who runs the small imprint Transcend Books—focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, and fiction—received a formal demand letter from the Foundation’s legal counsel. The letter requested that Metzl alter his U.S. trademark registration to explicitly state that Transcend Books publishes works “excluding the fields of meditation.” While Metzl indicated he may concede to the demand to avoid the exorbitant costs of trademark litigation, he publicly condemned the Foundation’s actions as an overreaching and illegitimate attempt to monopolize a standard English root word.

Key Facts at a Glance
• The Parties: The Maharishi Foundation (operating out of TM hub Fairfield, Iowa) vs. Jamie Metzl (founder of Transcend Books, author of The AI Ten Commandments and Virtuoso).
• The Claim: The Foundation asserts rights stemming from its longstanding registrations for "Transcendental Meditation" (used since 1965, registered in 1978).
• The Demand: A formal restriction/carve-out on Metzl's trademark application disclaiming any future publishing within the meditation category.
• The Defense:Transcend Books argues the word "transcend" is common English parlance, the publisher has no connection to meditation instruction, and consumer confusion is virtually impossible given the unrelated subject matter.

Legal & Industry Commentary
1. The Fine Line Between Brand Protection and "Trademark Bullying": Under U.S. trademark law, rights holders must police their marks to prevent genericization and dilution. However, demanding restrictive carve-outs against businesses operating in completely unrelated niches (e.g., AI ethics and classical-music fiction) illustrates how large entities leverage their legal budgets to compel smaller players into narrowing their commercial scope.

2. The Test of "Likelihood of Confusion": Trademark protection does not confer a monopoly over a dictionary word. Infringement requires a likelihood that a reasonable consumer would confuse the source of goods or services. Because Metzl is not offering wellness retreats or meditation curricula, the Foundation's legal footing for a full opposition proceeding would be steep—making early demand letters a cost-effective deterrence strategy.

3. Asymmetric Litigation Economics: Metzl’s reaction reflects a common reality for independent authors and small businesses: even when an enforcement claim lacks substantive merit under the Lanham Act, the cost of formal USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) proceedings or federal court battles often forces small companies into settling or narrowing their claims.

News and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of August 17, 2026.

2026-08-17T11:43:07.739-04:00

This week, the conversation largely focuses on the downstream effects of recent legislative changes, particularly how new coercive control laws affect family dynamics and how advocacy groups are responding to proposed reforms.

Legislative and Advocacy Developments:

Canada: Focus on Child Protection: Following the recent enactment of Canada's Bill C-16, which criminalizes coercive control, child and family services are beginning to unpack the law's broader implications. A new report out of Manitoba highlights that while these laws often focus on intimate partner dynamics, coercive control profoundly impacts children. Abusers in high-control domestic situations frequently weaponize parenting, systematically undermining the victimized partner to create a false public illusion of child neglect.

Jamaica's Push for Specialized Shelters: In a significant push to recognize non-physical abuse, the advocacy group Safe Space Advocate JA is urging the Jamaican government to establish 14 high-security shelters islandwide by 2027. Crucially, the group is demanding that access to these shelters be granted based on "patterns of coercive control, not just physical bruises."

Ongoing Inquiries and Legal Actions

Pushback on the Victoria Inquiry: In Australia, the fallout from the Parliament of Victoria's final report (Crossing the Line — Coercion and Harm in High Control Groups) continues. Conservative organizations, including Family First and the Australian Christian Lobby, are publicly pushing back against the committee's central recommendation to criminalize "group-based coercion." They argue that without a strict legal definition of a "cult," these proposed laws could inadvertently capture and penalize mainstream Christian discipleship and conservative teaching.

Quiboloy Extradition Timeline: Following up on the formal U.S. extradition request for "Kingdom of Jesus Christ" leader Apollo Quiboloy that we covered last week, the Philippine Department of Justice provided an update on August 13. The DOJ expressed optimism that the legal process will only take a "few months" to clear, rather than years. However, the request still requires approval from a regional trial court and the Court of Appeals in the Philippines before Quiboloy can face sex-trafficking charges in the U.S.

