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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Cults [and Miscellaneous Groups]
(2 of 3)
Box: 35
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WITHDRAWAL SHEET
Ronald Reagan Library
Collection Name BLACKWELL, MORTON: FILES
Withdrawer
KDB
6/7/2010
File Folder
CULTS [AND MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS] (2)
FOIA
F09-0043/01
Box Number
9084
STRAUSS, C
10
DOC Doc Type
Document Description
No of
Doc Date Restrictions
NO
Pages
1
LETTER
TO ELIZABETH DOLE
3 8/12/1981
B6
Freedom of Information Act . [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
B-1 National security classified Information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
B-2 Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
B-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
B-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
B-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
B-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
B-8 Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
B-9 Release would disclose geological or geophysical information concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of gift.
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
57
THREE
people who were so aggressively passing out the gospel tracts
to anybody who would take them. Eventually a couple of them
approached me and gave me a real hellfire and brimstone
The Alamo Christian
message that if I didn't get right with God. I would spend all
eternity in hell. I remember their directness and the really
Foundation
powerful way they witnessed to me. They looked me in the eye
and pulled out the heavy-duty fear Scriptures in the Bible. They
had quite an impact on me, and then they told me that they had
a service at a church in Saugus. They said that a bus would be
leaving that evening for Saugus and that they would provide
transportation back. About ten minutes later, as I was walking
back to my house, I got witnessed to by several others in the
group who gave me the same powerful, confident, bold treat-
GREG WILSON graduated from UCLA in 1970, became a musi-
ment.
cian, traveled widely, and played music in a group for about
"Back at the house, I reread the tract I had been given and
three years. "During that time I began to go on a kind of spiri-
noticed that it was distributed by an organization called, The
tual search, and it took me through some pretty strange experi-
Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation. I felt the tract,
ences. I dabbled in Eastern philosophies and religions, but
which contained Tony's life story, was absurd. Yet I was so
nothing satisfied me to any real degree. I was restless and never
down on the life I was leading that I thought to myself, Gosh,
really had a home during that period of time. I had no close
what am I going to do tonight? It was Friday night, and I
friends except for the people I played music with in the group.
probably would sit around and play some music with the guy I
"One time in Monterey I had an experience in which God
was staying with, and end up getting drunk and wake up the
rattled my cage, and I started reading the Bible for the first time
next morning with no better prospects in sight. So I concluded,
in my life. Something in it really spoke to me more than any-
You've got nothing to lose you'll even get a free dinner there.
thing else I had ever read. I embarked on a search to find
I didn't have much money at the time, so even that was pretty
someone who could show me a way of living - the way I
appealing.
thought Christ was telling me to live in the Bible. I left the
"I was really turned off to churches up to that point in my
musical group, and my search was getting desperate. I saw
life, and I hadn't attended church in a long time. I was curious
imperfection in the lives of everyone I met who claimed to be a
to see what all these young kids were so fired up about, and so I
Christian. I thought Christ was saying that there was a way to be
decided at five that afternoon that I would go and check out the
perfect, and I wasn't finding anybody who was living that kind
place. While on my way to the appointed place, I was really
of life.
taken aback when this red, white, and blue bus pulled up. It had
"I ended up in Santa Monica and started drinking to con-
the word HEAVEN written across the front of it and TONY AND
sole myself, to drown my sorrows, because I sensed no direc-
SUSAN ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION on the side. I boarded it. It
tion at all in my life. I remember one morning walking around
seemed funny at the time that no one really talked to me. Some
aimlessly near the Santa Monica pier where I encountered
people were reading; few were talking to each other."
some young people passing out gospel tracts. I took one of their
tracts and was really turned off by it. I read it over, and it just
AFTER THE long trip to Saugus, the bus brought Greg to what
seemed like trash to me. And yet I was curious about the young
looked like an old, converted restaurant. The first thing that
56
58
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
59
struck him was that there was no nonsense going on: everyone
nous tone. Pretty soon I knew that what was coming out of my
seemed to have a sense of direction, and no one was sitting idle.
mouth was not 'Thank you, Jesus; praise you, Jesus.' My tongue
Many people were sitting at tables reading their Bibles, and
was thick and my mouth became dry, and at some point in time
strange noises were coming from a nearby room. Greg later
everybody thought I was speaking in other tongues. They were
learned that this was the prayer room and that the people were
in a frenzy, praising God and shouting, 'Hallelujah!' I really
speaking in tongues before the service started.
didn't know what was happening. I was in a different state of
"When the service finally got started, it began with loud,
mind than I had ever experienced before, and I certainly had
gospel rock music. Being a musician, it really spoke to me. In
had no prior exposure to what was called the baptism of the
fact, I can remember kind of thinking to myself at the time, I
Holy Ghost.
wonder if the Lord is bringing me here because of my musical
"After we left the prayer room, there was never a moment
ability. Perhaps He still wants to use my musical talents, but He
when I was all by myself. There were at least three or four
wants to use it now for His purposes instead of the way I had
brothers around me all the time, asking me questions, telling
been using it in the past.
me certain things, quoting Scripture, and saying, 'Now that
"Following the music, a number of people went up to the
God has saved you, and He has brought you into His house, He
front and gave their testimony. People told how they had been
wants you to stay here. This is where He has called you in these
saved and brought to the house of the living God (the Alamo
end times.' When we sat down to dinner, the pressure was
Foundation). At the end of the service, an altar call was given
being put on me to make a clear decision as to whether I wanted
and they asked those who were unsaved to come forward and
to stay and walk with God or whether I wanted to turn my back
repeat the sinner's prayer. I remember feeling really convicted
on Him by leaving. I was told that since He had saved me from
and really confused. One of the brothers came up to me and
the horrible pit that I had been in, if I were to go back into the
grabbed me by the wrist and said, 'Come on. You have to come
world I would run the risk of being turned over to a reprobate
up here and get saved. The Lord's calling you, and you'll never
mind or turning into a homosexual or becoming insane. The
know if He will be calling you again. Right now is your time.
group pressure was powerful. When one of them was at a loss
Don't take a chance on God turning His back on you.' So I
for words, there was another ready with some kind of a Scrip-
went up and fell on my knees and said a sinner's prayer of
ture, like, 'Abide in the calling wherein ye are called.' That
repentance.
