cult ← cult recovery 101

Aspects of Recovery

Jan

2013

Recovery from cults is a multifaceted process; initially it is the separation from the group, group practices, and meetings that bound us to the group. Therapy helps address the emotional aspects of group involvement – feelings of betrayal, abuse and vulnerability to recruitment. It helps to develop and understanding of how the group’s doctrine ...

“Cults” and Globalization: Reflections and Questions

Jan

2013

Mike Kropveld Revised from a presentation at the International Symposium on Cultic Studies (Bangkok, Thailand), organized by Graduate School of Philosophy and Religion, Assumption University, Thailand and the Institute of Religious Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China, December 15–16, 2011. In my presentation today, I will give an overview of definitions for cult. Then I will ...

Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups – Revised

Jan

2013

Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. & Janja Lalich, Ph.D. Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and ...

On Using the Term "Cult"

Oct

2012

Herbert L. Rosedale, Esq.Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. Even though we have each studied cults and educated people about this subject for more than 20 years, neither of us has ever felt completely comfortable with the term “cult.” No other term, however, serves more effectively the linked educational and research aims of ICSA (International Cultic Studies ...

The Definitional Ambiguity of “Cult” and ICSA’s Mission

Oct

2012

Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. (This essay is a follow-up to “On Using the Term Cult.”) A central component of ICSA’s mission is to study psychological manipulation and abuse, especially as it manifests in cultic and other groups. Different people, however, attach different and usually imprecise meanings to the term “cult” (On Using the Term Cult). Those ...