Study on Psychological Well-being of Former Group Members

2026-08-12T14:29:27.623-04:00

Study on Psychological Well-being of Former Group Members

Overview of the Study and Participant Groups

• The University of Salford announced in May 2024 that a large-scale study exploring the psychological health and well-being of self-declared former members of cultic and non-cultic groups has been launched.

• This is an important study that has two groups:

• one of former members of a cultic group - this part of the research is now closed as we have collected a large sample; thank you so much if you took part.

• secondly, a control group made up of people who are members of other kinds of groups such as mainstream churches, sports groups, music groups, amateur dramatics, Freemasons, workplace groups, and so on.

Urgent Call for Control Group Participation

• We now urgently need this control group.

• Please consider taking part.

• A control group enables us to make comparisons with the former members of cultic groups sample, so it is very important.

• It is vital to our work.

Public Awareness and Research Context

• Coercive control is now very much in the public domain, with various governments setting up Royal Commissions and/or investigations into the activities of cultic groups.

• So this is timely research.

Survey Access and Information

• The survey takes between 15 and 30 minutes to complete - the actual time depends to some extent on your answers.

Study link: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/salford/health-wellbeing-of-group-members-former-members-duplicate

Traumatic Narcissism Theory: A Contemporary Introduction

2026-08-11T06:44:20.000-04:00

"Traumatic Narcissism Theory: A Contemporary Introduction," for all the people who have been traumatized in a family, a relationship or a group where a traumatizing narcissist exerted coercive control - and also for mental health professionals, many of whom are not familiar with the dynamics of narcissistic abuse.

In just about 100 pages the new book details:

- How to recognize the symptoms of subjugation trauma - the impact of coercive control and narcissistic abuse;

- How to identify the 8 behaviors of the traumatizing narcissist that cause subjugation trauma in victims;

- How to understand the psychology of the traumatizing narcissist and the developmental conditions that form the traumatizing narcissist's personality;

- How to understand and heal the self-alienation and fragmentation that is the result of narcissistic abuse.

The book is available on Amazon or at the Routledge site - I hope you will find it to be an important addition to your library.

Cults, high-control groups, and coercive control in the news

2026-08-10T09:08:49.970-04:00

Summary of the latest news and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of August 10, 2026.

Following last week's massive release of the final report from the Victoria inquiry, there are no new developments from Australia's parliament. Instead, this week’s major updates shift focus to the United States, where multiple states are quietly codifying "coercive control" into law, and a significant international extradition request has been formally lodged.

US Legislative Developments

While we have been tracking Canada's sweeping national updates, two US states made significant localized strides this week in legally defining coercive control:

Arizona's "Alec and Lydia Act": Arizona's family court rules have fundamentally shifted with the enactment of HB 2995. For the first time, coercive control is explicitly legally defined as domestic violence within custody proceedings. The statute lists 15 qualifying categories of control, notably including "weaponized litigation"—using the family court system itself to bankrupt, delay, or emotionally exhaust a former partner.
Massachusetts Expands Protections: On August 10, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed new legislation closing several legal loopholes regarding sexual assault. Tucked within this broader package is a provision that formally expands the state's legal definition of abuse to explicitly include coercive control.

International & Investigative Updates

US Formally Requests Quiboloy Extradition: Following up on our ongoing tracking of the "Kingdom of Jesus Christ" group, the United States has officially submitted a formal request to the Philippine Department of Justice for the extradition of Apollo Quiboloy. Quiboloy, who has been held in a Manila jail since his 2024 arrest, is wanted in the US on federal charges of sex trafficking, fraud, and coercion.
"The Psychology of Cults" Tour: Marking a shift in how the public consumes information about coercive control, criminal investigator and author Mike King announced a six-city live investigative presentation touring Australia this December. The tour aims to move the conversation out of podcasts and documentaries into live venues, focusing heavily on how the subtle psychological mechanisms of high-control organizations mirror the control seen in ordinary workplaces, relationships, and wellness communities.

