Barabara: Thanks for the further links, I'll look into them over the weekend. Upsidedownnewspaper: The question of whether or not AA is a cult, according to conventional definitions, isn't necessarily important for this thread, the matter of concern is support, by the courts, of a group that insist their members espouse a deviant reality based on a concept of god. Deviant realities di
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

IndieQueen: Thanks.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

There has been some mention of court rulings requiring attendance of Alcoholics Anonymous as a release condition, can somebody provide more information about this, please. Specifically, in which countries, under which provisions of law, how Alcoholics Anonymous was classified for the purpose and how restricting the options to this group was justified.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

I'm reposting this as it's been waiting so long for approval that it's now two pages back where nobody will read it. There has been some mention of court rulings requiring attendance of Alcoholics Anonymous as a release condition, can somebody provide more information about this, please. Specifically, in which countries, under which provisions of law, how Alcoholics Anonymous w
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Thanks, I'll read up.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

I think the phenomena of brainwashing and programming need to be considered seperately. A person, as a pre-vocal child, will uncritically receive programming from their parents and in many cases this will include deviant realities in the form of religious fantasies, whether these be mainstream or associated with groups employing mind control techniques. This programming would seem to be an essent
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

There has been some mention of court rulings requiring attendance of Alcoholics Anonymous as a release condition, can somebody provide more information about this, please. Specifically, in which countries, under which provisions of law, how Alcoholics Anonymous was classified for the purpose and how restricting the options to this group was justified.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Richardmgreen: Why are you creating a religion? Who for?
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

This highlights the problem of deciding which groups are destructive and which are benign. Presumably the majority of people wouldn't join a group they knew to be in the destructive catagory, but after having joined they lose the ability to judge the group's nature.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Nevertheless, the above quote, "IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MAN, NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN BRAINWASHED AND REALIZED, OR BELIEVED, THAT HE HAD BEEN BRAINWASHED", retains it's importance, if it's true. Is there reason to dispute Sutphen's assertion?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"