CultNEWS101 Articles: 3/25/2026
Patrick Ryan
Can the field move beyond the 'cult wars' of the 1970s and 80s?
"Patrick Ryan and Joe Kelly have worked on something called ‘cult mediation’ for the last 40 years, offering professional mediation services between families and loved ones who have joined groups or relationships which cause concern to the families. They have personal experience of such groups, having both been involved with Transcendental Meditation. I interviewed them to find out more about their work, how it’s different from cult de-programming, how groups or individuals can sometimes use psychedelics and other drugs to control members, and why and how such groups or individuals often target very wealthy people. What I learned from them is it’s useful to try and understand the attraction of such groups and what people get from them, to try and avoid the polarisation that affected the study of new religious groups / cults in the 1970s-1980s. I was also interested that they sometimes mediate with such groups, to suggest ways to reduce harm and avoid lawsuits. That is the sort of dialogue-based approach I would like to take with ‘somewhat-culty psychedelic groups’ as well. Thanks to Patrick and Joe for sharing their wisdom and experience for us."
"Jehovah’s Witnesses are modifying their ban on blood transfusions on religious grounds, now allowing members to use there own blood for such things as a scheduled surgery that has a risk of significant blood loss.
But the organisation is retaining its wider prohibition against receiving transfusions of blood from others — a procedure routinely used with patients after accidents, violence or other blood loss.
The long-held prohibition is one of the movement's most distinctive and controversial teachings. The movement is headquartered in New York State and is well known for its program of converting others to its teachings.
The group’s governing body announced what it called a “clarification” of its teaching on Friday, saying the decision followed extensive prayer and consideration.
“Each Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be used in all medical and surgical care,” one of its leaders, Gerrit Losch, said in a statement on the denomination’s website."
South China Morning Post: ‘Intimate touch therapy’ sparks debate in China over using objects, hugs for relaxation
Crossing boundaries debate rages as new treatment sees partially clothed stressed-out clients hugged, touched with feathers.
An emerging therapy form in China has stirred controversy over blurred boundaries by using sensory tools, touch and hugging to ease clients’ stress.
Mainland media reports say workshops and services centred on “intimate touch” have spread across social media since late last year.
In quiet, softly lit rooms, intimate touch therapists offer what they describe as emotional healing through light caresses, hugs and sensory tools such as feathers and velvet gloves."
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