1999 Conference: Cults, Psychological Manipulation & Society Conference: Cults, Psychological Manipulation, and Society: International Perspectives When: May 14-16, 1999, Where: Minneapolis, MN Overview Speakers
AFF (American Family Foundation), the leading professional organization concerned about cults and psychological manipulation, was founded 20 years ago in 1979. AFF is known for its professionalism, for building its practical educational services for families, former group members, helping professionals, educators, young people, and the public on a base of scholarly study and research. This year’s conference reflects AFF’s breadth and depth of understanding by examining social issues, scientific research, and practical needs of all who are interested in this subject. The conference is part of a larger educational effort in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and is supplemented by pre-conference workshops and educational events. Friday Events: Cults, Psychological Manipulation and Society: An Overview Michael Langone, Ph.D. Cultic Groups and Families Margaret Singer, Ph.D. Cultic Groups and Politics Dennis Tourish, Ph.D. Cultic Groups and Mainstream Religions Ronald Enroth, Ph.D. Governmental and Legal Responses to Cults in Europe Lars Grip Governmental and Legal Responses to Cults in the U.S.A. Alan Scheflin, J.D Thought Reform Consultation: A Panel Discussion David Clark; Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Jerry Whitfield; Mike Kropveld, Moderator So Easily Fooled! You’re Not as Invulnerable as You Think Robert Fellows, M.T.S. Saturday Events: Researching Cultic Groups Reports on recent research by Peter Malinoski, M.A., JoniBeth Whitney, M.A.,
Rod Marshall, Ph.D., Lois Kendall, Janja Lalich, M.A., Josep Jansa, M.D., Stephen Kent, Ph.D., Paul Martin, Ph.D., Moderator Support Groups for Ex-Members and Families William Goldberg, M.S.W.; Bruce Laughton; Donna Mayotte, M.A., L.P. Psychological Needs of Former Group Members Lorna Goldberg, M.S.W.; Mary Kent; Alex Stein The Dark Side of the Moons: A Dialogue with the Ex-wife of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Eldest Son Nonsook Hong and Herbert Rosedale, Esq. Can Cultic Groups Change? The Case of ISKCON Anuttama Dasa; Radha Dasi; Joseph Kelly; Michael Langone, Ph.D. Should Society's Response to Cults Ignore Theology? Roger Olson, Ph.D. International Reports What Needs to be Done about Cults: A Panel Discussion Herbert Rosedale, Esq. and representatives from cult educational organizations in Europe and North America Sundays Events: Workshop for Families Livia Bardin, M.S.W; Donna & Jonathan Collins; Hana Whitfield Workshop for Former Group Members Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly Symposium: So You Want to Help: What Can Individuals Do? Sandy Andron, Ed.D.; Patrick Ryan; Heather Svoboda Toward a Common Research Agenda Diverse researchers in discussion; Arthur Dole, Ph.D., Moderator Private Conversations with Experts (optional; as resources permit) Preconference Events: Public Lecture: So Easily Fooled! You’re Not as Invulnerable as You Think Robert Fellows, M.T.S. (Wednesday 7:30 p.m.; repeated Friday evening & 7:30 p.m.) Programs for high schools Robert Fellows, M.T.S.; Donna Collins (Wednesday and Thursday) Clergy Workshop Craig Branch (Thursday 7:00 p.m.) Educators Workshop Sandy Andron, Ed.D.; Michael Langone, Ph.D.; Marcia Rudin; Patrick Ryan (Thursday 7:00 p.m.)
Mental Health Professionals Workshop William Goldberg, M.S.W.; Roseanne Henry, M.A.; Josep Jansa, M.D.; Margaret Singer, Ph.D.; Heather Svoboda (Thursday 7:00 p.m.) Readings from Former Group Members: A Literary Evening Alex Stein (Thursday 7:00 p.m.)
