Quote of the Day:
'Victims gradually lose their ability to make independent decisions and exercise informed consent.'
- Dr Margaret Singer
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Articles and Publications of Interest:
This list of publications and researched articles has been selected for their informative content and insight into the cult phenomenon.
- CultWatcher Handbook
This booklet is a collection of papers and articles designed to give you an overall idea of the
identifying marks of a cult, and to impart some strategies should you in some way be affected by an extremist group.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010 - Senate Committee Report
This report of the Australian Senate Inquiry called for by Senator Xenophon has comprehensive recommendations including the establishment of a Charities Commission and a Federal cult-watch body similar to the French 'MIVILUDES'.
CIFS appreciates the opportunity to present evidence to the Inquiry regarding widespread harm and abuses of members by the many renegade cult-like groups who have been free of oversight for too long.
- 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.' Full PDF File
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 experience cult related traumas in the post-cult life.
And, if this is the case, is there a special form of post cult post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD)? Does potential exist for re-traumatisation during therapy? And,
if it occurs, what is the therapists’ attitude to the incidence of trauma and what is
the recommended approach to address it? ... more...
- The Shincheonji religious movement; a critical evaluation
A Tertiary Thesis
University of Pretoria
By Young Sang Kim 2016
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.
- '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 title is apt. For those of us who have spent time in religious cults—even if we emerged relatively unscathed—looking back it can seem as if we have been under a spell, and we can be long haunted by the mental seduction that took place. A copy of the article is here
- The After-Effects of Cult Involvement as
Experienced by Former Members: An Investigation
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 Skeptic articles by Michael Wolloghan:
- Combatting Cult Mind Control . . . CIFS Vision.
- Modern Mormons . . . Papyrus, DNA and faith.
- Adrian Norman: Visions of Paradise . . . Educational video.
- Diana Pletts: Phoenix Project . . . Art as therapy.
- Gillie Jenkinson: Cult Recovery . . . What helps.
- THE APOSTATE
Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology. by Lawrence Wright
'The New Yorker Article'
- 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.
- 'Scientology'
by John August, Humanist Society of NSW president.
Published in the Australian Humanist, No. 102 WINTER 2011
- 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.
- 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).
- 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'. "
- What Is A Cult? - 2006
This links to an introductory powerpoint presentation of what cults are and
how they operate.
- Coercive Mind Control Tactics by Dr Margaret Singer
Terminology note: Today Mind control or brainwashing in academia is commonly referred to as
coercive persuasion, coercive psychological systems or coercive influence. This short
description comes from Dr. Margaret Singer professor emeritus at the University of
California at Berkeley the acknowledged leading authority in the world on mind control and cults.
- Dangerous Persuaders by Louise Samways (81 pages)
An exposé of gurus, personal development courses and cults, and how they operate.
The complete book is available for download via this link
- Cults and Families by Doni Whitsett and Stephen Kent (12 pages)
From: 'Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services' 2003
They conclude with discussion of therapeutic challenges that therapists face when working with cult-involved clients and make preliminary recommendations for treatment.
- MALIGNANT NARCISSISM,
L. Ron Hubbard, and Scientology's
Policies of Narcissistic Rage 2008 (44 pages)
"In this article, we argue that Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, was a
malignant narcissist who created organizational policies against perceived enemies that
reflected his narcissistic rage."
Published in French: Criminologie (Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal) 41 (2): 117–155.
- Churches that Abuse by Dr. Ronald M. Enroth. (231 pages)
"But when they violate that trust, when they abuse their authority, and when they misuse ecclesiastical power to control and manipulate the flock, the results can be catastrophic. The perversion of power that we see in abusive churches disrupts and divides families, fosters an unhealthy dependence of members on the leadership, and creates, ultimately, spiritual confusion in the lives of victims."
The complete book is
available for download via this link
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A report for the Parliament of Australia - Joint Committee
Conviction with Compassion: A Report
on Freedom of Religion and Belief to both Houses of Parliament on 27 November 2000.
Chapter 10: Point 10.26 onward discusses the CIFS submission to Parliament.
Disclaimer:This news page is about groups, organizations or movements, which may have been called "cults" and/or "cult-like" in some way, shape or form. But not all groups called either "cults" or "cult-like" are harmful. Instead, they may be benign and generally defined as simply people intensely devoted to a person, place or thing. Therefore, the discussion or mention of a group, organization or person on this page, is not necessarily meant pejoratively.
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