Combating Scientology and Other Cults 

Wow, what a knowledgeable, interesting man.

Absolutely loved this discussion. Correct about the current education system, definitely

Jon Atack never disappoints. He helped me take back my mind!

Great to hear the amazing Jon Atack talking to my favourite psychologist! I have been following Kirk since the Depp, Heard trial and the ex-scientologists crew shortly after.

I left a cult....it ripped my family into 2 camps.....I cannot see my 2 oldest kids or my 6 little g-babies.....I'm writing my second book and doing my dissertation on cults and HDRG like the one I was in. I'm in school again and taking my pre-residency classes now....we should talk. Great podcast!

I made an unearthly sound when I saw the title of the podcast. Beautiful interview!

Henry David Thoreau -“What does education often do? It makes a straight-cut ditch of a free, meandering brook.”

Well spoken and needed

Wow! You’re so right about teaching intelligent disobedience! I believe that’s the best way to inoculate your children and others from falling into the cult and even gang trap. Keep your eyes open, look at everything. Make your own decisions, based upon a fair analysis of what you experienced. Don’t let anyone else to tell you how to feel or think. Rely on the true core of yourself. Cure (Escape) is eversomuch trickier. One strategy is to try to (compassionately) dissuade them from THE Most Important Thing in Their Life, for which they have given their utmost. It may take several concerted efforts to tell them of: Your love for them, reminding and showing pictures (if possible)of the good, fun and loving times. Your acceptance of them as they are, but disagreement with their cult’s practices. If it is a very dangerous cult with many abuses, don’t list them all at once, and don’t be angry in your tone when you do. No matter how outraged you are, Please be gentle and loving. You only have a small chance the first try (unless they are already in agreement with you in their own mind) Chances are incrementally more successful thereafter. It may take time, but as ToryMagoo44 says, “Tell them to look at both sides and make up their own mind.” Thank you for this post.

I would love to learn about specific things you could teach your kids. Like a story or exercise.

Very interesting I am reading Alexandra Stein at the moment

Scientology in Seattle! How much to join?

Some might say that professionalism is a form of mind control, which is why 'Plain Folk' propaganda systems work

Reruns?

Education...now we are taking it to even younger children with things like mandatory daycare.

Very hurtful and infuriating take on Palestinians in the middle.

There are some perspectives in Scientology that I do appreciate. Namely the distinction of "Suppressive Persons" and "Possible Trouble Sources". Although I do not agree with the majority of Scientological values, I do recommend that people take this course (with a grain of salt). www.scientology.ca/courses/suppression/overview.html

Well spoken and needed

Thank you for giving Jon Atack this platform. A true delight to hear you two !

Question: are all religions orignated from cults?

I am sad that I am coming to this discussion late. My family was a long-time Jehovah's Witnesses. Hassan's book did not impress me, But it could be because to make it more readable, he omitted references to scholarly journals. Lifton impressed me. I am an attorney who did work for the ACLU and NOW, There will be a tension between free religion rights and cults. My main argument is that our public schools fail us in this matter. Witnesses cherry-pick scripture and even scholarly articles, sometimes even removing keywords, or leaving out essential context. We all do so to a minor degree. Our brains are set up to respond to fear and fear they preach. Even after I fled and graduated from an Ivy League degree, it took so long to be free in my mind. My primitive brain would go cascading. I laugh about my early adventures outside their world. For instance, I thought Jehovah would send thunder if I entered St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. But I was so courageous. As I walked with many tourists, my peripheral vision caught visual stimuli, floating in the ar near my heard. Did I screech and screech! Clergy and others came running so fast to my aid. It was a display of a bust of a recently deceased pope. A wax replica. Was I embarrassed! But I can assure readers, it was not funny to feel the anguish. Confusion reigned. To this day, I tend to defend them when people want to hurt Witnesses. It could be the civil rights advocate in me. But freedom from faith is also important. A very interesting discussion. Our public schools are notorious for teaching black/white thinking with obedience as the prime directive. We cannot stop Watchtower through government action. But public relations can curtail its reach. Frankly, Witnesses can choose to believe whatever they want. It is the overreach and control that terrifies me. With better thinking skills and health fact-checking, such groups would be much smaller. I was so impressed with their references to scholars. Naive Janice even asked my parents if they could find out from family at their headquarters what KIngdom Hall they attended. I so looked forward to the next convention when the professor would give a public talk. It would be so convincing that the world would convert. Jehovah would treat us nicely. For years,I taught myself skills so I could join the headquarters. It crumbled. The love and kindness of normal people was the antidote.

Excellent interview. I would be wonderful to learn more about all of this.

Nobody prohibits me from talking about anything… Pretty awesome mentality if you ask me :)

The education system teaches obedience, why you ask? For 2020!

Wow

That was a very comprehensive talk on cult behaviour! +1 Jon Atack