Latest Issue of Cultic Studies Review

2005, Vol. 4, No. 2

Articles

Kent, Stephen A.  Education and Reeducation in Ideological Organizations and Their Implications for Children

Langone, Michael D. Cult Awareness Groups and NRM Scholars: Toward Depolarization of Key Issues

Zablocki, Benjamin. Methodological Fallacies in Anthony’s Critique of Exit Cost Analysis

Book Reviews

Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology.  Scott Lilienfeld, Ph.D.  Reviewed by Arthur A. Dole, Ph.D.

Going Deeper: How to Make Sense of Your Life When Your Life Makes No Sense.  Jean-Claude Koven. Reviewed by Frank MacHovec, Ph.D.

Servant of the Lotus Feet: A Hare Krishna Odyssey.  S. Gabriel Brandis.  Reviewed by Nori Muster

News

New Summaries - Posted 6/25/05

Alpha Iota Omega/Maranatha, Amadon/Living Love, Aum Shinrikyo (Aleph), Beasts of Satan, Bountiful Polygamous Community, Branch Davidians, Calvary Christian Church, Caritas, Children Of God (Family International), Church Universal and Triumphant, Colonia Dignidad (Villa Baviera), Education, Exorcism, Faith Healing, Freeman Group, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Government Policy, Hosanna Church, Jeffrey Lundgren, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Juan Pablo Delgado, Kabbalah, Kingston Clan, Lyndon LaRouche, Mujahedin Khalq, Opus Dei, Order of Christ/Sophia, Order of St. Charbel, Polygamy, Queen Shamia, Redeemer Baptist Church, Restored Israel of Yahweh, Richard Dial/Stockholm Syndrome, Satanism, Scientology, Seishin Chuo Kyokai (Central Church of Holy God), Terrorism, Unification Church, United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, Marcus Wesson, Witchcraft

News Summaries - Posted 9/18/05

Apostolic Faith Church Body of Jesus Christ of the Newborn Assembly, Appalachian Wilderness Camp, Aum Shinrikyo, Michael Balfe, Bountiful/Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Colonia Dignidad, Education, Gilbert Deya Ministries, Dahnhak, Exorcism, False Memory/Recovered Memory, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, General Assembly and Church of the First Born, Grigory Grabovoy, Guruism, Hosanna Church, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus Christians, Kabbalah Centre, Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Name above Every Other Name, Kingston Clan/The Order/Latter Day Church of Christ, Jonestown/People’s Temple, Living Love Fellowship (LLF)/Amadon, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Charles Manson/Manson Family, Move, The Nashville Church/International Churches of Christ, Native American Church, Néo-Phare, New Gnostic Church, Oom Yung Do, Order of St. Charbel/Little Pebble, Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), Panawave/Chino Shohokai, Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), Saviour Sect, Scientology, Social Therapy, Ssali Kilimba Mwaka - “Prophet”, Symbionese Liberation Army/Patty Hearst, Twelve Tribes, Unification Church, United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, Marcus Wesson, Witchcraft/Exorcism, Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), World Wide Association of Specialty Schools

 

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Education and Research News

Looking for Participants in Study on Gender, Sex, and Family in Cults

Principal Investigator: Marybeth Ayella, Ph.D. , Department of Sociology, Post 135, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131. Telephone: (610) 660-1683. Email: mayella@sju.edu.

I am looking for fifty to one hundred subjects to participate in a research study on gender, sex, and family in cults.  I am seeking present or former members.

The purpose of this study is to gather information about cults by interviewing present or former members of cults in in-depth interviews. It is hoped that this information will enlarge the information available so that membership in cults, especially gender, sex, and family aspects, can be better understood by the general public. It is hoped that such information can counter stereotypic generalizations about cults and cult life.

The study will be conducted over a two year period, starting in the fall of 2004.  Interviews will be conducted in my campus office, whenever possible, or in another location conducive to privacy, or by telephone.  Interviews will take approximately 2 hours.

I will ask participants a series of questions concerning their membership in a group, e.g., how they joined the group, what was their life like in the group, whether they married and had children in the group. I will also ask participants to fill out a short questionnaire. Participants may decline to answer any questions, and may end their participation at any time.

I will give each participant a $25 gift certificate to Borders, at the conclusion of the interview.  If subjects choose to discontinue participation early, subjects will still receive the gift certificate.