verse was used to impress upon me the fact that God had called
"It was really an emotional experience. I can remember
me to Foundation. That was where I was supposed to live, now
crying. I can remember a feeling of great relief, a feeling of
that I was saved, and I was not supposed to go back into the
catharsis. When I stood up, a group of three or four brothers was
world."
standing around me and one of them said: 'It's really wonderful
now that you're saved, but that's not enough. Now that you're
FOR TWO months prior to this experience, Greg had been
saved, God requires of you that you get baptized in the Holy
searching for God. He had wanted to give his life to God. "I had
Spirit.' We all went into the prayer room.
given up my whole life of music, the group, playing clubs,
"I sat down on a sofa, and about four or five of the brothers
making records. I was sincere in my desire to really want to live
formed a half-circle around me, and we began to chant, 'Praise
a life that was right, and to live a Christian life. So I said to
you, thank you, Jesus; praise you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus' over
myself, Well, if this is true, if this is really where I have been
and over again. We did this for so long that I lost all track of
called, sure, I want to live this new life. I remembered that my
time. I began to hallucinate; I didn't know where I was. Every-
car and all the rest of my belongings were still in Santa Monica.
one was chanting in unison, and in a kind of rhythmic monoto-
So I told them that I was going to go to Santa Monica and get my
60
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
61
car and my clothes and go down to Mission Viejo and see my
new recruits are warned that they must forsake mother and
parents and tell them what I'd decided to do. Then I would
father because "Jesus demands all - anything less is not
come back to the Foundation and move in."
enough."
But Greg's new friends rebuffed the idea: "What makes you
Greg soon discovered that his parents were lumped with
think you are strong enough now to go back out there alone and
Satan. "They really kept pounding this thing about my parents:
be able to withstand the devil? He's really going to come at you
'Now watch out, because your parents are going to come here
now that you're saved. What makes you think that you' strong
and they're going to try to get you out of here. That's how the
enough to withstand him out there?"
devil is going to attack you. We've seen it time and time again.
Greg reports, "I was also told that my parents would now
That's how the devil really comes at young Christians.' I
be my worst enemies. They quoted Scripture verses about the
couldn't picture my parents ever making a demand on me like
division between father and son and mother and daughter. I
that. But sure enough, about a week after I had been up there,
stayed up that first night arguing with several of the brothers,
my parents came to visit me after learning from my sister where
until I finally collapsed out of exhaustion at two or three clock
I was.
in the morning. I kept telling them, 'I'm not sixteen years old!
"After my parents arrived, I wasn't allowed to be alone
All I want to do is go and pick up my car and my things, say hi to
with them. We were told that you were never allowed to be
my parents and then I'll be right back here.' But they would
alone because that was unscriptural. Even Christ sent His dis-
keep quoting Scripture in response to everything I said: 'Look,
ciples out in two's; He never allowed them to go out one by one,
this is the Word of God. You're not going to turn your back on
because the devil could pick them off if they were alone. I never
God's Word, are you?'
really talked to my parents that night. Any questions they asked
"When I woke up the next morning, there were two or three
were fielded by one of the older brothers.
brothers praying nearby with their Bibles open. I didn't feel like
"When they were taiking to my parents, an incredible
arguing any longer, so I finally agreed to allow three members
feeling was going through me: 'They're right. These people are
of the Foundation to go with me to Santa Monica to pick up my
absolutely right. I can see that my parents are trying to get me
car and my personal belongings. I told my former roommate
out of here. The devil is using my parents. I can really see it. It
that I had gotten saved and that I was moving into the Alamo
happened just like they said. They had been saying it this
Foundation. We returned to Saugus (without visiting my par-
whole week and here it is.' My parents were astonished. I
ents) and I still had a lot of doubts about my decision. I even
remember my father saying, 'You mean to tell me, you can't
remember thinking, 'Maybe I've been brought up here to shine
even come out with us and go have a cup of coffee with us down
some light into this weird place.' My doubts remained during
at Newhall? What is this?' And I was thinking to myself, Wow,
the first week at the Foundation, but I was determined to see
they really are trying to get me out of here. That night was really
this thing through and to discover if God had really called me to
the clincher for me. I really bought the whole program after
this particular place, for whatever reason. I definitely wanted to
that."
do whatever He wanted me to do."
At the Foundation, new converts are called "baby Chris-
TONY AND Susan Alamo began preaching to the hippies on
tians" and are placed under the constant, watchful eyes of
the Hollywood Boulevard in the late sixties. The details of their
"older brothers and sisters in the Lord." From these "older
lives up to then are hazy. Susan claims to have had a dramatic
Christians" the new members learned that they must be "100
Christian experience as a young child. Later she left a brief
percent for God" and that if they leave the Foundation, they
career in show business to return to full-time evangelism. She
will lose their salvation. To follow God and be His disciples, the
met Tony at a Bible class she was teaching, and they were soon
62
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
63
married. Tony was raised in a Jewish home and later emerged,
It didn't take long for Greg to discover that the brothers and
according to his own claim, a successful Hollywood PR man
sisters at the Alamo Foundation pray a great deal. "We were
and record promoter.
taught to always be in prayer because the Bible teaches you to
The Alamos assert that the Jesus movement began in Hol-
pray in season and out of season. We were taught to wake up in
lywood when they started handing out tracts and witnessing to
the morning praising and thanking God. One of the older
youthful hippies and drug addicts. In 1970 the Alamos moved
brothers had awakened me in the morning by shaking me and
to the outskirts of Saugus, California, where they purchased a
saying, 'Wake up, Greg; praise you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus.'
rambling old restaurant in Mint Canyon. Soon thereafter they
You are required to be on your feet within one minute praising
acquired nearby acreage for dormitories. In the early days, the
and thanking God. You would have to wake up saying aloud,
finances apparently were derived primarily from donations
'Praise you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus.' You were taught to repeat
and a few small, local Foundation-operated businesses, includ-
that phrase either in your mind or out loud as much as you
ing a gas station. Discarded food from bakeries and supermar-
could all day long.
kets provided the mainstay for meals.
