In Mexico’s strange town called New Jerusalem, there’s no freedom of religion. You can’t play soccer, either. But John F. Kennedy is a saint, explains reporter Chris Hawley.<\/p>\n
With its spiritual leaders dying after 35 years of all this, things in New Jerusalem are getting weirder, Hawley wrote<\/a> this week in the Arizona Republic. “Townspeople look like extras from a Robin Hood movie. Women wear headscarves and brightly colored dresses. Monks garbed in brown or black mix with priests in white robes.” Among things banned: TV, radio, alcohol, makeup and pants for women.<\/p>\n Strangeness is the hallmark of sects and cults<\/a> (cults are typically defined<\/a> by charismatic leadership and abuse). Followers tend to weak ties to society when they sign up, experts say. And of course many members are born into a group and have no conception of societal norms.<\/p>\n [[[MORE]]]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In Mexico’s strange town called New Jerusalem, there’s no freedom of religion. You can’t play soccer, either. But John F. Kennedy is a saint, explains reporter Chris Hawley. With its spiritual leaders dying after 35 years of all this, things … Continue reading