Cult News

People often ask, “How are cult members recruited?” And then say, “Are they stupid or what?”

The point seems to be no one normal or intelligent would join a “cult.”

And so often, no one knowingly does.

For example, as pointed out previously, “cult” involvement might begin through a seemingly benign “style” of “yoga class” recommended through a website, magazine or book.

Another example can be seen within the Wichita Eagle newspaper today.

Under the heading “Health Calendar” the Kansas daily lists “Kundalina Yoga” under “Classes,” which is associated with Yogi Bhajan (3HO).

Under “Counseling” there is Scientology ad offering “free personality, IQ and stress testing.”

Not everyone knows the background of 3HO and Scientology. But both groups have been called “cults.”

Maybe someone looking for an exercise class thinks, “Hey yoga might be fun.” Or a curious reader decides to check out their intelligence and/or personality traits by being “tested”?

This could potentially be an unknowing point of entry into the world of “cults.”

That is, just picking up the daily paper and responding to an innocuous ad.

Simple isn’t it?

It seems that Scientology’s sway over political figures within Florida is on the rise.

Prominent political consultant Mary Repper is shepherding a flock of elected officials and hopefuls for face time at the house that Hubbard built, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Repper apparently networks with key Scientology leaders and acts somewhat like a proxy priming politicians for them and then ushering them into meetings.

One mayoral candidate in Tampa that attended such an arranged event said, “They were interested in my candidacy.” And added Scientologists “wanted to offer support.”

Has the organization called a “cult,” historically opposed by Florida residents now achieved new status?

Repper says,”Things have changed.”

According to the political consultant county commissioners, city council members and others have attended the recently held meetings.

Repper claims “I work with a lot of elected officials who turn to the church. Everyone goes now and visits…It’s a new day.”

Maybe instead of the old adage “kiss the ring,” this can be seen as more like “kissing ass.”

Another “cult apologist” has surfaced through the news coverage of Elizabeth Smart.

Nancy Ammerman of the Hartford Institute for Religious Research previously has spoken about the Branch Davidians.

In 1993 Ammerman claimed within a published report that the FBI was negligent because they didn’t listen to her fellow apologists James Tabor and Phillip Arnold. Both men have been recommended as “religious resources” by the Church of Scientology, which has often been called a “cult.”

Ammerman’s work regarding the Davidian standoff was lauded by Scientology through a full-page article within its own “Freedom Magazine.” And she has admitted that “various political and lobbying groups” influenced her view of that cult tragedy.

The professor’s report about the FBI was later included in a book titled “Armageddon in Waco,” which also contains the work of scholars historically associated with and/or supported by groups called “cults.”

Ammerman observed that “If [Elizabeth Smart] was a devout religious person, and [her captor] wanted to play on those religious sentiments, it’s plausible, just plausible, that she could have understood this to be some sort of religious experience,” reports the Palm Beach Post.

Is a violent kidnapping, rape and imprisonment now somehow to be categorized within the realm of “religious experience”?

Here it seems Ammerman is avoiding the “B” word (“brainwashing“), in an attempt to offer some sort of alternative “religious” explanation.

But isn’t there a more obvious and plausible understanding, which is more consistent with the established facts?

Elizabeth was initially isolated for months. This began when the 14-year-old girl was first held in a boarded up hole at a relatively remote campsite. This is not unlike what happened to cult kidnap victim Patty Hearst in 1974, when she was first confined within a closet by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Elizabeth like Hearst was brutally raped, terrorized and effectively cut off from the outside world. This made Mitchell’s process of coercive persuasion not only possible, but also enabled its eventual success. Mitchell then simply solidified his undue influence.

Elizabeth became “Augustine.” And though she had numerous opportunities to escape and/or identify herself to authorities, she did not do so. Instead, for months “Augustine” passively followed her captors, Mitchell and/or Barzee.

Her actions cannot simply be explained away by her “religious experience,” or written off as just the effects of trauma and the “Stockholm Syndrome.”

Ammerman also said, “I suppose he also could have played off of a child’s desire to be obedient to an adult.”

This is a common sense observation almost anyone might make about adult authority.

But attempting to explain Mitchell’s undue influence over the child by linking it to her religious background sounds a bit like “victim bashing.”

