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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 ...

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Participate in research on the difference between religious instruction and religious indoctrination and how these pedagogies the rights of the child March 16, 2019
The purpose of this anonymous questionnaire is to develop a clearer understanding of religious indoctrination and how it affects children and adults who perceived they experienced it growing up. The questionnaire arises from the work of Dr Janet Goodall and Joy Cranham, in the Department of Education, at the University of Bath. There are ten questions in […]
Ex-church member takes plea deal for 'cult' vandalism March 16, 2019
News 8March 14, 2019CARSON CITY, Mich. (WOOD) — A former member of the Church at Carson City accused of spray-painting words like “cult” on property tied to the church has agreed to a plea deal.Anna Morris appeared in a Montcalm County Circuit Court Thursday morning where she pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of a building and malicious destruction […]
Former psychiatric nurse expected to plead guilty to co-founding sex cult that branded women March 16, 2019
Others charged in the case include Salzman's daughter, Lauren Salzman; Clare Bronfman, Seagram heiress, Allison Mack, from television series, 'Smallville'Barry MeierNational PostThe New York TimesMarch 13, 2019NEW YORK — Nancy Salzman was known to her followers as “Prefect.” She was a co-founder of Nxivm, a cultlike group near Albany, New York, in which women were […]
Chamber boss Simon Williams quits over Universal Medicine cult claims March 16, 2019
BBC NewsMarch 13, 2019The president of a Chamber of Commerce has stood down from his role following a BBC investigation into a cult which he is a follower of.Simon Williams owns the Lighthouse home of the UK HQ of Universal Medicine, which teaches people are sexually abused due to past life actions.BBC Inside Out West […]
Victim advocates ecstatic after Utah Senate passes polygamy refugees reparations bill March 15, 2019
MARK SHENEFELTStandard-ExaminerMarch 14, 2019SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns who flee polygamy will become eligible for crime victims’ reparations if Gov. Gary Herbert signs a bill passed by the state Senate Wednesday.The measure adds bigamy to the list of crimes that can qualify victims for grants from the Utah Office for Victims of Crime. The office […]
Appeals court reinstates lawsuit filed by former polygamous sect members against their old lawyers March 15, 2019
Nate CarlisleSalt Lake TribuneMarch 14, 2019Former members of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have provided enough evidence of misdeeds by their old lawyers for parts of a lawsuit to proceed, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.The former sect members must still prove their case in a Salt […]
'J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius': Film Review | SXSW 2019 March 15, 2019
John DeForeHollywood ReporterMarch 14, 2019Sandy K. Boone tells the surprising tale of a Texas-born fake religion whose imaginary leader is named Bob. I first learned of the Church of the SubGenius in a small counterculture bookstore near the Austin coffeeshops and street corners where Richard Linklater had just filmed Slacker. It was in a building […]
After Falling For A Man Outside The Jehovah's Witnesses, I'm Learning To Balance Love And Faith March 15, 2019
HUFFPOSTTHE BLOGMarch 15, 2019Poet and storyteller Jeni De La O tells her story of secret love, being 'disfellowed' from her faith, and the way back, as part of a collaboration between The Moth and HuffPost UKIt was my 33rd birthday. I don’t celebrate my birthday, because I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I know it’s […]
Police charge owner of Valley psychic business with theft from nonprofit March 14, 2019
Francis ScarcellaDaily Itemfscarcelle@dailyitem.comMarch 14, 2019SUNBURY — The owner of a Valley energy healing and psychic readings business faces felony theft charges after Sunbury police say she stole $13,192 from nonprofit organization Parent to Parent.Jessica Mena, 40, of Old Farm Lane, Milton, was arrested and charged with five felony counts of theft by deception, access fraud, […]
Spiritual leader of alleged New York sex cult hit with child porn charges March 14, 2019
