Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2006, Page 8
appear to be out of touch. This might indicate that some degree of dissociation exists.
However, overwhelming feelings periodically break through. Rather insignificant incidents
often trigger emotions that have been displaced from their original source.
Tim‘s mother would at times act kind and loving toward him in front of other people.
However, when Tim and his mother were home alone, she would either ignore him or yell at
him for not living up to her high expectations. The only time that she was pleasant was
during the family dinner hour, which was observed as an important ritual with prayer and
food. He has no memory of her showing an authentically caring (or empathic) attitude
toward him. Tim took solace in food as the only sign of love that his mother showed. He
also learned that people can be deceptive, acting one way in public and another way in
private.
Tim‘s father, although irascible and explosive, showed Tim occasional positive attention
when they worked on household projects together. However, his mother always complained
about the quality of the workmanship. Tim felt that his father was unable to stand up to his
mother and that he displaced his frustration with her onto Tim. Although his parents wished
to present a perfect marriage to others in the community, Tim did not see real affection
between them and clearly believed that their frustrations with each other and the demands
of the cult were taken out on him.
Move to Foreign-Based Monastery
When Tim was 13, he was sent by his parents to another country, to a cult-affiliated
monastic community in which approximately one hundred members resided. This group
centered on the restoration of the medieval church. More strongly affiliated male cult
members lived monastic lives and engaged in elaborate medieval rituals. At the monastery,
Tim‘s days were highly structured, with long periods of church services and mind-numbing
rituals. He was bombarded with tapes and videos of his leader, all of which were in a foreign
language.
Although Tim had been anxious about this dramatic change in his life, he felt relieved about
leaving his abusive home. His parents had told him that they were sending him away to
escape the evils of the American school system. He feels, however, that his parents‘ primary
purpose in sending him to the community was to prove their loyalty to the cult and to
impress the leaders. Again, Tim‘s needs were not considered, and presently he feels that he
was exploited.
When Tim entered the monastery his world dramatically changed. When he was a small
child, he had been determined to be the first to learn to dive into the pool, despite his fears.
Now he felt that, to survive, he had to dive into the rules of the monastery and leave
childhood behind. In addition to his need to learn a foreign language, Tim had to adjust to a
whole set of new rituals. Fortunately, as an appealing young American, Tim was seen as a
―pet‖ and was befriended by some of the men. But the men who befriended Tim eventually
were sent on other missions or to a hospital for ―re-socialization,‖ which meant that
powerful psychiatric drugs were used to control them. He feels that he was always losing
people who were kind or important to him.
This fear of loss has appeared again later, in his relationships in his present life. For
example, when his mother-in-law died, he believed that this was just another indication that
he would lose everyone he loved.
There were few teenagers in this monastic center, so Tim was deprived of a peer group.
This deprivation has had a lasting impact on his life, and he finds it quite difficult to make
friends with peers in his present life. He feels different from others and continues to
experience himself as a 13-year-old among men. [This behavior contrasts with second-
appear to be out of touch. This might indicate that some degree of dissociation exists.
However, overwhelming feelings periodically break through. Rather insignificant incidents
often trigger emotions that have been displaced from their original source.
Tim‘s mother would at times act kind and loving toward him in front of other people.
However, when Tim and his mother were home alone, she would either ignore him or yell at
him for not living up to her high expectations. The only time that she was pleasant was
during the family dinner hour, which was observed as an important ritual with prayer and
food. He has no memory of her showing an authentically caring (or empathic) attitude
toward him. Tim took solace in food as the only sign of love that his mother showed. He
also learned that people can be deceptive, acting one way in public and another way in
private.
Tim‘s father, although irascible and explosive, showed Tim occasional positive attention
when they worked on household projects together. However, his mother always complained
about the quality of the workmanship. Tim felt that his father was unable to stand up to his
mother and that he displaced his frustration with her onto Tim. Although his parents wished
to present a perfect marriage to others in the community, Tim did not see real affection
between them and clearly believed that their frustrations with each other and the demands
of the cult were taken out on him.
Move to Foreign-Based Monastery
When Tim was 13, he was sent by his parents to another country, to a cult-affiliated
monastic community in which approximately one hundred members resided. This group
centered on the restoration of the medieval church. More strongly affiliated male cult
members lived monastic lives and engaged in elaborate medieval rituals. At the monastery,
Tim‘s days were highly structured, with long periods of church services and mind-numbing
rituals. He was bombarded with tapes and videos of his leader, all of which were in a foreign
language.
Although Tim had been anxious about this dramatic change in his life, he felt relieved about
leaving his abusive home. His parents had told him that they were sending him away to
escape the evils of the American school system. He feels, however, that his parents‘ primary
purpose in sending him to the community was to prove their loyalty to the cult and to
impress the leaders. Again, Tim‘s needs were not considered, and presently he feels that he
was exploited.
When Tim entered the monastery his world dramatically changed. When he was a small
child, he had been determined to be the first to learn to dive into the pool, despite his fears.
Now he felt that, to survive, he had to dive into the rules of the monastery and leave
childhood behind. In addition to his need to learn a foreign language, Tim had to adjust to a
whole set of new rituals. Fortunately, as an appealing young American, Tim was seen as a
―pet‖ and was befriended by some of the men. But the men who befriended Tim eventually
were sent on other missions or to a hospital for ―re-socialization,‖ which meant that
powerful psychiatric drugs were used to control them. He feels that he was always losing
people who were kind or important to him.
This fear of loss has appeared again later, in his relationships in his present life. For
example, when his mother-in-law died, he believed that this was just another indication that
he would lose everyone he loved.
There were few teenagers in this monastic center, so Tim was deprived of a peer group.
This deprivation has had a lasting impact on his life, and he finds it quite difficult to make
friends with peers in his present life. He feels different from others and continues to
experience himself as a 13-year-old among men. [This behavior contrasts with second-