Conference Speakers When: May 14-16, 1999 Minneapolis, MN Featured Speakers Robert Fellows, M.T.S., is a mentalist who has conducted dozens of educational programs for colleges and other audiences in which he uses magic and ESP tricks to help people understand how easily they can be manipulated. He is the author of Easily Fooled. Lars Grip, a Swedish journalist, served on the Swedish governmental commission that investigated "new religious movements" between 1997 and 1998. Mr. Grip studied how countries in Europe have responded to the problems posed by cultic groups. Nonsook Hong, former wife of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's eldest son, is the author of In the Shadow of the Moons: My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family. Alan Scheflin, J.D. LL.M, is Professor of Law at Santa Clara University Law School in California. Among his many publications is Memory, Trauma Treatment, and the Law (coauthored with Daniel Brown and D. Corydon Hammond), for which he will receive the 1999 Guttmacher Award from the American Psychiatric Association. Professor Scheflin is also the 1991 recipient of the Guttmacher Award for Trance on Trial (with Jerrold Shapiro). Margaret T. Singer, Ph.D., Emeritus Adjunct Professor of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Singer's study of cultic groups builds on her early research into coercive persuasion during the Korean War. She is the co-author of Cults in Our Midst and Crazy Therapies. Widely regarded as the leading psychotherapist in this field, Dr. Singer has worked with thousands of cult-affected individuals and families. Other Speakers Include: Sandy Andron, Ed.D., Youth Services Director, Central Agency for Jewish Education, Miami, FL David Bardin, Esq., Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC; AFF's Washington, DC representative Livia Bardin, M.S.W., Psychotherapist; Clinical Social Worker, Washington, D.C. Eileen Barker, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, London School of Economics Paul Carden, Apologetics Resource Center, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Craig Branch, President and Director, Apologetics Resource Center, Birmingham, AL Audrey Chaytor, Chairperson, FAIR (Family Action Information & Resource), London, England David Clark, Thought Reform Consultant, Philadelphia, PA Donna & Jonathan Collins, Phoenix, Arizona Anuttama Dasa, National Director of Communications, ISKCON Communications, Washington, D.C. Radha Dasi, Legal Director of the ISKCON North American Temple Support Office Arthur Dole, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, Psychology in Education, University of Pennsylvania Steve Dubrow-Eichel, Ph.D., Psychotherapist; Director, RETIRN, Philadelphia, PA Ronald Enroth, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA Carol Giambalvo, AFF Outreach Director; Thought Reform Consultant, Flagler Beach, FL Lorna Goldberg, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., New Jersey Institute of Psychoanalysis, Teaneck, NJ William Goldberg, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., Director, Community Support Center, Pomona, NY Josep Jansa, M.D., Medical Coordinator, AIS (Assessment and Information about Sects), Barcelona, Spain Joseph Kelly, Thought Reform Consultant, Philadelphia, PA Lois Kendall, Doctoral Candidate in Psychology, Buckinghamshire College, England Mary Kent, Ridgefield, CT Stephen Kent, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, University of Alberta Mike Kropveld, Director, Info-Cult, Montreal, Canada Janja Lalich, M.A., Education Director, Community Resources on Influence and Control, Alameda, CA Michael Langone, Ph.D., Executive Director, AFF; Editor, Cultic Studies Journal Bruce Laughton, Director, Answers Inc., Minneapolis, MN Peter Malinoski, M.A., Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Ohio University Rod Marshall, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Buckinghamshire College, England Paul Martin, Ph.D., Director, Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center
Cesar Mascarenas, M.D., Director of Medical Research, Research Center of the Mexican Christian Institute Donna Mayotte, M.A., L.P., Psychotherapist, Lutheran Social Service, Minneapolis, MN Roger Olson, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN Herbert Rosedale, Esq., President, AFF; Senior Partner, Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, New York City Marcia Rudin, M.A., Writer and founding director of AFF's International Cult Education Program Patrick Ryan, AFF Web site manager; Thought Reform Consultant, Philadelphia, PA Alexandra Stein, writer and former group member Heather Svoboda, President, Free Minds Dennis Tourish, Ph.D., Lecturer in Communication at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland Daphne Vane, FAIR (Family Action Information & Resource) International Representative and Board Member of FECRIS (European Federation of Centres for Research and Information on Sectarianism), London, England Hana Whitfield, Thought Reform Consultant, Cape Coral, FL Jerry Whitfield, Thought Reform Consultant, Cape Coral, FL Jonibeth Whitney, M.A., Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology