Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1989, Page 27
Furthermore, the values of the group are being transferred to the next generation, to the
children of such groups, whether or not they live in communes or closed communities.
The critique of the new groups indicates that the overall harm caused by such groups is
greater than the benefit they may bring:
*Even without taking into account the result of different research on the subject it seems
that the prospect of improving mental balance, (whether or not concerning those with
psychological problems) is smaller than the real risk of harm or deterioration being
caused to an individual‟s personality, especially in light of the fact that the groups use an
intensive system of techniques which is applied indiscriminately by non-professional
people.
*The claim that people with severe psychological problems find shelter in such groups is
not true. The groups avoid recruiting very problematic people and with no hesitation will
even throw out from their ranks those members whose condition has deteriorated while
with the group.
*Feelings of happiness or demonstration of such feelings do not necessarily indicate a
better mental balance. The capacity to function within specific roles and frameworks
does not indicate that there is no change for the worse in the general ability to function.
*Even when there is no real impairment in functioning and mental balance, there is, in
any case, a worrying change in the individuality of the person, and parallel danger of
substantial erosion of the core values of democratic society.
The activities of these groups have been discussed at official and at governmental levels in
various locations throughout the world. In Australia, for example, in 1964 the government
authorities of the State of Victoria set up a commission of inquiry regarding Scientology
(“The Anderson Commission”). Following the recommendations made by the Commission,
legislation was passed which placed severe limits on the activities of this organization. In
1971 the British Parliament assigned the preparation of an exhaustive report about
Scientology to a Member of Parliament, Sir John Foster. The report recommended certain
changes in legislation. In 1970 the government of Ontario, Canada, set up a committee to
investigate groups practicing techniques of therapy and hypnotherapy (0.74). A decade
later the Ontario government initiated a further report discussing the subject of new groups.
In the United States public discussions were held at the initiative of legislatures in the
States of New York, California, Vermont and Massachusetts (0.80 0.76 0.77 0.79).
In 1978, the American House of Representatives examined the activities of the Unification
Church (Moon) and in 1979 a special House committee investigated the Jonestown Incident
involving the mass suicide committed by the followers of Jim Jones in Guyana (0.82). In
1984 the Committee for Youth, Culture and Education of the European Parliament prepared
a report about “the new religious movements” within the European Community (0.83). The
full parliament ratified the report and passed a special resolution advocating a uniform
policy regarding the handling of these groups. The resolution contained a proposed set of
voluntary codes of conduct to be adopted by the groups. A report concerning the new
groups has also recently been submitted to the president of France (0.85).
Scrutiny of two of the most significant reports gives an idea of the range of topics discussed
in these official investigations. Upon the completion of his report about Scientology, Sir
John Foster draws two general conclusions: a) legislation must be passed to regulate mental
health therapy involving a fee, as those in need of such treatment may be exploited by
persons lacking the appropriate education and skills and who are neither bound nor
committed to a professional code of ethics b) various groups enjoy tax exemptions as a
result of being recognized as a charity or public institution, while the impression exists that
the status granted to them is incompatible with the obvious commercial nature of their
Furthermore, the values of the group are being transferred to the next generation, to the
children of such groups, whether or not they live in communes or closed communities.
The critique of the new groups indicates that the overall harm caused by such groups is
greater than the benefit they may bring:
*Even without taking into account the result of different research on the subject it seems
that the prospect of improving mental balance, (whether or not concerning those with
psychological problems) is smaller than the real risk of harm or deterioration being
caused to an individual‟s personality, especially in light of the fact that the groups use an
intensive system of techniques which is applied indiscriminately by non-professional
people.
*The claim that people with severe psychological problems find shelter in such groups is
not true. The groups avoid recruiting very problematic people and with no hesitation will
even throw out from their ranks those members whose condition has deteriorated while
with the group.
*Feelings of happiness or demonstration of such feelings do not necessarily indicate a
better mental balance. The capacity to function within specific roles and frameworks
does not indicate that there is no change for the worse in the general ability to function.
*Even when there is no real impairment in functioning and mental balance, there is, in
any case, a worrying change in the individuality of the person, and parallel danger of
substantial erosion of the core values of democratic society.
The activities of these groups have been discussed at official and at governmental levels in
various locations throughout the world. In Australia, for example, in 1964 the government
authorities of the State of Victoria set up a commission of inquiry regarding Scientology
(“The Anderson Commission”). Following the recommendations made by the Commission,
legislation was passed which placed severe limits on the activities of this organization. In
1971 the British Parliament assigned the preparation of an exhaustive report about
Scientology to a Member of Parliament, Sir John Foster. The report recommended certain
changes in legislation. In 1970 the government of Ontario, Canada, set up a committee to
investigate groups practicing techniques of therapy and hypnotherapy (0.74). A decade
later the Ontario government initiated a further report discussing the subject of new groups.
In the United States public discussions were held at the initiative of legislatures in the
States of New York, California, Vermont and Massachusetts (0.80 0.76 0.77 0.79).
In 1978, the American House of Representatives examined the activities of the Unification
Church (Moon) and in 1979 a special House committee investigated the Jonestown Incident
involving the mass suicide committed by the followers of Jim Jones in Guyana (0.82). In
1984 the Committee for Youth, Culture and Education of the European Parliament prepared
a report about “the new religious movements” within the European Community (0.83). The
full parliament ratified the report and passed a special resolution advocating a uniform
policy regarding the handling of these groups. The resolution contained a proposed set of
voluntary codes of conduct to be adopted by the groups. A report concerning the new
groups has also recently been submitted to the president of France (0.85).
Scrutiny of two of the most significant reports gives an idea of the range of topics discussed
in these official investigations. Upon the completion of his report about Scientology, Sir
John Foster draws two general conclusions: a) legislation must be passed to regulate mental
health therapy involving a fee, as those in need of such treatment may be exploited by
persons lacking the appropriate education and skills and who are neither bound nor
committed to a professional code of ethics b) various groups enjoy tax exemptions as a
result of being recognized as a charity or public institution, while the impression exists that
the status granted to them is incompatible with the obvious commercial nature of their
