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ISTA [09.12.2023]ISTA RESPONDS TO “A STATEMENT BY THE ISRAELI CENTER FOR CULT VICTIMS REGARDING ISTA. (DM us if you'd like the link to their original piece)
We are deeply saddened and disappointed to see the incorrect and misleading information shared in the Israeli Center for Cult Victims’s statement about ISTA.
First and foremost, ISTA is not a cult. ISTA does not have the constructs of a cult. Renowned cult expert, Steven Hassan, Ph.D., has written extensively on how real cults control people’s behavior, thoughts, emotions, and the information they have access to.
Specifically, related to Hassan’s criteria, ISTA:
- does not ask anyone to follow any specific belief,
- does not have a central leader,
- encourages free thinking, personal empowerment, and self-respect, and
- does not try to keep people in ISTA. Participants are free to come and go as they please.
Given all of that, the “ISTA is a cult” implication underlying this statement is completely misplaced.
Find out more about Dr. Hassan’s work here, [
freedomofmind.com]
Secondly, ISTA feels it’s important to respond to each and every false and misleading point made by the Israeli Center for Cult Victims. To read this, see the link in our stories.