Escaping Utopia
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Walsh, Mikey. Gypsy Boy: My Life in the Secret World of the Romany Gypsies. (New York: Thomas Dunne, 2009.) A memoir of a young boy’s unconventional childhood and upbringing in a Romany Gypsy community. As he grows up, he must decide whether to stay in the secretive group or escape.
Wariner, Ruth. The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir. (London: Flatiron, 2016.) Wariner describes her childhood as one of forty-two children growing up in rural Mexico in a polygamous family. Upon the death of her father, she and her siblings live in poverty between Mexico and the United States.
Wilson, Barbara. Blue Windows: A Christian Science Childhood. (New York: Picador, 1997.) The author’s account of life in a Christian Science family, in which she watches her mother fatally refuse treatment for breast cancer as a result of religious doctrine.
Documentaries, Films, and Television Series
Aaron Bacon. Directed by Nick Gaglia. New York, NY: Justice Films, 2010.
Children of God: Lost and Found. Directed by Noah Thomson. New York, NY: HBO Films, 2007.
Cult Witness. Directed by Samuel Stefan and Nick Oakley. Gwatt, Switzerland: Arthio Productions, 2010.
Dangerous Persuasions. “Revolution Isn’t a Tea Party.” Season 2, Episode 6. Directed by Peter Norry. Discovery Channel, May 20 2015. Available on YouTube.
God Willing. Directed by Evangeline Griego. Los Angeles, CA: About Time Productions, 2010.
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief. Directed by Alex Gibney. New York, NY: HBO Films, 2015.
Holy Hell. Directed by Will Allen. New York, NY: FilmRise, 2016.
I Escaped a Cult. Directed by Sally Howell. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2012.
Inside a Cult. Directed by Ben Anthony. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2008.
Jesus Camp. Directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi E. Ewing. Los Angeles, CA: Magnolia Home Entertainment, 2006.
Scientology: The Aftermath. Directed by Erin Gamble, Rachelle Mendez, and Eli Holzman. New York, NY: A & E Television Networks, 2016 and 2017.
The Devil’s Playground. Directed by Lucy Walker. New York, NY: HBO Films, 2002.
The Devil’s Trap. Directed by Mitchell Stafiej. Montreal, Canada: Parabola Films, 2016.
Appendix C
Cult Information and Resource Websites
Specific Cultic Groups and Churches
International Churches of Christ/International Christian Church/Sold Out Discipling Movement
Reveal.org—Nonprofit organization of former members of the International Churches of Christ (ICoC), the International Christian Church (ICC)/Sold Out Discipling Movement/Boston Church of Christ/“Boston Movement,” and Crossroads Church of Christ/“Crossroads Movement.” www.reveal.org
Jehovah’s Witnesses/Watchtower Society
AAWA.co—Advocates for Awareness of Watchtower Abuses offers support for people who have been negatively affected by involvement with Watchtower teachings and practices. http://aawa.co/
FreeMinds.org—A nonprofit organization keeping a critical eye on the Watchtower/Jehovah’s Witnesses. Includes information on recruiting techniques used by other groups. Includes current news, ways to avoid recruitment by cults, an online store to purchase its materials, plus information on legal issues, women’s issues, and more. Information available in several languages. www.freeminds.org
Gayxjw.org—An organization that offers a worldwide support network for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals who were, or still are, associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses. http://gayxjw.org
YourTakeOnSpirituality.com—Collective of sites providing support for former members of Jehovah’s Witnesses (and those questioning their beliefs), monitoring activity within the Watchtower Society, and endeavoring to provide information to the general public about this religious denomination. http://hub.yourtakeonspirituality.com/hub/jehovex
Mormon Church/Latter-Day Saints
ExMormon.org—For those who are questioning their faith in the Mormon Church, and for those who need support as they transition out. Not affiliated with any religion and does not advocate any religion. http://www.exmormon.org/
QuitMormon.com—Offers free legal representation to streamline resignation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. https://quitmormon.com/
Scientology
ExScientologyKids.com—This site is designed, owned, and operated by three young women who grew up in Scientology, and later left the Church. www.exscientologykids.com
Xenu.net—Anonymous site protesting Scientology and its alleged crimes against members and ex-members. http://www.xenu.net/
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
ExAdventist.com—A ministry of former Adventists for those seeking biblical answers on Adventism. www.exadventist.com
LeavingSDA.com—Online guide and resource center for leaving the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. http://leavingsda.com/
The Family International/Children of God (COG)
ExFamily.org—Source information about The Family/COG and resource for former members. www.exfamily.org/index.htm