"I soon became a real zealot. I was praying for four or five
The organization quickly grew to the point where hun-
hours a day and would read the Bible every chance I had. I
dreds of young converts crowded the nightly revival meetings
began to move out of the 'baby Christian' stage and was given
and the overflowing dormitories. The Alamos' obvious success
new responsibilities and duties. Still, I was never allowed to be
was also evidenced by a Cadillac Fleetwood with personalized
alone. There were times when I had doubts. But whenever that
license plates and a large house, situated on five prime acrès
happened and I began to ask questions, there would be four or
and allegedly built with the "donated" labor of the Foundation
five brothers right there on the spot. They would literally form a
faithful. An architectural student who had dropped out of col-
circle around you, and if one of them couldn't answer a ques-
lege to join the Foundation assisted with the plans and super-
tion, certainly one of the others would. They would go through
vised most of the construction. An ex-member of the Founda-
their Bibles and point out how I was wrong. 'You're going
tion reported that he had worked on the house twenty hours a
against God. You are really running the risk of being turned
day for over a month.
over to a reprobate mind.' I conformed and eventually worked
In 1975 the Alamo enterprise was expanded to include an
my way up to being an overseer.
additional church and several small businesses in the tiny town
"During the last five months of my stay at the Foundation, I
of Dyer, Arkansas. It was rumored that Tony and Susan had left
was shipped out weekly to the fields around Bakersfield to do
California because of legal problems. This was denied by Tony,
farm labor work. The experience of working in the fields was
who claimed that the move had been made because of his wife's
incredible. The living conditions were horrible. At one point,
deteriorating health. He said she was suffering from terminal
for about a month and a half we lived in a house near Shafter
cancer. The day-to-day operation of the Saugus facility has
while we were picking fruit. It was a four-room house and
been left to trusted lieutenants and spiritual "overseers."
anywhere from eighty to one hundred of us lived there all week
Foundation members are told to "contend" for Susie's healing.
long. It had hardwood floors, wooden walls with no insulation,
She is on a special diet and has reportedly lived seven years
no furniture, and no heating. This was in November and De-
beyond her doctors' prediction. As one member put it, "The
cember in the San Joaquin Valley, where it gets cold and
Lord has kept her. We are claiming her healing in the name of
damp
Jesus. Satan hates her and wishes to destroy her. She's so close
"I can remember mice running over the floor and through
to God; she's a powerhouse for Jesus. We're praying for Susie
the sleeping bags at night. I can remember sométimes feeling so
and the Lord to bind the devil."
pent up inside because when you're crowded like that, the
64
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
65
pressure inside you builds up so that you feel like screaming at
FEW PEOPLE, inside or outside the Foundation, have specific
the top of your lungs.
information regarding its finances. The Alamos are very
"We were led to believe that all these discomforts were the
guarded in their statements regarding membership and in-
trials and tribulations that we were going through to make us
come. The Alamos stress that much of the income for their
strong. This was the Lord's chastening to get His people ready
tax-exempt organization is derived from donations. A weekly
for the horrible time of tribulation that was coming upon the
thirty-minute telecast aired by a number of independent TV
earth. We were told, 'Count it all joy crucify the flesh.' That's
stations has been another source of funds in recent years.
when you started praying, 'Thank you, Jesus; praise you, Jesus.
Tony and Susan apparently do not attempt to hide their
Oh, Lord, help me to be thankful for this.' And meanwhile you
personal prosperity. Greg was very much aware of their affluent
were just going out of your mind. It was just horrible.
life style. "Every time I saw them, they were dressed to the
"There were a lot of health problems at the Foundation in
teeth. Tony would have a leather jacket on, slacks and real
Saugus. People's teeth were literally rotting and falling out in
expensive shoes and jewelry. Susan dresses like the queen -
some cases. We had a lot of intestinal troubles, probably be-
super-expensive dresses. Never did I see her without her hair
cause of the way in which the food was obtained. The Alamo
completely done up. They drive brand new Lincoln Continen-
Foundation had various grocery stores in the L.A. area from
tals. Not a new Chevrolet, or a new Ford - black Lincoln
which they would get old produce and old dairy products,
Continentals with ALAMO on the license plates."
dated food that had been removed from the grocery shelves and
Tony and Susan's followers don't seem to mind the dual
disposed of. We'd spend hours in the kitchen trying to sort out
standard of living - one for the leaders, and an entirely differ-
the good from the bad, and a lot of the bad got through. Every-
ent one for the rank-and-file. Tony and Susan are their "spiri-
one experienced what we affectionately termed the RGB's (rot
tual parents," their "pastors in the Lord," who are due "double
gut burps). Now I had lived in some pretty raunchy conditions
honor." Greg came to believe that the Alamos' affluence was
while I traveled around as a musician, and never had I experi-
God's reward for their long years of devoted service. "They had
enced anything like that
been in it for so long that they were not in danger of losing their
"When we were doing farm labor work, we worked just
souls to the temptations of the flesh. God was giving them their
like madmen. The braceros were amazed and used to gawk at us
just deserts for hanging in there that long. We were told that if
while we were working. We wouldn't even stop for a drink of
we were faithful, God would give us these things too. But for
water because we were led to believe that every orange that we
the present, we had to crucify our flesh."
picked was another soul that was going to be saved through our
Crucifying the flesh meant, among other things, a weekly
ministry. That's why I lost so much weight (forty pounds), and
shower after many days of arduous agricultural labor in the
all the other people did too. We worked like crazy and turned
fields. "Once a week we would be brought back to Saugus for
over all of our money to the Foundation. During the last three or
our Sunday service. If we were lucky, it was our one chance
four months I was there, I never even saw a paycheck. And we
during the week to get a shower. We had one shower for about
made good money. I guess I made about $3,000 while working
200 males at what was called Saugus No. 2 on Sierra Highway.
on the farms. We just turned it all over to the older brothers, and
To get a shower you would wake yourself up at three or four
they in turn handed it over to Tony and Susan, I guess. There
o'clock in the morning. There was only cold water, never hot
were hundreds of us working in the fields at that time, so they
water
To make matters worse, the toilets were always
were taking in an awful lot of money. I can remember making
backed up. There were two toilets for those two hundred males:
well over $200 picking olives. The girls worked too, pruning
one sink, two toilets, and one shower.
grapevines, tying vines. There were always jobs to do."