Keith Raniere was already facing allegations that he coerced women to have sex with him and brand his initials into their flesh. NBCNews.comMarch 13, 2019By Adam Reiss and Rich SchapiroThe spiritual leader of an alleged New York sex cult was hit with child pornography charges Wednesday, escalating a case that already featured allegations of female "slaves" forced […]
Indonesia sees rise in number of self-proclaimed prophets promising to save the nation March 13, 2019
ABC NewsMarch 13, 2018By Erwin Renaldi It is a time of purported visions and miracles for tens of thousands of Indonesians, as the world's most populous Muslim nation experiences a rise in the number of self-proclaimed prophets thanks to social media.Key points:· Many self-proclaimed prophets claim they have received revelations directly from God and angels· The rise […]
Jehovah's Witnesses Are Being Persecuted in Russia March 12, 2019
Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Being Persecuted in Russia National ReviewBy MARLO SAFIMarch 11, 2019 On Thursday, February 28, the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) delivered a statement to the OSCE’s Permanent Council in Vienna about reports of torture of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the hands of Russian law enforcement. The issue has […]
I Spent 16 Months Of My Childhood Locked In A Warehouse March 12, 2019
HUFFPOST PERSONAL 03/01/2019 I Spent 16 Months Of My Childhood Locked In A Warehouse Huffington PostCyndy EtlerGuest Writer When I was a kid, my mother locked me in a warehouse and left me there. For 16 months. Her husband had been beating and molesting me, but then I hit puberty and started fighting back ― and nobody wants […]
Judge authorizes class action for Jehovah's Witnesses sex abuse victims March 5, 2019
"The organization of Jehovah's Witnesses is very hierarchical, led by men, and encourages a culture of silence," the judge ruled.JESSE FEITHMONTREAL GAZETTEMarch 4, 2019Citing a hierarchy that “encourages a culture of silence,” a Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class-action lawsuit for current or former Jehovah’s Witnesses in Quebec who were sexually abused by […]
Former skinhead speaks at Cuyahoga Community College about living a hate-filled lifestyle March 3, 2019
Frank WileNews5March 1, 2019CLEVELAND — Christian Picciolini told a group of listeners at Cuyahoga Community College that was recruited to become a skinhead while growing up in Chicago.Picciolini said that he was raised well, but his parents worked hard, so they couldn’t watch his every move.“I had everything I should’ve had to have for a […]
Why do a quarter of people across the world believe humans have psychic abilities? March 2, 2019
Neil Dagnall and Ken Drinkwater The Independent February 28. 2019Proven psychic fraud over the years should have weakened the credibility of such claims… but that isn’t necessarily the case, finds Neil Dagnall and Ken Drinkwater Mind reading and the ability to predict the future are not skills people generally associate with the human race. Yet, […]
Full Season of SundanceTV's True Crime Doc "Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo" Now Available to AMC Premiere Subscribers March 2, 2019
The Fulton CriticFebruary 28, 2019SundanceTV.[via press release from SundanceTV]Full Season of SundanceTV's True Crime Doc "Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo" and Companion Amanda Knox Podcast Series Now Available to AMC Premiere Subscribers.AMC Networks announced the full season of SundanceTV's true crime documentary "Ministry of Evil: The Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo" […]
WHO WAS YAHWEH BEN YAHWEH? CULT OF YAHWEH FEATURED IN NEW OXYGEN SPECIAL ‘UNCOVERED: THE CULT OF YAHWEH BEN YAHWEH’ March 2, 2019
KELLY WYNNENewsweek March 1, 2019Uncovered: The Cult of Yahweh Ben Yahweh will premiere on Oxygen Sunday, March 10 at 7 ET.What do you get in the late ‘70s when a group of religious people try to rehabilitate drug-heavy neighborhoods? A murderous cult. The Nation of Yahweh, led by Yahweh Ben Yahweh, is a lesser known, dangerous […]
Jehovah's Witness parents: 'Why our kids don't need blood transfusions' March 2, 2019
KWAZULU-NATALFEBRUARY 28, 2019ANELISA KUBHEKADurban - The parents of three children who are Jehovah’s Witnesses have suggested to the Durban High Court that erythropoietin can be used to treat their children instead of blood transfusions.Erythropoietin is a drug-based treatment which stimulates the production of red blood cells.The parents’ submissions were filed against an interim order granted […]