CultNEWS101 Articles: 7/1/2024

[Patrick Ryan]

ICSA Conference,  Children of God, Cult Manipulation,  Loaded Language, Twin Flames, Ultra-Religious

ICSA Conference 2024: In-Person (Barcelona, Spain) and live-streamed via Whova

July 4-6, 2024 with pre conference workshops on July 3, 2024

Facultad de Geografía e Historia. Universitat de Barcelona

Montalegre, 6

08001 Barcelona

Register NOW! For more information and to register, visit https://www.icsahome.com/events/conferenceannual

ICSA Conference Session Highlight: Sacrificial Seductions: Female Bodies as Exploited Sacrifices with Ozan Can Yilmaz (July 4, 2024, 10:30 - 11:15 CET)

This study introduces the Feminist Cult Research Framework with two main objectives. Firstly, it aims to identify and categorize gaps and potentials related to intersectional cult research. Secondly, it seeks to guide and inspire researchers in the field by emphasizing scholarly concerns for women's empowerment and advancing feminist theories in the study of cults. As a case study focusing on the theme of 'Exploitation, Violence and Abuse' within this framework, the research delves into the intricate organizational structure and exploitative doctrines of The Children of God cult. The analysis critically examines the oppressive principles and heretical practices that primarily affect women. It analyzes firsthand narratives of lived experiences shared by former members and explores the dissemination of male-dominated hierarchies within the cult. Additionally, the research highlights the post-traumatic experiences of female survivors, emphasizing the long-lasting and harmful effects of involvement in a cult. The study also reveals how using predetermined teachings as a foundational framework allows persuasion, even when subsequent doctrines become increasingly absurd. This manipulation leads to distorted doctrines that convince followers to renounce themselves in anticipation of an impending apocalypse. Scholarly research in cult studies has yet to explore critical reviews that incorporate feminist theories fully. Additionally, little is known about the long-term effects of cult experiences on women who leave. The intersection of gender, sexuality, and spirituality within cultic contexts suggests potential avenues for empowerment and emancipatory insights to address female subordination. In this regard, this study proposes the Feminist Cult Research Framework. The framework aims to stimulate scholarly engagement in the field and guide feminist research investigating the cultic doctrines that shape women's experiences, contribute to gendered inequalities, and create power imbalances. Furthermore, the proposed framework identifies specific research areas that focus on women's experiences, agency, gender dynamics, power structures, and intersectionality of identities within cultic contexts. These research areas are crucial for understanding and promoting women's empowerment and advancing feminist theorization in the study of cults.

ICSA Conference Session Highlight: "Decoding Cult Manipulation: Empowering Recovery in the Digital Era." - Shawnna  Jantz (July 5, 2024, 15:00 -15:45 CET)

How do cults weave their silent webs of control? What makes their influence so challenging to escape? In this thought-provoking session, we pull back the veil on the psychological and linguistic strategies cults use to exploit human vulnerabilities, drawing from pivotal research from collaborative partnerships. We chart a course towards emancipation, harnessing the collective insights from neuroscience, sociolinguistics, and therapeutic expertise.

Our session will review current research and practices in cult recovery, highlighting the existing gaps and underscoring the urgency for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. The presentation emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among clinical and medical professionals, policy reform advocates, scientists, anthropologists, and educators in enhancing recovery for those affected by cults.

Participants will be introduced to various disciplinary perspectives on cult recovery, contrasting these innovative approaches with more traditional methods. More than just an analysis of cult dynamics, this session is designed to empower attendees with practical tools and strategies to effectively identify and counteract cult manipulation. We will discuss the significance of implementing evidence-based recovery models in therapeutic settings and guide participants on integrating these models into their practice for a structured and impactful approach to cult recovery.

Join us in this enlightening session to gain a deeper understanding of cult influence, learn practical recovery strategies, and be part of a community dedicated to supporting individuals affected by cults. Learn how to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, boosting individual resilience and societal defense against cult influence.

Storied: How Cult Leaders Use Provocatively Loaded Language to Control Their Followers

Dr. Erica Brozovsky, PhD of the PBS series Otherwords explained how cult leaders use provocatively loaded language with their followers to create an adversarial relationship with the “other side” of their way of thinking – an “us versus them” mentality. It also keeps them invested, obedient, and ready to defend their way of thinking to anyone who questions them

'Loaded language is a general term for words or phrases that have deep emotional associations for the listener, like genocide, patriot, toxic, or vermin. …Through repetition, these leaders ingrained an intense emotional association in their follower’s psyche …They shut down argument and critical thinking, which is why they’re so handy to authoritarians who don’t like to be questioned.'"

Awards Radar: Interview: ‘Escaping Twin Flames’ Co-Creators Can Attest to the Courage of Cult Survivors

"“They were made to believe they weren’t capable of functioning without the cult, and they needed to keep working on themselves endlessly,” says Escaping Twin Flames director and executive producer Cecilia Peck. “But that was all lies. Everyone in the cult is talented, conscientious, and capable of finding love and a productive life on the outside.”

Alongside executive producer and editor Inbal B. Lessner, ACE, Peck co-created the Netflix docuseries about the insidious manipulations of the Twin Flames Universe. The three-part series became a smash hit, and stands out as one of the most compassionate documentaries in recent memory. That compassion is evident throughout Awards Radar’s exclusive conversation with the producing duo, in which Peck and Lessner explain their commitment to exposing cults through film, and provide some exciting updates on the cult’s brave survivors. They have maintained a close bond with many of the survivors featured in the documentary, a testament to their sensitivity and understanding as filmmakers."

Boredpanda: Ex-Wife Of Ultra-Religious Hasidic Husband Reveals Strict Rules She Had To Follow During Intimacy

"An Orthodox Jewish author detailed her journey of being a closeted lesbian woman who married an emotionally unavailable husband and then ended her loveless marriage.
In her debut memoir Kissing Girls on Shabbat, the therapist, writer, and speaker revealed the strict rules of intimacy she was expected to follow when she was a young Hasidic bride."

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