"We would return from Bakersfield about ten at night and
66
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
67
would be told that we would be leaving at eight the next
a real dividing line. The older brothers at the top and those
morning to go up to Tony and Susan's house to put on our suits
aspiring to be leaders lived better and even looked a little
for the TV show. After a night in the showers, we would board
different from the rest of us.
the buses at 8:00 A.M. and leave for Tony and Susan's house,
"Tony and Susan are totally removed from the rank-and-
where our suits were stored. We would again have to wait in a
file membership. I never once talked to Susan, not even on the
long line for the clothes to be distributed. We would stand
telephone. She never said hi to me; she never knew my name, I
outside in the cold December morning, some of us with wet
am sure. I only talked to Tony one time while I was there, and
heads from the showers, waiting until our names were called.
that was just a couple of days after I had arrived. He called me
You would grab your suit and then would have to wait in
on the phone and asked me if I wanted to stay at the Founda-
another long line to get into a separate building where we
tion. He listed the rules, the dos and don'ts, and asked if I was
would change our clothes. That room only held about twelve
willing to abide by those rules. He asked if I was willing to turn
people and there was no room to move around. Finally, after
over my possessions to the group, and then he assigned me my
changing, we would go back and board the bus. The whole
older Christian. That's the only time I ever talked to Tony."
procedure would take perhaps an hour and a half. We felt like
cattle- - herded into one line and then herded into another line
only to be crowded onto the buses for the ride to Hollywood
WHEN TONY and Susan appear before a church service at the
where the TV shows were filmed. Four shows would be filmed
Foundation, their reception is similar to that accorded a movie
in a single taping session. We would be there for as long as six
star, a leading political figure, or latter-day apostle. Prior to
hours, standing up the whole time. One time when we were
their entrance, there would be a sense of anticipation in the air.
singing, one of the brothers next to me just collapsed, passed
Some of the young people would whisper inquiringly, "Is Sue
out. A couple of us just held onto him because it was near the
coming? Are they coming?" Frequently a phone call would be
end of one of the singing segments and we didn't want to blow
received informing the audience that the pastors would be
the tape. He had collapsed from exhaustion and the stifling heat
forty-five minutes late.
of the studio. Before we started taping the next show he man-
Susan, a platinum blonde probably in her late fifties, is
aged to go and sit down by himself some place.
clearly the preacher of the pair. Her sermons are a strange
"We were always told to smile a certain way during the TV
admixture of the wrath of God and the rhetoric of Susan Alamo.
show. Susan would come in beforehand and tell us what was
She lashes out at the lukewarm churches and the "God is Love
expected. We had to be presentable - smiling, looking like
heresy" that they preach. All the churches are dead, but the
all-American boys and girls, very rigid and stiff. We had to be a
Foundation is at the forefront of a revival that is sweeping
witness."
America and will sweep the world. America is falling fast into
Some of the brothers and sisters who were featured on the
the hands of communism. These are the last days. and Satan is
TV programs comprised the inner circle or elite of the Alamo
attacking hard because he knows his time is short.
Foundation. There were about twenty-five or thirty guys and
Susan Alamo has been elevated by her ardent admirers to a
girls at the top. They would ride around in the Continentals and
position approaching sainthood. As one ex-member put it,
Cadillacs and were allowed to live near Tony's house. They
"Some of the kids there are former drug addicts. Now they are
sang on the TV shows and got to sit in the sound studio when
addicted to Sue." Greg states that members were told that
the records were cut. Everyone else had to stand up on the hard
Susan was healed of cancer several times and that it was only
wooden floors.
through the prayers of the people in the Foundation that she
"It was just like a two-class system," Greg says. "There was
was kept alive. "You are constantly taught that the most impor-
68
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
69
tant prayer you can pray is to pray for Susie's healing. If you
toilet. One day she simply told her mother, "I'm leaving! I want
really want to chalk up points from God, you've got to pray for
out; I can't take it any more. I can't look at little children being
Susie to be healed. Every word that comes out of her mouth is
treated like little dogs." The daughter claims that her life has
'directly from the throne of the living God.' It's like God speak-
been threatened.
ing through her. What she says is almost equivalent to the
Greg encountered a rigid legalism at the Foundation.
Scriptures. In fact, they would play tapes of her messages while
Members were encouraged to observe one another's behavior,
we were eating lunch out in the fields. It was considered similar
and an elaborate reporting system was devised for those who
to reading the Book of John or First Peter."
strayed from the carefully demarcated path. Following is an
On the telecasts, Tony sings and Susan preaches. In a
example of a written report critical of one young woman's
rambling and ungrammatical fashion, she reiterates the dra-
behavior:
matic evidence of their successful ministry to the young people
that no one else cared for, especially the churches. She reminds
Sisters' Report
Judy Brown
her audience, however, that their bold efforts for God and
Judy Brown was sitting outside of the Saugus # 8 kitchen
country meet increasing opposition. Satan is on the offensive
by herself at 5:30 a.m. waiting for the van to take the
and "trouble makers" are on the loose. Susan assures the TV
Ontario sisters to work.
audience that the "wild stories" about happenings at the Foun-
I told Judy B. twice to come inside and that it was a rule not
dation are "filthy lies" spread by "outside agitators." As a
to be outside the apartments at night.
result of their persecution, Tony and Susan cast themselves in
Judy B. did not receive my advice either time but told me
the role of fighters for religious freedom. They predict a day
just to write her on report.
when they will be placed behind prison bars for holding fast to
Confirmed by:
Reported by:
the truth.
[date]
Witnessed by:
When he left the Foundation, Greg brought with him a list of
IF IN FACT Tony and Sue ever do find themselves in jail, it will
some seventy-one "group offenses" which Foundation mem-
bers were taught to avoid. Here is a representative sampling
not be the result of their preaching the gospel. Accusations of
from that list of offenses:
alleged mind control, deplorable living conditions, beatings,
and slave labor have been leveled by parents, relatives, and
Entering the kitchen without permission except during
other concerned citizens. In August 1974, the State Senate
services.
Select Committee on Children and Youth held a hearing on the
Slide furniture over any floor.
activities of various cult groups active in California, including
Talking too loud after evening service in front of church.
the Alamo Foundation. Testimony was given regarding the
To interrupt a group unnecessarily while they are reading.
squalid living conditions at Saugus, the lack of proper medical
For driver to refuse to drive without good excuse.
attention, and the spiritual-psychological manipulation of the
Bring vehicle back with less than 1/4 tank of gas.
youthful converts. Susan Alamo's own daughter testified that
Let vehicle run out of gas.
she left the group after she could no longer countenance what
Not get stamps when buying gas at other than Foundation
was going on. She told about young people being told to get
gas station.
down on their knees and accept Jesus Christ, when in fact they
Step on flowers.
were "accepting my mother." She described people living in
Hang clothes to dry on fireplace screens.
converted "chicken coops" with no heat, no lights, and no
Enter tract room without permission.
