REUTERS - 'Canadian Doomsday Cults Pose Threat - Newspaper'

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[I'd have thought that a dead giveaway that a 'cult' is preparing for 'the end of the world' would be an abrupt and suspicious cancellation of their subscription to TV GUIDE. But CSIS seems to have missed this in its warning below...:)]

Saturday December 18

Canadian Doomsday Cults Pose Threat-Newspaper

TORONTO (Reuters) - Doomsday religious movements awaiting an apocalypse at the turn of the century pose a threat to national security, according to a Canadian intelligence report quoted in a newspaper report on Saturday.

In a report obtained by the National Post, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said that 400 of the estimated 1,200 cults around the world were predicting end-of-the-world scenarios tied to the year 2000 and may resort to violence.

The newspaper reported that the 400 doomsday cults were in Canada but CSIS spokesman Dan Lambert told Reuters that that figure applied worldwide and that just three doomsday cults had ties to Canada.

The report, which is set to be released next week, also warned that the groups may have stockpiled weapons. About three of these cults have some ties to Canada.

``The approaching year 2000 A.D. has stimulated millennial anxiety and heightened concern that its unfolding will bring an increase in potential threats by groups that would choose to assert their apocalyptic belief through violence,'' the report said.

``While it is not known which cults have the potential for violence, this does not imply that possible threats posed by doomsday religious movements should be ignored, as they can quickly manifest themselves in a variety of forms.''

The CSIS report suggested law enforcement agencies be vigilant for warning signs that a cult is preparing for the end of the world. These include ``an increase in the procurement of weapons, relocation to an isolated area, a rise in violent rhetoric or an internal leadership struggle,'' it said.

Lambert said that Canadian law enforcement authorities were ''vigilant to any potential for violence in relation to the millennium.''

``Here in Canada, I can't say there is a specific threat at this time,'' he said.

Canada's best-known cult, the Order of the Solar Temple, has been responsible for 74 deaths in Canada, Switzerland and France in the past five years.

The CSIS report comes as United States and Canadian authorities looked into allegations that an Algerian-born man charged with trying to bring explosives into the United States may have been part of a millennium bombing scheme.

Ahmed Ressam, 32, was in custody in Seattle where he was accused of attempting to transport explosive materials into the United States from Canada and making false statements to U.S. Customs officers.

[ENDS]

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), December 19, 1999

Answers

John

Great example of what good drugs will do for you.

Mind you I was yakking with a military civie that is pretty worked up at the fact that they are on call AT THE BASE 30 of Dec. Mainly military but some are from elsewhere in Canada and have better things to do.

The article mentioned

"""``The approaching year 2000 A.D. has stimulated millennial anxiety and heightened concern that its unfolding will bring an increase in potential threats by groups that would choose to assert their apocalyptic belief through violence,'' the report said. """

This issue is so different from Y2K it is hardly mentionable in the same sentence. One of the saddest commentaries during the rollover should be comments like this.

Who is having an apocalyptic visions here.

CSIS or the common folk?

Canada get a reality check eh?

How many doomsday cults are on the net compared to Y2K sites.

YOU figure it out.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), December 19, 1999.


Looks like we Yourdonites probably made the list.

"signs that a cult is preparing for the end of the world. These include

1.``an increase in the procurement of weapons,

check

2. relocation to an isolated area,

check

3.a rise in violent rhetoric or an internal leadership struggle,'' it said.

check... do mudwrestling and troll alerts/attacks count?

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), December 19, 1999.


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