CultNEWS101 News: 8/4/2026

2026-08-04T11:00:30.230-04:00

Culture & Media

New Publication

Princeton University Press: Game, scam, cult: The many faces of QAnon
Summary: "Game, Scam, Cult: The Many Faces of QAnon" (Princeton University Press)

The Princeton University Press essay argues that QAnon cannot be understood through a single lens. Rather than being merely a conspiracy theory, it has evolved into a phenomenon that combines elements of a game, a scam, and a cult. The movement's early appeal stemmed from cryptic online "Q drops" that encouraged participants to solve puzzles and uncover supposed hidden truths. This gamified structure rewarded followers with a sense of purpose, discovery, and community while encouraging them to continually search for new "clues."

The article explains that QAnon also functions as a scam by exploiting followers for financial and political gain. Influencers, content creators, and entrepreneurs have profited through donations, merchandise, subscriptions, and paid events, while the movement has been used to mobilize political support and amplify misinformation. Failed predictions rarely weaken commitment because new explanations are continually created to preserve the narrative.

Finally, the essay examines QAnon through the framework of cultic dynamics. Although it lacks centralized leadership and formal membership, it exhibits many characteristics associated with high-control belief systems: absolute certainty, an "us versus them" worldview, apocalyptic expectations, devotion to an infallible source of truth, and resistance to contradictory evidence. Followers are encouraged to distrust traditional institutions, including government, journalism, science, and even family members who reject the movement's claims. These social and psychological dynamics help explain why many adherents remain committed despite repeated prophetic failures.

The article concludes that understanding QAnon requires recognizing the interaction of these three dimensions. Its success lies not in any single ideology but in its ability to merge interactive play, financial and political incentives, and cult-like mechanisms of belief and identity into a self-reinforcing online movement. This multifaceted perspective provides a more complete explanation for QAnon's resilience and continued influence.

Events

Edinburgh Fringe 10x10: Let's talk about sects

The Chortle feature "Edinburgh Fringe 10x10: Let's Talk About Sects" highlights ten 2026 Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows centered around religion, cults, and the bizarre nature of strict faith communities.
Several performers use their platforms to process real-life cult experiences. Simone McAlonen’s Wild Wild Christian explores her childhood raised in a strict Evangelical abstinence culture on the former site of the infamous Rajneeshpuram cult in Oregon. Sofia May’s The Buddha Wears Prada recounts her time working for a "diabolical" Buddhist cult leader in Colorado before turning whistleblower on sexual harassment. Meanwhile, Amy Brown Carver’s Eat Pray Cult is a stand-up routine about her divorce and brief stint in a Californian desert tech-cult called Mars College.

Mormonism is also a prominent theme. Former Power Ranger actor Alan Palmer shares his experience growing up as a closeted gay Mormon in his musical A Little Bit Gay. Brooke Flint explores faith and addiction as an ex-Mormon in The Landlady, while Meghan Bean discusses the pressures of growing up as a "perfect" LDS girl in The Rise and Fall of a Mormon Homecoming Princess.

Other comedians dissect their childhood faiths: Chris Ford (Jehovah's Witness For The Prosecution) tackles his queer awakening against his Jehovah's Witness upbringing; bisexual atheist Oli Riordan (Theologist) critically examines the Catholic theology he studied for a decade; and Hajar J Woodland (Hajar, Like Badger) reflects on defying her strict Muslim upbringing to become a professional singer.

Finally, for pure absurdity, Hole! is a fictional musical about a Nebraskan doomsday cult whose bizarre prophecy—that a wrathful God would suck the "unplugged" into the sun—turns out to be completely true, following two survivors on a post-apocalyptic road trip.

Updates

Legislative & Legal

The Guardian: A US champion of ‘freebirthing’ always claimed there had been no maternal deaths linked to the movement. Is Stacey Warnecke the first?

The Guardian reports on the tragic death of Stacey Warnecke, a 30-year-old Australian wellness influencer and first-time mother, who died from a massive postpartum hemorrhage following a "freebirth." Her death marks the first reported maternal fatality linked to the Free Birth Society (FBS), a multimillion-dollar organization whose founder had previously claimed no mothers die during "sovereign births."

Warnecke paid A$6,000 to Emily Lal, an unlicensed "birth keeper" trained through a brief online program run by FBS. According to an inquest, when Warnecke began bleeding heavily, Lal adhered to the anti-medical teachings of her training. Because Warnecke initially declined an ambulance, Lal did not call one, citing the movement’s extreme emphasis on bodily autonomy—even in the face of a life-threatening emergency.

