Here is a partial list of cults currently active in NYC. If there are any that have been missed, please post:

- Catholic: Opus Dei, Legion of Christ, Communion & Liberation, Neocatechumenate, Focolare
- Jewish: Jews for Jesus, Lubavitchers, Kabbalah
- Muslim: Nation of Islam
- Protestant: Moonies, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, Latter Day Saints
- Buddhist/Taoist: Falun Gong, Hari Krishnas
- Secular: Scientology, Landmark Education/Forum, LaRouche
- Business: Amway, Herbalife, Executive Success Programs

The Soka Gakkai, which claims to be a Buddhist group, but is actually a personality cult to its leader, Daisaku Ikeda, has groups in New York City.

Back in the eighties, a Nichiren Shoshu priest, (Nichiren Shoshu used to be affiliated with the Soka Gakkai), the Reverend Tono, was kicked out of Nichiren Shoshu. I have heard that he began running his own sect in New York City. I don't know if he's still there, or his group is still active.

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tsukimoto
The Soka Gakkai, which claims to be a Buddhist group, but is actually a personality cult to its leader, Daisaku Ikeda, has groups in New York City.

Thank you for the information. Could you give us a fix on their location? Most of the bigger cults (Opus Dei, Jews for Jesus, Scientology, Kabbalah, Moonies) are based in Midtown Manhattan, though a number are active in the Outer Boroughs as well.

Location? The Soka Gakkai are like ants -- well organized and everywhere, from Kansas to Ghana. There is a Soka Gakkai Community Center in Queens, and a Culture Center on East 15th St. in Manhattan, but many meetings are held in members' homes. You'd find Soka Gakkai meetings in all of the boroughs of NYC, as well as Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. .

SGI used to do a lot of 'street shakabuku' -- approaching strangers on the street and inviting them to meetings. They're not doing this much anymore; they mostly recruit through friends and acquaintances. A friend, co-worker, fellow student or neighbor will invite you to a meeting about "world peace," or "Buddhism." They also will hold larger festivals, for "culture," or "peace," or "Victory over Violence," which also can bring in some prospective converts.

Thank you for your information; it is most helpful. Their method of recruitment through friends is similar to many other cults, such as Opus Dei, Landmark, etc.

I have added it to the list:

- Catholic: Opus Dei, Legion of Christ, Communion & Liberation, Neocatechumenate, Focolare
- Jewish: Jews for Jesus, Lubavitchers, Kabbalah
- Muslim: Nation of Islam
- Protestant: Moonies, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, Latter Day Saints
- Buddhist/Taoist: Falun Gong, Hari Krishnas, Soka Gakkai
- Secular: Scientology, Landmark Education/Forum, LaRouche
- Business: Amway, Herbalife, Executive Success Programs

Korea's JMS cult has a branch in New York.
Info on the jms cult here, www.jmscult.com. It's considered Korea's worst cult.
It's leader, Jeong Myeong-seok, fled Korea in 1999 after rape allegations aried on national TV.
Over the next 8 years, there were 100s of other allegations from Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan.
A fugitive for some 8 years Jeong was captured in China in May 2007 and extradited back to Korea in Feb this year.
He is currently on trial and a verdict is expected on August 12.

The cult's New York website is [www.onelightministries.com]

Hari Krishna is a Hindu cult, not Buddhist or Taoist. Another Buddhist cult in NYC is Diamond Way.

Thank you Emma and Capt. I have made the updates and added More To Life:

- Catholic: Opus Dei, Legion of Christ, Communion & Liberation, Neocatechumenate, Focolare
- Jewish: Jews for Jesus, Lubavitchers, Kabbalah
- Muslim: Nation of Islam
- Protestant: Moonies, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, Latter Day Saints, One Light Ministries (JMS)
- Buddhist/Taoist: Falun Gong, Soka Gakkai
- Hindu: Hari Krishnas
- Secular: Scientology, Landmark Education/Forum, LaRouche, More To Life
- Business: Amway, Herbalife, Executive Success Programs
- Military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2008 01:13PM by mjr40.

Thank you Emma and Capt. I have made the updates, added More To Life and Diamond Way:

- Catholic: Opus Dei, Legion of Christ, Communion & Liberation, Neocatechumenate, Focolare
- Jewish: Jews for Jesus, Lubavitchers, Kabbalah
- Muslim: Nation of Islam
- Protestant: Moonies, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, Latter Day Saints, One Light Ministries (JMS)
- Buddhist/Taoist: Falun Gong, Soka Gakkai, Diamond Way
- Hindu: Hari Krishnas
- Secular: Scientology, Landmark Education/Forum, LaRouche, More To Life
- Business: Amway, Herbalife, Executive Success Programs
- Military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines

mrj40,


Exactly how do you justify called the United States military a cult? As a US Navy veteran, I feel this is a slap in the face to all past and present members of the US military. I think you are going a little overboard with this.