Fake Messiah Exposed For Doing Naked Rituals with Kids
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Wayne Bent founded the 'Lord Our Righteousness' cult in New Mexico, claiming to be the second coming of Christ and changing his name to Michael Traveser.
- ❖The cult operated off-grid, controlling followers' finances and isolating them from external influences.
- ❖Bent justified taking wives from their husbands, including his daughter-in-law, as 'God's will' and a 'test' of faith.
- ❖He initiated 'nude healing' rituals with underage girls, which he described as non-sexual and divinely commanded.
- ❖The legal defense centered on religious freedom, but prosecutors argued that state laws protecting minors superseded religious claims.
- ❖Bent was convicted of criminal sexual contact with one minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, receiving a 10-year sentence.
Insights
1The Messiah's Claim and Cult Formation
Wayne Bent, after leaving the Seventh-day Adventist Church, established the 'Lord Our Righteousness' cult in a remote New Mexico compound. He declared himself the 'second coming of Christ' and later changed his name to Michael Traveser, interpreting 'Michael' as 'one who is like God' and an 'angel of deliverance,' aligning with Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about Michael the Archangel being Jesus Christ. This self-proclaimed divinity formed the bedrock of his absolute authority over his followers.
Bent broke away from the 7th Day Adventist Church and started his own group (). He came back from a walk and told followers 'God had entered him' and 'I am the second coming of Christ' (-). He changed his name to Michael Traveser, explaining 'Michael is interpreted one who is like God' and 'Michael was always a deliverance angel' (-).
2Economic and Social Control
The cult enforced extreme isolation and financial dependence. Members lived off-grid, grew their own crops, and homeschooled their children. They surrendered their entire paychecks to the church, which then provided for their needs, effectively trapping them within the compound. This economic control, combined with social isolation, made it nearly impossible for members to leave without losing everything.
They were 'way out in the wilderness,' 'growing their own crops,' 'living off the grid,' and 'homeschooling their kids' (-). The church owned all property; members 'turned our paycheck over to the church,' and 'we couldn't leave because he owned everything' (-).
3Manipulation of Marriages and Sexual Control
Bent manipulated the marital relationships of his followers, taking wives from their husbands, including his own daughter-in-law, under the guise of 'God's will' and 'being tested.' These women, referred to as 'seven virgins' or 'witnesses,' openly admitted to having sex with Bent. The husbands, despite their anguish, were told their pain was part of a divine test, further solidifying Bent's control.
He took two of the wives from two of the men in the church (, ). They 'freely admitted they had sex with Wayne Ben' (, ). One was his son's wife (, ). Wayne would tell them, 'It is God's will and you are being tested' (-).
4'Nude Healing' Rituals with Minors
Bent engaged in 'nude healing' rituals with underage girls, framing these acts as spiritual encounters to bring them 'closer to God.' Girls as young as 12, like Lakesha, were encouraged to come to his bedroom naked for 'skin-to-skin' contact, which Bent claimed was non-sexual and divinely commanded. This practice was a primary focus of the criminal charges against him.
He started doing the nude healings with the underage kids, the skin-on-skin ceremonies (-). A 12-year-old girl, Lisha, called him her 'husband' (-). She 'asked to lay naked with him where she said that she was healed by being skin-to-skin with with God' (-).
5Legal Battle and Split Verdict
Bent's trial involved complex arguments between religious freedom and criminal law. His defense claimed the acts were 'healing ceremonies' and that the girls came 'with their own free will,' citing his fundamental religious beliefs. Prosecutors countered that New Mexico law prohibits sexual contact with minors under 16, regardless of consent or religious pretext. The jury delivered a split verdict, finding Bent not guilty on one count related to Lakesha (due to a holdout juror believing in religious freedom) but guilty of criminal sexual contact with another minor, Ashley, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Wayne Bent didn't deny what happened (). He stated, 'Not when God commands it' regarding whether laying naked with girls was wrong (). The law in New Mexico says you do not touch a child on an intimate part (-). The jury deliberated 2 days (). They found him not guilty of the Lakesha count due to a 'hold out that just said freedom of religion' (-). He was found guilty of criminal sexual contact as it applied to Ashley and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (-).
Key Concepts
Cult of Personality
Wayne Bent cultivated an extreme devotion among his followers, who believed he was God in the flesh and would not disagree with anything he said, enabling him to manipulate their lives and relationships, including sexual acts.
Grooming
Bent systematically groomed minors by framing sexual acts as 'healing ceremonies' or 'God's will,' leveraging his perceived divine authority and the children's desire for spiritual closeness to elicit their participation and 'consent.'
Lessons
- Educate yourself and others on the psychological tactics used by cults, such as isolation, financial control, and the manipulation of religious texts, to protect against undue influence.
- Support legal frameworks that clearly define and prosecute child abuse, ensuring that claims of religious freedom do not shield perpetrators from accountability.
- Foster critical thinking and emotional literacy, especially in vulnerable populations, to help individuals identify and resist manipulative authority figures and protect their autonomy.
Notable Moments
Wayne Bent declares himself the 'second coming of Christ' after a multi-day walk in the woods.
This event marked a significant escalation in Bent's self-proclaimed authority and the cult's trajectory, shifting from a doomsday prophecy group to one centered entirely on his divine personhood.
A former cult member describes the extreme financial control, where all paychecks were surrendered to the church, trapping members.
This illustrates a key mechanism of cult control: economic dependence and isolation, which prevents members from leaving even when they recognize harmful practices.
Lakesha, a 12-year-old victim, testifies about her 'skin-to-skin' healing ritual with Bent, breaking down in court while still expressing love for him.
This moment powerfully demonstrates the depth of indoctrination and psychological manipulation, where a victim struggles to reconcile the abuse with their belief in the abuser, highlighting the lasting trauma and brainwashing.
The jury delivers a split verdict, finding Bent not guilty on one count due to a 'freedom of religion' holdout juror.
This reveals the societal and legal challenges in distinguishing between protected religious practice and criminal behavior, especially when victims appear to 'consent' under extreme duress and manipulation.
Quotes
"He molested everybody's hearts and minds. He destroyed a lot of families."
"We couldn't leave because he owned everything. Uh uh you know, and uh so we were stuck there. There's no going back. It's all or nothing. And so all you want is for this guy to love you."
"It's been really painful to have my family broken up and it's like the consummation took my mom away from me."
"It looks like Michael committed adultery, but I know that he didn't because he followed his instructions, and I believe him."
"Religions have practices and they have the free right to practice their religion. But when they break the law, that is not practicing the religion. That's a crime."
"You get pulled in. Doesn't matter how smart you are, you can get pulled into this stuff because they see that you have a need and they're willing to help you get that need."
Q&A
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