These reports are frequently augmented, so use your REFRESH BUTTON.
√ How Anton Hein of the Apologetics Index directs readers to AFF—>the American Family Foundation & AFF affiliates
The following is a page from the Apologetics Index/Anton Hein:
Apologetics Index
Counseling Resources on Cults, Sects, etc.
Aftereffects Of Coming Out Of A Cult by Janis Hutchinson [EMNR conference speaker 1996]
Choosing a New Church After A Painful Experience by Larry Pile [Wellspring Retreat with Paul Martin] See: Lawrence Pile bio/intelligence ties]
Coming Out Of The Cults by Margaret Taler Singer [Leadership of AFF, and advisor to the old CAN and on the board of F.A.C.T. Net]
Deprogramming and Exit-Counseling This article explains the difference between the two approaches. By Randall Watters
Dispelling the Myths By Paul R. Martin, Ph. D. [Wellspring Retreat, member of AFF’s Cultic Studies Journal advisory board and Christian Research Journal/CRI JOURNAL contributing editor 1992 to 1996]
From Deprogramming to Thought Reform Consultation by Carol Giambalvo [deprogrammer and officeholder with the old CAN and now director of reFocus, below]
Scientologists: A Note To Those In Dept 20/RTC Who Want To Leave By ex-Scientologist Robert Vaughn Young
Tips for Families Article on the Wellspring site
Three Elements of Cult Counseling by Allen Tate Wood and Jane E. M. Williams
Towards A New Model Of ''Cult Control'' by Robert Vaugh Young
(…)
Meadow Haven Project
Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center [member of AFF’s Cultic Studies Journal advisory board and Christian Research Journal/CRI JOURNAL contributing editor 1992 to 1996]
(…)
Freedom of Mind A list "developed in cooperation with Steve Hassan's freedom of mind website." The list allows for "the free exchange of ideas, insights, and experiences around cults, mind control, undue influence by groups and individuals, cult recovery, and related issues. "
Note from Anton Hein: Be aware of the distinction between secular anticult- and Christian countercult organizations. Apologetics Index recommends the organizations listed here, but requests that you understand our disclaimer
n American Family Foundation - Information About Cults, Cultic Groups, Mind Control, Cult Abuse, and Psychological Manipulation. AFF is the world's largest, secular anticult organization.
n Freedom of Mind - Steve Hassan's organization. For a description of Hassan's approach, see his book, Releasing The Bonds
Editor’s Note: Hassan, who exited the Unification Church/Sun Myung Moon, worked previously with the old Cult Awareness Network. The Steve Hassan bio—Steven Hassan, M.Ed., LMHC—on his Freedom of Mind web site fails to mention his prior connection to the old CAN as a cult deprogrammer.
n New England Institute of Religious Research - Headed by Bob Pardon. Is in the process of setting up a halfway house.
NEIRR is a member org of EMNR
n Project Outreach - Brief questionnaire that helps the professionals at AFF provide you with a list of resources and suggestions that have proven to be beneficial for many.
Editor’s Note: PO is a project of American Family Foundation directed by Carol Giambalvo who was an officer in the old CAN/Cult Awareness Network. See how Project Outreach identifies with AFF.
“Project Outreach
AFF (American Family Foundation) has begun to implement Project Outreach, which is an ambitious project that seeks to identify ex-cult members (especially those individuals who have walked away from a cultic group and have received no help during their recovery) and are perhaps unaware of the potential resources available to them…”
n reFOCUS Recovering Former Cultists Support Network.
A spin-off org of the old CAN/Cult Awareness Network. Read reFOCUS history
n Watchman Fellowship - Considered by many to be the foremost Christian countercult and apologetics ministry. Presents a wealth of information and resources for further study online.
n Wellspring - Wellspring provides an individualized program of counseling, instruction, restoration, and relaxation. Professionals counselors help rebuild lives after a negative group or relationship experiences. [Paul Martin is on the AFF Cultic Journal Studies advisory board; Christian Research Journal/CRI JOURNAL contributing editor 1992 to 1996 / See also: bio/intelligence connection of Wellspring’s Lawrence Pile]
√ How Anton Hein/Apologetics Index casts AFF/American Family Foundation [including the old CAN] in a positive light
√ How Ronald Enroth appeared to be the spokesman for the AFF conference
APOLOGETICS INDFEX/Anton Hein is affiliated to EMNR/Evangelical Ministries to New Religions member organization Apologia [Rich Poll, Paul Carden and Ron Rhodes]. Apologia is also affiliated to Campus Crusade’s Leadership University/Leadership U. Hein is a moderator for Apologia’s AR-Talk––Internet apologetics chat room.
