Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2006, Page 81
in or recommendations made by this paper. That is not to say that the report‘s
recommendations (e.g., developing bio-imaging markers, surveillance technologies, data
mining) are not useful. Ultimately, however, Jihadist terrorism is about the decisions that
certain individuals make to kill other individuals. These decisions are not predestined. They
have cultural, interpersonal, and psychological antecedents. Changing the antecedents of
violence can prevent it. The authorities responsible for homeland security and the struggle
against Jihadist terrorism do not appear to have appreciated this fact as much as they
should, perhaps because social and behavioral scientists are disinclined to use qualitative
methods, such as case study methodology (Dole, 1995), to study the complex problem of
Jihadist violence. Such methods have been essential to the cultic studies field. I hope that
this paper will stimulate dialogue between researchers, helpers, community leaders,
families, and affected individuals so that they can examine the problem of Jihadist violence
from fresh perspectives, including those of cultic studies experts.
References
ABC News Poll. (2006, September 5–7). Retrieved October 6, 2006, from
http://pollingreport.com/religion.htm
Answers.com. American Heritage dictionary definition of ―jihad.‖ Retrieved October 12, 2006, from
http://www.answers.com/jihad%20definition
Bagby, Ihsan. (2004). Executive Summary: A portrait of Detroit mosques: Muslim views on policy,
politics, and religion. Clinton, MI: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. [Retrieved
October 6, 2006, from
http://www.ispu.us/go/images/F000196/Detriot_Mosque_Exec_Summary.pdf
Barker, Eileen. (1984). The making of a Moonie: Choice or brainwashing? Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Baron, Robert A. (1992). Psychology (second edition). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Bawer, Bruce. (2006). While Europe slept: How radical Islam is destroying the West from within. New
York: Doubleday.
CBS News Poll. (2006, April 6–9). Retrieved October 6, 2006, from
http://pollingreport.com/religion.htm
Centner, Christopher. (2002). The cult that is North Korea. [Electronic version]. Cultic Studies Review,
1(3).
Centner, Christopher. (2003). Cults and terrorism: Similarities and differences. [Electronic version].
Cultic Studies Review, 2(2).
Cialdini, Robert B. (1984). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. New York: William Morrow.
Conway, F., Siegelman, J. H., Carmichael, C. W., &Coggins, J. (1986). Information disease: Effects of
covert induction and deprogramming. Update: A Journal of New Religious Movements, 10, 45-57.
Csillag, Ron. (2005, January 7). Poll: Americans go to church more regularly than Canadians. Pew
Forum on Religion &Public Life, Religion News. Retrieved October 12, 2006, from
http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=4247
Dole, Arthur A. (2006). Are terrorists cultists? [Electronic version]. Cultic Studies Review, 5(2).
Dole, Arthur A. (1995). Clinical case studies of cult members. Cultic Studies Journal, 12(2), 121-147.
Dubrow-Eichel, Steve K. (1989). Deprogramming: A case study, part 1: personal observations of the
group process. Cultic Studies Journal, 6(2), 1-117.
Fallaci, Oriana. (2004). The force of reason. New York: Rizzoli International.
Fellows, Bob. (2000). Easily fooled: New insights and techniques for resisting manipulation.
Minneapolis, MN: MindMatters.
Festinger, Leon, &Carlsmith, James M. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal
of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58, 203-210.
Garden, Mary. (2003). The serpent rising (revised edition). Melbourne, Australia: Temple House Pty.
Ltd.
Gomez, Jaime. (2006). Terrorist motivations, extreme violence, and the pursuit of weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). [Electronic version]. Cultic Studies Review, 5(2).
Huntington, Samuel P. (1996). The clash of civilizations: Remaking of world order. New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Kent, Stephen A. (2001). From slogans to mantras: Social protest and religious conversion in the late
Vietnam War era. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
in or recommendations made by this paper. That is not to say that the report‘s
recommendations (e.g., developing bio-imaging markers, surveillance technologies, data
mining) are not useful. Ultimately, however, Jihadist terrorism is about the decisions that
certain individuals make to kill other individuals. These decisions are not predestined. They
have cultural, interpersonal, and psychological antecedents. Changing the antecedents of
violence can prevent it. The authorities responsible for homeland security and the struggle
against Jihadist terrorism do not appear to have appreciated this fact as much as they
should, perhaps because social and behavioral scientists are disinclined to use qualitative
methods, such as case study methodology (Dole, 1995), to study the complex problem of
Jihadist violence. Such methods have been essential to the cultic studies field. I hope that
this paper will stimulate dialogue between researchers, helpers, community leaders,
families, and affected individuals so that they can examine the problem of Jihadist violence
from fresh perspectives, including those of cultic studies experts.
References
ABC News Poll. (2006, September 5–7). Retrieved October 6, 2006, from
http://pollingreport.com/religion.htm
Answers.com. American Heritage dictionary definition of ―jihad.‖ Retrieved October 12, 2006, from
http://www.answers.com/jihad%20definition
Bagby, Ihsan. (2004). Executive Summary: A portrait of Detroit mosques: Muslim views on policy,
politics, and religion. Clinton, MI: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. [Retrieved
October 6, 2006, from
http://www.ispu.us/go/images/F000196/Detriot_Mosque_Exec_Summary.pdf
Barker, Eileen. (1984). The making of a Moonie: Choice or brainwashing? Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Baron, Robert A. (1992). Psychology (second edition). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Bawer, Bruce. (2006). While Europe slept: How radical Islam is destroying the West from within. New
York: Doubleday.
CBS News Poll. (2006, April 6–9). Retrieved October 6, 2006, from
http://pollingreport.com/religion.htm
Centner, Christopher. (2002). The cult that is North Korea. [Electronic version]. Cultic Studies Review,
1(3).
Centner, Christopher. (2003). Cults and terrorism: Similarities and differences. [Electronic version].
Cultic Studies Review, 2(2).
Cialdini, Robert B. (1984). Influence: The psychology of persuasion. New York: William Morrow.
Conway, F., Siegelman, J. H., Carmichael, C. W., &Coggins, J. (1986). Information disease: Effects of
covert induction and deprogramming. Update: A Journal of New Religious Movements, 10, 45-57.
Csillag, Ron. (2005, January 7). Poll: Americans go to church more regularly than Canadians. Pew
Forum on Religion &Public Life, Religion News. Retrieved October 12, 2006, from
http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=4247
Dole, Arthur A. (2006). Are terrorists cultists? [Electronic version]. Cultic Studies Review, 5(2).
Dole, Arthur A. (1995). Clinical case studies of cult members. Cultic Studies Journal, 12(2), 121-147.
Dubrow-Eichel, Steve K. (1989). Deprogramming: A case study, part 1: personal observations of the
group process. Cultic Studies Journal, 6(2), 1-117.
Fallaci, Oriana. (2004). The force of reason. New York: Rizzoli International.
Fellows, Bob. (2000). Easily fooled: New insights and techniques for resisting manipulation.
Minneapolis, MN: MindMatters.
Festinger, Leon, &Carlsmith, James M. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal
of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58, 203-210.
Garden, Mary. (2003). The serpent rising (revised edition). Melbourne, Australia: Temple House Pty.
Ltd.
Gomez, Jaime. (2006). Terrorist motivations, extreme violence, and the pursuit of weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). [Electronic version]. Cultic Studies Review, 5(2).
Huntington, Samuel P. (1996). The clash of civilizations: Remaking of world order. New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Kent, Stephen A. (2001). From slogans to mantras: Social protest and religious conversion in the late
Vietnam War era. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.
