All posts tagged: Scientology

Help For Those That Leave a Cult But Still Have Beliefs That Are Harmful

I previously wrote a blog about people who are still living inside high-control groups that no longer believe in the leader or group. They remain trapped inside due to a variety of reasons, but there are also practical reasons which include the high exit cost of losing family, money, and friends. Most people can and do leave

Steven Hassan, September 13, 2018

Children Are Harmed by Destructive Cults: Part Two

Freedom of religion does not give permission to traumatize and abuse kids! Last week, I blogged about some ways that children are harmed physically by destructive cults, including murder, suicide, medical neglect, trafficking, corporal punishment and sexual predation. Many children that are born or raised in a group are helpless and do not have the

Steven Hassan, September 6, 2018

Children are Harmed by Destructive Cults – Part One

Freedom of religion does not give permission to traumatize and abuse kids! Last week, I blogged about adults in totalistic, destructive cults who are physically still in but psychologically out and sitting on the fence. This week I wanted to blog about children who are helpless and were born or raised in a group. They

Steven Hassan, August 31, 2018

A Response to Academics Who Say There Is No Undue Influence in Destructive Cults

June 28, 2018 This Influence Continuum graphic describes my model for evaluating influence–from the healthy to the unhealthy. My BITE model offers a list of concerning practices that represent unhealthy mind control: Behavior, Information, Thought and Emotional control designed to create dependent and obedient slaves to a person or ideology. One example of many is

Steven Hassan, June 28, 2018

High Control Groups Program Members to Fear Mental Health Help

Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month! I wanted to write this blog on how some high control groups program their members away from mental health help. This is true, especially in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, The Moonies, as well as countless other high control Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups.

Steven Hassan, May 24, 2018

The Freedom of Mind Approach to Recovery and Healing from Destructive Cults

The Freedom of Mind approach to recovery and healing from destructive cults is customizable and designed to meet the needs of most any person who has been influenced by a cult. People who were born or raised in a cult have spent their early developmental years under cult control. Other people may have entered into

Steven Hassan, May 17, 2018

Harvey Weinstein: Like Cult Leaders, He Abused People Using Power, Money and Sex

Harvey Weinstein in Paris at the César Awards ceremony 2014 Sexual Assault by Men Abusing Power I am heartened by all of the women coming forward, sharing the grizzly details of sexual assault against them by Harvey Weinstein. With hindsight, this unwelcomed harassment was happening for decades, and many were too afraid or paralyzed by

Steven Hassan, October 17, 2017

Is Justin Bieber in a Cult?

A few days ago, there was an announcement that Justin Bieber abruptly canceled a large portion of his “Purpose” tour dates. Now we hear it might be because of his involvement with Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong Church in Montclair. Several articles have been posted that allege that the founder of Hillsong Church had molested

Steven Hassan, July 27, 2017

Opioid Epidemic–Narconon: Scientology is Not a Treatment

The opioid epidemic in the United States is claiming more lives than ever. Recent data estimates that 59,000 Americans died from drug-related causes in 2016. And, the estimate for 2017 is even higher. Much of this can be attributed to opioid addiction which often starts with dependency on prescribed painkillers that leads to abuse and

Steven Hassan, July 12, 2017

Ex-Members Supporting One Another is a Good Thing!

I was going to New York City to tape an interview for a one hour documentary on Heaven’s Gate and reached out to see if I could finally meet Todd Kadish, an attorney who is an ex-modern Orthodox Jew. Todd and I had had several very interesting phone calls and I really wanted to meet

Steven Hassan, June 15, 2017

Old Cult Objects: What to Do with Them?

Scientology E-Meter Here is an exercise for recovering ex-members: Look around your home. How many objects remind you of your former cult? Do you still have cult clothing, books, music, or art? How does having these objects affect you? I recently worked with a woman who had been out of a Korean cult for 7

Steven Hassan, June 1, 2017

Undue Influence, The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu, and Current Events

Hulu has created a television series based on Margaret Atwood’s book, The Handmaid’s Tale, and it is highly recommended viewing*. Last year, Hulu produced The Path and I was interviewed by Vanity Fair for my perspective. This time, I am blogging about The Handmaid’s Tale as I believe this is a very upsetting but well

Steven Hassan, May 16, 2017