Prevalence of Cults: A Review of Empirical Research in the U. S. A.
International Cultic Studies Association, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, July 14, 2005 Edward A. Lottick, M. D.

Originally pulished in the Salt Lake Tribune, this article has some interesting insights into the commonly helf myth about the rapid growth of the Mormon (LDS) church.

Keeping members a challenge for LDS church
Mormon myth: The belief that the church is the fastest-growing faith in the world doesn't hold up.
The claim that Mormonism is the fastest-growing faith in the world has been repeated so routinely by sociologists, anthropologists, journalists and proud Latter-day Saints as to be perceived as unassailable fact.

Mormon portion of Utah population steadily shrinking
Within the next three years, the Mormon share of Utah's population is expected to hit its lowest level since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started keeping membership numbers. And if current trends continue, LDS residents no longer will constitute a majority by 2030.

Could this be the reason:

Unintended consequence of church's 'raising the bar'
In October 2002, LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard told thousands of Mormons at the church's General Conference that the faith was "raising the bar" on missionary standards.
He said nothing about sacrificing quantity for quality.
But two years after that speech, the church's global missionary force has dropped from near 62,000 to about 51,000, a fact that may have contributed to the declining number of new LDS converts from around 300,000 to 241,000 in 2004.

Utah's LDS population shrinking

And finally, maybe a solution would be to marry more wives?  See "Meet the New Neighbors."

On his satirical blog, "Father Dan" has a video file on Scientology. entitled "What is Scientology?"

In the latest Journal of Clinical Investigation, there is an interesting article on Tom Cruise - abstract and one quote below; the full text in html or pdf is free - see reference.

Reference + link:
Neill, Ushma S.
Tom Cruise is dangerous and irresponsible
J. Clin. Invest. 2005 115: 1964-1965

Abstract:
Yes, even the JCI can weigh in on celebrity gossip, but hopefully without becoming a tabloid. Rather, we want to shine a light on the reckless comments actor Tom Cruise has recently made that psychiatry is a "quack" field and his belief that postpartum depression cannot be treated pharmacologically. We can only hope that his influence as a celebrity does not hold back those in need of psychiatric treatment.

[ ... ]

Throughout these and other interviews, Cruise spewed a number of irresponsible statements, attempting to pass them off as facts. However, several of Cruise’s statements are very easy to dispel as false.

Pick one faith and stay with it. Dilettantism is the mark of an amateur.

Familiarize yourself with the specifications for sacrificial victims, and ensure that unacceptable substitutes cannot be unexpectedly introduced into the ceremony. If the penalty for not-to-specs work is death and/or mutilation, consider working for a more fault-tolerant deity.

Avoid needless embarrassment. Practice the correct pronunciation of your deity's name in the privacy of your own room before chanting it in public. Flash cards are often helpful.

Before agreeing to impregnation by a supernatural being, investigate the survival rate of the other women who have undergone the procedure.

Never invoke anything bigger than your head.

Eschew deities whose followers are all young; such faith groups usually employ an unpleasant retirement procedure.

Avoid all cabalistic jewelry over ten pounds in weight -- it attracts unwelcome attention from tourists, policemen, various supernatural creatures, and can be downright dangerous during thunderstorms. Its jingling also tends to warn the hero of your approach.

Citronella candles may not be used in rituals. I cannot stress this enough. Pastel colored candles in the shape of cute animals are like direct sunlight to the Powers of Darkness.

If the spirit contacted during a seance begins offering financial advice, you're dealing with a con artist, and not a genuine medium.

Always keep your kit with you: candles, chalk, incense, silver knife, Thuggee cord, service revolver, garlic, and cab fare. Fluorescent lighting is very annoying to most netherworldly creatures.

When the Black Mass goes awry, stay away from the Evil Priest. Enraged demons always go for the pompous.

When a religious artifact begins emitting light, CLOSE YOUR EYES. Thousands of cult members could be saved every year if they followed this simple safety tip.

When mutilating cattle, avoid the ones with testicles.

During ritual sacrificing, taking bits home for later is now generally considered "bad form."

Contrary to historical belief, drugs and invocations do not mix. When the ritual goes awry, it is vitally necessary to be able to discern between the gibbering monstrosity to pump full of silver bullets and the gibbering monstrosity that will fade away after a few hours, some B complex, and a good hot bath.

Piety and belief are powerful things, and few forces in nature, can stand against one who is true to his faith, his god/goddess, and the deal made in exchange for the soul. However, it is also true that gods tend to side with the heaviest artillery, so be prepared to change sides at the drop of a hat.

For those situations where a fresh, living, sacrifice is not available, the lower ranks of demons can be fooled by microwaving a previously frozen chunk of ex-victim and cleverly jiggling it. However, a mock victim sculpted from SPAM is unacceptable.

Instead of picking human victims who are young, virginal and innocent (and tend to turn out to be the Hero's girl/boyfriend), see if you can substitute mass murderers, lawyers, or other people who won't be missed.

I have followed the antics of the House of Yahweh for a few years, and have read several of their publications, and heard several of their sermons.  A very strange group, in my opinion.  One of the stranger groups that have their roots with Herbert Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God.  Most of the offshoots are relatively mild, albeit strange in doctrine.  This one is extreme in many ways.

Woman accused of performing surgery on girl

A woman with alleged ties to the House of Yahweh, a religious cult in Abilene, faces extradition as early as today from the Jack County Jail to Callahan County to face felony injury to a child charges, according to Callahan County Attorney Shane Deel.

The House of Yahweh in Abilene was established by a former Abilene police officer, Bill Hawkins, in December of 1980. Hawkins changed his name to Yisrayl and claims he and his late brother Yaaqob are the two witnesses prophesied in Revelations Chapter 11.

...

The sect theology is a mixture of Sabbatarian (Sabbath is Saturday), Sacred Name and Anglo-Isreal teachings. The House of Yahweh does not believe in the Trinity and denies the pre-existence of Christ. They celebrate major Jewish holidays such as Passover, along with three additional feasts during the year, each celebration lasting about one week at a time. In 1987, the cult reported seven congregations served by 35 ministers. One hundred followers were said to live in the Abilene headquarters.

The sect received media attention in 1996 when several hundred followers changed their last names to "Hawkins" after their leader.

See this story as well.  And this one.