Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989, Page 69
be detected (although drugs were not mentioned, the letter did say “make sure it is
camouflaged”). Curt asked Ken if he would have questioned a direct order to bring in
something from India without going through customs. Ken replied in the negative he would
not have questioned it. Ken looked awed. He wondered why he had never heard these tales
while inside ISKCON. Curt explained that the information was closed, and the relatively low-
level devotees were not involved in planning such escapades.
Analysis of the challenge. At this point in the process it seemed that Curt was content to
allow the other deprogrammers to do much of the actual talking, while he watched over
them and made sure nothing got out of hand. Following the second day, the
deprogramming had become somewhat more relaxed and informal with an emphasis on
video and audiotapes. When Curt overheard Ken criticizing some of the anti-ISKCON
material, he decided it was time to challenge the deprogrammee with what he thought
really mattered, ISKCON's criminal behavior and disregard for both the individual's and
society's mores. The underlying message: whether or not Ken was coerced into taking cold
showers was a trivial point. The possibility of Ken's backsliding, however, was not a trivial
point, and this was not lost on Curt.
There was an additional issue that concerned Curt, and added to his vigilant stance with
Ken. Ken had often violated ISKCON rules, and ISKCON to a degree tolerated this deviant
behavior. Among deprogrammers, ISKCON had a reputation for being one of the most rigid
cults, with a strict set of rules that, for initiated members, were very difficult to violate
without feeling tremendous guilt. Although Curt did not possess formal psychiatric
diagnostic skills, he knew that Ken's rebelliousness in ISKCON might be a sign, not of strong
individualism, but of possible anti-social tendencies. This meant that Ken could be more
difficult to “completely” deprogram than the “average” Krishna devotee. This also meant
that Curt would have to work extra hard to ensure there would be no backsliding. (Curt
seemed to be correct- A year after his own deprogramming, Ken would assist another
deprogrammer on a number of Krishna deprogrammings his deprogramming team leader
would tell me that it sometimes seemed they were deprogramming Ken all over again in
addition to their actual deprogrammee.)
Fourth Day: Evening
The deprogrammers push. Curt continued to remind Ken of ISKCON's pattern of anti-
social behavior. He read from a Krishna flier describing ISKCON as a “contemporary
movement ...this is not a religion.” On the television talk shows we had been watching,
however, the ISKCON spokesman consistently referred to the Hare Krishna movement as
“an age-old religion,” thereby branding its critics anti-religious or anti-Hindu. Ken, wanting
to know the title and origin of the flier, asked Curt “what is that called?” Curt responded
harshly: “It‟s called saying whatever you want to fit the situation ...They are [such liars]!”
Brian joined in, confronting ISKCON astronomy and mathematics, noting that if Hindu
cosmology is so accurate and Western cosmology is a sham, then why is navigation based
on Greek mathematics mid cosmology? Why did the Romans colonize Europe and then
Europeans colonize North America. Why didn't India do it? This argument was too abstract
and somewhat lost on Ken. There were two conversations going on again. Brian was talking
with Ken, while Curt talked with Sandy. Both conversations were focused on debunking
ISKCON doctrine, although Brian presented Ken with abstract arguments and logic, trying to
explain how science processes, and how theories become facts. Ken cited ISKCON doctrine
on the big bang theory of the creation of the universe: “if you throw a stick of dynamite into
the kitchen, will order or chaos result from the explosion?” Brian tried to address “standard”
ISKCON criticism of post -Einsteinian astrophysics, but Ken was unable to follow him.
As Ken continued to discuss cosmology and theology with Brian, the talk became the most
abstract since the deprogramming began. (Brian later realized he wasn't getting through,
be detected (although drugs were not mentioned, the letter did say “make sure it is
camouflaged”). Curt asked Ken if he would have questioned a direct order to bring in
something from India without going through customs. Ken replied in the negative he would
not have questioned it. Ken looked awed. He wondered why he had never heard these tales
while inside ISKCON. Curt explained that the information was closed, and the relatively low-
level devotees were not involved in planning such escapades.
Analysis of the challenge. At this point in the process it seemed that Curt was content to
allow the other deprogrammers to do much of the actual talking, while he watched over
them and made sure nothing got out of hand. Following the second day, the
deprogramming had become somewhat more relaxed and informal with an emphasis on
video and audiotapes. When Curt overheard Ken criticizing some of the anti-ISKCON
material, he decided it was time to challenge the deprogrammee with what he thought
really mattered, ISKCON's criminal behavior and disregard for both the individual's and
society's mores. The underlying message: whether or not Ken was coerced into taking cold
showers was a trivial point. The possibility of Ken's backsliding, however, was not a trivial
point, and this was not lost on Curt.
There was an additional issue that concerned Curt, and added to his vigilant stance with
Ken. Ken had often violated ISKCON rules, and ISKCON to a degree tolerated this deviant
behavior. Among deprogrammers, ISKCON had a reputation for being one of the most rigid
cults, with a strict set of rules that, for initiated members, were very difficult to violate
without feeling tremendous guilt. Although Curt did not possess formal psychiatric
diagnostic skills, he knew that Ken's rebelliousness in ISKCON might be a sign, not of strong
individualism, but of possible anti-social tendencies. This meant that Ken could be more
difficult to “completely” deprogram than the “average” Krishna devotee. This also meant
that Curt would have to work extra hard to ensure there would be no backsliding. (Curt
seemed to be correct- A year after his own deprogramming, Ken would assist another
deprogrammer on a number of Krishna deprogrammings his deprogramming team leader
would tell me that it sometimes seemed they were deprogramming Ken all over again in
addition to their actual deprogrammee.)
Fourth Day: Evening
The deprogrammers push. Curt continued to remind Ken of ISKCON's pattern of anti-
social behavior. He read from a Krishna flier describing ISKCON as a “contemporary
movement ...this is not a religion.” On the television talk shows we had been watching,
however, the ISKCON spokesman consistently referred to the Hare Krishna movement as
“an age-old religion,” thereby branding its critics anti-religious or anti-Hindu. Ken, wanting
to know the title and origin of the flier, asked Curt “what is that called?” Curt responded
harshly: “It‟s called saying whatever you want to fit the situation ...They are [such liars]!”
Brian joined in, confronting ISKCON astronomy and mathematics, noting that if Hindu
cosmology is so accurate and Western cosmology is a sham, then why is navigation based
on Greek mathematics mid cosmology? Why did the Romans colonize Europe and then
Europeans colonize North America. Why didn't India do it? This argument was too abstract
and somewhat lost on Ken. There were two conversations going on again. Brian was talking
with Ken, while Curt talked with Sandy. Both conversations were focused on debunking
ISKCON doctrine, although Brian presented Ken with abstract arguments and logic, trying to
explain how science processes, and how theories become facts. Ken cited ISKCON doctrine
on the big bang theory of the creation of the universe: “if you throw a stick of dynamite into
the kitchen, will order or chaos result from the explosion?” Brian tried to address “standard”
ISKCON criticism of post -Einsteinian astrophysics, but Ken was unable to follow him.
As Ken continued to discuss cosmology and theology with Brian, the talk became the most
abstract since the deprogramming began. (Brian later realized he wasn't getting through,
