24 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 1, No. 1, 2010
Although Shearing proclaimed “that a
conspiracy was being formed to see him ousted
from the organization” (Witness #1, R. v.
Shearing, 1997:18), and he admitted to no
wrongdoing, he was anxious to meet the
demands of the group to avoid police
involvement. In a shocking turn of events,
however, Shearing and the group of women both
lost control over the situation when a single
devotee decided that Shearing could no longer
be dealt with internally. “It wasn’t something
[the members] could fix any more [sic] inside
the organization. I didn’t want to be dragged into
that kind of situation. It needed to be in the
hands of the law” (Witness #8, R. v. Shearing,
1997:703). Moreover, the woman felt that “[i]t
[wa]s time [Shearing’s abusive acts] came out
into the public forum for debate. It [wa]s so
wrong” (Witness #8, R. v. Shearing, 1997:705).
The woman did not tell the other victimized
women what she had done, but they soon
discovered that she had approached the police
when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(the CBC) broke the story. The media reported
that the leader of the Kabalarian Philosophy had
been sexually abusing his female devotees
(Witness #1, R. v. Shearing, 1997:23), and, from
that moment on, police involvement was
guaranteed, resulting in all the members within
the complainant group eventually pressing
charges against Shearing.
Conclusion
The dissension the members of the Kabalarian
Philosophy experienced is perhaps not unique in
the world of new religious movements, but it is a
rarely documented occurrence. Most
interestingly, the members’ dissension and the
subsequent breakdown of Shearing’s authority
signaled a fundamental change to the future of
the movement and in how previously devoted
followers viewed—and reacted to—the
manipulation and abuses they saw their leader
engage in. Moreover, that the devotees’
dissension led to Shearing’s criminal conviction
is truly a remarkable event that is worthy of
attention and critical examination. The
transcripts of Shearing’s criminal trial present
him both as a man who embraced charismatic
authority and the power and opportunities that
the role afforded him, and as a manipulative
leader who exploited his members’
vulnerabilities and faith in him. Although the
violence Shearing perpetrated manifested itself
solely against the women of the Kabalarian
Philosophy and not to anyone outside the group,
Shearing’s sexual abuse left a trail of damage
that extended far beyond his victims’ pain:
members who had allegiance to the movement’s
spiritual principles were forced to reevaluate
their beliefs in the face of their leader’s criminal
conviction and to reassess the relationships they
had with family and friends.
As of 2009, the Kabalarian Philosophy continues
to thrive as an organization, with no mention of
its sexually abusive former leader.13 Although
Ivon Shearing was granted a National Parole
Board meeting in 2003, the panel concluded that
he
abused [his] social standing and position
of authority by sexually molesting
young girls in a church society … [and
found that,] [s]hould [he] be able to get
[himself] into a place of power and
authority, he [would] manipulate
potential victims into compliance and
ensure secrecy around [his] behavior….
[In addition, the psychologist found
Shearing to be] highly manipulative,
even during the interview process. She
found that [his] insight was shallow and
self-serving ...describing [his]
presentation as remarkably selfish,
egocentric, and narcissistic. [The
psychologist] concluded that [he] was an
entrenched sex offender, who was both
dangerous and predatory. (Government
of Canada National Parole Board,
2003a:3)
Shearing was denied both day parole and full
parole in April 2003, and this decision was
upheld by the Board’s Appeal Division in
September 2003 (National Parole Board Appeal
Division, 2003b:4). He was scheduled for
13 There does exist a closed discussion forum that the Kabalarian
Philosophy hosts, however, that very briefly mentions Ivon
Shearing’s criminal acts but it states only that, “Yes, a past
member was charged, found guilty in the Canadian courts, and
spent time in a Canadian prison for various criminal charges. This
does not invalidate the principles we teach” (“Public
Discussion...,” 2003).
Although Shearing proclaimed “that a
conspiracy was being formed to see him ousted
from the organization” (Witness #1, R. v.
Shearing, 1997:18), and he admitted to no
wrongdoing, he was anxious to meet the
demands of the group to avoid police
involvement. In a shocking turn of events,
however, Shearing and the group of women both
lost control over the situation when a single
devotee decided that Shearing could no longer
be dealt with internally. “It wasn’t something
[the members] could fix any more [sic] inside
the organization. I didn’t want to be dragged into
that kind of situation. It needed to be in the
hands of the law” (Witness #8, R. v. Shearing,
1997:703). Moreover, the woman felt that “[i]t
[wa]s time [Shearing’s abusive acts] came out
into the public forum for debate. It [wa]s so
wrong” (Witness #8, R. v. Shearing, 1997:705).
The woman did not tell the other victimized
women what she had done, but they soon
discovered that she had approached the police
when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(the CBC) broke the story. The media reported
that the leader of the Kabalarian Philosophy had
been sexually abusing his female devotees
(Witness #1, R. v. Shearing, 1997:23), and, from
that moment on, police involvement was
guaranteed, resulting in all the members within
the complainant group eventually pressing
charges against Shearing.
Conclusion
The dissension the members of the Kabalarian
Philosophy experienced is perhaps not unique in
the world of new religious movements, but it is a
rarely documented occurrence. Most
interestingly, the members’ dissension and the
subsequent breakdown of Shearing’s authority
signaled a fundamental change to the future of
the movement and in how previously devoted
followers viewed—and reacted to—the
manipulation and abuses they saw their leader
engage in. Moreover, that the devotees’
dissension led to Shearing’s criminal conviction
is truly a remarkable event that is worthy of
attention and critical examination. The
transcripts of Shearing’s criminal trial present
him both as a man who embraced charismatic
authority and the power and opportunities that
the role afforded him, and as a manipulative
leader who exploited his members’
vulnerabilities and faith in him. Although the
violence Shearing perpetrated manifested itself
solely against the women of the Kabalarian
Philosophy and not to anyone outside the group,
Shearing’s sexual abuse left a trail of damage
that extended far beyond his victims’ pain:
members who had allegiance to the movement’s
spiritual principles were forced to reevaluate
their beliefs in the face of their leader’s criminal
conviction and to reassess the relationships they
had with family and friends.
As of 2009, the Kabalarian Philosophy continues
to thrive as an organization, with no mention of
its sexually abusive former leader.13 Although
Ivon Shearing was granted a National Parole
Board meeting in 2003, the panel concluded that
he
abused [his] social standing and position
of authority by sexually molesting
young girls in a church society … [and
found that,] [s]hould [he] be able to get
[himself] into a place of power and
authority, he [would] manipulate
potential victims into compliance and
ensure secrecy around [his] behavior….
[In addition, the psychologist found
Shearing to be] highly manipulative,
even during the interview process. She
found that [his] insight was shallow and
self-serving ...describing [his]
presentation as remarkably selfish,
egocentric, and narcissistic. [The
psychologist] concluded that [he] was an
entrenched sex offender, who was both
dangerous and predatory. (Government
of Canada National Parole Board,
2003a:3)
Shearing was denied both day parole and full
parole in April 2003, and this decision was
upheld by the Board’s Appeal Division in
September 2003 (National Parole Board Appeal
Division, 2003b:4). He was scheduled for
13 There does exist a closed discussion forum that the Kabalarian
Philosophy hosts, however, that very briefly mentions Ivon
Shearing’s criminal acts but it states only that, “Yes, a past
member was charged, found guilty in the Canadian courts, and
spent time in a Canadian prison for various criminal charges. This
does not invalidate the principles we teach” (“Public
Discussion...,” 2003).
