The Cult News Network

Will AI Increase or Decrease Conspiracy Theory Beliefs?

Published June 25, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged AI, artificial intelligence, conspirach theory, conspiracy theories

Key points Several studies have demonstrated that AI chatbots can be trained to decrease conspiracy theory belief. However, other research has shown that AI chatbots can increase belief in conspiracy theories. The effects of LLMs on conspiracy beliefs matters less…[Continue Reading...]

Clearwater officially gives downtown street to Scientology

Published June 25, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged City Council vote, Clearwater, Florida, real estate, Scientologists, Scientology

After Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector hit the gavel to end a City Council meeting Thursday evening, the audience in the Clearwater Main Library erupted in applause and cheers. Scientology members had lined up outside the library several hours before the…[Continue Reading...]

Leaked Documents Show Gabbard Family’s Deep Ties To Sect Leader

Published June 25, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Chris Butler, cult leader, cults, Hawaii, Science of Identty, Tulsi Gabbard

New revelations about former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard following the dictates of her spiritual guru while she was a member of Congress have resurrected interest in her family’s involvement with Chris Butler and his Kailua-based Science of Identity…[Continue Reading...]

Woman linked to cult-like group charged in 2022 murder of her parents in Delco

Published June 25, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged cult leader, cults, Jack "Ziz" LaSota, Michelle Zajko, murder charges, Pennsylvania, Zizians

A woman who has been linked with a cult-like group known as the Zizians has been charged in the 2022 murder of her parents in Chester Heights, Delaware County, according to Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse. In a news…[Continue Reading...]

95-year-old South Korean cult leader Lee Man Hee arrested

Published June 25, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged arrested, culsts, cult leader, Lee Man-Hee, Shincheonji, South Korea

Lee Man Hee, the 95-year-old founder of the South Korean Shincheonji religious sect, has been arrested. He is accused of pressuring more than 50,000 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus to join the conservative People Power Party (PPP) between…[Continue Reading...]

Member of cultlike Zizians group charged in the killings of her parents in suburban Philadelphia

Published June 25, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged cults, Michelle Zajko, murders, Pennsylvania, Zizians

MEDIA, Pa. -- A member of the cultlike group known as Zizians has been charged with murder in the shooting of her parents at their Pennsylvania home on her 30th birthday, and a prosecutor said Wednesday she wasn't acting alone.…[Continue Reading...]

‘Salad bar extremism’: Montreal gunman’s incel manifesto ‘picks and chooses different grievances’

Published June 24, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Canada, Incel, Montreal, online radicalization, shooting

A manifesto left by the armed suspect who opened fire at a hotel on Monday and killed a Montreal police officer doesn’t explicitly mention ‘incel,’ but experts say the content is consistent with the ideology that’s rooted in extreme hatred…[Continue Reading...]

Brazil freezes $125M in probe of bank controlled by evangelical leader

Published June 24, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Brazil, cults, Edir Macedo, government investigation, Universal Church Kingdom of God, V

June 23 (UPI) -- Brazil's Federal Police launched an operation Tuesday targeting an alleged financial fraud scheme at Banco Digimais and ordered freezing assets equivalent to some $125 million. Banco Digimais is an institution controlled by evangelical bishop Edir Macedo,…[Continue Reading...]

‘Mormon belongs to the public’: Podcaster files response in LDS Church trademark infringement lawsuit

Published June 24, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Mormons Tagged John Dehlin, lawsuit, LDS, Mormon Church, Mormon Stories

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — After being sued by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for alleged trademark infringement, the ‘Mormon Stories’ Podcast has filed a response, claiming that the Church has abandoned the trademark ‘Mormon’, despite their…[Continue Reading...]

Court grants arrest warrant for Shincheonji sect leader over forced PPP memberships Chae Yun-hwan, 채윤환 Chae Yun-hwan

Published June 24, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged arrest warrant, cult leader, cults, MLee Man-hee, Shincheonji, South Korea

SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over allegations he forced followers to join the main opposition People Power Party…[Continue Reading...]