Such a conclusion seemingly supposes that if Elizabeth and/or her family were not Mormons, Mitchell an excommunicated Mormon, might not have been so successful.

However, Mitchell’s bizarre religious “Manifesto,” an odd hodge-podge of beliefs taken from many sources, has little meaningful similarity to the Mormon Church Elizabeth attended.

Mitchell may have claimed to be a “prophet,” but Elizabeth must have known through her religious training, that the only prophets accepted by Mormons are those that are acknowledged by their church.

Accordingly, despite Mitchell’s claims, only the current church president could be seen by Elizabeth as a living prophet today.

In actuality Elizabeth’s “religious experience” can be seen more readily as an obstacle for Mitchell to overcome, rather than a common premise or bond that empowered him.

Again, Patty Hearst like Elizabeth Smart had no apparent common bond with her captors. Hearst was not a campus radical and/or left wing political activist. And the Hearst family were conservative and Republican.

But Patricia Hearst nevertheless, due to the process she was subjected to through her confinement, isolation and treatment, succumbed to her captors and became “Tania,” a revolutionary Marxist.

A cursory review of other cult victims in groups like Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple, Solar Temple, Aum of Japan and “Heaven’s Gate,” demonstrates a diversity of backgrounds and frequently that personal histories are not in harmony with the cult’s beliefs.

Any attempt to simplistically categorize cult victims seems more like denial than serious examination.

Such claims as, their common “religious” background and/or religious devotion, made the victim vulnerable, appears to surmise that this somehow can’t be done effectively or as easily to secular or less devout people.

And let’s not forget that Elizabeth was abducted not recruited.

Research indicates that almost anyone may succumb to the extreme environmental control and pressures imposed by someone like Mitchell, and almost certainly a 14-year-old child held prisoner.

Perhaps rather than engaging in specious and/or simplistic explanations, Ammerman should have explored the unique circumstances, but common characteristics that define destructive cult indoctrination, often described as “thought reform.”

A new website dedicated to the sci-fi novel “Battlefield Earth” by L. Ron Hubbard offers “vivid multi-media excitement,” touts a press release on iWire.

But Hubbard is actually best known as the founder of Scientology, which has frequently been called a “cult.”

And for those that don’t remember “Battlefield Earth” was made into a movie starring Scientologist John Travolta. The critics overwhelmingly panned the film. In fact, it won the not-coveted “Razzie,” and was nominated for “the Worst Movie of the 21st Century.”

After that “stinker” Travolta’s career seems to have been largely on a losing streak.

Never mind.

The press release calls the book the movie was based upon an “epic novel” and “compelling saga.” Even though one critic writing for USA Today essentially said this story is “deeply dumb” and “depressingly derivative.”

The new website “Battlefield Earth.com” has “interactive features, special sections, and free downloads.” And noted musician and Scientologist Chick Corea is featured in a special performance.

But if you want to hear the jazz musician play you must first fill out a form on line, which includes your name, email address and zip code.

Visitors also are told they can subscribe to “Battlefield Earth News.”

Hmmm, is Scientology trying to develop an e-mailing list?

However, you won’t find the word “Scientology” easily on this site, not even within L. Ron Hubbard’s biography.

Huh?

It seems strange that Scientology, which controls the rights to “Battlefield Earth” and this website, doesn’t want to focus on the crowning achievement of its patriarch.

FYI–they also left a few details out of that bio.

Interestingly, many say that Scientology is actually based upon a sci-fi story concocted by Hubbard.

Could it be that Scientology is hoping the new website might afford a new avenue for recruitment? The site does seem to be skewed towards kids, it even has a “teacher’s guide” and a “lesson plan.”

What’s up with that?

Parents watch out; your children just might get into more than you bargained for while surfing the Internet.

L. Ron Hubbard lived the “good life” and apparently this included riding around in style back in the 60s.

While some of his devoted following probably managed on less, especially full-time Scientologists known as “Sea Org” members, it seems Mr. Hubbard traveled in style within a luxurious custom built Lincoln stretch limo.

And now you can have the Hubbard experience.

Not by paying for costly courses through his creation Scientology, but by riding around in the founder’s old limo.

That is, if you’re the highest bidder at eBay.

