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Former Disciple and Chauffeur of Guru Maharaji Ji, Prem Rawat, Reveals How and Why He Left the Cult to Reclaim His Life
Former disciple and chauffeur of Guru Maharaji Ji, Prem Rawat, reveals how and why he left the cult to reclaim his life Without the Guru by Michael Finch explores how to face life’s questions without the control of a guru December 7, 2009 – Without the Guru: How I Took my Life Back After Thirty Years by Michael Finch narrates how he broke free of what he felt was a suffocating, rigid belief system and learned to think for himself. Many people are dissatisfied by the religious aspects of spirituality, yet science alone fails to fill that need, claims author Finch. These individuals sometime turn to gurus, as Finch did, with the potentially negative results he chronicles in Without the Guru. In the book, Finch reveals how he gave his total allegiance, love and money to Guru Maharaji Ji as well as to the guru’s organizations, Divine Light Mission and Elan Vital. This included two inheritances, a house and thousands of dollars. As the guru’s former chauffeur, he lived for several years as a renunciate in the ashram and later was authorized to reveal the secret teachings. But gradually, he began to feel more and more trapped, and struggled to find his way out and discover a life of his own making. Both a memoir and a narrative of Finch’s time with the guru, Without the Guru explores the importance of thinking for oneself rather than adhering to anyone else’s belief system. While it examines the popularity of cults and the seductive atmosphere they generate, Finch also champions how to find answers within the context of one’s own life and details the process that led Finch to face life’s main issues on his own terms—and his own two feet. -
Acts Marseille 2015
Deliberately planned and encouraged confusion between cults and religion Saturday, May 16, 2015 Radisson BLU Hotel Marseille, Vieux Port 38-40 Quai Rive Neuve, 13007 Marseille, France organised by the European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Cults and Sects (FECRIS) and GEMPPI 1 - Sectes: aide, information, prévention http://www.gemppi.org/accueil/ 1 Groupe d’Etude des Mouvements de Pensée en vue de la Protection de l’Individu, Marseille Index Daniele Muller-Tulli, President of FECRIS (Switzerland -Representative in the CoE ) Thematic approach through the spectrum of FECRIS' experience in the Council of Europe, OSCE, FRA and UN………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Rudy Salles, MP and member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Council of Europe (France) Analysis of the situation that led to the failure of Rudy Salles' report on "excesses of sects" in the Council of Europe 2 (read by Danièle Muller-Tulli)……………………………………. 6 Didier Pachoud, président du GEMPPI, co-organising association, (France) Introduction of the topic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Serge Blisko, President of MIVILUDES, ( Office of the Prime Minister - France). Secularism………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Bertrand Chaudet, (CCMM, France) The collective of victims of psycho-spiritual excesses ……………………………………………………… 13 Friedrich Griess (GSK, Austria) and XXXX (France) Testimonials about Smith Friends (ACFF 3) …………………………………………………………………………… 18 Alexey Voat , researcher (CSR, Russian Federation) -
Conference Handbook ICSA 2010 Annual International Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm
Conference Handbook ICSA 2010 Annual International Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm With the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte, Montreal, Canada July 1-3, 2010 Doubletree at George Washington Bridge 2117 Route 4 East, Fort Lee, NJ International Cultic Studies Association PO Box 2265 Bonita Springs, FL 34133 239-514-3081 www.icsahome.com Welcome Welcome to the 2010 International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm. Speakers have given much of their time in order to present at this conference. Many attendees have come long distances and have diverse backgrounds. Hence, please help us begin sessions on time and maintain a respectful tone during the sometimes lively and provocative discussions. This is a public conference. If you have matters that are sensitive or that you prefer to keep confidential, you should exercise appropriate care. Private audio- or videotaping is not permitted. We hope to make some videos and/or audios available after the conference. Press who attend the conference may come from mainstream and nonmainstream, even controversial, organizations. If a journalist seeks to interview you, exercise appropriate care. If you desire to refuse an interview request, feel free to do so. Remember, if you give an interview, you will have no control over what part of the interview, if any, will be used. ICSA conferences try to encourage dialogue and are open to diverse points of view. Hence, opinions expressed at the conference or in books and other materials available in the bookstore should be interpreted as opinions of the speakers or writers, not necessarily the views of ICSA or its staff, directors, or advisors. -
