Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989, Page 71
discuss The Moore Repot but it was clear that Ken was becoming exhausted. Finally, Curt
half-kiddingly ordered Ken to get to bed. Ken complied.
Running errands. Curt and Sandy used this time to take stock of their supplies. Generally,
the deprogrammers took stock of food supplies at some point every day. One of the
deprogrammers was then designated to do the food shopping. The deprogrammers ate well
but not expensively. Food money was included in the overall deprogramming bill. This
evening, the overall food supply was in good shape, but the deprogrammers were short on
beer, Twinkies, and cigarettes. Curt figured these items (with the exception of the beer)
could be easily obtained at a convenience store like Seven-Eleven or Wawa. Along with
Sandy and Brian, we headed out.
The trip to Wawa ended up taking two hours. It became an outing, a brief reprieve from
being indoors and under constant pressure to perform all the time. Brian made some phone
calls. Curt shopped not only for food but for greeting cards. Sandy looked at magazines.
After making the purchases, we sat down on a curb and made small talk. We then left the
store, and Curt drove to the Krispos' house. Curt had deprogrammed the Krispo daughter
about a year ago. I waited in the car as Curt visited. Although I knew this family (they had
been referred to Curt through my counseling practice, the Re-Entry Therapy, Information
and Referral Network) I was not invited in for the visit and I did not ask to be so. This kind
of “social call” seems to be a fairly common practice among deprogrammers, who rely
heavily on word-of- mouth referrals and other social contacts in the extensive, informal
anti-cult “network” of affected families. In addition, deprogramming is so personal, intense,
and emotional (and expensive), that many times families and deprogrammers seem to
become fast and long-term friends.
Casual conversation and my struggle with overinvolvement. Following the visit with
the Krispo family, we headed back to the Epstein house. Everyone else had gone to sleep.
We unpacked our grocery bags and put the beer, soda, and milk in the refrigerator, and the
packaged goods (Twinkies, pretzels, potato chips) in the laundry room. Beers were cracked
open, and everyone seemed to relax. By now I felt totally and overly involved with the
deprogramming process and the deprogrammers. As Curt and Sandy drank and smoked, I
felt an indescribable urge to join in. So I grabbed a beer and bummed a cigarette, and I too
smoked and drank. While drinking was not foreign to me, I had given up smoking 9 months
ago. “is was a relapse for me, yet it also felt so good. I lost a significant amount of
professional distance that evening. I knew it as it happened, but I didn't seem to care.
Finally, the deprogrammers decided to head back outside, to a bar. As usual this jaunt was
strictly limited to Curt and Sandy. I felt somewhat panicked by my own apparent loss of
control (i.e., my smoking), so I was glad that Curt and Sandy in effect gave me an easy
opportunity to leave the Epsteins and return to my own house. I got into my car and drove
home.
The Fifth Day: Morning
Sandy explains deprogramming. I arrived back at the Epstein house at around 9:00 am.
It was a beautiful mild Spring day. I was let into the house by George, the security man.
Soon afterward, Beth Epstein came downstairs for breakfast before leaving for her weekend
job. Beth always looked annoyed the few times I saw her. In general, she seemed to feel
put out and inconvenienced by this invasion of people. She did not interact very much with
the team, and she usually just seemed to be trying to carry on with her life as though
nothing interfered. Beth and George were the only two people awake. I listened to Beth
chat and then complain about her job and friends while we both drank coffee, until she left
shortly after 10 am.
Everyone else remained asleep, so I went into the den to work on my notes and read some
articles Brian had lent me. Just before noon, Sandy came down. Ken was still asleep, and
discuss The Moore Repot but it was clear that Ken was becoming exhausted. Finally, Curt
half-kiddingly ordered Ken to get to bed. Ken complied.
Running errands. Curt and Sandy used this time to take stock of their supplies. Generally,
the deprogrammers took stock of food supplies at some point every day. One of the
deprogrammers was then designated to do the food shopping. The deprogrammers ate well
but not expensively. Food money was included in the overall deprogramming bill. This
evening, the overall food supply was in good shape, but the deprogrammers were short on
beer, Twinkies, and cigarettes. Curt figured these items (with the exception of the beer)
could be easily obtained at a convenience store like Seven-Eleven or Wawa. Along with
Sandy and Brian, we headed out.
The trip to Wawa ended up taking two hours. It became an outing, a brief reprieve from
being indoors and under constant pressure to perform all the time. Brian made some phone
calls. Curt shopped not only for food but for greeting cards. Sandy looked at magazines.
After making the purchases, we sat down on a curb and made small talk. We then left the
store, and Curt drove to the Krispos' house. Curt had deprogrammed the Krispo daughter
about a year ago. I waited in the car as Curt visited. Although I knew this family (they had
been referred to Curt through my counseling practice, the Re-Entry Therapy, Information
and Referral Network) I was not invited in for the visit and I did not ask to be so. This kind
of “social call” seems to be a fairly common practice among deprogrammers, who rely
heavily on word-of- mouth referrals and other social contacts in the extensive, informal
anti-cult “network” of affected families. In addition, deprogramming is so personal, intense,
and emotional (and expensive), that many times families and deprogrammers seem to
become fast and long-term friends.
Casual conversation and my struggle with overinvolvement. Following the visit with
the Krispo family, we headed back to the Epstein house. Everyone else had gone to sleep.
We unpacked our grocery bags and put the beer, soda, and milk in the refrigerator, and the
packaged goods (Twinkies, pretzels, potato chips) in the laundry room. Beers were cracked
open, and everyone seemed to relax. By now I felt totally and overly involved with the
deprogramming process and the deprogrammers. As Curt and Sandy drank and smoked, I
felt an indescribable urge to join in. So I grabbed a beer and bummed a cigarette, and I too
smoked and drank. While drinking was not foreign to me, I had given up smoking 9 months
ago. “is was a relapse for me, yet it also felt so good. I lost a significant amount of
professional distance that evening. I knew it as it happened, but I didn't seem to care.
Finally, the deprogrammers decided to head back outside, to a bar. As usual this jaunt was
strictly limited to Curt and Sandy. I felt somewhat panicked by my own apparent loss of
control (i.e., my smoking), so I was glad that Curt and Sandy in effect gave me an easy
opportunity to leave the Epsteins and return to my own house. I got into my car and drove
home.
The Fifth Day: Morning
Sandy explains deprogramming. I arrived back at the Epstein house at around 9:00 am.
It was a beautiful mild Spring day. I was let into the house by George, the security man.
Soon afterward, Beth Epstein came downstairs for breakfast before leaving for her weekend
job. Beth always looked annoyed the few times I saw her. In general, she seemed to feel
put out and inconvenienced by this invasion of people. She did not interact very much with
the team, and she usually just seemed to be trying to carry on with her life as though
nothing interfered. Beth and George were the only two people awake. I listened to Beth
chat and then complain about her job and friends while we both drank coffee, until she left
shortly after 10 am.
Everyone else remained asleep, so I went into the den to work on my notes and read some
articles Brian had lent me. Just before noon, Sandy came down. Ken was still asleep, and