Yes, the 1966 “stretch limo originally built by Ford…for L Ron Hubbard” is up on the block. And the starting bid is only $10,000.00

Like the seller says this is “unique transportation” and “one of a kind.”

However, as of this morning, there are no bidders.

Maybe Scientologist John Travolta, an avid buyer of luxury cars and jets, should take a look?

But beware.

Reportedly, according to Scientology invisible alien creatures from outer space called “Body Thetans” negatively influence earthlings.

Hubbard claimed that these “BTs” could be dealt with effectively through his “technology,” though this can get pretty pricey—after all how do your think that limo was paid for?

Perhaps potential buyers of this piece of Hubbard history should therefore be cautious?

Could the car still have a lurking residue of those pesky little BTs hanging around within its “red interior”?

The odometer shows 80,000, assumedly all on this planet.

It looks like some “cult apologists” are trying to soften coverage of the Smart case. Two that recently popped up in related articles are James Richardson, quoted in the New York Times and H. Newton Malony commenting within the Los Angeles Times.

Both Richardson and Malony have been recommended by the Church of Scientology repeatedly as “religious resources” and/or “experts.”

In 1997 during heated media coverage of the “Heaven’s Gate” mass-suicide, both professors were promoted in a press release from the so-called new “Cult Awareness Network,” an organization that essentially now acts as a front for Scientology and other groups called “cults.”

Malony said today in the LA Times that Elizabeth Smart’s strange behavior during her captivity might be attributed to “religious conversion” and “that adolescence is the time when the experience is most likely to happen.”

Does Malony really think that such an adolescent change of faith begins at knifepoint and continues in captivity?

The professor of religious studies at Fuller Theological Seminary is probably more interested in blunting or negating any critical discussion about cult indoctrination. And this theologian has historically made it clear that he doesn’t appreciate talk about the role of “brainwashing” in that “conversion” process.

LA Times reporter Benedict Carey seems to stretch credulity when he writes that somehow the “pressures of adolescence and personality development” may explain Elizabeth Smart’s behavior.

Is this reporter somehow blaming the victim?

James Richardson cryptically commented within a NY Times piece today that Elizabeth was kept “under horrendous conditions, kidnapped and held in captivity. We still don’t know the extent of the physical coercion.”

Here Richardson appears to be saying that “captivity” and/or “physical coercion” is necessary for “brainwashing.”

Again, this would negate or blunt comparisons to the indoctrination process used by many “cults,” which most often does not include holding members prisoner or the use of physical force.

The LA Times article is titled “Specialists in the psychology of abuse and persuasion say survival, not mind control, could explain the girl’s behavior.”

However, Malony’s expertise is really in theology and Richard Hecht who is also quoted by the Times is actually a religious studies professor at UC Santa Barbara and not a “specialist in the psychology of abuse and persuasion.”

Interestingly, Gordon Melton, perhaps the most popular “cult apologist,” is also closely associated with UC Santa Barbara.

Hecht says that “brainwashing,” as an explanation for Elizabeth Smart’s behavior, is “far too simplistic.”

But many of the simple facts cited within the LA Times article are actually common features of a thought reform program, popularly called “brainwashing.”

For example, Hecht cites Elizabeth’s “loss of any context and connection with the outside world.”

This is what Robert Jay Lifton, noted psychiatrist and recognized expert in the psychology of persuasion, calls “mileu control” or control of the environment. And this is the foundational element of any thought reform program.

Carey notes that Smart “lost many of the things and people that reinforced her budding identity.”

This simply reiterates the need people have for accurate feedback from others, which cults frequently eliminate through isolation and control of the environment.

Carey then adds, “It appears she had very little say in even the smallest decisions while captive, such as what she wore and what she ate.” He concludes, “Denied any autonomy, even a resilient human nature may begin to make compromises.”

Such “compromises” is what Lifton includes within a mindset he describes as the “psychology of the pawn.”

Lifton writes, “Unable to escape from forces more powerful than himself, he subordinates everything to adapting himself to them.”

This is often accomplished by subjecting virtually every aspect of daily life, such as what is worn, eaten or “even the smallest decisions,” to the doctrine of the group.

Lifton includes this within his criteria “doctrine over person” and the “demand for purity.”

