The Cult News Network

Shakahola massacre trial: Suspect offers to confess, turn State witness against Mackenzie

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged cult leader, Good News International Church, Kenya, Paul Mackenzie, stravation deaths

The prosecution in the Shakahola massacre case has received a major boost after one of the suspects expressed willingness to confess and cooperate with the State, potentially turning into a key witness against alleged cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and…[Continue Reading...]

‘Bloodline and Blind Faith: Untold Stories of the Kirtland Cult Killings’: How to watch on our TV streaming app Friday at 8 p.m.

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged cult leader, Jeffrey Lundgren, Kirtland murders, Ohio

In 1989, Northeast Ohio cult leader Jeff Lundgren killed the Avery family: Dennis, Cheryl, and their three young daughters. A dozen men and women followed the self-proclaimed prophet through fanaticism, into the wilderness, and ultimately to prison. Thirty-five years after…[Continue Reading...]

The history and science behind why we’re all vulnerable to brainwashing

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Brainwashing, coercive persuasion, research, thought reform

We tend to associate “brainwashing” with cults and hostages, but author and science historian Rebecca Lemov says it can happen to anyone. Her new book “The Instability of Truth" explores the history and science of brainwashing and what it can…[Continue Reading...]

Joint Investigation Team Questions Unification Church ‘Vault Keeper’

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged cult leader, cults, Hak Ja Han Moon, money in safe, South Korea, Unification Church

A joint investigation team (JIT) probing alleged collusion between the Unification Church and political circles recently questioned A, a close associate of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, according to legal sources. According to the legal community on the 16th, the…[Continue Reading...]

8 Memoirs Exploring the Damage of Purity Culture

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged books, former members, Purity culture

Purity culture. The more Christians begin deconstructing their religious beliefs—often ones imposed upon them as children—the more the subject surfaces. Below, I’ve picked out eight eye-opening memoirs exploring the damage of purity culture. It began as an Evangelical Christian movement…[Continue Reading...]

‘Apocalyptic Christian cult’ Shincheonji using ‘special force teams’ to spread across the country

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Australia, cult leader, cults, Lee Man-Hee, Shincheonji

A former follower of a fringe Christian organisation says "special force teams" are recruiting members in Ballarat, Bendigo, Darwin, Geelong and Melbourne to expand its church's reach. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has been described as an "apocalyptic Christian cult",…[Continue Reading...]

Religious group that some ex-members describe as a ‘cult’ sees its footprint grow in Chicago area

Published January 16, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Chicago, cults, Illinois, World Mission Society Church of God, Zahng Gil-jahcult leader

While the World Mission Society Church of God has strongly rejected that label, a number of former congregants say the organization appears to be financially driven, has falsely predicted the end of the world and has isolated members from non-believing…[Continue Reading...]

Are You an “Echoist?” Here’s what you need to know about the people-pleasing trait, and why it could make you more vulnerable to narcissists.

Published January 15, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged coercive control, narcissist, people pleasers

When Emma Davey looks back, she can see that her abuser was “molding” her very quickly. “It went from 0 to 100, he told me he loved me within the first week [and] wanted to marry me within the first…[Continue Reading...]

Joint probe searches Cheonjeonggung, questions Unification Church figure Yun Yeong-ho

Published January 15, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged government search, headquarters, South Korea, Unification Church

The joint investigation headquarters on corruption involving collusion between religion and politics has begun an investigation, meeting with Yun Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church world headquarters, who has been identified as a key figure in alleged lobbying…[Continue Reading...]

Is It Pathological to Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

Published January 15, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged conspiracy theorists, Conspkracy theories, delusional thinkingl, psychological research

About 20%-30% of the population express belief in at least one conspiracy theory, according to Thomas Fuchs, MD, PhD, psychiatrist and philosopher, Karl Jaspers Professor of Philosophy and Psychiatry at the Department of General Psychiatry, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. He…[Continue Reading...]