France 2016 International Religious Freedom Report
FRANCE 2016 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitution and the law protect the right of individuals to choose, change, and practice their religion. The government investigated and prosecuted numerous crimes and other actions against religious groups, including anti-Semitic and anti- Muslim violence, hate speech, and vandalism. The government continued to enforce laws prohibiting face coverings in public spaces and government buildings and the wearing of “conspicuous” religious symbols at public schools, which included a ban on headscarves and Sikh turbans. The highest administrative court rejected the city of Villeneuve-Loubet’s ban on “clothes demonstrating an obvious religious affiliation worn by swimmers on public beaches.” The ban was directed at full-body swimming suits worn by some Muslim women. ISIS claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack in Nice during the July 14 French independence day celebration that killed 84 people without regard for their religious belief. President Francois Hollande condemned the attack as an act of radical Islamic terrorism. Prime Minister (PM) Manuel Valls cautioned against scapegoating Muslims or Islam for the attack by a radical extremist group. The government extended a state of emergency until July 2017. The government condemned anti- Semitic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Catholic acts and continued efforts to promote interfaith understanding through public awareness campaigns and by encouraging dialogues in schools, among local officials, police, and citizen groups. Jehovah’s Witnesses reported 19 instances in which authorities interfered with public proselytizing by their community. There were continued reports of attacks against Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The government, as well as Muslim and Jewish groups, reported the number of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents decreased by 59 percent and 58 percent respectively from the previous year to 335 anti-Semitic acts and 189 anti-Muslim acts. -
City Research Online
City Research Online City, University of London Institutional Repository Citation: Walsh, Y,S. (2009). A Qualitative Exploration of Cultic Experience in Relation to Mental Health Difficulties. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City, University of London) This is the accepted version of the paper. This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link: https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/17666/ Link to published version: Copyright: City Research Online aims to make research outputs of City, University of London available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the author(s) and/or copyright holders. URLs from City Research Online may be freely distributed and linked to. Reuse: Copies of full items can be used for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. Provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. City Research Online: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/ [email protected] A Qualitative Exploration of Cultic Experience in Relation to Mental Health Difficulties Yvonne Susan Walsh Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology City University School of Social Sciences August 2009 Table of Contents .................................................................................... Page No Table of Contents... ................................................................................................2 -
Luna Lindsey Sample Chapters
Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by LUNA LINDSEY Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control Copyright ©2013-2014 by Luna Flesher Lindsey Internal Graphics ©2014 by Luna Flesher Lindsey Cover Art ©2014 by Ana Cruz All rights reserved. This publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles, professional works, or reviews. www.lunalindsey.com ISBN-10: 1489595937 ISBN-13: 978-1489595935 First digital & print publication: July 2014 iv RECOVERING AGENCY Table of Contents FOREWORD' VIII' PART%1:%IN%THE%BEGINNING% ' IT'STARTED'IN'A'GARDEN…' 2' Free$Will$vs.$Determinism$ 3' Exit$Story$ 5' The$Illusion$of$Choice$ 9' WHAT'IS'MIND'CONTROL?' 13' What$is$a$Cult?$ 16' Myths$of$Cults$&$MinD$Control$ 17' ALL'IS'NOT'WELL'IN'ZION' 21' Is$Mormonism$A$DanGer$To$Society?$ 22' Why$ShoulD$We$Mourn$Or$Think$Our$Lot$Is$HarD?$ 26' Self<esteem' ' Square'Peg,'Round'Hole'Syndrome' ' Guilt'&'Shame' ' Depression,'Eating'Disorders,'&'Suicide' ' Codependency'&'Passive<Aggressive'Culture' ' Material'Loss' ' DON’T'JUST'GET'OVER'IT—RECOVER!' 36' Though$harD$to$you$this$journey$may$appear…$ 40' Born$UnDer$the$Covenant$ 41' We$Then$Are$Free$From$Toil$anD$Sorrow,$Too…$ 43' SLIPPERY'SOURCES' 45' Truth$Is$Eternal$$(And$Verifiable)$ 45' Truth$Is$Eternal$$(Depends$on$Who$You$Ask)$ 46' -
The Davidians of Waco
