Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 147
The Cult Around the Corner
Nancy O‘Meara and Stan Koehler
Foundation for Religious Freedom International, Los Angeles, CA, 2003
For many years, it seemed impossible to find a non-academic, ―practical‖ book about cults
that did not advance a countercult viewpoint. Balanced views of the cult phenomenon
seemed relegated to weighty (and expensive) books from academic presses.
The Cult around the Corner (TCATC) is an unabashed attempt by Nancy O‘Meara and Stan
Koehler to correct this imbalance by ―bringing reason, understanding and open
communication to an often explosive subject‖ (from the Introduction, p. 5). Mr. Koehler is
identified as a conflict resolution teacher. Ms. O‘Meara is identified as an interfaith hotline
volunteer. I have argued strongly that, given the controversial nature and claims of all
sides on the cultic studies spectrum, it behooves researchers, clinicians, and writers on
these topics to make affiliations and a priori assumptions (or biases) known, especially
when we publish (cf. Dole &Eichel, 1981 Dubrow-Eichel, 1999 Dubrow-Eichel, 2002).
Both O‘Meara and Koehler are on the Board of the new Cult Awareness Network (CAN),
which many have argued is in fact a Church of Scientology ―front‖ organization. Whether or
not this claim is true, I think everyone agrees on the origins of the new CAN and that
members of the Church of Scientology play a very active role in it. Ms. O‘Meara‘s
connection with CAN is only hinted at in her biography in TCATC, and Mr. Koehler‘s
affiliation is not mentioned at all. Interestingly, although the CAN website lists some Board
members‘ religious affiliations (Koehler is identified as a Buddhist, and a former Secretary is
identified as a member of the Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness), it says nothing
about O‘Meara‘s full-time staff status with, and rank within the Church of Scientology, a fact
that she proudly indicated during our various conversations in person.
A cursory Google search on 7/20/04 yielded 524 references or ―hits‖ on the Internet, a
testimony to the broad dissemination and potential influence of The Cult around the Corner
(TCATC). It is an easy-to-read, 88-page book, designed to be accessible to parents,
friends, families, educators, and clergy concerned about group (cult) membership. It is
organized into four sections, with the majority of the book concentrating on what loved ones
and friends of group members should and should not do. A third section focuses on the
authors‘ unique explanation of the underlying cause of teenage problems that may
contribute to involvement in ―bad‖ cults (it‘s all due to illiteracy) and then proceeds to
berate ―brainwashing‖ theory and other criticisms of new religions. This section ends with
an appeal to reason and tolerance. Brief case vignettes, presumably from CAN files, are
presented to illustrate many of the authors‘ points.
Writing a balanced practical guide to the cult phenomenon is a laudable goal, and O‘Meara
and Koehler at times approach achieving it. Unfortunately the book ultimately descends
into the usual ―us‖ vs. ―them‖ dichotomy, the ―us‖ being enlightened civil libertarians and
liberal religionists, and the ―them‖ being coercive deprogrammers-cum-exit counselors (and
their supporters) who continue to hide behind discredited theories of brainwashing in their
attempts to spread hatred and religious bigotry.
What makes this attempt so disappointing is that it sporadically includes advice with which I
strongly agree. On page 9 the authors stress the importance of staying in communication
with the group member, that ―the importance of communication cannot be over-stressed in
a situation with deep belief differences.‖ More specifically, the authors suggest, ―You write.
You send letters, packages. You send photos. You let the person know you love them,
even if you disagree with some of his choices‖ (p. 48). Who can disagree with that? The
authors state that ―communication does not mean a one-way flow of ideas from you to the
other person...‖ Also quite true. I strongly advise families and friends not to argue, lecture,
or harangue their loved ones. However, the authors assume that parents (and other
The Cult Around the Corner
Nancy O‘Meara and Stan Koehler
Foundation for Religious Freedom International, Los Angeles, CA, 2003
For many years, it seemed impossible to find a non-academic, ―practical‖ book about cults
that did not advance a countercult viewpoint. Balanced views of the cult phenomenon
seemed relegated to weighty (and expensive) books from academic presses.
The Cult around the Corner (TCATC) is an unabashed attempt by Nancy O‘Meara and Stan
Koehler to correct this imbalance by ―bringing reason, understanding and open
communication to an often explosive subject‖ (from the Introduction, p. 5). Mr. Koehler is
identified as a conflict resolution teacher. Ms. O‘Meara is identified as an interfaith hotline
volunteer. I have argued strongly that, given the controversial nature and claims of all
sides on the cultic studies spectrum, it behooves researchers, clinicians, and writers on
these topics to make affiliations and a priori assumptions (or biases) known, especially
when we publish (cf. Dole &Eichel, 1981 Dubrow-Eichel, 1999 Dubrow-Eichel, 2002).
Both O‘Meara and Koehler are on the Board of the new Cult Awareness Network (CAN),
which many have argued is in fact a Church of Scientology ―front‖ organization. Whether or
not this claim is true, I think everyone agrees on the origins of the new CAN and that
members of the Church of Scientology play a very active role in it. Ms. O‘Meara‘s
connection with CAN is only hinted at in her biography in TCATC, and Mr. Koehler‘s
affiliation is not mentioned at all. Interestingly, although the CAN website lists some Board
members‘ religious affiliations (Koehler is identified as a Buddhist, and a former Secretary is
identified as a member of the Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness), it says nothing
about O‘Meara‘s full-time staff status with, and rank within the Church of Scientology, a fact
that she proudly indicated during our various conversations in person.
A cursory Google search on 7/20/04 yielded 524 references or ―hits‖ on the Internet, a
testimony to the broad dissemination and potential influence of The Cult around the Corner
(TCATC). It is an easy-to-read, 88-page book, designed to be accessible to parents,
friends, families, educators, and clergy concerned about group (cult) membership. It is
organized into four sections, with the majority of the book concentrating on what loved ones
and friends of group members should and should not do. A third section focuses on the
authors‘ unique explanation of the underlying cause of teenage problems that may
contribute to involvement in ―bad‖ cults (it‘s all due to illiteracy) and then proceeds to
berate ―brainwashing‖ theory and other criticisms of new religions. This section ends with
an appeal to reason and tolerance. Brief case vignettes, presumably from CAN files, are
presented to illustrate many of the authors‘ points.
Writing a balanced practical guide to the cult phenomenon is a laudable goal, and O‘Meara
and Koehler at times approach achieving it. Unfortunately the book ultimately descends
into the usual ―us‖ vs. ―them‖ dichotomy, the ―us‖ being enlightened civil libertarians and
liberal religionists, and the ―them‖ being coercive deprogrammers-cum-exit counselors (and
their supporters) who continue to hide behind discredited theories of brainwashing in their
attempts to spread hatred and religious bigotry.
What makes this attempt so disappointing is that it sporadically includes advice with which I
strongly agree. On page 9 the authors stress the importance of staying in communication
with the group member, that ―the importance of communication cannot be over-stressed in
a situation with deep belief differences.‖ More specifically, the authors suggest, ―You write.
You send letters, packages. You send photos. You let the person know you love them,
even if you disagree with some of his choices‖ (p. 48). Who can disagree with that? The
authors state that ―communication does not mean a one-way flow of ideas from you to the
other person...‖ Also quite true. I strongly advise families and friends not to argue, lecture,
or harangue their loved ones. However, the authors assume that parents (and other
