Dangerous Persuaders by Louise Samways
An exposé of gurus, personal development courses and cults, and how they operate. The complete book is available for download via this link
The Trouble With Gurus
by Mary Garden Published in the Australian Financial Review, 21 November, 2003 pp. 6-7 An inside look at the world of Indian Gurus. Quote: “If the guru is seen as infallible, then the disciples are always to blame: it is their karma. On the other hand, what the guru does is a divine lila (game) or ‘test’. ”…
Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups
A checklist developed by Michael Langone. Published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups
The Emotional Pain of Leaving a Cult
A list compiled by the late Jan Groenveld. Jan Groenveld operated the Cult Awareness & Information Centre in Brisbane. She compiled a list of responses compiled from her counselling of people who have left cults. The Emotional Pain of Leaving a Cult
‘Scientology’
by John August, Humanist Society of NSW president. Published in the Australian Humanist ‘Scientology‘.
Can Meditation Be Bad for You?
By Mary Garden Published in the Humanist, September/October 2007. A compilation of personal experiences, modern therapies and contemporary brain research. CanMeditationBeBadForYou
The Apostate
Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology. by Lawrence Wright ‘The New Yorker Article’ PaulHaggis-vs-Scientology
The Skeptic
Articles by Michael Wolloghan: CombattingCultCulture fromTheSkepticVolume332013No3… CIFS Vision Modern Mormons… Papyrus, DNA and faith. Visions of Paradise.. Educational Video GillieJenkinson… What helps
The After-Effects of Cult Involvement
This Report, written on behalf of CIFS, aims to give former cult members and their families an understanding of common cult practices and their after-effects. In addition, this Report hopes to increase awareness and educate the public regarding the potential dangers of becoming involved in cults. Tabled at ‘Public Benefit Test’ Senate Inquiry 28-June-2010. The…
‘Memoirs of a Spiritual Refugee’
by Mary Garden Published in the The Humanist, November/December 2009. A review of Jane Stork’s book, Breaking the Spell: My Life as a Rajneeshee and the Long Journey Back to Freedom (Pan Macmillan, 2009). This is the story of a spiritual quest that led not to lightness or freedom but to darkness and imprisonment. The…
The Shincheonji religious movement
This thesis is written from the perspective that the Shincheonji cult is not well understood in the western countries, and that much of the information available is in the Korean language. The writer outlines the beliefs of the group and how it appears to be a christian organisation, however it uses practiced methods to infiltrate…
Research Paper
‘An exploration of the methods used by therapists to address instances of re-traumatising in therapeutic meetings with former members of psychologically abusive cults. by Denis Healy Abstract: Various authors have disagreed about whether or not cults are harmful to individuals; whether members experience trauma during their time in the cult; and whether they continue to…