Hi Trish, these are complicated issues. I recommend that you stay in contact with your family members, and avoid being judgmental and accusatory, because that's what they expect you to do. Just be loving and inquisitive. I recommend you read widely on the topic, and avoid any extreme or other-serving positions.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Most of the effort behind describing the difference between a religion and a cult is misguided. Many religions have cult like characteristics. This inverted T idea is a simplistic illustration and does not delve into substantive issues. The best way to determine a difference is to look at practices, not beliefs. In the US, anyone can believe what they want; but, if this extends to harming chil
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Truthtold, Your portrayal of current cult members as "wackos" is extremely disrepesctful and shows no understanding of the problem. Who are you to place such a label on cult members? You hide behind a pseudonym and call names? Shame on you. Second, you give advice that someone should kidnap their kid and have him adopted out? How outrageous, and is close to recommending someon
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Truthtold, I don't know what credentials you have or if you have any experience dealing with cult-involved families, but your post provided very harmful "advice." If you are not a licensed attorney, you should not give legal advice. I have been qualified as an expert in a court of law (not just calling myself an expert like Hassan does) in these areas, and the procedures for chi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just wanted to clarify something here. The freedom of mind listserv that I owned and moderated for 9 years did not benefit from one lick of work from Steve Hassan. I did all the work. Hassan liked to take credit for the listserv, calling it "his" list, but he never did anything but post upcoming media appearances. When real issues were present, he would often use someone else to p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

On pps. 105-106, Hassan spends a few paragraphs explaining how to deal with what he calls " demonization of cult critics." He gives these comments as a method of analysis... Sound familiar? Hassan (2012) says, "When evaluating any piece of information, ask yourself: What is the source of the criticism? How is the source funded? Who exactly is making the accusations? Wha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Me thinks you doth protest too much, Brian. From the book p. 238. Hassan (2012) says, "This is one point where I disagree with Margaret Singer and others. According to my model, the military uses many components of mind control. What the military does not do is deceive a new recruit (some vets have argued with me about this because they said their recruiter lied to them). The struct
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's quite a telling feat to work for someone so blindly that you don't read reviews or even Hassan's newest bok, Brian. But, I like to be informed before I swear fidelity to someone who makes me "awestruck." Many people here are former cult members. They have a right to full disclosure of what they are getting into and the nature and adulation of someone without evidenc
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

On page 242 of Hassan's book, he states the following: "In the face of revelations that the FBI did use firebombs on the Branch Davidian compound , even President of the United States Bill Clinton commented that he did not see why people were getting so upset "because a buch of religious fanatics commited suicide." . I am afraid that very little has been learned since th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have, as well, received numerous complaints about Hassan over the past 15 years. Most of these complaints involve the high fees Hassan charges, but many have been about Hassan's manner in general. Many have said that he is extremely rude, won't talk without a credit card on file, and requires testimonals and/or write ups for cases he has completed (for him to put on his website osten
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's a link to an article in Boston Magazine regarding a failed intervention Hassan did a few years ago. Please note that it admits to a sum Hassan charged that was very high (I heard later from Dahn member close to the case that it was around $30,000, plus an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii). Of note also is Hassan's attempts to meet with the object of the failed intervention in a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If Brian has not read Steve's book, how can he comment on it? This seems like a diversionary tactic to me. Unfortunately, I've read the book carefully three times. Before I defend or criticize something, I think it's important to read it first. Otherwise, I'm just commenting on my experience with the person, which is rather arbitrary unless I spend a lot of time with that
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

When I closed the FOM (freedom of mind) listserv on my own initiative due to the many complaints I received and Steve's interference, he seeme to want to control what I said about closing the list that I started, owned, and moderated. Yet, he did not ask me directly, but had someone from his office email me to find out what I was saying. (I deleted the name of Steve's employee to prote
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Why does someone need permission from Hassan to post here? How controlling. So, Hassan is staying silent because others have advised him to? I don't believe it. He is just using his familiar pattern of having others defend him and speak for him. What does "glass houses" mean? I have a transparent practice and am upfront about what I do. To say such a thing via a spokesma
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I should have said Karl Popper is the founder of the falsification theory of science. Just wanted to clarify. You can look him up on Wikipedia.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, it is true that most people publish only selective, complimentary accounts of their successes. However, this does not make it right. There is no way to check the validity of these testimonials, and they're self serving. It is my opinion that they should be excluded all together because they leave a false impression that every case was a success. I know for a fact that not everyone o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Freud was a medical doctor, an internist; never a psychologist. It's a myth that Freud is the founder of psychology. He's the founder of psychoanalysis, which is very different. Someone watching too much TV or reading out of date articles (say about 50 years) may rely on the legacy of Freud. Again, most psychologists have moved beyond these outdated theories. Freud rejected the bio
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, I've carefully reviewed this bibliography that was not published with the book, but was published as a separate document on Hassan's website. The bibliography was a document drop, in that it contained major works by various authors related to general cultic studies and some that were just thrown in there, like the DSM, which, of course, was not relied on in Hassan's book at a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Brian Birmingham is one of several agents dispatched by Steve to review, collect, and report back to Steve the audacity that anyone would criticize him. I know numerous people who are afraid of challenging Hassan or even talking to him about problems due to his reaction. Hassan thinks he is above the task of answering challenges, so he sends others to do it. I know first hand that Hassan solic
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yasmin, there is no "therapeutic" approach in regards to testifying in court. You have confused the two roles. In legal work, we use forensic methods whic have nothing to do with counseling or "therapy". There are no diagnoses or counseling used with legal work. In fact it is unethical to combine forensic work with counseling. I do not go to court when I am a counseling
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yasmin, I think the information provided here does not preclude you going to anyone for counseling or "therapy." The points made were that an ethical counselor would/should use informed consent, provide full disclosure according to the law, practice skills based on current, generally accepted best practices, maintain healthy boundaries, not foster undue dependence, and other important
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yasmin, I don't think there are any "established" fees except taking into consideration what others of equal education, credentials, and experience dictate. My point about fees is that Hassan generally charges much more than I or anyone else does, and I have a PhD in psychology, plus a license, plus extensive counseling and a long proven track record of testifying in court and ass
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In terms of research with cult members, current or past, there are many ethical issues. I will attempt to explain the strengths and weakness of the Snapping study in a subsequent post. There have been other attempts to study the effects of cult activity on individuals, but due to the limitations of IRB boards and selection problems, these results have been mixed. Therefore, it is important to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"