This research has been approved by the Saint Joseph's University Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research. 

Program at the Ninth European Congress of Psychology.

Dr. José Antonio Carrobles of Universidad Autónoma de Madrid organized a program at the Ninth European Congress of Psychology in Grenada, Spain, July 3-8, 2005.  Participants included:

Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. (Psychological Abuse: Theoretical and Measurement Issues)

Carmen Almendros (Measuring Psychological Abuse in Group Settings) – given in Spanish

José Antonio Carrobles (Emotional Distress Reported by Former Cult Members)

Álvaro Rodríguez-Carballeira (Psychological Abuse: Parallel Studies [Couple Violence, Cults, and Mobbing] for its Better Understanding and Measuring) – given in Spanish

Leadership Conference

Studying Leadership': Future Agendas. The Fourth International Annual Conference on Leadership Research.  Monday 12 December 2005, 09:00 - Tuesday 13 December 2005, 17:00 Lancaster University.  “Hosted by Lancaster University Management School, the fourth ‘studying leadership’ conference provides a forum for debate on current and future developments in leadership theory, development and practice. It is designed to bring together scholars from a range of disciplines such as organizational theory/studies/behaviour, management/business, occupational psychology, sociology, cultural studies, anthropology, education, political science, military studies, health and social welfare, history and philosophy to explore and critically evaluate current leadership research and to consider future directions. We are particularly keen to encourage those outside traditional business and management disciplines to present their work at the conference.”  Emilie Secker , Department of Management Learning & Leadership, Lancaster University e.e.secker@lancaster.ac.uk Tel: 44 (0)1524 593851.

Cuban Psychology Conference

Dr. Ofelia Perez-Cruz has informed us about an upcoming Cuban psychology conference:

CONVENCIÓN INTERCONTINENTAL DE PSICOLOGÍA Y CIENCIAS SOCIALES Y HUMANAS

PALACIO DE LAS CONVENCIONES, CUBA.

31 de octubre al 4 de noviembre de 2005.

"La Psicología y otras Ciencias Sociales y Humanas ante los Problemas Contemporáneos".

La Sociedad cubana de Psicología y diversas instituciones y asociaciones nacionales e internacionales, CONVOCAN:

A TODOS LOS PROFESIONALES de la psicología, de las ciencias sociales y humanas y a todos aquellos que luchan por el bienestar y la felicidad del ser humano, A PARTICIPAR EN SUS ACTIVIDADES, del  31 de octubre al 4 de noviembre de 2005

HOMINIS’05  se organizará a partir del TEMA FUNDAMENTAL:

La complejidad y diversidad del desarrollo humano integral como premisa para comprender y promover la calidad de vida.

Hal Mansfield

Parker, Lisa. (2005, July 27). Who you gonna call to learn about cults in Fort Collins? Hal Mansfield, that’s who. Ft. Collins Weekly. 

Mansfield has a Bachelor of Science degree in natural sciences and a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Colorado State University. He says his years with the Air Force working up and down the Amazon River as director of counter-narcotics operations in South America showed him how easily people can fall victim to the often powerful forces of mind control. Mansfield says he witnessed within international drug cartels the kind of commanding energy that can exist in a tight-knit group of people.

Within the United States, groups like the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints—which leaders of the official Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints say is in no way affiliated with the Mormon religion—who recently purchased land in southern Colorado, worry Mansfield. He is concerned about the possibility of "another Waco" from one of the groups he tracks and the harmful effects he says these groups and others like them can have on less discriminating members. So the ex-military man has armed himself with a collection of reading materials on the subject that he claims is unparalleled in the region and a rotating cadre of volunteers who are often ex-cult members themselves. Together, they provide services to people leaving any kind of group and needing legal assistance, counseling or just someone to talk to who knows how they feel.

And how they feel is not usually very good, Mansfield says.

Whaley, Monte. (2005, June 10). Center’s director has devoted 27 years to effort.  Denver Post.  Article describing Hal Mansfield’s work with the Religious Movement Resource Center in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Dennis Tourish

Dennis Tourish, Ph.D. of Gordon University was interviewed for about 15 minutes on Newstalk Radio (Dublin) on Tuesday 19th July.  Dr. Tourish was also interviewed on ABC Radio's Late Night Live show on Wed July 20th. This is a premier Australian radio show on their main national radio station, and has over 250,000 regular listeners. The interview was very wide ranging and lasted for about 25 minutes. The interviewer was very taken by the issues. He also has a regular column in the main national newspaper, The Australian, and devoted his column in the following Tuesday's edition to cultic issues.