MovingOn.org—Created by and for young adults with parents who joined The Family/COG and who were born and/or raised in the group. www.movingon.org
See also: Archives of the original MovingOn.org website at http://archive.movingon.org
XFamily.org—Collaboratively edited encyclopedia about The Family International/COG. http://xFamily.org
The Gentle Wind Project
WindofChanges.org—Hosted by former members of the Gentle Wind Project. www.windofchanges.org
The Way International
GreaseSpotCafe.com—Forum for those who have been affected by The Way International. www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/
The Worldwide Church of God
HWAmstrong.com—Collection of facts, opinions, and comments from survivors of The Worldwide Church of God and its Daughters. http://hwarmstrong.com/index.htm
Twelve Tribes
TwelveTribesEx.org—A website to help parents and other affected by the Twelve Tribes, initiated by a former member of the group. www.twelvetribes-ex.org
Ultra-Orthodox & Hasidic Judaism
FootStepsOrg.org—Provides educational, vocational, and social support to those seeking to enter or explore the world beyond the insular ultra-religious communities in which they were raised. www.footstepsorg.org
Word of Faith Fellowship
ReligiousCultsInfo.com—Hosted by an ex-member of the Word of Faith Fellowship. http://religiouscultsinfo.com/
Cult Information and Recovery Websites
Cult Research & Information
ApologeticsIndex.org—The Apologetics Index provides 47,863+ pages of research resources on religious cults, sects, new religious movements, and alternative religions. www.apologeticsindex.org
ApologeticsSearch.com—Information on religious cults, churches, movements, preachers, or doctrines from a mainstream Christian theological perspective. http://apologeticssearch.com
Caic.org—Informational site of the Cult Awareness and Information Center, based in Australia. www.caic.org.au
Cifs.org—Cult Information and Family Support, Inc., Australian support and information network, originally started by parents and family members of those affected by cults. www.cifs.org.au
CounterCultSearch.com—This search engine returns results primarily from websites and blogs that address cults from a sociological perspective. http://countercultsearch.com
CultInformation.org—Cult Information Center (CIC) is a charity providing advice and information for victims of cults, their families and friends, researchers, and the media. http://cultinformation.org.uk/
Ex-Cult.org—General information regarding cults, plus links to articles, books, and resources for people seeking more information. www.ex-cult.org
FactNet.org—Provides information about cults, covers many expert organizations and individuals, and includes posts on articles pertaining to cults, recovery, and specific accounts by former cult
members. http://factnet.org/
FamiliesAgainstCultTeachings.org—Education and awareness, victim support, and cultic group investigation. www.familiesagainstcultteachings.org
Hjalpkallan.se—Help source and support network in Sweden for people exiting cults, funded through the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society. http://hjalpkallan.se/
ICSAHome.com—International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)—Network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic or high-demand groups, alternative movements, and other environments. Provides an extensive listing of cult-related information, articles, books, hard to find documents, listings of experts, and other valuable resources and information. www.icsahome.com
InfoSect.Freeshell.org—Based in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), offers help and information about cults, new religious movements, and related groups and subjects. http://infosect.freeshell.org/infocult/ic-home.html
JourneyFree.org—Dedicated to helping people transition out of harmful religions, recover from trauma, and rebuild their lives. http://journeyfree.org
OutofTheSnare.co.uk—Out of the Snare tells the story of a journey out of an abusive church, plus information on the signs of spiritual abuse and resources for anyone with questions about abuse in a church setting. www.outofthesnare.co.uk/home
PerryBulwer.com—Blog by a former member of a fundamentalist Protestant cult, with an archive of news articles about child abuse in a religious context. http://perry-bulwer.blogspot.com
SpiritualAbuseResources.com—Spiritual Abuse Resources provides information and assistance to victims of spiritual abuse, clergy and other religious professionals, mental health professionals, families, and anyone concerned about spiritual abuse. www.spiritualabuseresources.com
Watchman.org—Watchman Fellowship is an independent Christian research and apologetics ministry focusing on new religious movements, cults, the occult, and the New Age. Serves the Christian and secular community as a resource for education, counseling, and non-coercive intervention and evangelism training. www.watchman.org
Recovery Resources
EnCourageCultSuvivors.org—EnCourage offers support to those who have left a cult, abusive group, one-on-one cult or have been spiritually abused, including first-generation (joined or recruited) and second-/third-generation (born and or raised). www.encourage-cult-survivors.org