Anton Hein’s entries to his index describe the OLD Cult Awareness Network/CAN as ‘legitimate” and describe the NEW CAN, run by the Church of Scientology, as a ‘hate group.” Hein presents the American Family Foundation in a positive light––for those families who have lost a family member to a cult they can get help through AFF and affiliated orgs––“help reclaim their loved ones”.
The American Family Foundation Cult Awareness Conference held in Minnesota, May 1999 was marred by protests by the Church of Scientology. News articles reporting the event, and posted on the Apologetics Index by Hein, show that Ronald Enroth was clearly the spokesman/chief interpreter for the AFF event to the news source reporting on the event.
The following Apologetic Index [Anton Hein] entries have been edited for purposes of this report:
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? Cult Awareness Network (the legitimate one)
? Cult Awareness Network'' (Scientology's hate group)
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Consumer alert by Anton Hein: The real CAN is not to be confused with the Scientology-backed "new CAN." The real CAN was an anti-cult organization. A Scientology entity bought the name, logo, phone numbers, addresses, etcetera, of the real Cult Awareness Network. If you need information about cults, ex-cult support, or related issues, Apologetics Index recommends you contact these legitimate organizations.
[Hein is directing readers to legitimate orgs. In reading through his web site the American Family Foundation would be one of those orgs he recommends.]
- Articles -
Did Scientology Strike Back? Article from the June '97 issue of American Lawyer on the take-over of the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) by the Scientology Church - which now operates CAN under it's old name and logo.…
News Database - » About this News Archive
(May 18, 1999) Cult awareness conference courts protest, debate
(Aug. 28, 1998) Court denies appeal by anti-cult group
(Aug. 27, 1998) Court upholds cult deprogramming ruling
[Outdated CAN mirror sites and history for CAN which no longer exist–– here.]
(May 18, 1999) Cult awareness conference courts protest, debate
1. Cult awareness conference courts protest, debate Minnesota Daily, May 18, 1999
(...) Meanwhile, inside the student center, about 150 people convened for the weekend-long American Family Foundation Cult Awareness Conference, where prominent psychologists, sociologists and writers from all over the world discussed issues of mind control.
(...)
A public contact secretary for the Church of Scientology, Dickerson and a handful of cohorts came to decry the conference's stance on freedom of religion.
The small protest was a microcosm of a bigger war between the Church of Scientology and cult awareness groups such as the AFF. Scientology wages war on cult-watchers. Two days before the conference, scientologists released literature denouncing the AFF and discrediting many of the speakers. The release, however, did not contain the word "Scientology." Instead, the writers of the release referred to themselves as the Cult Awareness Network.
NOTE by Hein: This is the fake, Scientology-operated "Cult Awareness Network," not the real CAN - (Anton W. Hein).
Speaker Ron Enroth, professor of sociology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., said the letter was a product of the church's legal strategy to combat anti-cult groups.
"These guys have unlimited funds," Enroth said. "And they use them to pay good lawyers to wage war on groups they hate."
(...)
The conference provided information on how families of cult members can hire psychologists affiliated with the American Family Foundation [such as Cult Info, Leo J. Ryan Foundation, F.A.C.T. Net = CRIS/Cult Information Referral Service–– all affiliates of AFF] to reclaim their loved ones through a psychological process called "thought reform" - a concept that has spawned animosity among groups like the Church of Scientology.
(...)
Enroth said Bible-based fundamentalist groups like… [Scientology] Church's tendency to minimize the importance of the individual is another one of the Church's cult-like attributions, Enroth said.
[...article continues here...]
[Note how Enroth acted on behalf of AFF as spokesman to the news sources.
Other Apologetics Index entries on CAN in the news …below]
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(Aug. 28, 1998) Court denies appeal by anti-cult group
“… Note by Hein: This is the real Cult Awareness Network - not the Scientology-operated CAN”
(Aug. 27, 1998) Court upholds cult deprogramming ruling
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