He says, “The good and the pure are of course those ideas, feelings, and actions which are consistent with the totalist ideology and policy.” And add this becomes evident in the subject by “the continual shift between experience itself and the highly abstract interpretation of such experience — between genuine feelings and spurious cataloguing of feelings.”

Fear also is a factor.

Carey says “fear and disorientation,” were factors that must have driven Elizabeth to an “attachment to the adults who had control over her well-being.”

This is what cult experts have often called “learned dependency.”

Margaret Singer clinical psychologist and an expert in the process of “brainwashing” explains cults, “Create a sense of powerlessness, covert fear, and dependency.”

This is one of Singer’s “six conditions” for a thought reform program.

Ultimately the LA Times reporter admits, “The effect of Mitchell’s religious pretensions cannot be ignored”

However, Carey claims “conversion” requires “fellow believers to teach values and rituals, as well as exert social pressure.”

Is it possible that Carey and his experts cannot recognize that Elizabeth was virtually suffocated by the “social pressure” of “believers” Mitchell and Barzee, who taught the girl their “values and rituals”?

Singer also discusses this aspect of cult indoctrination within the context of “Instill[ing] new behavior and attitudes.” And that cults “put forth a closed system of logic; allow no real input or criticism.”

And this was certainly observed by numerous eyewitnesses, including the police officers that ultimately dealt with the odd trio.

It is the effective influence of that program, which essentially explains Elizabeth’s silence, submission, and seemingly strange behavior.

Repeatedly witnesses have reported that she was within situations where help was readily accessible, but the girl said and did nothing to alert anyone.

Thought reform also explains Elizabeth’s reluctance to identify herself and her evasiveness when questioned by police. It may also be the reason she gave them the name “Augustine,” possibly a new identity instilled by Mitchell.

Again and again the facts support that Elizabeth Smart was subjected to a type of thought reform program or “brainwashing” process, directed apparently instinctually by her captor Brian Mitchell.

When major news stories about cult “brainwashing” are reported it is important to discuss the facts intelligently, rather than attempt to disguise or dismiss them and engage in some form of denial.

The LA Times reporter ended his story stating, “Assuming she was ‘brainwashed’ allows the family to gloss over the emotions that must have tormented her, emotions that Elizabeth must come to terms with eventually, experts say.”

But besides verging on “victim bashing,” such a conclusion ignores the obvious.

Elizabeth Smart will eventually need to sort through what happened during those nine months of captivity.

Patty Hearst, once a cult kidnap victim said, “I had a psychologist [Margaret Singer] who was incredibly good. I realized…you don’t have to think the things that they’ve been telling you think. You don’t have to participate in the disciplining of your mind to not have thoughts that they disapprove of. You do really remarkable and frightening things to yourself when you’re under the control of people like this.”

Based upon her own painful experience Hearst has advice for the Smart family. She says Elizabeth will “need a really good psychologist who can also work with the family.”

But let’s hope the Smarts find help from professionals who are recognized “specialists in the psychology of abuse and persuasion,” rather than apologists or generalists that might “gloss over” what really happened.

The “Montel Williams Show” today featured actress Kelly Preston the wife of John Travolta in a program titled “A Mother’s Crusade.”

The show is actually a rerun that was initially aired in early December of last year.

Ms. Preston claims her “crusade” is prompted by a personal experience. Her son Jett Travolta was diagnosed with “Kawasaki Disease,” which may have been caused by exposure to carpet cleaner.

Montel Williams, often an advocate regarding children and health issues, says on his website that Preston wants “to help parents safeguard…children from environmental toxins.” The actress is also involved in a non-profit organization called the “Children’s Health Environmental Coalition” (CHEC)

Jim and Nancy Chuda founded CHEC after their five-year-old daughter Colette died from a rare form of cancer in 1991, which they believe was due to exposure to toxins within the environment.

Colette Chuda was the goddaughter of singer Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John, also supports CHEC, she and Kelly Preston recently appeared together in a CHEC educational video.

But is Kelly Preston using this issue to promote Scientology?

Both Kelly Preston and her husband John Travolta are devout members of the Church of Scientology.

On the Montel Williams show Preston repeatedly promoted the book “Clear Body Clear Mind” by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. And calls Hubbard’s approach to purging toxins from the body “brilliant.”

