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Out of the Cults and into the Church: Understanding &
Encouraging Ex-Cultists
Janis
Hutchinson
Kregel Resources, Grand Rapids, MI, 1994, 222 pages.
Reviewed by
Patrick Knapp
During the
past 12 years of working in the counter-cult milieu, I have found that while
evangelicals give a cogent case for the need to convert cultists, many have
an inadequate perspective on the process of personal growth for the
ex-member. While many former Mormons, former followers of Moon, former
Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the like come to a saving knowledge of Christ, they
are then left to flounder in their attempts at entering (or reentering) and
adjusting to the traditional church. In Out of the Cults and into the
Church, author Hutchinson makes some significant headway in breaking
from this norm. The intent of this book is to address the problems
ex-cultists experience after having converted to Christianity. Of particular
concern are the problems that occur during the first three years as they may
attempt to enter a church setting. The author’s target audience is pastoral
staff, friends, relatives, and other interested persons who need the
necessary tools of understanding.
Focused on
making clear and understandable the kaleidoscope of issues, Hutchinson
carefully paints a sociological and emotional portrait of those who have
come out of abusive religious groups. She frames this picture by drawing on
the experiences of former members of Mormonism, the Unification Church, and
the Hare Krishnas, as well as her own recovery adventures as a former
Mormon. Interlaced throughout this portrait are vignettes of interaction
with a variety of former members, which are used to illustrate a sense of
the undiluted reality of the struggles that plague those coming from such
backgrounds. Each of the 10 chapters outlines specific issues of recovery,
and concludes with practical answers to the question, How can Christians
Help? Some responses include “Understand how essential roots, identity, and
story are and what it means to lose them”; “The former cult member needs
Christians who will provide the necessary outlet by inviting him to share
openly without fear of criticism”; “Be prepared to give up your time”; and
“Explain to the former cultist what to expect in his or her [new] church.”
While a
Biblical context to recovery questions is given appropriate credence,
Hutchinson accurately presents recovery from cultic groups as a process that
involves the whole person, and not a mere theological or philosophical
shift. Particularly noteworthy is her treatment of the sense of grief and
loss, of which she has a good understanding, both from having exited 36
years of involvement in Mormonism and having been widowed twice. Of the many
recently published books on the subject of recovery from cults, this is one
that deserves particular note. Not only does it come from an ex-member who
obviously has gone through a good deal of personal recovery, but it is
written in a clear and readable form that provides practical answers to
frequently posed questions. Both ex-members and those who have chosen to
come alongside them to help in the task of recovery can benefit much by this
very helpful book.
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