Karen Pressley's
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new Calendar

CCulltic Studies

"Where totalism exists, a religion, a political movement, or even a scientific organization becomes little more than an exclusive cult."

Dr. Robert Lifton
Thought Reform and the
Psychology of Totalism

News & Announcements

New books by Karen Pressley coming soon!	New Cultic Studies articles:
> Escaping Scientology: An Insider's True Story MORE	> "Silencing the Voices: The Church of Scientology's Justifications to Keep Its Critics Quiet"
> Experiencing Creativity: Breaking Free from Spiritual Abuse and the Emergence of the Creative Self MORE Watch for publication dates and pre-order your copies!	Tom Cruise says a Christian can be a Scientologist at the same time. You decide after you read this article: " Scientology from a Christian Perspective" >" Illness and medical treatment from Scientology and Christian Science perspectives: A contrast and comparison of views" Scientology Cultic Studies page
New video: Steven Hassan, cult expert and author (Combatting Cult Mind Control and Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Thing for Themselves) talks with ex-Scientologists, anti-cult activist and attorney Paul Grosswald and former Celebrity Centre leader Karen Pressley, at the 2010 ICSA Conference in New York City. SEE VIDEO	Latest Cultic Studies additions: > Terms, theories and models used in Cultic Studies > Links to Cultic Studies resources, including Scientology news
	Visit the Cultic Studies page for more articles and links to news and other resources
New article on creativity, cults, and women under coercive control: > "From the fire to a blessing field: Transitioning from an unhealthy relationship to a life of creativity" read article This article is based on two case studies of ex-cult members who left The Children of God (The Family of Love) and the Church of Scientology, and lived to tell their stories. Why focus on creativity when talking about recovering from a cult's squelching of one's "inalienable" human rights? After all, a healthy self-identity and freedom of creativity may seem less important that dealing with the wanton disregard of basic human freedom. The importance of creativity should not be underestimated. While under the control of a perpetrator--a cult leader, an abusive spouse, a bully boss, an oppressive religious leader--prolonged contact results in a relationship framed by coercive control that oppresses creativity... READ IT This paper was on exhibition July 1-3, 2010 at the International Cultic Studies Association annual conference in New York. The exhibit is organized by the Phoenix Project that features creative works of ex-cult members.