Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 50
Alternative Views
The American Family Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that for over twenty years
has been educating the public on both a national and international level about destructive
political, psychological, and religious cults. AFF recognizes that many new religious groups
hurt no one however, it is important for the public to recognize that others engage in
activities that wreak substantial harm on their members and on society at large.
Last year‘s AFF conference was attended by representatives from 30 different countries.
Among the topics addressed was the harm caused by destructive cults around the world. A
particular focus was on Africa and the recent massacre in Uganda where members of a new
religious movement perished, locked inside a church. I wonder if this tragic event, or those
[connected with] Jonestown or Heaven‘s Gate, were even noted at the apologist conference
attended by Mr. Lester.
Balance Needed
As for the question of tolerance and human rights, many new religions show a dismaying
lack of respect for human dignity. To keep the public eye from the dangers of totalitarian
groups that proclaim themselves to be religious is naïve at best, and profoundly
irresponsible.
As with any serious pursuit of knowledge, the study of current religious movements should
be based on rigorous scholarship and critical insight. For balance and a deeper
understanding than was reflected in your article, I invite you to send Mr. Lester or another
of your writers to AFF‘s Annual Conference in June of this year in Orlando, Florida. It is
open to all and, as you can see from the enclosed program, with its list of presenters, it will
be attended by people of many differing views. [End of letter.]
Mr. Rosedale’s Second Letter
I am writing you [The Atlantic Monthly] again, about the letter I wrote a short time ago that
I asked you to publish in response to the article in the February issue of your magazine,
entitled Oh Gods.
In that letter, I pointed out the inaccuracy of the statements made based upon information
furnished you by those experts who are professionally committed to excluding testimony
from other professionals on the issues of brainwashing and mind control. The experts
whom the author interviewed asserted that testimony with respect to mind control and
brainwashing is not admitted in American courts.
In a case decided within the last month in the courts in Florida, one of the sources of the
author's information submitted an affidavit seeking to preclude the submission of the
testimony of an opposing expert. His position was rejected and the testimony was deemed
admissible. The perpetration of these erroneous views through your article is exactly the
kind of problem I addressed. It is important that my letter be published so that there is no
continued uncontradicted, erroneous statement as to the facts. I have no doubt that the
people who erroneously assert that such evidence has not been admitted will cite the article
in your magazine as continued proof of that.
I would appreciate, therefore, if you would reconsider my request to publish my letter.
Thank you.
Mr. Rosedale’s First Letter as Published in the May 2002 issue of The Atlantic
Monthly
Although I agree with Toby Lester that reports of the death of religion are greatly
exaggerated, I am concerned about his dismissal of cult critics as ignorant and intolerant.
He is turning a blind eye to the very real dangers of cults here and around the world.
Alternative Views
The American Family Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that for over twenty years
has been educating the public on both a national and international level about destructive
political, psychological, and religious cults. AFF recognizes that many new religious groups
hurt no one however, it is important for the public to recognize that others engage in
activities that wreak substantial harm on their members and on society at large.
Last year‘s AFF conference was attended by representatives from 30 different countries.
Among the topics addressed was the harm caused by destructive cults around the world. A
particular focus was on Africa and the recent massacre in Uganda where members of a new
religious movement perished, locked inside a church. I wonder if this tragic event, or those
[connected with] Jonestown or Heaven‘s Gate, were even noted at the apologist conference
attended by Mr. Lester.
Balance Needed
As for the question of tolerance and human rights, many new religions show a dismaying
lack of respect for human dignity. To keep the public eye from the dangers of totalitarian
groups that proclaim themselves to be religious is naïve at best, and profoundly
irresponsible.
As with any serious pursuit of knowledge, the study of current religious movements should
be based on rigorous scholarship and critical insight. For balance and a deeper
understanding than was reflected in your article, I invite you to send Mr. Lester or another
of your writers to AFF‘s Annual Conference in June of this year in Orlando, Florida. It is
open to all and, as you can see from the enclosed program, with its list of presenters, it will
be attended by people of many differing views. [End of letter.]
Mr. Rosedale’s Second Letter
I am writing you [The Atlantic Monthly] again, about the letter I wrote a short time ago that
I asked you to publish in response to the article in the February issue of your magazine,
entitled Oh Gods.
In that letter, I pointed out the inaccuracy of the statements made based upon information
furnished you by those experts who are professionally committed to excluding testimony
from other professionals on the issues of brainwashing and mind control. The experts
whom the author interviewed asserted that testimony with respect to mind control and
brainwashing is not admitted in American courts.
In a case decided within the last month in the courts in Florida, one of the sources of the
author's information submitted an affidavit seeking to preclude the submission of the
testimony of an opposing expert. His position was rejected and the testimony was deemed
admissible. The perpetration of these erroneous views through your article is exactly the
kind of problem I addressed. It is important that my letter be published so that there is no
continued uncontradicted, erroneous statement as to the facts. I have no doubt that the
people who erroneously assert that such evidence has not been admitted will cite the article
in your magazine as continued proof of that.
I would appreciate, therefore, if you would reconsider my request to publish my letter.
Thank you.
Mr. Rosedale’s First Letter as Published in the May 2002 issue of The Atlantic
Monthly
Although I agree with Toby Lester that reports of the death of religion are greatly
exaggerated, I am concerned about his dismissal of cult critics as ignorant and intolerant.
He is turning a blind eye to the very real dangers of cults here and around the world.
