From his cabin in California, the artist believed he could communicate with deceased, extraterrestrials, and higher beings through a “mental radio.”
From the World
The Politics of Apostasy: Defaming Religious Liberty
In a provocative new book, Mirjam van Schaik argues that the real problem today is not “defaming religion” but “defaming freedom of religion or belief”.
Blasphemy on Prime Time TV: “Case No. 9” Dares to Show Pakistan’s Darkest Truth
A popular television series confronts viewers with the forbidden theme of false accusations of blasphemy and the risk of being lynched by mobs.
“The Serpent’s Tale”: Kuṇḍalinī Without a Leash
Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Anya Foxen refuse to tell us what Kuṇḍalinī “really” is. And yet we may end up knowing more about Kuṇḍalinī than we ever dared to ask.
Victoria, Australia, Inquiry on “Cults”: Moral Panics About “Cults” on Campuses
Australian universities’ warning students about “cults” may end up making them more dangerous for anyone who identifies with a religion.
Eight Suzuki and Abe’s Widow’s “Apology”: When Hatred Becomes Moral Vandalism
The anti-cult journalist believes that Akie Abe should have offered “something akin to an apology” to her husband’s assassin.
Yamagami and the Evil Teachers: The Cult of Not Calling It Terrorism
A homemade gun may have killed Abe but a manufactured moral panic pulled the trigger. It was a textbook case of anti-cult terrorism.
Enemies, Schisms, and Resilience: A Centennial Reflection on La Luz del Mundo’s Opposition
Who is afraid of the church founded in 1926? Religious competitors, apostate and schismatic ex-members, and those who fear its social influence.
Maine: Anti-Cultist Janja Lalich Led a Judge to Conclude that Even Calvary Chapel Is a “Cultic Organization”
A court ordered that a child should not be exposed by his mother to the “harmful” teachings of Calvary, based on the “expert’s” testimony. The case is now before Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court.
When the Media and the Entertainment Industry Slander Religion
The press, movies, and TV dramas can be strong allies of truth. They can also turn away from it, distracting the public through spectacle and display.