THE DAVIDIANS OF WACO BY VANCE FERRELL THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY -THE DAVIDIANS OF WACO * Who was David Koresh? * Where did he come from? * How could he take control of the minds and bodies of nearly 150 people? * Why did they let him do it? IN THIS BOOK, YOU WILL FIND THE ASTOUNDING STORY OF THIS STRANGE ORGANIZATION. * How it started over 60 years ago, by a man that a European nation expelled. * The strange reason they moved to Waco in 1935. * The terrible crisis which developed from 1955 to 1962. * The blood feud between two men in the 1980s—out of which Koresh emerged as the leader. * His food and munitions preparations to withstand an attack by the world. * In detail: the astonishing events of February 28, 1993, when the Waco raid shocked America into forgetting for a day the twin towers blast of two days earlier. * Clear evidence that, from its beginning, the Shepherd's Rod/Davidians have not been connected with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 - The Houteff Years - 1 ...................................... page 1 The Rod in Southern California 1929-1942 Houghton Starts the Rod ....................................... page 2 The Meetings Begin .............................................. page 3 2 - The Houteff Years - 2 ...................................... page 7 The Rod in Waco, Texas 1935-1955 Changing the Name to Davidian .......................... page 10 3 - The Rod In Waco, Texas - 3 .......................... page 12 The Florence Houteff Years 1955-1962 The 1955 Time Prophecy.....................................page 14 The 1959 Gathering ............................................ page 17 Florence Steps In—And Closes It .... page 18 4 - The Roden Years - 4 ..................................... page 25 The Branch In Riverside And Waco 1962-1983 5 - The Howell/Koresh Years - 5 ........................ -
Digital Religion
DIGITAL RELIGION DIGITAL RELIGION Based on papers read at the conference arranged by the Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History, Åbo Akademi University, Åbo/Turku, Finland, on 13–15 June 2012 Edited by Tore Ahlbäck Editorial Assistant Björn Dahla Published by the Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History Åbo/Turku, Finland Distributed by BTJ Finland Editorial secretary Maria Vasenkari Linguistic editing Sarah Bannock ISSN 0582-3226 ISBN 978-952-12-2897-1 Printed in Finland by Vammalan kirjapaino Sastamala 2013 Editorial note he theme for our symposium 2012 was ‘Digital religion’ and in our call Tfor papers we described it in the following way: ‘ “Digital Religion’ aims to explore the complex relationship between religion and digital technologies of communication. Digital religion encompasses a myriad of connections and the goal of the conference is to approach the subject from multiple perspec- tives.’ As can be seen from the conference proceedings, we did not achieve what we aimed for. The theme was too vast. We knew as much; a new field is always difficult to handle. Despite this, we still hope that the participants got some- thing out of the conference, and we also hope that the readers of the proceed- ings will benefit from them. I wish to finish this editorial note by acknowledging my colleague Björn Dahla. For many years we organised the Donner symposia and edited the conference proceedings together. I owe him my sincere gratitude. I also want to warmly thank Maria Vasenkari who, for many years, did the necessary, extensive technical work in order to follow the conference pro- ceedings through into print. -
Thecultphenomenonhowgroup
Authors: Mike Kropveld Executive Director Info-Cult Marie-Andrée Pelland Doctoral Student in Criminology Université de Montréal Translated by: Natasha DeCruz Gwendolyn Schulman Linguistic Landscapes Cover Design by: Philippe Lamoureux This book was made possible through the financial support of the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration. However, the opinions expressed herein are those of the authors. The translation from the French version (Le phénomène des sectes: L’étude du fonctionnement des groupes ©2003) into English was made possible through the financial support of Canadian Heritage. ©Info-Cult 2006 ISBN: 2-9808258-1-6 The Cult Phenomenon: How Groups Function ii Contents Contents ....................................................................................................................... ii Preface .......................................................................................................................viii Introduction ...................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: History of Info-Cult.......................................................................................3 Cult Project................................................................................................................3 Description.............................................................................................................3 Cult Project’s objectives.........................................................................................4 -
Why I Became a Hindu
