Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 13, No. 1, 1996, page 72
That search is in a philosophical and not a psychological context. As such, it is of limited use
to those interested in studying cult and cultlike behavior in great depth.
Frank MacHovec, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Behavioral Medicine
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Christians in the Crossfire: Guarding Your Mind Against Manipulation and
Self-Deception. Mark McCann &James Foster. Barclay Press, Newberg, OR, 1990,
175 pages.
This book, as its title reveals, was written by Christians for Christians. By Christians is
meant fundamentalist Christians, but not uncritical Christians. The book regards Christians
as standing in a “crossfire” between “a world of secular extremists” and “the strange world
of Christian extremists.” The world of secular extremists includes the anti-Christian secular
humanists, the New Age movement, and occultism. The world of Christian extremists
consists mostly of “paranoid” Christians espousing “conspiracy theories and apocalyptic
themes.” The goal of the book is to serve as a guide to lead readers “to become Christian
critical thinkers.” Terms used are carefully defined, both in the text and in a glossary at the
end of the book.
The book states that “both humanists and Christians have strayed from the truth” by
“creating extreme arguments” that are “built on faulty logic.” Extremists in both camps “go
to unreasonable lengths to support or protect their beliefs.” Accurate and well-chosen
examples are provided to illustrate this point. Readers are exhorted to evaluate all teaching
critically, whether from within or outside Christianity. Both accurate and inaccurate
incoming information may be enhanced by the use of “vivid anecdotes and experiences” in
communication. Excellent illustrative examples of this are included. A person can work to
avoid these various “mental ambushes” by “looking for other explanations” and “taking a
historical perspective.” This pattern of clearly describing the pitfalls that can be built into the
creation and communication of false and/or misleading information, and then the offering of
ways of critically detecting and avoiding their influence is consistent throughout the book.
There is widespread, purposeful use of these pitfalls by cults in their systems of imposing
mind control.
I highly recommend this book for two reasons. Though this was not its intention, the book
teaches us how to identify pitfalls in communication that cults utilize often. As each pitfall is
described, ways of combating and/or avoiding it are provided. So, the book is a good
teaching guide for the cult awareness network. Second, I would encourage non-Christians
(as well as Christians) to read this book. I believe that unbiased non-Christians would gain a
new respect for that large group of Christian thinkers represented by the authors.
Christina M. Lemieux, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
Kutztown University
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
These reviews are an electronic version of reviews originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1996, Volume 13,
Number 1, pages 107-123. 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.
That search is in a philosophical and not a psychological context. As such, it is of limited use
to those interested in studying cult and cultlike behavior in great depth.
Frank MacHovec, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Behavioral Medicine
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Christians in the Crossfire: Guarding Your Mind Against Manipulation and
Self-Deception. Mark McCann &James Foster. Barclay Press, Newberg, OR, 1990,
175 pages.
This book, as its title reveals, was written by Christians for Christians. By Christians is
meant fundamentalist Christians, but not uncritical Christians. The book regards Christians
as standing in a “crossfire” between “a world of secular extremists” and “the strange world
of Christian extremists.” The world of secular extremists includes the anti-Christian secular
humanists, the New Age movement, and occultism. The world of Christian extremists
consists mostly of “paranoid” Christians espousing “conspiracy theories and apocalyptic
themes.” The goal of the book is to serve as a guide to lead readers “to become Christian
critical thinkers.” Terms used are carefully defined, both in the text and in a glossary at the
end of the book.
The book states that “both humanists and Christians have strayed from the truth” by
“creating extreme arguments” that are “built on faulty logic.” Extremists in both camps “go
to unreasonable lengths to support or protect their beliefs.” Accurate and well-chosen
examples are provided to illustrate this point. Readers are exhorted to evaluate all teaching
critically, whether from within or outside Christianity. Both accurate and inaccurate
incoming information may be enhanced by the use of “vivid anecdotes and experiences” in
communication. Excellent illustrative examples of this are included. A person can work to
avoid these various “mental ambushes” by “looking for other explanations” and “taking a
historical perspective.” This pattern of clearly describing the pitfalls that can be built into the
creation and communication of false and/or misleading information, and then the offering of
ways of critically detecting and avoiding their influence is consistent throughout the book.
There is widespread, purposeful use of these pitfalls by cults in their systems of imposing
mind control.
I highly recommend this book for two reasons. Though this was not its intention, the book
teaches us how to identify pitfalls in communication that cults utilize often. As each pitfall is
described, ways of combating and/or avoiding it are provided. So, the book is a good
teaching guide for the cult awareness network. Second, I would encourage non-Christians
(as well as Christians) to read this book. I believe that unbiased non-Christians would gain a
new respect for that large group of Christian thinkers represented by the authors.
Christina M. Lemieux, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
Kutztown University
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
These reviews are an electronic version of reviews originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1996, Volume 13,
Number 1, pages 107-123. 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.
