Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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1. 

   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

2. 

   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

3. 

   But …… Rwanda is a safe place: Parliament says so.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/8/contentsSafety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 S 2 Safety…

4. 

   Religion can survive only on the most unquestionable assumptions. The statements made on Sundays on the BBC as if they…

5. 

   Yes, if I’ve got anything remotely like a phobia, as an ex-fundy, its bibles, churches, tracts etc. I like to…

JOSEPH Buyuka, accused of being one of the leaders of a death cult led by pastor Paul Mackenzie (inset above), has died in custody while awaiting trial.

He had been arrested in connection with the deaths of 337 members of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, and had been on a 10-day hunger strike.

Buyuka, according to CNN, was among 30 people, including Mackenzie, who were in custody over the deaths that shocked the world.

Jami Yamina, senior prosecution counsel, said Buyuka had died as a result of “complications from hunger strike and starvation” on June 20 at a hospital in Malindi, about 116 km (72 miles) from the port city of Mombasa where he had been taken from a nearby prison.

Two other suspects … have also been taken ill. Police believe it is related to their hunger strike.

Court papers said of Buyuka and four others arrested with him.

The police believe that these individuals… played significant roles in the offences leading to the deaths and illegal disposal of bodies in Shakahola (forest).

Authorities had exhumed most of the bodies from the forest in southeast Kenya since April.

Buyuka handed himself over to police in April and was denied bail last month. The other suspects were arrested later after authorities started the exhumations.

Followers expected to enter heaven and meet Jesus

Mackenzie, the leader of the cult, stands accused of ordering his followers to starve their children and themselves to death, allegedly promising they would reach heaven before the end of the world.

Mackenzie handed himself over to the police in April after the starvation deaths of two children in their parents’ custody. Initially released after posting bail, Mackenzie was rearrested on April 15 following the discovery of four additional bodies.

The followers of the church had established their residential community in the expansive forested land of Kilifi County, located on Kenya’s coast.

In April, local law enforcement intervened at Mackenzie’s property, acting on a tip about mass starvation, and discovered dozens of emaciated followers.

Police had received the tip-off that “ignorant citizens were starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed” by Mackenzie.

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