Table of Contents
Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11
Introduction 14
Chapter 1 What Are Cults?
Chapter Preface 19
1 Cults Are Harmful and Extreme Religious Groups Jayanti Tamm 21
2 The Term Cult Is Misused for New Religious Movements Douglas E. Cowan David G. Bromley 27
3 Cults and Religions Have Important Differences H. Stephen Shoemaker 35
4 Cults and Religions Have Similarities Brad Hirschfield 43
5 Mormonism and Cults Have Similarities Christopher Hitchens 48
6 It Does Not Matter if Mormonism Is a Cult Michael Riley 53
7 Scientology Is a Dangerous Cult Amy Scobee, as told to Mike Hess 60
8 Scientology Is More than Just a Cult Janet Reitman 70
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 75
Chapter 2 Are Cults a Serious Threat?
Chapter Preface 77
1 Cults Are Prone to Crime and Violence Tom O'Connor 78
2 The Threat of Cults Is Exaggerated Bruce A. Robinson 83
3 Cults Are a Serious Threat in Japan Leo Lewis 92
4 Some Cults Are Sexually Abusive Celeste Jones Kristina Jones Juliana Buhring 101
5 Polygamist Cults Threaten Women and Girls Carolyn Jessop, as told to Luiza Ch. Savage 111
6 The Practice of Polygamy Is Defensible Jacob Hodgen 118
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 124
Chapter 3 Why Do People Join Cults?
Chapter Preface 126
1 Cults Brainwash Their Members Michael Haag 128
2 Cults Do Not Brainwash Their Members Bruce A. Robinson 137
3 Psychological Traits Can Influence People to Join Cults Frank MacHovec 150
4 People Join Cults for a Variety of Reasons Robin Jackson 155
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 161
Chapter 4 How Can Cult Members Be Helped?
Chapter Preface 163
1 Ex-Cult Members Can Be Deprogrammed Rick Alan Ross 165
2 Some Cult Deprogrammers Are as Harmful as Cults Dominic Streatfeild 173
3 Some Ex-Cult Members Maintain Healthy Connections with Their Former Cults Gina Catena 182
4 Children Should Not Be Returned to Their Parents in Cults Flora Jessop Paul T. Brown 189
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 196
For Further Discussion 197
Organizations to Contact 199
Bibliography of Books 204
Index 207
