"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live,
it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."
- Oscar Wilde
Autobiographical Books
Deborah layton, a former member of Jim Jones' People's Temple Seductive Poison : A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple by Deborah Layton Amazon Reader Review: Deborah Layton was, by her own account, a typical rebellious youth, with nothing in her dossier to indicate that she would eventually find herself in Jim Jones's People's Temple in Guyana, looking for a way out of the green hell that had become the People's Temple Agricultural Project. She barely escaped in June 1978. Within months, more than 900 people drank Jones's cyanide punch and committed "revolutionary suicide" in the face of mounting stateside pressure on the cult, some of it prompted by Layton's own testimonials upon her safe return home. Her brother, Larry, also survived, and as one of the few left alive in Guyana became a scapegoat for Jones's crimes; he is now serving a life sentence in federal prison. God's Brothel: The Extortion of Sex for Salvation in Contemporary Mormon and Christian Fundamentalist Polygamy by Andrea Moore Emmett Amazon reader review: Anyone who believes polygamy and slavery are sins of other cultures or times, will find this disturbing collection of true stories about contemporary American women who have escaped from polygamous marriages both shocking and a call to action.  Click here to buy Servant of the Lotus Feet from Amazon.com A new book by a former Bhavananda disciple. Click here to go to the author's web site. Click here to buy the book directly from the publisher.  Miriam Williams, a former Children of God member Heaven's Harlots : My Fifteen Years As a Sacred Prostitute in the Children of God Cult by Miriam Williams Amazon Reader Review: Enlightning, fascinating, troubling This is a fascinating and sad account of the author's journey from being a rebellious teenage intellectual to being caught up in a suffocating cult. The pseudo-Christian organization, known as "The Children of God" claimed 20,000 adherents at it's peak. The book details her slow realization of the web of deception and depravity that ensnarl her and describes her journey back to a life of appropriate human relationships. Semantic snapshots include the rebuke she received from cult leaders for the sin of having a difficult labor and delivery; her cult directed descent into "flirty fishing", perhaps better described as "hooking for Jesus", and the bizarre manner of the cults leader and founder, "Mo" David.  Steve Sanchez, a former member of the Spiritual Lights Foundation Spiritual Perversion "Spiritual Perversion is a work of creative nonfiction. It is written in a way that brings the reader right into the experience throughout. It possesses a strong sense of immediacy and honesty." Steve Sanchez chronicles his fifteen year journey in this group. Go to the author's web site: SpiritualRedemption.com.  Mary Garden, experiences with various gurus and groups in India during the 1970's. The Serpent Rising by Mary Garden In 1973, Mary Garden abandoned a promising academic career to spend seven years in India at the feet of such gurus as Rajneesh, Sathya Sai Baba and an enigmatic yogi in the Himalayan jungle - Swami Balyogi Premvarni. The Serpent Rising is her own story of the heaven and hell she experienced as she fell under the spell of self-appointed "god-men."  Elizabeth R. Burchard, about her experiences in a biofeedback cult. 19 Years in a New Age Cult: Torn From the Arms of Satan by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone Amazon reader review: I laughed, cried and cheered. Fascinating and intelligent. After reading this I truly understand how a normal, decent person can get trapped in a cult. As an outsider, one would think it's easy to leave, but it's not. This book shows you why. Very enlightening.  Nansook Hong, the former daughter-in-law of Rev. Moon (the "Moonies"). In the Shadow of the Moons : My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family by Nansook Hong Amazon Reader Review: A very deeply moving story of love and courage - From the beginning, Nansook Hong tells a story that can break your heart. She grew up believing in Reverend Moon, with the sweet innocent faith of a child. When she was only 15, Reverend Moon selected Nansook to be the wife of his eldest son. She writes that her faith began to be shattered, when she saw the true reality of life in Reverend Moon's family.  Nori Muster, a former member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Betrayal of the Spirit : My Life Behind the Headlines of the Hare Krishna Movement by Nori J. Muster, Larry D. Shinn Amazon Reader Review: Muster's book is about the public relations nightmare of the decade following Founder Swami Prabhupada's death. Disillusioned over continuing internal strife, in 1988 Muster left the world of saris, brass cymbals and institutional male chauvinism to come back into mainstream American life. Her story reads like a non-fiction suspense novel while she shows how an organization can quickly fall into dishonesty, deceit and hypocrisy. Her story is intensely personal, touching - and a great read.  Christopher Edwards , a former member of the Unification Church (the Moonies). Crazy for God by Christopher Edwards Steamboats Review: Edwards describes his journey through the Moonies, beginning with his indoctrination and initial naive idealism. The reader goes with him through the experience and out the other side, when he becomes disenchanted and leaves. Cult Survivor's Handbook: How to Live in the Material World Again Preface, Frontmatter A note to relatives and friends of cult members. Family Therapy You can step in the same river twice, especially with family. Learn how to heal your closest relationships. Abuse Recovery Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse are common in cults. Read this chapter if you suffered abuse in a cult. Depth Psychology Carl Jung's philosophy can help ex-cult members find meaning in their experiences. The Twelve Steps If you practiced abuse in the cult, the Twelve Steps can offer you relief from the pain of guilt. Mind-Body Here are some tips to get out of depression without drugs and learn the messages of your symptoms of disease. Creative Art Therapy and Gestalt For people who were victimized in a cult, humanist psychology is the best route to recovery. Eastern Mind Eastern philosophy has benefits; learn to keep the parts you enjoy, while you throw away the garbage the cult may have served with it. Ten Reasons Not to Hit Your Kids by Jan Hunt, M.Sc., Director of The Natural Child Project Bibliography and Suggested Reading Read more books about the topics covered in Cult Survivor's Handbook. "The world of religion must open itself to unbridled competition of ideas and thinking." - Sir John Templeton 
