Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 107
of these abuses to recognize what befell them, and so they take refuge in silence and denial.‖
(Larry Rohter, New York Times, Internet, 5/16/05)
Education
National Conference on Cults
Brooklyn, MN, will be the site in May for an educational conference entitled ―Cults and
Culture: Discerning Truth in Our Time,‖ at Brooklyn Park Evangelical Church. It will include
former cult members telling their stories, a workshop for families, and presentations by Dr.
Paul Martin and Robert Pardon, who direct centers devoted to the rehabilitation of former cult
members. (Patrick Thornton, Minnesota Sun, 4/28/05)
Faith Healing
The Role of Faith in Healing
Consideration of the patient‘s religious beliefs seems to be growing in contemporary
medicine, especially in certain hospital settings. The case of a Minnesota Hmong family,
which practices the traditional faith healing of its native Viet Nam, illustrates the
association. A physician told a family that its mother would die unless the pressure of blood
on her brain was relieved through surgery. They preferred to perform a religious healing
instead. A Christian surgeon told them he supported this attempt to cure, adding that they
should come to him if they failed. They were unable to cure the woman, but felt the ritual
had cleared the way for the surgery that soon returned her to health. The episode illustrates
modern medical treatment taking into account a spiritual dimension. (Charles Duhigg, Los
Angeles Times, Internet, 2/28/05)
Freeman Group
Creating Group Identity
Former followers of Bill and Patsy Freeman, founders of the Freeman Group, say the
couple‘s creation of a ―corporate identity‖ led to many broken marriages and shattered local
churches. The ex-members say that the Freemans, who have now brought their ministry to
the Spokane area, employ ―love bombing‖ followed by ―concentrated indoctrination‖ to
teach that loyalty to the Freemans equals loyalty to God.
Patsy Freeman controlled every detail of the lives of women in the circle around her she
told them what color to paint their houses, when to do their laundry, and how to clean their
homes. They also reported to her each other‘s deviance from the lifestyle rules she set up.
A woman who grew up in the group described how the Freemans conducted ―burnings‖ of
possessions — including stuffed animals and pictures of relatives — which were said to
obstruct their spirituality. (Chris Collins, Whitworthian [Whitworth College], Internet,
2/22/05)
Former Follower Tells of Being Controlled
In a published warning to the community about the cult-like ministry of Bill and Patsy
Freeman, now operating in the Spokane area, Steve Kirk says that life in the group — he
joined at the age of 20, in 1970, and remained until 1979 — ―consisted of unwritten rules
and authoritarian shepherding of all aspects of our daily lives by more experienced
members. We were counseled to cut ties with our past life, family, and friends.‖ Kirk says
that Patsy Freeman, in 1972, persuaded a young woman in the group to drop out in her
senior year in college and marry him. The new bride, Deborah — who is still married to Kirk
— then became the housekeeper and cook not only for him but for 10 single male Freeman
followers. ―It wasn‘t until we were kicked out of the group in 1979 [no explanation given]
that we realized how brainwashed we had been.‖ (The Whitworthian, Internet, 4/5/05)
of these abuses to recognize what befell them, and so they take refuge in silence and denial.‖
(Larry Rohter, New York Times, Internet, 5/16/05)
Education
National Conference on Cults
Brooklyn, MN, will be the site in May for an educational conference entitled ―Cults and
Culture: Discerning Truth in Our Time,‖ at Brooklyn Park Evangelical Church. It will include
former cult members telling their stories, a workshop for families, and presentations by Dr.
Paul Martin and Robert Pardon, who direct centers devoted to the rehabilitation of former cult
members. (Patrick Thornton, Minnesota Sun, 4/28/05)
Faith Healing
The Role of Faith in Healing
Consideration of the patient‘s religious beliefs seems to be growing in contemporary
medicine, especially in certain hospital settings. The case of a Minnesota Hmong family,
which practices the traditional faith healing of its native Viet Nam, illustrates the
association. A physician told a family that its mother would die unless the pressure of blood
on her brain was relieved through surgery. They preferred to perform a religious healing
instead. A Christian surgeon told them he supported this attempt to cure, adding that they
should come to him if they failed. They were unable to cure the woman, but felt the ritual
had cleared the way for the surgery that soon returned her to health. The episode illustrates
modern medical treatment taking into account a spiritual dimension. (Charles Duhigg, Los
Angeles Times, Internet, 2/28/05)
Freeman Group
Creating Group Identity
Former followers of Bill and Patsy Freeman, founders of the Freeman Group, say the
couple‘s creation of a ―corporate identity‖ led to many broken marriages and shattered local
churches. The ex-members say that the Freemans, who have now brought their ministry to
the Spokane area, employ ―love bombing‖ followed by ―concentrated indoctrination‖ to
teach that loyalty to the Freemans equals loyalty to God.
Patsy Freeman controlled every detail of the lives of women in the circle around her she
told them what color to paint their houses, when to do their laundry, and how to clean their
homes. They also reported to her each other‘s deviance from the lifestyle rules she set up.
A woman who grew up in the group described how the Freemans conducted ―burnings‖ of
possessions — including stuffed animals and pictures of relatives — which were said to
obstruct their spirituality. (Chris Collins, Whitworthian [Whitworth College], Internet,
2/22/05)
Former Follower Tells of Being Controlled
In a published warning to the community about the cult-like ministry of Bill and Patsy
Freeman, now operating in the Spokane area, Steve Kirk says that life in the group — he
joined at the age of 20, in 1970, and remained until 1979 — ―consisted of unwritten rules
and authoritarian shepherding of all aspects of our daily lives by more experienced
members. We were counseled to cut ties with our past life, family, and friends.‖ Kirk says
that Patsy Freeman, in 1972, persuaded a young woman in the group to drop out in her
senior year in college and marry him. The new bride, Deborah — who is still married to Kirk
— then became the housekeeper and cook not only for him but for 10 single male Freeman
followers. ―It wasn‘t until we were kicked out of the group in 1979 [no explanation given]
that we realized how brainwashed we had been.‖ (The Whitworthian, Internet, 4/5/05)