70
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
71
only after a total separation of 90 days reserved for praying
Not be back at witnessing vehicle at designated time.
and fasting (The Jesus People, p. 63).
Not put yourself on wake-up 25 minutes before your baby
DESPITE THEIR incredible legalism, members of the Founda-
Christian.
tion believe it is possible to live without sin. Greg notes, "They
To leave a baby Christian unattended or not assign him to
baby Christian watcher.
say that you can sin, that there are people who maybe sin once
in a while at the Alamo Foundation. But that's where grace
Late for choir or band practice without good excuse.
comes in. God will cover those little teeny bloopers that you
To be motionless one minute or more while in prayer room.
make - their term is 'blowing it.' But God has given you the
Not get up in five minutes.
power of the Holy Ghost, and if you are in the Spirit, He isn't
One late wake-up past ten minutes or three late wake-ups
going to allow you to sin. If you do sin, you are out of the Spirit
under ten minutes.
and you better really watch out: the devil might gobble you up
Nod during services.
and you might end up in an institution someplace."
Not turn in donation cards filled out properly.
Anyone not part of the Foundation is considered to be
Damage tracts.
outside the body of Christ. "That even includes other Chris-
tians. They really believe that they are the only group which
For the new recruits at the Foundation, there were three so-
has the truth. All other so-called 'Christian' groups have either
called "baby Christian offenses."
backslidden or are deceived or are lukewarm. They will admit
1. Refuse night watch without good excuse.
that there might be some Christians out in the world that are
2. Sleep during service, night watch or prayer hour.
really walking with God, but they haven't met them yet. For the
3. Pick up cigarette butts off street while witnessing.
most part, all of the people that are not in the Alamo Founda-
tion are possessed of the devil. They really believe that a large
Committing a group offense resulted in being placed in a spe-
proportion are reprobates who literally have deliberately
cial group for a period of time ranging from a couple of days, to
turned their backs on God. There is no hope for them. They are
a week, or even a month. "Being in a group is like K.P. in the
pawns of the devil." This attitude, it might be added, does not
army. You spent your whole time every day all day in the
come across on the Alamo TV program. Born-again viewers are
kitchen washing dishes, pulling K.P., sorting out all that horri-
encouraged to write and give financial support to "this work of
ble, rotten food and produce. The rest of the time you were with
God."
one of the older brothers praying and reading the Bible in a
Greg recalls one of those rare occasions when he talked
group. You get very little sleep while you are part of a group."
with a couple of older brothers who had been allowed to go out
Relationships between the sexes are also carefully gov-
as a witnessing team to the Pacific Northwest. "They came back
erned at the Foundation. Leaders reject the label "Christian
with these stories saying that no one anywhere was really
commune" because of possible sexual connotations associated
walking with God like the Alamo Foundation. We were the
with that term.
only ones. In fact, we were Joel's army - the army that was
Segregation along sexual lines at the Foundation is total.
prophesied in the Old Testament to be raised up in the end
Men and women live not only separately but far apart.
times. We were told to be real warriors because God was going
Contact of any sort is strictly forbidden. Lewd clothing, a
to use us to save the world. They actually believe that at some
judgment made by Tony's trained eye, is outlawed, as is
talking to members of the opposite sex except at meal time,
point in time God is going to call a lot of them to go to Jerusalem
and then only with a female-male ratio of three to one.
in order to witness to the Jews and save Israel.
Marriage is permitted with the approval of the Alamos, but
"I recall Tony saying that we would become God's strong
72
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
73
'bulldogs.' I also remember Tony praying: 'Make us mudpie
such case for sure. How many others suffered a similar fate?
puppets for God.' 'Make us robots for God.' There were times
How do you check on things like that?
when we prayed like robots. I remember praying one time for
"Some people would be embarrassed to even admit that
hours - all night long in fact - against the devil coming
they were part of a group like that. People who end up getting
against us in the form of Baxter Ward [L.A. political figure].
involved in a cult experience like this often find it difficult to
Ward was investigating our church, and he represented the
talk about. Lots of times when I started to talk about it to people,
devil himself. We were screaming up and down the church for
I would just say, 'Forget it.' They think I'm totally crazy or some
one whole night, praying against the devil, Baxter Ward."
kind of lunatic.
I have had a hard time myself accepting the
Not everyone who came to the Foundation stayed. Greg
fact that it actually happened to me."
observed a rather large turnover of people.
He recalls a particular incident that took place on a wit-
WHAT ABOUT the young people who give such glowing pub-
nessing trip to Santa Monica. "One member of the witnessing
lic testimonies - what accounts for their apparent satisfaction?
team was a Mexican-American who happened to be an epilep-
Greg believes their behavior can best be explained in.the con-
tic. He had stopped taking his medication, Bilantin, when he
text of strong group pressures and a kind of mind control.
joined the Foundation because 'epilepsy was just an affliction
"Every day is such an ordeal - the work, the prayer, the
of the devil.' And now that he was saved, God had healed him
reading. You just chomp at the bit for any opportunity to be the
and he didn't need it any more. Well, he had a grand mál
center of anything. The minute you get any opportunity to
seizure on the bus on the freeway and had to be held down. He
speak, why, that is your ultimate! To get up and give a tes-
was thrashing all about and making a bloody mess. It was
timony in church, to go down and witness on the street - you
horrible! One guy finally got his belt off and put it in his mouth.
live for these moments. Just to be able to shine your light, to be
Everybody was praying out loud, 'The blood of Jesus against
able to have God use you. All that pent-up energy comes out
you, Satan!' We believed that Satan was literally trying to get
and you feel a definite glow, because the rest of your life is so
into his body.
miserable - you are crucifying your flesh, shutting off your
"Finally things kind of subsided, but the man still had a
mind. The minute you get a chance to put that six hours of
dazed look. His eyes were big and dilated. We finally arrived in
reading into practice, you say, 'Oh, thank God!' Also, the group
Santa Monica and were all told to get off the bus and go out and
peer pressure in that kind of a situation is really powerful. You
witness. Two of the older brothers were going to stay with the
know that everyone around you is expecting you to perform.
epileptic. So we took our pamphlets and went out to witness.
