Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 2 No. 1 1985, Page 106
Shupe and Robbins notwithstanding, there is no spontaneous dialectic of ―deviance de-
amplification.‖ The lowered tone of argument at the conference was a result of the
organizers, Hugh Whitt and John Turner. They are scholar/gentlemen, and this had a
beneficial influence. But respect does not mean that one consents to another‘s views. The
objective situation has not changed. Any person who does not believe this central fact fails
to appreciate the seriousness of the issues.
In closing, it should be noted that these and other volatile issues were debated with candor
and decorum. The credit for this partly rests with the participants. But, as noted above, the
organizers are to be thanked for their dominant role in the establishment of an atmosphere
of civil and rigorous academic debate. Similar settings are required if the claimed ―de-
amplification‖ is to take place.
Sincerely,
Kevin Garvey
This article is an electronic version of an article originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1985, Volume 2,
Number 1, pages 169-174. Please keep in mind that the pagination of this electronic reprint differs from that of the
bound volume. This fact could affect how you enter bibliographic information in papers that you may write.
Shupe and Robbins notwithstanding, there is no spontaneous dialectic of ―deviance de-
amplification.‖ The lowered tone of argument at the conference was a result of the
organizers, Hugh Whitt and John Turner. They are scholar/gentlemen, and this had a
beneficial influence. But respect does not mean that one consents to another‘s views. The
objective situation has not changed. Any person who does not believe this central fact fails
to appreciate the seriousness of the issues.
In closing, it should be noted that these and other volatile issues were debated with candor
and decorum. The credit for this partly rests with the participants. But, as noted above, the
organizers are to be thanked for their dominant role in the establishment of an atmosphere
of civil and rigorous academic debate. Similar settings are required if the claimed ―de-
amplification‖ is to take place.
Sincerely,
Kevin Garvey
This article is an electronic version of an article originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1985, Volume 2,
Number 1, pages 169-174. Please keep in mind that the pagination of this electronic reprint differs from that of the
bound volume. This fact could affect how you enter bibliographic information in papers that you may write.