Ex-CultSupport—A mailing list for anyone who has been in a cultic, highdemand, or spiritually abusive group. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ex-cult-support/info
Refocus.org—Recovering Former Cultists’ Support Network provides a network of referral and support for former members of closed, high-demand groups, relationships, or cults. Supports the creation and exchange of related information that educates, encourages, or informs, such as books, articles, journals, newsletters, video and audio materials, surveys and research data, etc. www.refocus.org
SafePassageFoundation.org—Safe Passage Foundation (EIN: 30–0188676)— Nonprofit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization providing resources, support, and advocacy for youth raised in restrictive, isolated, or high-demand communities. SPF was cofounded by the late Julia McNeil and has dedicated its scholarships to her memory. http://safepassagefoundation.org/
SpiritualAbuse.com—Spiritual Abuse Recovery Resources is a conservative Christian site primarily concerned with Bible-based groups. www.spiritualabuse.com
Treatment Centers
MeadowHaven.org—The New England Institute for Religious Research hosts a transitional home for people leaving high-control and communal cults. www.meadowhaven.org
WellspringRetreat.org—Treatment center for those who have been abused in relationships, cults, situations of trauma, and by destructive therapeutic alliances resulting in emotional betrayal and/or physical harm. Offers hope and help through a program of counseling and education. http://wellspringretreat.org/
APPENDIX D
Influence Methods that Support a Behavioral-Control System
This list can help you identify toxic influence in groups or relationships. Note that not all groups or individuals use all of the influence methods listed here. For example, some groups may be quite efficient using a select few, coupled with the charm and manipulations of a powerful leader. Other groups may have no need for isolation, inadequate diet, or fatigue to exert considerable control over members; however, most authoritarian leaders utilize an assortment of influence techniques as needed to control their followers. Some of these are as follows:
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Isolation of the person and manipulation of his or her environment
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Control of information going in and out of the group environment
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Separation and/or alienation from family and friends
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Induced dissociation and other altered states by putting the person in mild form of trance—through speaking in tongues, chanting, repeating affirmations, extended periods of meditation or prayer, lengthy denunciation sessions, long hours of lectures or study, public trials or group humiliation, “hot seat” criticisms focusing on one individual, sexual abuse, torture, etc.
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Control of the person’s financial resources
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Debilitation through inadequate diet, fatigue, and sleep deprivation
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Degradation of the person’s sense of self in individual or group sessions— through confession, self-reporting, rebuking, criticism and self-criticism, humiliation, and so on, in individual or group sessions
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Peer and leadership pressure, especially using powerful guilt mechanisms
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Induced anxiety, fear, and confusion, with joy and certainty being offered only through surrender to the group
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Instilling the belief that the person’s survival (physical, emotional, and spiritual) depends on remaining with the group
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Induced crises that force the person to perform symbolic (or real) acts of submission to the group via betrayal and renunciation of self, family, and previously held values
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Control of personal life, and in many cases, sexual life
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Extensive indoctrination sessions—through Bible lessons, political training, recruitment training, self-awareness lessons, criticism sessions, group rituals, lectures by leaders, etc.
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Assignment of monotonous tasks or repetitive activities, such as chanting or meditating, cleaning, copying written materials, rote administrative work, etc.
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Rigid security regulations and daily rules
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Alternation of harshness and leniency in a context of compulsory discipline
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