God is expecting you to perform.
When we returned, the story we were told was: 'Well, the devil
"Another scriptural admonition we received in this regard
just got into him and he refused to fight. He stopped praying,
was to 'be deceivers yet true.' This means that if you are hurting
and the devil got ahold of him and he's gone.'
inside, for example, when witnessing, that's the devil coming
"To this day I don't know what actually happened to him.
at you. God asks you to ignore the devil and to be a deceiver.
That's the only story we ever got. I don't know if they got rid of
Even though you hurt inside, God's telling you to be true
him or if he walked off by himself. There were other instances
because you are speaking the word of truth."
when individuals would be with you and then, during the
Another form of deception is used when visitors arrive at
night, they would simply vanish. The overseers would say,
the Saugus property. According to Greg, visitors are shown
'Well, he's left' or 'He's gone' or 'The devil got him.' I'm sure
only what the leaders want them to see. They are permitted to
most just got up and left on their own. But I also think that some
view the showcase living quarters of the Foundation upper
of them were dumped off in the desert at night. I know of one
crust. Rank-and-file members rarely saw the inside of those
74
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
75
apartments, as Greg relates. "There was one really nice house
flee. The way you made him flee was through prayer. You
where about six of the older brothers lived. I was allowed to go
would say, 'Thank you, Jesus; praise you, Jesus,' and just get
there and to take a shower one time, and I mean it was a big deal.
those thoughts out of there. If you do that long enough, it
I walked in and it was a real house! Real shower! We were told
becomes a form of self-hypnosis. When you're chanting that
that maybe sometime in the future, God had this in store for
way, you get that 'thousand-mile stare.' I think that is the real
each and every one of us. This was the kind of thing that the
key to the kind of manipulation, the kind of power and control
visiting journalists are shown. They don't see Saugus No. 2.
they have over people at the Foundation."
They don't get to see that house in Shafter. They are shown the
Besides inadequate food, Greg discusses another form of
sanctuary and they are served a meal. What they don't know is
sensory deprivation: lack of sleep. "I thought I was really lucky
that we always sorted out separate food for Susan. There was
if I could get four or five hours of sleep a night. We were
also a separate pile for certain of the older brothers and sisters.
awakened at all hours of the night. You never knew when you
They actually had their names on the piles of food. The remain-
were going to be awakened: you might have to pray for some-
der went to the rest of the people."
thing. For example, we were told, 'Susie's ill.' Everybody
Although there are conflicting opinions on the topic, Greg
would get up and pray. They also had what were called 'night
strongly feels that the diet at the Foundation was inadequate
watchmen' at all of the buildings, posting watch all night long,
and not well-balanced. Some of the members gained weight;
at two-hour intervals. So you might be awakened to take the
others, like Greg, lost a lot. "In my opinion, all of us were in a
watch for two hours.
state of semi-malnutrition. We ate a lot of pasta and white
"If you were not awake within a minute and on your feet
bread. Very rarely did we receive meat. Twice while I was there
praising and thanking the Lord, you were reported.
they killed two cows. When distributed among four or five
"I never experienced the feeling of rest or peace, because
hundred people, however, that amounted to just a little chunk
you didn't know when you might be awakened. You were in a
of beef for each of us. We got a little piece of roast on our plates
constant state of anxiety, because it was possible that you might
and thought, Wow! The Lord is sending manna down from
be awakened again in two or three hours to go pray for an hour.
heaven."
"Likewise, our day-to-day activities might change without
Greg also reports that they were encouraged, on the author-
prior warning. For example, we might be told that we had to
ity of Scripture, to practice fasting. "I fasted one time for five
start picking apples tomorrow morning. 'Get up, Greg - praise
days. It was in the winter. We were snowed in. It was a really
you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus; praise you, Jesus - we've got to
good way to crucify my flesh. You go into a state where you feel
go! The bus is going to leave in fifteen minutes. Get your stuff.
like you don't even need food any more. After about the second
We're going down to Tehachapi. We're going to be picking
day, you're not even hungry any more. You experienced a
apples this week.' You never knew where you would be going,
feeling of euphoria, a kind of floating around. Then you are
what you would be doing. Also, if you did have a little spare
really in a state of suggestibility."
time, you were told to 'redeem the time.' If you really wanted
Greg feels that the group's constant chanting or praying
points with God, if you really wanted to be a bulldog for God,
was actually a form of auto-suggestion. "I got real good at it. We
you had to redeem the time. That meant you had better start
were taught that our mind was of the devil, so that any time any
reading, or you had better start praying."
kind of thought came in which conflicted with the group mind
None of the faithful knew what Tony and Susan were
or contradicted the group mind, we were led to believe that the
doing with their spare time. They were securely ensconced in
devil himself was putting words in our mind. The only way you
their beautiful home high on a hill. "It's like a fortress. Next to
could counteract that was to recognize the devil, and he would
the mansion is a two-story structure called "The Windmill,'
76
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
77
where several of the older brothers live. A watch is on duty
up to me and said, 'Your parents are here, Greg.' So I got up and
constantly. The phone connects Tony's house to the Windmill.
met them just inside the front doors. While I was at the Founda-
All the phones go through that line. The road to their house is
tion, I had been praying constantly for them. I wanted the Lord
constantly guarded. Members are not even allowed to walk past
to bring them in out of darkness, release them from the bond of
the front of their house. For example, if you are going there to
the devil. I wanted them to come to the Alamo Foundation,
put on your suit for the TV show, it would be a group offense
because Christ might be returning any day and I wanted my
just to walk in front of the house. You had to walk all the way
parents to be raptured along with me. When I saw them, I
down the side and around the back. You felt like a second-class
thought, 'God is answering my prayers. They've come up to-
citizen."
day, and I know they are going to see the light, finally. They're
going to get saved today, and it's going to be wonderful!
