------------------------------------------------------------------- F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library and preservational electronic archive. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ===================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- American Family Foundation News American Family Foundation committee members, and others who are vital to AFF's research, information, and education functions, will learn of one another's recent activities in this column. Of course, much more work occurs than is reported to us. We'll try to relate the news in the order we receive it. 1 The Rev. Richard Dowhower presents Navy classes The Rev. Richard Dowhower presented classes in early December for the Navy chaplains at the Navy War College in Newport, RI, as is his annual custom. 2 Dr. Michael Langone and Iran's Farajou Data Base Dr. Michael Langone recently received an interesting letter from the managing director of Farajou Data Base in Tehran, Iran, introducing the "nonprofit research center and scientific data bank in the field of study and research on Psychology and Parapsychology, Hypnotism, Yoga, Zen, Meditation, Natural Therapy and dependent sciences field." The organization seeks mutual cooperation and exchange of data with similar institutes and centers throughout the world. One area of particular interest is "well-known 'psychics' and their personal background." 3 Professor and Mrs. Arthur Dole move to Trenton, ME Professor and Mrs. Arthur Dole have survived a major adjustment in their lives, a move to what they describe as "a gorgeous contemporary house on an estuary, surrounded on three sides by water," in Trenton, Maine, a few miles from Acadia National Forest. Dr. Dole says he was sidetracked for several months by the move, but he is now back to work on the New Age project he shares with Michael Langone and Dr. Steve Dubrow-Eichel. Mrs. Dole says it's good not to worry about the daily commute, since students' theses can now be dealt with by mail and fax. Their children and grandchildren have all visited, and they expect some of their family at Christmas. 4 Gary Eisenberg and family's house in hurrican path All of us at AFF will commiserate wholeheartedly with Gary Eisenberg and his family, whose home in Florida had the misfortune to be in the path of last summer's deadly Hurricane Andrew. 5 Marcia Rudin says Baha'i not generally regarded as a cult Marcia Rudin was quoted in the Sunday, November 22 New York Times in a report on the Baha'i World Congress. The group's beliefs and practices were discussed, and the reporter mentioned that, although not widely known even among scholars, it is not generally regarded as a cult. " 'I've worked in the area for 20 years and Baha'i is not something we've received many inquiries or complaints about,' said Marcia R. Rudin, who as director of the Inter-national Cult Education Program hears complaints about groups that abuse, deceive, and manipulate converts who are alienated from their families." 6 Professor Johannes Aagaard announces major seminar Professor Johannes Aagaard announced recently that a major seminar would be held in December at the Institute for Missiology and Ecumenics, in Aarhus, Denmark. Besides the usual "updating," some of the themes were "Children in New Religious Movements, The Expansion of Scientology in International Business, and The Eastern European Dilemma between Tradition and Sects." 7 Priscilla Coates sends news of CAN conference in LA Priscilla Coates has kindly sent four copies of the Glendale News-Press, of Nov. 5, 6, 7, and 9, all of which carry front-page reports of the national CAN convention in Los Angeles. The first has a cover story on Priscilla, complete with a large color photograph, captioned "My husband would be very happy if I retired. This is a very expensive hobby." The story reports on 13 lawsuits accusing her of "being linked to such crimes as kidnapping . . . " CAN lawyer Daniel Leipold says, "This is a grandmother with a personal computer," and he calls her a "gutsy housewife." Since 1979, when she helped a best friend whose daughter had joined the Moonies, Priscilla has never flagged in her commitment. "I think the thing that really got me involved was the children," she said after the hearings held by New York Assemblyman Howard Lasher on treatment of children in cults. The news story gave a good picture of her life under siege by Scientology, and her strength in resisting. Subsequent articles on the convention detailed some of the more puerile attacks such as picketing with signs accusing CAN of Ku Klux Klan- and Gestapo-like behavior. Also mentioned were anonymous leaflets directed against CAN members and a "mysterious fire alarm" that went off during one lunch. Nonetheless, Executive Director Cynthia Kisser, on the final day, said, "I'd say it's one of the best meetings we've ever had." More from the survivors later. 