Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 111
Gunter Horvatch, one of the accused, said Tekely twisted the skin on Rolfi‘s stomach — he
died of abdominal injuries — in order to teach members how to breathe through their lungs
without using their stomachs. ―Being in that family, you had to give 100 percent of
yourself,‖ said Horvatch. ―You didn‘t go against the group.‖ He reported that members were
rarely allowed to watch TV or visit family and friends. They pooled their money, finances
were tightly controlled, and they smoked cannabis together. (Lisa Miller, Daily Telegraph,
Australia, Internet, 10/23/03)
Theophostic Ministries
Accused of Creating False Memories
Critics claim that therapy employed by Theophostic Ministries, of Campbellsville, KY, can
lead to the creation of false memories, which sometimes lead to false allegations of abuse.
Ed Smith, head of the $2 million ―business‖ that sells books and videos on his ideas and
methods worldwide, teaches that within memories of past traumatic events are lies
embedded by Satan that cause emotional stress. Theophostic facilitators, who train in
Kentucky, help subjects recall the memory and allow God to reveal the lie. The result
reduces stress.
Dr. Paul Simpson, of Tucson, AZ, an accredited Christian family counselor and author of
―Second Thoughts: Understanding the False Memory Crisis and How It Could Affect You‖
calls the Theophostic approach ―pretty dangerous stuff.‖ He says that it is a ―dressed up
version of recovered memory therapy,‖ which has been ―completely debunked.‖ [False
memory accusations have led to many court cases and family schisms in the past two
decades.] (Jan Fletcher, Central Kentucky News Journal, Internet, 7/02/03)
Tvind
“Sinister Cult” Recruiting in England
The Danish-based Tvind organization, which sends volunteers to do charity work in
developing countries, is recruiting in England. Many former volunteers, usually young people
often taking a year off between secondary school and college, say that Tvind tries to
―brainwash‖ recruits into working for nothing.
A former volunteer, recruited through a newspaper ad, reports that training at a special
Tvind facility allowed him no free time in the outside world and involved daily fundraising
and lectures from tutors. His humanitarian work in Malawi consisted of packing [used]
clothing [collected by Tvind in Europe] for sale to market traders.
Tvind is currently being investigated in Denmark, and leader Amdi Peterson, extradited from
the US, where he had fled, is now on trial for tax evasion.
A Tvind spokesman said that she understood parents‘ concern about their children: ―I went
as a volunteer to Mozambique myself when I was 21 years old and I can assure you my
parents were not too thrilled.‖ (Evening News 24, Internet, 5/15/03)
United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors
Real Estate Scheme Alleged
Two members of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors have been accused of creating
a phony certified check to purchase two homes in a community north of Stone Mountain,
GA. They reportedly want to reestablish a base for the group in middle Georgia. The
Nuwaubians until recently lived on a 476-acre compound in rural Putnam County before
leader Dwight Malachi York pleaded guilty to 74 counts of child molestation, and other
crimes. He now awaits trial because a judge refused to accept, as too lenient, a plea bargain
in which York agreed to a 15-year prison term. (AP, Internet, 10/3/03)
Gunter Horvatch, one of the accused, said Tekely twisted the skin on Rolfi‘s stomach — he
died of abdominal injuries — in order to teach members how to breathe through their lungs
without using their stomachs. ―Being in that family, you had to give 100 percent of
yourself,‖ said Horvatch. ―You didn‘t go against the group.‖ He reported that members were
rarely allowed to watch TV or visit family and friends. They pooled their money, finances
were tightly controlled, and they smoked cannabis together. (Lisa Miller, Daily Telegraph,
Australia, Internet, 10/23/03)
Theophostic Ministries
Accused of Creating False Memories
Critics claim that therapy employed by Theophostic Ministries, of Campbellsville, KY, can
lead to the creation of false memories, which sometimes lead to false allegations of abuse.
Ed Smith, head of the $2 million ―business‖ that sells books and videos on his ideas and
methods worldwide, teaches that within memories of past traumatic events are lies
embedded by Satan that cause emotional stress. Theophostic facilitators, who train in
Kentucky, help subjects recall the memory and allow God to reveal the lie. The result
reduces stress.
Dr. Paul Simpson, of Tucson, AZ, an accredited Christian family counselor and author of
―Second Thoughts: Understanding the False Memory Crisis and How It Could Affect You‖
calls the Theophostic approach ―pretty dangerous stuff.‖ He says that it is a ―dressed up
version of recovered memory therapy,‖ which has been ―completely debunked.‖ [False
memory accusations have led to many court cases and family schisms in the past two
decades.] (Jan Fletcher, Central Kentucky News Journal, Internet, 7/02/03)
Tvind
“Sinister Cult” Recruiting in England
The Danish-based Tvind organization, which sends volunteers to do charity work in
developing countries, is recruiting in England. Many former volunteers, usually young people
often taking a year off between secondary school and college, say that Tvind tries to
―brainwash‖ recruits into working for nothing.
A former volunteer, recruited through a newspaper ad, reports that training at a special
Tvind facility allowed him no free time in the outside world and involved daily fundraising
and lectures from tutors. His humanitarian work in Malawi consisted of packing [used]
clothing [collected by Tvind in Europe] for sale to market traders.
Tvind is currently being investigated in Denmark, and leader Amdi Peterson, extradited from
the US, where he had fled, is now on trial for tax evasion.
A Tvind spokesman said that she understood parents‘ concern about their children: ―I went
as a volunteer to Mozambique myself when I was 21 years old and I can assure you my
parents were not too thrilled.‖ (Evening News 24, Internet, 5/15/03)
United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors
Real Estate Scheme Alleged
Two members of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors have been accused of creating
a phony certified check to purchase two homes in a community north of Stone Mountain,
GA. They reportedly want to reestablish a base for the group in middle Georgia. The
Nuwaubians until recently lived on a 476-acre compound in rural Putnam County before
leader Dwight Malachi York pleaded guilty to 74 counts of child molestation, and other
crimes. He now awaits trial because a judge refused to accept, as too lenient, a plea bargain
in which York agreed to a 15-year prison term. (AP, Internet, 10/3/03)