Why I became a Hindu Parama Karuna Devi published by Jagannatha Vallabha Vedic Research Center Copyright © 2018 Parama Karuna Devi All rights reserved Title ID: 8916295 ISBN-13: 978-1724611147 ISBN-10: 1724611143 published by: Jagannatha Vallabha Vedic Research Center Website: www.jagannathavallabha.com Anyone wishing to submit questions, observations, objections or further information, useful in improving the contents of this book, is welcome to contact the author: E-mail: [email protected] phone: +91 (India) 94373 00906 Please note: direct contact data such as email and phone numbers may change due to events of force majeure, so please keep an eye on the updated information on the website. Table of contents Preface 7 My work 9 My experience 12 Why Hinduism is better 18 Fundamental teachings of Hinduism 21 A definition of Hinduism 29 The problem of castes 31 The importance of Bhakti 34 The need for a Guru 39 Can someone become a Hindu? 43 Historical examples 45 Hinduism in the world 52 Conversions in modern times 56 Individuals who embraced Hindu beliefs 61 Hindu revival 68 Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj 73 Shraddhananda Swami 75 Sarla Bedi 75 Pandurang Shastri Athavale 75 Chattampi Swamikal 76 Narayana Guru 77 Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru 78 Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha 79 Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 79 Sarada Devi 80 Golap Ma 81 Rama Tirtha Swami 81 Niranjanananda Swami 81 Vireshwarananda Swami 82 Rudrananda Swami 82 Swahananda Swami 82 Narayanananda Swami 83 Vivekananda Swami and Ramakrishna Math 83 Sister Nivedita -
Cults and Psychological Manipulation
WORKSHOP FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: PSYCHOLOGICAL MANIPULATION, CULTS AND CULTIC RELATIONSHIPS 1. What is a destructive cult? Langone’s definition Singer’s Continuum of Influence and Persuasion 2. Do people join cultic groups? Factors that increase vulnerability Cult Recruitment: One Predictable Factor 3. Overview of Thought Reform: Four models 4. Singer’s Conditions for Thought Reform (Explore how each condition applies to the client’s group) 5. Assessment of current and former group members Screening tools Motivation for seeking therapy Clinical picture of cult survivors Post Group Distress Most typical cult induced psychopathologies PTSD/Complex PTSD 6. Assessment of cult as well as cult leader Evaluate client’s safety while inquiring about the cult and its leadership Discuss possible psychopathology of the cult leader 7. Treatment of current cult members 8. Treatment of former members: First and Second Generation Stages of Recovery: Therapeutic goals Recommendations for Therapists 9. Types of care and reliable resources Prepared by: Rosanne Henry, LPC www.CultRecover.com I WHAT IS A DESTRUCTIVE CULT? A destructive cult is a group or movement that, to a significant degree xhibits great or excessive devotion or dedicationto some person, idea, or thing Uses a thought-reform program to persuade, control, and socialize members Systematically induces states of psychological dependency in members Exploits members to advance the leadership’s goals, and Causes psychological harm to members, their families, and the community. Langone, M.D. (Ed.). (1993) Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse. New York: W. Norton & Company. SINGER’S CONTINUUM OF INFLUENCE AND PERSUASION Singer, M.T. -
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$ENT ~~~'~orQX eecop~.r ~ * ~ ~Z2~'aVED T~u~TcHcouN~ PF~OSECUT~NG A1T~ L_t\~R Z~ 1~99O eIICD 1 2 UNITED ST .~~d~~oURu1r PbP~ )A1~9O 3 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ~ W UNITED STATES, Plaintiff, 6 v. ) No. cR-S60616-DL7 7 ) STEPHEN 71510 WI, ) MMORaNDUX OPIUZON 8 Defendant. 9 10 On camber 27, 1969, this Court heard the government's motion to exclude certain expert testimony proffered b~ 12 defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Dondero IS appeared for the government. Hark Nuri3~ appeared for defendant. 14 Since the hearing the partiem have filed supplemental briefing, which the Court has received and reviewed. For all the following 16 reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the 17 government' a motion. 18 19 I * BACKGROUND FACTS 20 The United States indicted Steven ?iuhman on eleven counts 21 of mail fraud, in violation of IS U.S.C. 1 1341, 011 September 22 23, 1968. The indictment charges that Xr. Fishman defrauded 23 various federal district courts, including those in the Northern 24 District of California, by fraudulently obtaining settlement 25 monies and securities in connection with .hareholder class action 28 lawsuits. This fraud allegedly occurred over a lengthy period 27 of time -~ from September 1963 to Nay 1958. 28 <<< Page 1 >>> SENT ~y;~grox ~ ~ * Two months after his indictment, defendant notified this 2 Court of his intent to rely on an insanity defense, pursuant to Rule 12.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Within the context of his insanity defense, defendant seeks to present 5 evidence that influence techniques, or brainwashing, practiced 8 upon him by the Church of Scientology ("the Church") warn a cause of his state of mind at the tim.