Chatauqua Presentation

Ron Loomis organized a presentation at the Chautauqua Institution in the southwest corner of New York state, Julu 2-6, 2004.   Ron presented and Introduction and Overview Presentation regarding cults. Other participants included Dr. Ronald Burks (“A Religious Perspective on Cults” and “A Mental Health Perspective on Cults”) and Carmen Almendros of Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, who spoke on research issues.

Skeptical Inquirer Book Review of Janja Lalich Book

The July/August 2005 issue of Skeptical Inquirer includes a review by Karla McLaren of Dr. Janja Lalich’s Bounded choice: True believers and charismatic cults.

Rabbi James Rudin to Head AJC Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Long-time ICSA advisor, Rabbi A. James Rudin, has been appointed the American Jewish Committee's Emergency Services Director to oversee the organization's response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "Rabbi Rudin's lifetime experience in intergroup relations - and his deep reservoirs of compassion and caring - make him uniquely positioned to coordinate AJC's Hurricane Relief Fund, to help us address the immediate needs of those directly affected by this catastrophic storm and to identify long-term reconstruction projects, especially the repair and rebuilding of houses of worship," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris.

Dana Wehle

Dana Wehle, L. C.S.W., a psychotherapist with the Cult Hotline and Clinic of the Jewish New York Board of Family and Childlren’s Services, was a guest on an internet radio show discussing cults and the internet.  www.voiceamerica.org, 6/10/05 at 1:00 P.M.

Discovering Psychology by Dr. Philip Zimbardo Now Online / Steve Hassan Interviewed

Highlighting major new developments in the field, this updated edition of Discovering Psychology offers high school and college students, and teachers of psychology at all levels, an overview of historic and current theories of human behavior. Stanford University professor and author Philip Zimbardo narrates as leading researchers, practitioners, and theorists probe the mysteries of the mind and body. Based on extensive investigation and authoritative scholarship, this introductory course in psychology features demonstrations, classic experiments and simulations, current research, documentary footage, and computer animation. This series is also valuable for teachers seeking to review the subject matter. http://learner.org/resources/series138.html#.  Steve Hassan was interviewed for the 20th segment- Constructing Social Reality.

News From Ukraine

News from the "InterAction" Ukrainian information network: email: info_fpps@ukr.net; http://www.cult.iatp.org.ua; http://www.fpps.org.ua

30 May 2005: a roundtable was held in the city of Kharkov "Psychological Health. Prevention of Psychological Coercion and Manipulation of Consciousness"

24-26 April 2005: seminar/training course was held in the city of Dnepropetrovsk "Psychology of Influence, Psychological Detriment and Psychological Coercion: Problems of Security and Prevention"

27 April: Lecture for students, specialists and all interested personnel.

21 April 2005: roundtable in the city of Kiev "Phenomenon of Psychological Coercion in the Mass Academic Consciousness"

8 June 2005: Rovensky Province/City Administration chairman supported Rovno Interchurch Council program against occultism

4 June 2005: All-Ukrainian Orthodox Brotherhood chairman Valentin Lukiyanik appealed to the government with a request not to permit Sunday Adelaja's operation on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square in Kiev)

2 June 2005: "Family and Personality Protection Society" social organization submitted an appeal to Ukraine National Security Council chairman P.O. Poroshenko and to Kiev's city administration chairman A.A. Omelchanko about its concern with the preparations for a mass rally June 12, 2005 in Kiev on "Maidan Nezalezhnosti" being conducted by the religious community of the "Embassy of the blessed Kingdom of God for all mankind".

1 June 2005: RISU (Religious Informational Service Ukraine) editors unveiled a new project, "Monitoring religious freedom in Ukraine"

26 May 2005: Department for Issues of Religion created.

26 May 2005: Parliamentary committee on issues of culture and spirituality recommends rejecting legislative proposal for state financing of religious communities, which was introduced by L. Chernovetsky.

19 May 2005: People's deputy appealed to the National State Security chairman on the occasion of Scientology's destructive activity.

