The Cult News Network

‘False prophet’ wife on leaving FLDS cult, healing through music

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes, Cult TV Tagged cult leader, Samuel Bateman, survivor story

When Naomi "Nomz" Bistline initially auditioned to be in her prison's band, she tried out to be the guitarist. "Then I started singing a little and they said, ‘Put the guitar down. Let's just hear you sing,'" she says. "I…[Continue Reading...]

From tithing to landlording: Mormon church drops $240M on Boca Raton apartments

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Boca Raton, Florida, Mormon Church, Mormons, real estate develpment

The real estate investment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid $240 million to acquire an apartment complex in Boca Raton, marking one of the priciest multifamily deals in South Florida this year. Records show an affiliate…[Continue Reading...]

SF Scientology church tormented by ‘speedrun’ copycats

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged harassment, San Francisco, Scientologists, Scientology, speedruns

The TikTok trend of “speedrunning” through Scientology churches has reached San Francisco. Most of the pranksters here have not gotten far in their attempts, according to the church. But one Instagram video(opens in new tab) appears to shows an intruder…[Continue Reading...]

Clearwater left in the dark on Scientology-linked entertainment project

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Clearwater, development, Florida, real estate, Scientologists, Scientologiy

Public messaging has left many Clearwater residents believing a $50 million downtown entertainment project is already a done deal, even as city officials say they do not know who is leading it or how it would move forward. City leaders…[Continue Reading...]

How the viral ‘Scientology speedrun’ trend got started and why young people keep doing it

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Scientology, speedrunning, TikTok

Like any online meme worth its weight in clicks, the Scientology speedrun trend doesn't make a lot of sense, at least on the surface. A crowd of nearly 300 young people in Vancouver were the latest to jump on the…[Continue Reading...]

Cult leader posing as Jesus Christ detained in Iran

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged criminal charges, cult leader, Iran

Law enforcement authorities in Iran’s Yazd province have detained a man who founded a religious sect and presented himself as Jesus Christ, according to the Mehr news agency. The leader of the sect initially claimed to have been chosen by…[Continue Reading...]

Demons, “Cult” Control and a Baby’s Death: Inside the Horrifying Case Against Amish Leader Sam Shetler

Published May 6, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Cult Crimes Tagged criminal charges, cult leader, Missouri, Sam B. Shetler

An Amish retreat leader has been accused of sexual abuse and misleading his community about his medical expertise, leading to the death of an infant. Sam B. Shetler is facing a series of charges including involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, sexual abuse,…[Continue Reading...]

Pregnant girl (16) can be given treatment despite religious objection to blood transfusion

Published May 4, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Jehovah's Witnesses Tagged blood tranfuxion, court order, Ireland, pregnant mior

The High Court has found that all appropriate medical treatment can be given to a 16-year-old girl who was at an advanced stage of pregnancy and told doctors she did not want to receive blood transfusions for religious reasons. The…[Continue Reading...]

Los Angeles woman goes to a healing retreat, then realizes she is slowly being pulled into a lesbian cult: ‘So is there a link or what’

Published May 4, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged California, cults, wellness retreat

No one wants to end up in a cult or expects to be in one. However, when you start noticing the first signs that you might be involved, it’s often too difficult to recognize it as a cult, and you…[Continue Reading...]

‘I escaped North Korea, now I’m standing to be a councillor in Stockport

Published May 4, 2026 By admin

Categorized as Uncategorized Tagged Brainwashing, cults, North Korea, survivor story

It’s local election season and that means a near endless amount of leaflets, promises, and door knocks as political parties fight for control of councils on May 7. Stockport is no exception and this year the race is set to…[Continue Reading...]