Cults: Faith, Healing, and Coercion

Abstract

The charismatic group What are charismatic groups? A research perspective PART I: FORCES IN THE CHARISMATIC GROUP: Group cohesiveness A clinical model A charismatic religious sect, the Divine light mission A study of group cohesiveness Shared beliefs Communities of shared beliefs Shared beliefs in the Unification Church Altered consciousness Meditation Drug induced altered consciousness Social induction PART II: A MODEL OF THE CHARISMATIC GROUP: Biologyand behaviour The relief effect Evidence in contemporary sects Ethiologic observations The cult as social system Transformation Monitoring Feedback Boundary control PART III: CASE HISTORIES OF CHARISMATIC GROUPS: Trouble at the system's boundary Jonestown MOVE A religious sect:The Unification Church A history of the sect Induction Family and marital structure Leaving the sect A charismatic healing group: The AA example The charismatic gift of Alcoholics Anonymous The fully-evolved healing group AA offshoots and synanon Epilogue Appendix: The charismatic group: A summary Chronology of the study Notes Bibliography.