News from Info-Cult/Info-Secte

Former members

       

Former members are very important to Info-Cult. For many years we have helped former members who needed our assistance in dealing with and understanding their experiences so that they could get on with their lives.

After their experience many of them have made themselves available as a support to others who are going through what they did. In addition, they speak with families with a family member involved in a group and on occasion have spoken to school classes and given interviews to the media.

Web site

A new section was added in April « Catalogue of Info-Cult’s Library Holdings ». This section has already been updated since then and lists more then 1800 titles with details on their contents.   

Info-Cult’s Book

Past reviews of our book  Le phénomène des sectes : l’étude du fonctionnement des groupes  are listed here : 

That page also includes a recent review that appeared in the magazine Aujourd’hui Credo.

Espace J: Youth Portal by the Quebec Secretary for Youth

Info-Cult is listed on a new government portal aimed at youth in the province of Quebec. This site is called Espace J.  

This portal is devoted to disseminating general information about services and programs offered to youth by the Government of Quebec and various organizations. It is created by the Quebec Secretary for Youth.

Media interviews (selected)

Info-Cult played an important role in helping nine former members of an organization called Plein Potentiel en Action in their suit in small claims court against this group and its leader. They won their case and the decision can be found here.

This case was highlighted on the TV program La Facture. To view this program (in French) click here.

Canal D – “Sectes”  a documentary that recently aired interviewed, among others, Info-Cult’s President, Carolle Tremblay and Mike Kropveld its Executive Director.

COOL FM 98.5 broadcast an interview with Carolle Tremblay on the subject of children and “cults”.  Carolle is a lawyer who handled cases involving children in cultic groups

L'apport des anciens membres

Le rôle des anciens membres est très important à Info-Secte.  Depuis plusieurs années, nous avons aidé d’anciens membres qui avaient besoin d’une écoute et d’une façon de comprendre leur expérience afin de poursuivre leur vie.

Après leur expérience, plusieurs d’entre eux se rendent disponibles pour en appuyer d’autres qui traversent ce qu’ils ont vécu.  De plus, ils peuvent parler aux parents et familles des membres et aussi occasionnellement discuter de leur expérience dans les médias et les écoles.

Site web

Une nouvelle section intitulée « Collection de la bibliothèque d’Info-Secte » a été ajoutée au site en avril dernier.  La section a déjà été mise à jour une fois et répertorie plus de 1 800 titres avec des détails sur leur contenu.

Livre d’Info-Secte

Des critiques antérieures de notre livre Le phénomène des sectes : l’étude du fonctionnement des groupes se retrouvent ici. 

La revue Aujourd’hui Credo a récemment publié une critique du livre, aussi disponible sur cette page.

Portail jeunesse Espace J du Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec

Info-Secte est cité dans le nouveau portail jeunesse Espace J.

Ce portail se veut un espace consacré à la diffusion de renseignements d'ordre général sur les services et les programmes offerts aux jeunes par le gouvernement du Québec et divers organismes.  Espace J est produit par le Secrétariat à la jeunesse.

Parutions dans les médias (sélection)

Info-Secte a joué un rôle important en aidant neuf anciens membres d’un organisme nommé Plein Potentiel en Action dans leur poursuite contre le groupe et son leader à la Cour des Petites Créances.  Ils ont gagné leur cause et le jugement se trouve ici:

La cause a été documentée à l’émission de télévision La Facture, que l’on peut visionner ici.

Canal D Réseaux clandestins – Sectes : dans un documentaire récemment diffusé, il y avait des entrevues avec entre autres, la présidente d’Info-Secte, Carolle Tremblay et son directeur général Mike Kropveld

COOL FM 98,5 a diffusé une entrevue radio avec Carolle Tremblay au sujet des enfants et des “sectes”.  Carolle est une avocate qui a travaillé lors de causes impliquant des enfants dans des groupes “sectaires."