Preston also apparently used “Montel” as a venue to feature her fellow Scientologist Michael Wisner. He was introduced as the “Toxicologist to the Stars.” Wisner then also promoted Hubbard’s teachings and a for-profit private clinic in Sacramento.

However, the touted “Toxicologist” apparently failed to help his own son Gregory Wisner who died with the toxin cocaine still present in his body, after being involved in a program that featured his father’s approach.

Wisner’s son participated in a detoxification drug treatment program called Narconon, which is based upon the very same process Preston described on Montel to “clear” the body of toxins.

Scientologists more commonly call this process the “Purification Rundown.”

The National Institute of Health advised one expert that there is “no peer reviewed scientific literature to support this program.”

Subsequently the Swedish expert concluded within his final report, “There is no documentation to show that the Hubbard method of detoxification…conforms to scientific standards and medical experience.” And that “the risks and side effects of the treatment method have also not been evaluated in a serious way.”

However, no possible “risks and side effects” were ever mentioned on the Montel Williams Show.

Nor are any reports cited that the Hubbard approach to “clear” the body by sweating in saunas and taking large doses of niacin may actually cause liver damage.

Montel’s show today was devoid of any meaningful critical balance that might help viewers develop a more informed understanding about this supposed process of “purification.”

Instead, Williams provided a platform for Kelly Preston to essentially use his show much like an infomercial to promote her Scientology beliefs.

However, Preston and Wisner scrupulously avoided even mentioning the “S” word (Scientology) explicitly.

Interestingly, Jett Travolta, who did not appear on the show, is rumored to suffer from autism. This illness was another issue never mentioned during the program.

Apparently, L. Ron Hubbard’s “Clear Body, Clear Mind” is unable to end autism.

Autism is a neurological disorder. And despite all the heavy promotion, L. Ron Hubbard was not a medical expert or even a doctor. It appears that the Travoltas have not consulted the proper specialists in the field to address their son’s condition and instead have relied upon Scientology.

But don’t expect Kelly Preston to discuss this on “Montel” either.

It seems that Montel Williams, Olivia Newton-John, the Chudas and CHEC are being used as pawns by Scientology through Kelly Preston.

This is not new.

Scientology frequently uses its celebrity members like John Travolta, Tom Cruise and others to advance various programs and essentially shill and/or recruit for the organization.

Sadly, it looks like Montel may have unknowingly become the latest shill for Scientology.

The most recent celebrity to be exposed regarding controversial religious ties is actor Mel Gibson. He is involved in a schismatic “Catholic” group that considers the official Roman Catholic Church, not “Catholic enough,” reports the New York Times.

Gibson’s group rejects modern changes in the church since the second Vatican Council.

Another example of such a group would be the Society of St. Pius X, though it seems to be considerably more moderate than Gibson’s church and the more radical, schismatic group called “The Apostles of Infinite Love.”

Gibson’s father raised his family within this rather strange religious milieu and apparently deeply indoctrinated his children.

His father bragged in a recent interview, ”Mel wasn’t raised in the [official Roman Catholic Church], and he wouldn’t go for it anymore than I would. I’ve got to say that my whole family is with me — all 10 of them.’

The elder Gibson also discussed his belief in various conspiracy theories, which seems to include anti-Semitic themes such as worldwide Jewish plots. He also denies the Holocaust and sees Hitler in a somewhat softer light than history.

Now Mel Gibson is putting up the money to match his mindset and has spent $25 million dollars on an unusual film project. He is producing a movie about the death of Jesus with all the dialogue spoken in the languages of Aramaic and Latin.

Reportedly the film will reflect anti-Jewish sentiments, regarding who is to blame for the death of Jesus.

No doubt the elder Gibson and others on the religious fringe will be happy to see the film released, but it seems destined for a very small audience. It certainly won’t be another “Braveheart.”

Mel Gibson’s commitment to this film seems to reflect his early and intense indoctrination, rather than any business savvy or artistic interest.

However, it should be understood that Gibson, like other children raised within controversial religious groups, had no choice. His parents instead made that choice for him.

In this sense he is not unlike Lisa Marie Presley, who was raised as a Scientologist by her mother.