More Books  Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults by Janja Lalich (publisher)  Releasing the Bonds, Empowering People to Think for Themselves by Steve Hassan  Combatting Cult Mind Control, by Steve Hassan Freedom of Mind website 
"Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst; every other species of tyranny is limited to the world we live in; but this attempts to stride beyond the grave, and seeks to pursue us into eternity." - Thomas Paine "It's not having been in the dark house that matters, but having left it that counts." |
Links Links to the Hare Krishna movement - the good, the bad and the ugly (at this site). General Information about Cults - Friend or relative in a cult * What makes a cult dangerous? * Do you need a guru? * 14 Common Characterstics of Cults (by Marcia Rudin) * Ten Points to Develop Healthy Boundaries * Born or raised in a cult A Cult Survivor's Handbook: How to Live in the Material World Again by Nori Muster - A guide for former cult members. International Cultic Studies Association a network of people concerned about cultic, manipulative, and abusive groups.Ê As the leading professional organization in the field, ICSA strives to increase understanding and awareness of such groups and to help people that they harm. Entity channeling cult: ChannelingPastLives.com FECRIS an anti-cult group that turned into a cult. This site exposes their abuse. SafePassageFoundation.org Help for people raised in restrictive communities (cults). Rise International works to protect children from abuse in cults. We advocate for children's rights and support those who seek justice for crimes committed against them while growing up in these groups. Joe Szimhart Cult Information Consultant provides consultation, education, research and non-coercive intervention that addresses controversial, high-demand groups, cults, psychotherapies, or relationships that use undue influence and thought reform techniques. CultHelp.info Cult Awareness Information Centre Editor's Note: Beware of any "book club" formed around the teachings of Alice Bailey, as these may exhibit the coercive characteristics of a cult that are inherent within the Alice Bailey philosophies - particularly the books, Discipleship in a New Age volumes I and II. LetMyPeopleGo.com.au Ex-Baptist, ex-Christian, ex-religion site exposing elitism, legalism, and spiritual abuse. On Leaving the Seventh Day Adventist church, by Jim Moyers: Psychological Issues of Former Members of Restrictive Religious Groups Leaving The Garden: On Being A Former Adventist Hyperreligiosity: Identifying and Overcoming Patterns of Religious Dysfunction by R.S. Pearson. "This book is instrumental for understanding why people join destructive cults." CultRecover.com Rosanne Henry's site for ex-cult members. Help for loved ones, for people curious about cults. ArtHistoryClub.com Characteristics of dangerous cults WindofChanges.org Stories of former members of the Gentle Wind Project (Ed's. note: GWP is trying to sue these people for speaking out. GWP's web site: GentleWindProject.org.) Visit GeoffreyFalk, author of StrippingTheGurus. Excerpt from book reviw: "Geoffrey Falk utterly demolishes the notion of the enlightened guru." Outway House helping families and individuals who are leaving T.H.E. Apostleship. (The Twelve Tribes Communities.) New Religions - Cons and Pros More links to cult watch and anti-cult sites CulticStudiesReview.org Journal of the American Family Foundation ReligionDetoxification Find out how religion has been used as a tool to control people in society. He's not talking just about cults - but all religion. Gospel Assembly Free Opinions on cults and religious abuse FactNet.org Info. about child abuse in cults MovingOn.org An interactive website for children of cults. Focus on the Children of the Children of God (the Family) Third Culture Kids - A website for people born into cults and cult-like religions. Healing With Soul, by Jaclyn Stein Henderson Religions and 101 Cults Cults and other religions from a right-wing Christian persepctive. Ex-Members' Society Information for Cult Survvors, publishers of Cult Survivors Newsletter Meadow Haven - the New England Institute for Religious Research (Dir. Bob Pardon, site www.neirr.org) just opened a transitional home for people coming out of high control and communal cults. See MeadowHaven.org Project for the New American Century (PNAC) This war mongering group wants to lead us to armaggedon PNAC article CremationOfCare.com This describes the Neocon ceremony to damp down the conscience. http://www.oilempire.us/pnac.html zFacts.com Get the facts on the neocons - philosophy, "accomplishments," etc. Further information about PNAC Rael.org Here's a big UFO cult. This is their website: Don't get brainwashed by their fancy flash grahics!!! Apologetics Index Research Resources on Religious Cults, Sects, Movements, Doctrines, Etc., sponsored by Gospelcom.Net, Online Christian Resources. Also known as apologeticsindex.org, apologeticsindex.com and countercult.com History of Ordo Templi Orientis "OTO" This is the group's own website. INFORM: Information Network Focus On Religious Movements. Trancenet is an anti-cult information service. Webmasters and editors are all former cult members. Freedom of Mind Resource Center Webmaster is Steve Hassan, author, exit counselor, former member of the Unification Church, Moonies. Site includes a good database to look up info. on cults. Ex-Cult-Support This mailing list is for anyone who has been in a cult, a high-demand or spiritually abusive group. reFocus: Recovering Former Cultists' Support Network My Own Mind Info. and advice on groups that brainwash.
