During the past six years about 70 former members of the Gloriavale community based at Haupiri, on the West Coast of the South Island, have resettled in South Canterbury, Liz Gregory says it’s now time to set up a trust to help support those who had made the “massive” decision to leave the community of Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Cults’
Coca-Cola is used in religious ceremonies in this church
Thursday, August 30th, 2018The “Coca-Cola Church,” which is really called St. John the Baptist, sits in the heart of San Juan Chamula in Chiapas. As Dan Bobkoff reports in Business Insider’s new podcast, “Household Name,” the church service mixes Catholicism with a local religion, and it’s said that parishioners at the church believe that burping purges evil from Read more
How were 300 Koreans allowed to work in Fiji?
Monday, August 20th, 2018
The Fiji government needs to explain how hundreds of South Koreans have been allowed into Fiji to work for firms connected to the controversial Grace Road Church, a union leader says. Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka is also calling urgently for an investigation into the running of the Grace Road Group. The Grace Read more
Doomsday cult leader held 400 followers prisoner in Fiji
Monday, August 6th, 2018
Reverend Esther, the leader of a South Korean doomsday cult, has been arrested for allegedly holding some 400 followers captive in Fiji. Esther, whose legal name is Shin Ok-ju’, is the founder of the Grace Road Church. The church has a corporate branch called the GR Group. Esther was arrested with three other cult leaders Read more
Cult infiltrating New Zealand churches and educational institutions
Monday, July 16th, 2018
Rose Labone’s article in the June edition of North and South investigated the activities in New Zealand of a cult known as Providence. She says it has infiltrated university campuses, schools and mainstream churches in New Zealand under the guise of being a Christian movement. It also uses the names Nikau Church, Christian Gospel Mission and Jesus Morning Star. Providence was Read more
The life and death of Gloriavale’s Hopeful Christian
Thursday, May 17th, 2018
Gloriavale founder, Neville Cooper, know as Hopeful Christian, died on Tuesday at his community on the South Island’s West Coast. He had been suffering from cancer. Cooper’s funeral took place on Wednesday, but outsiders were not allowed to attend. They were able to email condolence messages to the community. Two cars blocked the entrance to the Read more
Gloriavale document swears members to secrecy
Monday, April 9th, 2018The controversial community of Gloriavale is under scrutiny again after a document that seeks to legally bind members to secrecy was revealed. The document allegedly included clauses that stopped members from speaking about the community to outsiders and others that prohibited any legal action, TVNZ reported. Continue reading
Scientologists offer free dumplings to attract Chinese-Kiwis to Auckland HQ
Monday, March 5th, 2018Scientologists have distributed Chinese-language flyers across Auckland during Chinese New Year in a move to boost attendance at its central Auckland premises. Flyers offer a free barbecue lunch, including dumplings, and Chinese services every Saturday and Sunday at the religion’s central Auckland headquarters on Grafton Rd. Continue reading
Fears that a meeting to discuss Shincheonji “cult” will he hijacked
Monday, November 27th, 2017
The date and location of a meeting to discuss concerns about the activities of a “cult” is being kept a secret because there are fears of it being hijacked. The meeting is being called by University of Auckland chaplain Rev Dr Carolyn Kelly. Church leaders, pastors, chaplains, police, youth leaders and concerned parents will be Read more
Kiwi women targeted by religious cult based in South Korea
Thursday, May 25th, 2017South Korean cult, Jesus Morning Star, is trying to recruit young women in universities, shopping centres and churches in New Zealand. Rev Dr Carolyn Kelly, chaplain at the University of Auckland, said JMS had been active for “quite some time” at the university and there were grave concerns for safety of female students. Often they Read more