Premier Ministre, Circulaire / Circular from the Prime Minister’s Office 

Circulaire du 27 mai 2005 relative à la lutte contre les dérives sectaires, http://www.miviludes.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Circulaire_27_mai_2005.pdf

Nouveau Président de la MIVILUDES / New President of French Organization, MIVILUDES

PARIS, 30 août 2005 (AFP) - Le préfet hors cadre Jean-Michel Roulet, 59 ans, a été nommé président de la Mission interministérielle de vigilance et de lutte contre les dérives sectaires (Miviludes) à partir du 1er octobre, par un décret du Premier ministre publié mardi au Journal officiel. M. Roulet était secrétaire général de la Commission consultative du secret de la défense nationale (CCSDN). Il remplace à la tête de la Miviludes Jean-Louis Langlais, parti à la retraite, qui occupait ce poste depuis décembre 2002, date à laquelle la Miviludes a remplacé la Mission interministérielle de lutte contre les sectes (Mils). Le préfet Roulet a fait l'essentiel de sa carrière au ministère de l'Intérieur, soit à l'administration centrale, soit en préfecture. Il a également occupé le poste de directeur de l'Institut des hautes études de sécurité intérieures (IHESI) et de directeur au Secrétariat général de la Défense nationale, un des services du Premier ministre. pmg/sd/Glk 300947 AOU 05.

New Degree Program at French University

(English translation provided by Mireille Degen).

FACULTÉ DE MÉDECINE PARIS - ILE DE FRANCE OUEST.  UNIVERSITÉ DE VERSAILLES – SAINT QUENTIN EN YVELINES

Academic Year 2005 – 2006.  3rd CYCLE UNIVERSITY DEGREE

CULTIC DOMINATION AND INFLUENCE

Directeur de l’enseignement : Pr Michel DURIGON.  Coordinators : Sonya JOUGLA, Jean-Pierre JOUGLA

This diploma, which addresses health, justice, and social work professionals called to intervene with cult victims, aims to:

bring a thorough formal complementary training on cultic influence and processes,

develop means in the exercise of daily professional work for the treatment of cult victims’ trauma,  to acquire the specific competence necessary to assume responsibility in the case of these particular victims,

set up a network of professionals trained and aware of  the specificity of the process of influence (which means to fulfil the requirements of such victims and of their entourage, but also of the social body, institutions and associations of assistance to the victims of cultic influence).

TRAINING. The training will cover a total period of 108 hours stretched over six 3-day periods (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). The first course will take place on Thursday November 17, 2005.

CONDITIONS of ACCEPTANCE. This addresses practitioners who have a working experience of at least 3 years in their field: psychiatrists, doctors, psychological clinicians, magistrates, lawyers, OPJ (judicial police officer), social workers and nurses at  exercising responsibilities in their duties.

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION. UFR médicale Paris Ile-de-France Ouest. Bureau des D.U. et D.I.U. 104 boulevard Raymond Poincaré, 92380 GARCHES. Tel : 01.47.41.71.96 ou 01.47.41.68.83. Courriel : Agnes.Gregori@admin.uvsq.fr.

RIP:  Winifred Swope

Winifred Devlin Swope, a leader along with her husband, the late Reverend Dr. George W. Swope, in supporting individuals and families affected by the entrapping activities practiced by certain cultic organizations in the 1970 to 1980 time period, died at the age of 89 on August 28, 2005 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she had recently moved from Venice, Florida to be with her daughter.

Through the support of the Swopes, (who knew of cults from personal experience) and others, and through a nationwide network of concerned citizens, countless families were helped with understanding and combating the destructive tactics of these groups.

The Swopes shared the hospitality of their New Hampshire country home as a helpful haven to affected young people and families, organizing a staff and ways to integrate learning and support. Ex-cult members found freedom and help, during a stay with others emerging from such groups. They provided a relaxing atmosphere for sharing experiences, reading, listening to tapes, enjoying free time to ‘be themselves’, spiritual and psychological help. The courage required for leading such an effort, was great, and Winifred and George traveled every weekend from the New York area, where they were both working, to be a strong presence at their New Hampshire “halfway house”.

The Swopes were tireless in their support for those involved in attempting to educate others about cultic groups, testifying before congressional committees, and leading with others in establishing the American Family Foundation (former name of the International Cultic Studies Association) with its aims of providing education, information and assistance to the public, professionals and legislators. Dr. Swope served on the AFF board during several of its early years.

The Swopes are survived by two children (one son, George Jr. having died earlier): Gregory, of Concord, NH and Winifred Swope, of Albuquerque, NM., and six grandchildren, three of whom are by adoption.

 

Contributed by Marian Barney

 

Send news updates on your education and research activities to Dr. Langone at mail@icsamail.com.