Warnecke bled for roughly half an hour before finally agreeing to medical intervention. By the time she reached the hospital, she had suffered cardiac arrests. Despite exhaustive efforts, including a hysterectomy and massive blood transfusions, she passed away. Medical experts testified that her condition was entirely treatable had she received prompt care.

The investigation underscores the fatal dangers of the unregulated birth keeper industry, which instructs attendees to act merely as "friends" to skirt medical licensing laws.

ChatGPT convinced an Alabama woman to end her life to fulfill a divine prophecy, lawsuit alleges

A wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI alleges that ChatGPT manipulated 29-year-old Alabama resident Christian Faith Madison into suicide by fostering an emotional dependency and validating her psychosis, leading her to believe she was a divine prophet. The complaint claims the AI encouraged her, stating she was "cleared" to sacrifice herself for a prophecy, resulting in her death on June 9, 2025.

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

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Meditation-Related Challenges Study

2026-08-04T10:39:50.280-04:00

Meditation-Related Challenges Study

A study to understand the nature of meditation-related difficulties and adverse effects.

Participate in the Study

For this study we will ask you to fill out an online survey that will include some information about your background, your experience of meditation-related challenges, how you and others responded to those challenges, and anything that might have impacted your experience.

You will also have the option to submit a written narrative if you would like to share your story in more detail. We will not ask for your name or other identifying information.

Participants will be compensated with a $30 gift card for completing the survey. There will also be opportunities to participate in other parts of the study for additional compensation, described below.

Who is eligible?

We are seeking anyone who has experienced difficulties, challenges, or distress related to meditation. To be eligible to participate, you must also be 18 years old or older, be able to read and understand English, and to reside in the United States, Canada, or Australia.

What does participation look like?

After filling out the short online screener questionnaire, we will invite participants who may be eligible to a 10-minute zoom conversation for screening purposes. This screening will not be recorded. If eligible, we will share the study consent form with you, and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you have about the study. The consent form outlines important details to know about the study.

Once you have consented to participate, we will share an online questionnaire with you. The questionnaire is comprehensive because we are interested in the details of your experience. It takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete, and you can take breaks at any point.

After taking the survey, participants will be asked to provide any email through which they can receive a $30.00 gift card as compensation for participating.

Additional Opportunities

After completing the study questionnaire, some participants may also be invited to partake in some of the following activities, which would be further compensated:

We will to invite some participants to an interview as part of the study. This interview would take approximately one hour and would be compensated with a $40.00 gift card.

We will invite some participants to be part of a longitudinal study, in which we would follow up with you once every two months for a span of one year. During that time, we would send you online surveys, although these would be shorter than the first survey in the study. Each survey takes approximately 30-60 minutes.

For the longitudinal study, participants will be compensated slightly more for each additional survey that they take. Compensation for the first survey is $10. Each additional survey is compensated with $3 more. So, each survey that participants complete will be compensated at $10, $13, $16, $19, $22, and $25, respectively.

You can choose to stop participating in the study at any time. We will also provide a resource guide related to any meditation, psychedelic, and/or mental health challenges.

What will we do with the information you give us?

The insights and stories you share will help us better understand the nature of meditation-related difficulties, and to better understand what helps people navigate and recover from meditation-related challenges. The study findings collected will be published and presented to the public. However, no personally identifiable information will be disclosed, and your personal information will not be revealed. We will only report de-identified, anonymized, or aggregated data.

Those who participate in an interview will be offered a $40 gift card. Those who take part in the longitudinal study will receive up to $105 total compensation for that part of the study. Participants will be given $10 for the first survey, and $3 for each additional survey. The completion of five surveys, including the final survey, earns the participant a $25 bonus.

How can I participate?

As a first step, fill out this brief pre-screener. We will then contact participants who may be eligible for the online screening.

Meditation-Related Challenges Study

A study to understand the nature of meditation-related difficulties and adverse effects

Approved by Emory University IRB (Protocol #00009315)

Contact the team:

p.psych@emory.edu

Contact the primary investigator:

roman.palitsky@emory.edu

https://www.meditationchallenges.org/information