GREG'S PARENTS made one more trip to the Foundation after
"I heard my mom say something about my cousins being
their initial visit. They returned with what Greg termed a "con-
there with them. She said, "They feel a little funny about com-
trite spirit." There would be no more "hot-headed stuff" - they
ing in, because they haven't been invited. Maybe if you came
were going to be nice and sit through the service and see their
out and invited them, they would come in and we could all sit
son. But when they left, they said, "That's not even our son. We
through the service.' It was a group offense to go anywhere by
can't even talk to him. It's like a total vacuum." Mr. and Mrs.
yourself, and as a rule I would never have gone out that front
Wilson said they would never go back: they felt as if they had
door by myself. But that particular time I did.
lost a son.
"The timing was incredible. Tony and Susan were on their
About a month or two after that last visit, Greg's parents
way to the church service with their entire band of six-to-eight
were watching a talk show on TV which featured Ted Patrick
bodyguards (Susan refers to them as 'her big boys'). You don't
talking about deprograming and his experiences with the vari-
get near Tony without going through them. And they were all
ous cults. As they listened to Patrick talk about brainwashing,
coming to the service.
they concluded, "That's what's happened to Greg. Everything
"I went out through the front door of the church and
he is saying sounds just like Greg's situation. We've got to get in
walked to the car with my folks. I opened up the back dcor and
touch with this guy. He's the first person we have heard who
reached in to shake hands with my cousin's husband. He
has said anything that sheds light on what's happened to
grabbed me by the hand, and he yanked me inside the car while
Greg."
my dad pushed me from behind. I started pleading the blood of
Eventually Greg's parents made contact with Ted Patrick.
Jesus against them. 'Get thee hence, Satan!' They all looked like
The first thing he told them was, "You have to get him out of
devils to me. I was fighting for my life. Then another relative
there." How? "You've got to kidnap him." After discussing the
leaped out of the bushes someplace and also jumped in the back
pros and cons, Greg's parents decided they would do it.
seat with me. I was sandwiched between these two big brutes.
Greg relates the story in retrospect: "They planned it thor-
"My dad jumped into the passenger side on the front seat;
oughly with the help of some relatives of mine who were big
my mom already had the engine going. We took off just as the
guys, fortunately. They even went up there and cased the
brothers started to reach the car. By then, they were pouring out
grounds and found different roads they were going to use. They
of the church. We tore off down the road, went about five
took two different cars in order to make a car switch. They had
hundred yards, and then pulled off the roadway on to a dirt area
the whole thing really down.
where the second car, which I recognized as my cousin's car,
"It was Sunday, and I was sitting in my chair waiting for
was waiting. They proceeded to drag me out of my dad's car
the service to start, reading the Bible. One of the brothers came
and attempted to force me into the other car. I said, 'Man, you'll
78
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
THE ALAMO CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
79
never get me into that car!' I fought. I broke the window of the
our own understanding, we were taught to stick to Scripture
second car. Finally I was pushed into the car, and we roared off
memorized from the King James Version, or to give an answer
in another direction in order to confuse anyone who might be
based on something you had heard Susan say. To do otherwise
following us.
was to give the devil an open door.
"I was taken to a private home in the Los Angeles area,
"As the evening progressed, the pressure began to mount
where I knew an attempt would be made to deprogram me.
up. People were trying to talk to me, and I was saying, 'Praise
Everyone at the Foundation was warned about Ted Patrick. We
you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus.' I wasn't going to allow the devil
knew that the spirit of antichrist was working in Patrick. If there
in. I kept it up until finally, out of sheer exhaustion, I passed out
was a devil walking the face of the earth today, it was Ted
on the sofa. I never became violent. I had resigned myself to
Patrick. We were told that he and his associates were going
being there, because I believed that somehow God was going to
around capturing Christians and making them deny the Lord.
deliver me. I knew I couldn't force my way out of the place -
"I had been reading my King James Version of the Bible out
there were too many people, and besides, I am not basically a
loud during the whole trip from Saugus. I was reading in the
violent person anyway.
Book of Hebrews when we turned the corner and passed a
"I slept. well that night and had some delicious food the
synagogue. I remember thinking, Oh dear Lord, I'm going to be
next day. They continued to talk to me and to challenge my
delivered up to a synagogue! I'll never forget that feeling. When
thinking. I felt like I was fighting a battle, and I tried to dig my
we arrived at the house I asked, 'Am I going to see Ted Patrick
meat hooks in harder and harder. I said to myself, Lord, I'm not
pretty soon?' This was to be my hour of temptation. Hallelujah!
going to do it. And then I went to bed and was allowed to get a
I was rejoicing because the Lord was finding me worthy to go
good night's sleep for the first time in over half a year.
through this. I kept saying, 'Lord, I won't deny you. I don't care
"The next day I remembered one of the questions my dad
if they poke my eyes out with hot sticks or if they light a fire
had asked the previous night right before I went to sleep. He
under my feet. I am not going to give in.' And of course, I was
said something to the effect that all of us were there to seek the
chanting during the entire time. I was really in high gear:
truth and God says, 'Come, let us reason together.' I remember
'Praise you, Jesus; thank you, Jesus.'
my dad saying, 'I'm your father. I love you. We all want to live
"There were a number of people in that house that night,
according to the precepts of Christ. We need to go back to the
and I can't really remember what we were talking about. When
Golden Rule and do unto others as we would have them do unto
you are in a state of chanting like that, your mind automatically
us. If you had the opportunity to have the power and the
screens out any contradictory or challenging input. Whenever
resources and the money that Tony and Susan have at their
a question arose that I construed as an accusation against Tony
disposal, would you use that money to go out and buy two
and Susan, I couldn't allow that to come into my mind because
brand new Lincoln Continentals and a Cadillac limousine?
that was the devil. So I would shut the thought out and chant
Would you dress the way they dress? Would you spend the
'Thank you, Jesus; praise you, Jesus.' 'Deprograming' is really
money to build a beautiful home high on a hill in Saugus? Or do
an attempt to ask probing questions, to find those challenging
you think you would use that money to really share with the
areas, and to make the person use his reasoning powers. So they
brothers and sisters? Would you work together with them as a
challenged me on something, and I didn't want to use my
unit, or would you be removed from the actual body?' I had a
reason, because to reason is to give the devil a chance. Your
hard time answering that question. I wanted to defend the
mind is the devil. You're not supposed to use your mind. The
Alamos. In fact, I think I did say, 'God has showered them now
Scripture they quote in support of not using your reasoning is:
with blessings because they went without for so long.' I didn't
'Lean not unto your own understanding.' Instead of leaning on
want to admit that my dad was right.
