Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002, Page 17
3. Much higher levels of understanding within professional communities, especially
mental health and education.
4. Increased communication internationally and between the so-called ―camps‖ of cultic
studies.
AFF‘s day-to-day work over the next several years is likely to revolve around the following
programs:
1. Publication of Cultic Studies Review, AFF News Briefs, and books.
2. Providing information to Website visitors and e-mail, phone, and snail mail inquirers.
3. Updating existing Websites and developing a comprehensive electronic library.
4. Conducting and/or supporting scientific research studies, as financial resources
permit.
5. Organizing an annual conference and workshops for families, ex-members, and
mental health professionals.
6. Working with and supporting volunteer professionals who will continue to contribute
to professional publications and to lecture on this subject.
Although AFF‘s mission has remained constant, the methods it employs to fulfill that mission
have changed with the times. Most of our ―space,‖ for example, now consists of dancing
electrons we use considerably fewer ―square feet‖ of physical space to operate than was
the case in 1981.
Although raising enough money to do what needs to be done is as difficult as ever, the
nature of our support has changed over the years. We are still dependent upon several
large contributions. However, we are not nearly so dependent as we were 15 years ago.
Small donations, subscriptions, and purchases now constitute more than 60% of our
income, compared to about 20% in the early 1980s.
The people who contribute to AFF have also changed, although many stalwarts – volunteers
and financial supporters --have stayed with us from the beginning. In 1979 most of the
energy behind AFF came from parents of the cult-affected. Today, most of that energy
comes from former group members, especially those who have gone on to get advanced
degrees after recovering from their group experience. These former group members will
develop the new and refined conceptual models and will conduct the research studies that
will carry the cultic studies field to a higher level of understanding.
AFF began as one man‘s vision to apply scientific methods to the problems of people hurt by
groups that deceive, manipulate, and exploit in the name ―love.‖ This has been and will
continue to be a difficult task, for the problems that motivate us to action are not easy to
define with precision and are difficult to study scientifically. But AFF‘s history demonstrates
that this task is not impossible, however difficult. Much has been learned many people
have been helped. Nevertheless, much work remains, and many more people will need help.
Appendices
Appendix A: Articles and Books
The following is a partial list of publications produced or commissioned by AFF or published
by its staff and advisors. The first section includes a list of articles published in AFF‘s
scholarly Cultic Studies Journal. These reprints can be purchased in our Web Bookstore,
www.cultinfobooks.com. We then provide a supplementary list of selected books and
articles published by AFF staff and advisors.
3. Much higher levels of understanding within professional communities, especially
mental health and education.
4. Increased communication internationally and between the so-called ―camps‖ of cultic
studies.
AFF‘s day-to-day work over the next several years is likely to revolve around the following
programs:
1. Publication of Cultic Studies Review, AFF News Briefs, and books.
2. Providing information to Website visitors and e-mail, phone, and snail mail inquirers.
3. Updating existing Websites and developing a comprehensive electronic library.
4. Conducting and/or supporting scientific research studies, as financial resources
permit.
5. Organizing an annual conference and workshops for families, ex-members, and
mental health professionals.
6. Working with and supporting volunteer professionals who will continue to contribute
to professional publications and to lecture on this subject.
Although AFF‘s mission has remained constant, the methods it employs to fulfill that mission
have changed with the times. Most of our ―space,‖ for example, now consists of dancing
electrons we use considerably fewer ―square feet‖ of physical space to operate than was
the case in 1981.
Although raising enough money to do what needs to be done is as difficult as ever, the
nature of our support has changed over the years. We are still dependent upon several
large contributions. However, we are not nearly so dependent as we were 15 years ago.
Small donations, subscriptions, and purchases now constitute more than 60% of our
income, compared to about 20% in the early 1980s.
The people who contribute to AFF have also changed, although many stalwarts – volunteers
and financial supporters --have stayed with us from the beginning. In 1979 most of the
energy behind AFF came from parents of the cult-affected. Today, most of that energy
comes from former group members, especially those who have gone on to get advanced
degrees after recovering from their group experience. These former group members will
develop the new and refined conceptual models and will conduct the research studies that
will carry the cultic studies field to a higher level of understanding.
AFF began as one man‘s vision to apply scientific methods to the problems of people hurt by
groups that deceive, manipulate, and exploit in the name ―love.‖ This has been and will
continue to be a difficult task, for the problems that motivate us to action are not easy to
define with precision and are difficult to study scientifically. But AFF‘s history demonstrates
that this task is not impossible, however difficult. Much has been learned many people
have been helped. Nevertheless, much work remains, and many more people will need help.
Appendices
Appendix A: Articles and Books
The following is a partial list of publications produced or commissioned by AFF or published
by its staff and advisors. The first section includes a list of articles published in AFF‘s
scholarly Cultic Studies Journal. These reprints can be purchased in our Web Bookstore,
www.cultinfobooks.com. We then provide a supplementary list of selected books and
articles published by AFF staff and advisors.