Presley has been plagued by divorce. And Scientology was recently cited as one cause by her latest husband Nicholas Cage. Ironically, her father Elvis reportedly detested the group.

The actor River Phoenix spent his early childhood within a group called the “Children of God.” And not unlike many other young people with that background he turned to alcohol and drugs, which led to his tragic death at 26.

But none of these celebrities actually initially chose their religion. And the likable Gibson is just one more example of this reality.

Of course parents rarely give children the option of choosing a church, but most kids are lucky enough to have less controversial and perhaps more benign choices made for them.

Postscript: See this follow-up regarding the marketing of “Passion” and its message.

A Scientologist has opened up a “mission” in a strip mall between a nail salon and hairdressing shop, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Ardent adherents of Scientology often underwrite the group’s outreach through such missions established to recruit new members. This was done by TV stars Jenna Elfman and Kirstie Alley, who opened missions in their hometowns.

Now some rich Scientologists in Florida are following in Alley and Elfman’s footsteps. They have already opened up one storefront shop for this purpose and the plan is to continue with at least four more.

The person running the mission said, “Our purpose is to introduce new people to what Scientology can do for them.” She described what the organization provides as “hope for man.”

But what hope or help did Scientology ultimately afford Lisa McPhearson?

McPhearson is the long-term member that died in Florida while Sceintologists tried to help her. The surviving family later filed a wrongful death suit, which is still pending.

It seems potential patrons might be safer getting a manicure or a haircut at neighboring businesses then stopping in at the new mission. And those services would certainly be cheaper and perhaps more cost-effective in the long run.

Ten years ago the Waco Tribune-Herald began a three-part series called “The Sinful Messiah” about a then obscure cult known as the Branch-Davidians led by Vernon Howell, later known to the world as David Koresh.

The first part of that series appeared February 23, 1993, the same day the BATF came to the cult compound to serve a warrant.

But rather than cooperate with authorities Koresh chose to arm his followers for resistance. The ensuing gun battle ended with four federal agents and five Davidians dead. Many more were wounded.

The 51-day standoff that followed tragically concluded in a horrific fire ordered by Koresh, which consumed the lives of his remaining followers, including their children.

Beginning Sunday the Waco Tribune-Herald launched a new series. This time it will not cover the “Sinful Messiah,” but examine the legacy of the historical event that forever changed Waco.

How did it affect the town in Texas, the nation, society and those involved? What lessons were learned from this tragedy of cult devotion to a purported “psychopath“?

Interestingly, Stuart Wright a long-time cult apologist who has been recommended as a resource by the Church of Scientology was quoted within the first Tribune-Herald installment.

Wright testified before congress regarding the standoff and used that opportunity to essentially advance his own agenda concerning the supposed “persecution” of cults.

Wright seems dissatisfied with the results of two congressional investigations, a civil suit and the independent Danforth inquiry. Though millions have been spent to document the facts about the standoff he cryptically said, “I’m not sure the evidence was ever looked at in an objective light.”

Wright edited his own version of events titled “Armageddon in Waco.” This book is a collection of writings largely from other like-minded cult apologists such as David Bromley, James Richardson, Anson Shupe, James Lewis, Anthony Robbins and Edward Gaffney.

One entry within the book is by Nancy Ammerman, once lauded in a full-page article within Scientology’s “Freedom Magazine.”

Many of these academics have received cash from groups called “cults.” This includes grants for “research,” payments for court testimony and/or expenses for trips and conferences.

The objectivity and observations of such specious scholars should be suspect.

Benjamin Zablocki, Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University said, “The sociology of religion can no longer avoid the unpleasant ethical question of how to deal with the large sums of money being pumped into the field by the religious groups being studied…in the form of subvention of research expenses, subvention of publications, opportunities to sponsor and attend conferences, or direct fees for services, this money is not insignificant…This is an issue that is slowly but surely building toward a public scandal.

The physical evidence and facts now well established about the Branch-Davidian standoff failed to support the opinions of cult apologists or anti-government conspiracy theorists.

Instead, the only “persecution” that took place was the way David Koresh treated his followers, frequently targeting women and children for sexual abuse.

And the “Armageddon” that ultimately occurred outside Waco was the creation of a criminal cult leader, conceived in his twisted mind as a self-fulfilling prophecy.