CultNews101.com

Children returned to faith-healing grandparents in custody battle July 5, 2020
Dan TilkinJuly 3, 2020KOINOREGON CITY, Ore. (KOIN) — There is a new development in an unusual child custody case where a local mother has been fighting to get her children back from her own parents. The parents are members of the Followers of Christ Faith Healing Church in Oregon City. On Thursday, a Clackamas County […]
ICSA Former Member Workshop July 1, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Sunday, July 12, 20201:00 PM - 4:00 PMFormer Member WorkshopThis workshop will include an Overview of Recovery, touching on such subjects as attachment, boundaries, and identity. There will also be an opportunity to offer reflections on sessions people have attended during the first day of the conference. The workshop […]
The Neurobiology of Sexual Abuse: Flashbacks, Triggers and Healing July 1, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 11:05 -11:50 "The Neurobiology of Sexual Abuse: Flashbacks, Triggers and Healing" (Doni Whitsett)The first part of this presentation presents a neurobiological understanding of flashbacks and triggers resulting from sexual abuse. The second part of the presentation offers suggestions for dealing with triggers, learning to manage them, and […]
Government names institutions that did not sign up to National Redress Scheme for child sexual abuse victims July 1, 2020
Matthew DoranABC NewsJuly 1, 2020Six institutions, including the Jehovah's Witnesses, have been publicly named by the Federal Government for failing to sign up to the National Redress Scheme for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.Key points:Organisations had until last night to join the programThe Government says those which did not sign up will no longer […]
What does awe have to do with it? June 30, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 2:00 - 2:50 PM "What does awe have to do with it?" (Yuval Laor)What is awe? What role does awe play in cult recruitment? And what brings about awe experiences? The talk will discuss these and other topics related to this strange emotion and the effects it […]
Raised in a Cult: Psychological and Social Adjustment of Second- and Third-Generation Former Cult Members June 30, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 2:00 - 2:50 PM"Raised in a Cult: Psychological and Social Adjustment of Second- and Third-Generation Former Cult Members" (Sofia Klufas)Former cult members often find themselves struggling to re-integrate into mainstream society and typically describe long periods of recovery post-exit. The current study aimed to qualitatively explore the […]
How Female Former Cult Members Can Reclaim their Relationship with Knowledge and Self-Identity June 29, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 1:00 - 1:50 PM "How Female Former Cult Members Can Reclaim their Relationship with Knowledge and Self-Identity" (Jacqueline Johnson)High-control and coercive groups work at stealing and silencing the thoughts and knowledge base, and subsequently, the voices, of its members. For females, this dynamic becomes more problematic when […]
Nxivm: the Reinventive Path to Success?" June 28, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 3:00 - 3:50 PM"Nxivm: the Reinventive Path to Success?"(Susan Raine, Stephen Kent)In this session I discuss the multi-level cultic organization, NXIVM. I propose that NXIVM operated as, what Susie Scott (2011) calls, a reinventive institution—that is, an organization that people enter into voluntarily, because they promise to […]
Lived Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Former Cult Members – Counseling Implications June 27, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 1:00 - 1:50 PM "Lived Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Former Cult Members – Counseling Implications" (Cyndi Matthews; Stevie Powers)Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) individuals growing up in religious cults can face opposition to their sexual orientation. They may struggle with depression, anxiety, drug/alcohol abuse, self-mutilation, […]
CultNEWS101 Articles: 6/26/2020 June 27, 2020
ICSA Virtual Summer Conference, Naropa, India, Legal, Isha Foundation, Conspiracy Theories, Covid-19, UKICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12July 11, 11:05 -11:50 / "The Neurobiology of Sexual Abuse: Flashbacks, Triggers and Healing" (Doni Whitsett)The first part of this presentation presents a neurobiological understanding of flashbacks and triggers resulting from sexual abuse. The second part of the presentation […]
CultNEWS101 Articles: 6/27-28/2020 June 27, 2020
ICSA Virtual Event, Scientology, Legal, TraffickingICSA: Virtual Summer Conference This two-day event will include a variety of presentations, panels, and workshops for former members of cultic groups, families and friends, professionals, and researchers. Day 1 -- Saturday Conference Sessions, July 11, 2020 (11 am - 4 pm US Eastern Time)Day 2 -- Sunday Workshops, July 12, 2020 (11 […]
Extremist activity is growing in the pandemic. How worried should Jews be? June 27, 2020
Ari FeldmanThe ForwardJune 27, 2020 On the last day of Passover last year, a young nursing student went into the Chabad of Poway synagogue and shot four people, killing 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye.The accused murderer’s manifesto was filled with anti-Semitic sentiments, but it also contained another element: The shooter’s wish that his actions would lead the government […]
Building Bridges; Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships: A Workshop for Families June 27, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Sunday, July 12, 20202:00 PM - 4:00 PM Family Workshop"Building Bridges; Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships: A Workshop for Families"Topics discussed include assessing a family’s unique situation; understanding why people join and leave groups; considering the nature of psychological manipulation and abuse; being accurate, objective, and […]
Unification Church (Moonie) SGAs: The Future is Unwritten June 26, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 12:00 - 12:50 PM "Unification Church (Moonie) SGAs: The Future is Unwritten" (Lisa Kohn; Teddy Hose; Jen Kiaba)A panel of Unification Church (Moonie) SGAs (Jen Kiaba, Teddy Hose, and Lisa Kohn) will discuss their different experiences of living in, leaving, and learning to thrive after being part of […]
What is Golden Touch or Create Abundance, the group linked to suspected homicide victim Bo Fan? June 25, 2020
Self-help organization for women has been accused of fraud in ChinaBethany LindsayCBC News June 24, 2020When police asked the public for help finding out what happened to Bo Fan, the victim of a suspected homicide in Surrey, they mentioned her association with an organization called "Golden Touch" or "Create Abundance." Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesman […]
U.S. soldier's alleged connection to satanic Nazi extremist group renews calls to ban it June 25, 2020
Anti-racism group Hope Not Hate says Britain should ban the far-right Order of Nine Angles after a U.S. soldier allegedly gave it classified information. Linda GivetashNBC NewsJune 25, 2020LONDON ⁠— Charges laid against a U.S. Army soldier linked to a satanic neo-Nazi group founded in Britain have led to renewed calls among anti-racism campaigners to […]
ICSA Virtual Summer Workshops: Cult Research June 25, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Sunday, July 12, 202011:00 AM - 1:00 PM / Research Workshop The Research Workshop will be facilitated by Rod Dubrow-Marshall, Chair of the ICSA Research Network and Co-Editor of the International Journal of Coercion, Abuse and Manipulation (IJCAM). He will speak initially with a short overview about research on cults […]
Coercive Control and Persuasion in Relationships and Groups– Intersections and Understandings June 25, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 12:00 - 12:50 /"Coercive Control and Persuasion in Relationships and Groups– Intersections and Understandings" (Rod Dubrow-Marshall; Linda Dubrow-Marshall; Carrie McManus; Andrea Silverstone)This panel will examine contemporary understandings of coercive control in relationships and groups with practitioners from both sides of the Atlantic. The way in which the […]
What Do I Tell People? Empowered Ways that Cult Survivors and their Families Can Tell their Stories. Cults, Recovery and Podcasts. June 24, 2020
ICSA two-day virtual summer conference July 11-12Saturday, July 11, 3:00 - 3:50 PM / "What Do I Tell People? Empowered Ways that Cult Survivors and their Families Can Tell their Stories. Cults, Recovery and Podcasts." (Rachel Bernstein)Nearly all my clients and podcast guests have experienced fear when thinking about telling people about their cult-related experiences. Many […]