By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-09-29 04:47:49 | Updated at 2024-09-30 05:23:11
1 day ago
Asia, home to billions and a multitude of faiths, is a fertile breeding ground for shamans, spiritualists, cults, and sects that exist outside formal religions. While some of these groups promote harmless beliefs, others propagate dubious or even dangerous doctrines.
From India’s array of homespun gurus to the Philippines’ doomsday cults and the many self-proclaimed reincarnations of the Buddha in Thailand, many claim healing abilities and unique connections to the divine – often at a cost.
With influence can come troubling political connections. And while some groups may seem harmless, others are violent and exploitative. Experts note that the region’s diverse mix of community needs, power dynamics, poverty and deep-rooted beliefs creates an environment that’s ripe for exploitation.
Even the ultra-modern city state of Singapore is not immune. In June, a woman referred to in court documents as Woo May Hoe was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for brainwashing her followers into believing she was a deity.
