In December
2004 AFF (American Family Foundation) officially changed its
name to International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA).
The change of name had been discussed for many years. Until
a few years ago, those who felt that "AFF" had established
an identity and was "known" had prevailed. However, several
factors tilted the name-change decision in favor of those
wanting a new name.
First of
all, the constituency of the organization has changed over
the past 25 years. Initially, nearly everybody who
contacted AFF for help did so because he/she had a child
involved in a cultic group. AFF's unique role was to bring
these parents into contact with helping professionals,
increasing numbers of whom became interested in and/or
involved with AFF as time passed. By the early 1990s,
however, the majority of people contacting the organization
were former group members who had left their groups without
an intervention ("walk-aways"). By the late 1990s, AFF and
people associated with the organization had completed a
sizeable body of research and an increasing number of
researchers began to get involved with the organization.
Moreover, at some recent conferences 25% of the attendees
were from outside the U.S. Today, we speak of our four
international constituencies of family members, former
members, researchers, and helping professionals (including
mental health, law, clergy, educators – some of whom are
also former members of groups or family members of involved
persons). Consequently, although "family" may have
reflected the organization's focus in its early years, it no
longer is THE focus, though it still remains a vital
concern.
Most people
favored "cultic studies" because it expressed the
organization's interest areas without being so narrow and
precise as to exclude phenomena that might be similar but
not equivalent to those associated with the admittedly vague
concept "cult." Many high-control or abusive groups from
which people leave are not necessarily "cults" in a strict
sense, but they may nonetheless resemble "cults" in some
ways. "Cultic studies" also gives us a link to the past,
for our journal has used that term since 1984 and our main
Web site has used the term for the past several years.
The growth
of the Web has also influenced the name change in that
nearly everybody who contacts the organization today found
out about us through a Web search. And these people rarely
ever heard of "AFF" or "American Family Foundation."
Therefore, a name that more accurately reflects what
concerns the organization will more effectively "welcome"
Web surfers than a name that many people associate with
right wing political organizations, despite the fact that
AFF/ICSA has always included people from across the
political and religious spectrums.
We have
begun modifying our Web sites to reflect the name change, a
project that will take some time to complete. We hope you
will be patient
International Cultic Studies Association
(formerly AFF)
and
The Psychology Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de
Madrid
Present
Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and
Other Alternative Movements
July 14-16, 2005
The audience
for this conference consists of researchers, helping
professionals, former group members, families of
group-involved persons, and others. The sessions are
organized into five "tracks" or theme areas: (1)
assistance, (2) research, (3) groups, (4) terrorism, and (5)
legal/government. Some sessions are repeated in another
language at another time. More than 100 speakers will give
talks. For details, see the hyperlinks in the
table below.
Where:
Universidad
Autonoma de Madrid (Spain), Psychology Department
When:
July 14-16,
2005 (9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
Accommodations:
(1)
University residences (very inexpensive; you may arrive
early and depart late to build a vacation around the
conference); (2) nearby hotels
Meals:
University
cafeterias (about $6). In evening attendees are free to go
to Madrid restaurants.
Low-Cost
Vacation
Because of
the low cost of the university residence rooms (which
include kitchens), two people could spend two
weeks in the beautiful city of Madrid for about $2400 ($1200
per person) plus meals and ground travel, given airfares
current at the end of 2004. Most of Spain is within a day
trip from Madrid, including Toledo, San Lorenzo del
Escorial, Avila, and Segovia. Consult your tax advisor
about possible tax-deductions related to attending the
conference.