8 Dr. Herbert Nieburg chairman of AFF's Satanism study group Dr. Herbert Nieburg has agreed to become chairman of AFF's Satanism study group, which is considering such future projects as: conducting a research study in conjunction with a special ritual abuse ex-members' conference next year at Stony Point, completing a special CSJ issue on Satanism and ritual abuse, and organizing a symposium similar to one held in AFF President Herbert Rosedale's office last year with Professor Aagaard. 9 Dr. Paul Martin's Wellspring Retreat Dr. Paul Martin's Wellspring Retreat received an excellent write-up in The Athens [OH] News in October. "In an open house held yesterday [Oct. 8], Martin offered a tour of the spacious, beautiful house that is home to Wellspring. While describing himself as an evangelical Christian, Martin said Wellspring does not attempt to indoctrinate clients with any particular . . . belief. Rather . . . he tries to help cult victims learn to use their own reason and free will in choosing a religious path." Dr. Martin has received translations of articles and letters to the editor from two Swedish newspapers. …rebro-Kuriren and Svenska Dagbladet, which had reported on his highly successful rehabilitation project in Lima (Sweden) with 15 ex-members of different cults this past year. One article quotes him: "If the agonies that torment ex-cult members were caused by a virus, government would not hesitate to invest millions and millions to help. But now the problem is ignored in a horrendous way both in Sweden and in the U.S." ================================================================= If this is a copyrighted work, you are acknowledging by receipt of this document from FACTNet that on the basis of reasonable investigation, you have not been to obtain a copy elsewhere at a fair price, and that you are and will abide by the following copyright warning. WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photo copies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified by law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. FACTNet reserves the right to refuse to accept an order for copying or other duplication, or delivery of copied or duplicated material if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CARD CATALOG ENTRY DOS FILENAME OF TEXT FILE: E:\PCB\AFF\FILES\CO1092\CO1092AA.TXT DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: SECURITY CODE: DISTRIBUTION CODE: NAME FOR BBS: SORT TO: CONTRIBUTOR: American Family Foundation (AFF) LOC. OF ORIG: American Family Foundation (AFF) NOTES: Back issues and selected reprints of the Cultic Studies Journal are available from the American Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 33959-2265. For additional verification see image files contained in the file with same name and .ZIP extension. UPDATED ON: UPDATED BY: F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CARD CATALOG ENTRY DOS FILENAME OF TEXT FILE: CO1092AA.TXT DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: none ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: OK SECURITY CODE: SCO DISTRIBUTION CODE: RO DESCRIPTION FOR BBS FILE LISTING: The Cult Observer March 1993 SORT TO: AFF CONTRIBUTOR: American Family Foundation (AFF) LOCATION OF ORIGINAL: American Family Foundation (AFF) NOTES: Back issues and selected reprints of the Cultic Studies Journal are available from the American Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 33959-2265. WHAT AFF COMMITTE MEMBERS (AND OTHERS ARE DOING: | 1 The Rev. Richard Dowhower presents | Navy classes | 2 Dr. Michael Langone and Iran's | Farajou Data Base | 3 Professor and Mrs. Arthur Dole move | to Trenton, ME | 4 Gary Eisenberg and family's house | in hurrican path | 5 Marcia Rudin says Baha'i not | generally regarded as a cult | 6 Professor Johannes Aagaard announces | major seminar | 7 Priscilla Coates sends news of CAN | conference in LA | 8 Dr. Herbert Nieburg chairman of | AFF's Satanism study group | 9 Dr. Paul Martin's Wellspring Retreat For additional verification see the contributor of the document. UPDATED ON: 8/30/94 UPDATED BY: FrJMc =================================================================