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
by Jon Krakauer - explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism Ex-Cult World Magazine Exposing the Truth & Helping Ex Members with Recovery Cults on Campus Fraternitas Saturni Conspiracy Theory Is this a cult, or are they exposing a cult? You decide. Apologia.org "Tracking spiritual trends in the 21st century" Carol Giambalvo's Home Page More cult recovery info. from the reFocus webmaster. Allen Tate Wood's Page Cult phenomenon and addiction - articles and essays. International Churches of Christ recovery network. Authentic Cult Awareness Network Webmasters are two psychotherapists with credentials in the anit-cult movement, including pre-Scientology CAN. Cult Info A cult information and family support service in Bridgeport, CT. Cult Master 2000 Here's an anti-cult group that looks more like a cult than the cults they criticize. Check out their "CultMaster2000." Do Cults Produce Mental Disorders? by Mark Dunlop . Is Alcoholics Anonymous a cult? The Real AA: Behind the Myth of 12-Step Recovery Internet Edition, by Ken Ragge. Ed's note: A recent visitor and recovering 12 step victim send in the following links to show "how truly sick the 12 step movement is. It's just more of the 'chosen people' idoltry I heard in AA.": Mind Control Tactics Of Alcoholics Anonymous | MoreRevealed.com | MoreRevealed.com | Rrational.org/Cult.html | Aorange1.tripod.com/ | ChurchofGodAnonymous.org/ | AADeprogramming.com | MoreRevealed.com | Revelations-Unsealed.com | BeliefNet.com More 12-step criticism Ex-followers of Maharaj Ji speak Free Minds Sex scandals - Guru Muktananda See if you're in a cult. Take the Cult Test p. 1 - p. 2 - p. 3 - p. 4 - p. 5 Explanation of cult propaganda - click here Multi-level Marketing Watch - they have victims, they often operate like cults Southern Poverty Law Center The SPLC focuses on criminal cults, violent cults and hate groups, such as the KKK. Center for Studies on New Religions (Europe) Watchtower Information Service Sites for betrayal Sai Baba: ExBaba.nl (mirror site: ExBaba.com) and Belief and Sai Baba An article about murders of Sai Baba's abuse victims Sai Baba Victims Public Petition for Official Investigations of Sathya Sai Baba and His Worldwide Organization 12 Rules of Community Con Men by Peter Forde. Council on Spiritual Practices Check out their "Code of Ethics for Spiritual Guides" - cult leaders would flunk this one. How to Become a Cult Guru or, You Too Can Induce Mass Suicide, by Phil Milstein. Jaclyn Stein Henderson, fostering healing, freedom and integrity in the lives of those who heal. Read her story of cult recovery. Cult Book List "Combatting Cult Mind Control" Steve Hassan's first book. Book: Survivor: A Novel A morbidly fascinating black fantasy about a young cult members rise to fame and his fall from grace, written by West Coast novelist Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, 1996). Cults and Society Homepage Information on Psychological Manipulation and Abuse, Cults, New Religious Movements, Sects, the New Age Movement and other Charismatic Groups article on millennialist groups Rick Ross Search a database of cults More info. by Rick Ross: Cult Education and Recovery Cult Education Volumes Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda Fact Net good database and info. on cults. American Family Foundation Links to Cults at Gnuhoo.com. AA Deprogramming (in case you get addicted to the groups) Book: Alcoholics Anonymous - cult or cure? Arthur Chappel's website Get the cult low-down from an ex-Divine Light Mission member. Dr. J. Gordon Melton, an academic look at cults: American Religion Collection (ARC) at UC Santa Barbara |
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"It is easy enough to enter such a spiritual prison
but extremely hard to get out or even to realise
once one has entered the value of what one has lost.
The pressure of the Guru and his favourite acolytes
can be overwhelming even in less obviously coercive groups,
and recovery, if it every comes, is likely to be an
extremely painful process involving grief, self-loathing, and rage."
- Alexis Sanderson, Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics, University of Oxford 
"You will be sucked into a multi-level marketing organization today, and will lose all your friends, along with your self-respect. Later, though, you'll realize that your new friends are much better than those old friends, and that you feel like you're part of a big 'family.' Or at least, that's what you'll say." - Astrology Reading from Humorscope.com |