_____________________________________________________________________^
Amish
Rape Stories
Aum Shinrikyo
Victims Want Compensation
Surveillance to Continue
Members Arrested
Asahara Imagining Baseball on Death Row
Training Death Surmised
Infiltration Claimed
Action Secte Secours Outaouis (ASSO)
New Group to Aid Cult Victims
Boot Camps
Panel Says Boot Camps Don’t Work
Wrongful Death Suit
Branch Davidians
Koresh Car Auctioned
Caritas of Birmingham
Accused of “Brainwashing”
Child Abuse
Marriage No Excuse
Children of God (Family International)
Founder’s Son Apparently a Suicide
Child Abuse Linked to Suicides
Children of Thunder/Impact Training
Defense Cites “Impact Training” Influence
Circumcision
Jailed for Circumcising Son
Colonia Dignidad
Cult Breaks Up
Destiny
Fundamentalist Group Called Cult
Exorcism
Ritual Killing
Women Beaten for Cure
Faith Based Initiative
Grant Blocked Due to Proselytizing
Faith Healing
Leader Buried Alive
False Memories
How False Memories May Be Remembered
The Fellowship
Book on “Fractured Families”
Freeman Group
Former Followers Warn of Couple
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Polygamous Police May Be Decertified
Refuge Not Being Used
Women Deny Abuse Charges
Concerned About Missing Daughter
Texas Compound Growing
FLDS Split
Leader on the Run
Response to Criticism
Texas Settlement Reflects 19th Century Conflict
Gene Scott
Faith Healer Turns to Surgeons
Gentle Wind Project
Critical Comments Suit Dismissed
Gilbert Deya Ministries
“Miracle Baby” Minister’s Assets Frozen
How He Works Miracles
Child Seized in Raids
Gospel Outreach
Seventies Church Accused of Cultism
Helge Fossmo/Knutby Church (Sweden)
Claims He Was Leader’s Sex Slave
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Authorities Force Transfusion
Policy on Sexual Abuse
Kabbalah
Group “Controlled” Her
Explaining Kabbalah
Leader Suffers Stroke
Madonna Proselytizing
Kendra
Woman’s Condition Linked to Group
Keroyan
Beaten to Death in Ritual
Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Name Above Every Name
Investigation Following Mother’s Complaint
Kingston Clan/The Order
Father’s Visitation Privileges Revoked
Dispute with Miners
Death Threats Against Judge Alleged
Parental Rights
Lord’s Resistance Army
Escapees Recount Life in Group
Cease Fire
Marcus Wesson
Prosecution May Use Mind Control Argument
MOVE
Lawsuit Amidst Evolution of Radical Group
National Alliance
Recruiting Teens
Néophare
Controlling Guru Sentenced to Prison
O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal
Church Can Import Special Tea
Opus Dei
Government Minister Should Quit
Life in Opus Dei
People’s Temple
Jim Jones May Have Died the Next Day
Polygamy
Governor Avoiding Issue
Issue in Campaign
“Groupthink” and “Brainwashing” Alleged
Book on Alleged Harms Given to Lawmakers
Guide for Public Service Personnel
Marriage Challenge “Inevitable”
Utah Ban Upheld
Rajneesh
Life as A Child among Rajneeshees
Murder Linked to Rajneesh Influence
Raymond Russell George
Trial Set for Molester “Jacob”
Recovered Memories
Priest Found Guilty Despite Expert Testimony
Salve Me Pater Omnis Oculus Meus
Sex Slavery Alleged
Satanism
Church Moves to Counter Satanism
Causes of Proliferation
Scientology
Hubbard-influenced Detox in Nepal
Evaluating Scientology Detox
Moving in on Tragedy Town
Active in Hungary
Subway Celebration Poster Promotes Scientology
Surveillance to Continue
Treating Norwegian Addicts
Growth Claimed in Copenhagen
“Volunteer Ministers” Rejected
Praying with Victims
Cruise Promotes Nobel Concert
Teaching Tibetan Monks
Scientology-Trained Monks Aid Victims
Assisting Australians
Helping Psychiatric Patient
Weight Loss Credit
Backing Anti-Suicide Test
Kelly Preston Supports Drug Program
Specialists Criticize Narconon
Trying to Curb Mental Health Programs
Actress Elfman Promoting Scientology
Servants of the Holy Family
Radical Parish Called Cultish
Social Therapy
Newman Party Endorsed Nader
Steiner (Waldorf Schools)
In Australian Public School
Suicide Bombers
Defusing Suicide Bombers
Symbionese Liberation Army
Documentary Treatment
Transcendental Meditation
Book Warns of Dangers
Unification Church
Moon Graduates Involved in Federal “Faith-based” Funding
Moon Church Accused of Narcotics Operations
Moon Campus Group Seeks Charter
Moon-Linked Tourism Raises Israeli Concern
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG)
Manipulation for Cash
Vampirism
Youth Said Susceptible
Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)
Father Complains Child “Blasted”