80
YOUTH, BRAINWASHING AND THE EXTREMIST CULTS
"When I woke up in the morning, we had a good breakfast.
FOUR
We were sitting around talking when all of a sudden, just like
that, I snapped out of it. It was just like turning on a light bulb. It
was that quick. I just knew I was free! It was such a relief! I can
remember hugging my mom. My chest was just heaving."
Today Greg attends an evangelical church and teaches
The Love Family
public school in Southern California.
DURING THE late summer of 1971 when the Jesus People
revival was sweeping across the West Coast, Karen Taylor
committed her life to Christ and went to live at a Christian
ranch in California. One day she and a friend decided to hitch-
hike up the coast to Canada; her friend, a Canadian citizen, was
planning to visit an old boyfriend in Vancouver. When they
reached the Canadian border, Karen decided to return to Seattle
for lack of funds.
"I told my friend I would go back to Seattle and find a
Christian house and wait for her
I met some folks who said
that they had stayed with the Love Family the previous night,
and they found them to be real nice people. So I decided to
look up the Love Family in the Queen Anne Hill district of
Seattle.
"When I first got there, I was impressed with these people
who said they believed in Jesus Christ and read the Bible. They
really had class and did things nicely, not like most of the Jesus
People I had met who were really corny. The Love Family
did things in style, and they were really self-assured. About
an hour after I got there, I felt that this was the place I was
to be.
"When I walked into the house, there were about five or six
people sitting around in the living room talking. One of the
elders talked to me, and he was really nice, really friendly and
polite. He talked to me about Jesus Christ and about being one
family based on love. Their life seemed very ordered
81
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
The Jesus People
CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
11.1 BLVD.
(with Edward E. Ericson and C. Breckinridge Peters)
ANAMINA, CA. 92805
The Gay Church
(with Gerald E. Jamison)
Youth,
Brainwashing,
Extremist
Cults
Ronald
Enroth
ZONdERVAN
OF THE ZONDERVAN CORPORATION
PUBLISHING HOUSE GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49506
7L
The Alamos:
alamo
Religion Is Their Chief Business
BJ JACK SIRICA
IN ADDITION, THE Tony and Susan Alamo Christian
Foundation recently purchased a stately $125,000 residence on
The Images on the television screen, if you watch Tony and
Tyne Boulevard at Lealand Lane, in a neighborhood where
Susan Alamo this morning on WTVF-TV, may remind you
some of the city's most established citizens live.
more of country music stars than soul-saving evangelists.
A further indication of the Alamos' interest in Nashville is
Teny and Susan who pronounce their last name a-LAH-
that they have been taping their weekly. syndicated, reli-
have the look and dress of country music personalities.
gious-oriented TV program at the Grand Ole Opry House. A
They claim among their friends some of Music City's
spokesman for the Opry said they pay their bills prompt-
basi-known names. And Tony, who sings gospel music on their
ly.
sy ndicate television show, has even cut a couple of albums of
Their TV program is basically old-time religion, with Susan
religious music.
doing most of the sermonizing and Tony contributing a couple
of gospel songs.
BUT THE ALAMOS ARE preachers by profession not
entertainers.
"THE SATANIC powers are here,' Susan warned her
Religion is their chief business. As Susan puts it: Spread-
viewers in a recent sermon. "Lucifer was power-crazy
ing the word of Jesus Christ is why I live.
Today there is that desire for power
Jesus
is
coming
We
are close to the end of time.
Totir (ax-free religious foundation, the Tony and Susan
While Susan's words and Tony's songs are mostly In the
Alamo Christian Foundation, collected $1,029,000 last year,
fundamentalist vein, they are hardly your ordinary, run-of-
according to Internal Revenue Service records.
the-mill ministers.
AND THE FOUNDATION, which is
oversial
as
well
as
Their backgrounds set them apart from the average
successful, is becoming more and more visible in Nash-
eyangelists. For example:
visie.
Both have been married three times. Their first two
marriages ended in divorce.
Tony and Susan. through the foundation operate the Alamo
Both appear to have suffered from serious illnesses, but
of Nashville clothing store at 325 Broadway. The store
seem to be able to direct the activities of their foundation and
for country and western outfits, of which cost in the
carry on their ministry despite that. Susan has undergone
thousands of dollars.
treatment for cancer and, on television, invites anyone who
Visitors to Nashville who come to four via Interstates 24
doubts her to contact an Arkansas medical center. Tony has
and 40 are exposed to larger-than-life replicas of Tony and
suffered from glaucoma and was receiving aid payments for
Surn. clad in country-western Carb. waving at them from
blindness in 1969 from the state of California.
elevated billboards alongside the interstate. The billboards
© Tony has a lengthy police record. He has been convicted
advertise the Alamo clothing store as the place "where the
twice, records show, once for receiving and concealing stolen
Tony and Susar Alamo
state shop.
(Turn to Page 14, Column 1)
In frontsof their clowing store
The Tennessean
SUNDAY Dec. 19,1976
19,
1976
The Alamos: Religion
811 model пойт 2/5/8
Is Their Chief Business
From
Page
One)
who
come
to
live
at
the
like
weulls".
and
property Her which he
foundation: They appear
washing'
and
three months in
well adjusted to their sur-
"hypna-
lism' in an effort to un-
Jailt. and once for mail
roundings and well satis-
dermine her work. she
Viraud ($50) line and pro-
fied with the foundation's
direction under Tony and
says, adding: "They are
Tony & Susan Alamo
bation for a year).
after d-fashioned rell-
Tony lost a paternity
Susan.
gion. They are after those
suit in 1971. four years
Inthe past, sòme of them
Welcome You to
who believe in law and
after his marriage to
have appeared on the Sun-
day television show and
order. They want you to
Susan. The mother in that
believe that people who
The World Famous
The
case named her child Ber
given testimonials to Tony
belive in this country and
nie Lozar Hoffman If
and Susan, describing how
believe in Jesus Christ are
Пато
(Tony's real name is Ber
they (the followers) gave
treaks
DIC Lazar Holfman
up drugs when they ac-
"We are going through a
Tony Alamo" is à name
cepted Christ, and how the
period of great tribula
he assumed originally for
foundation has helped
tion, she warns To
show business reasons)
them
Southerners, she adds:
. Finally. the Tony and
HOWEVER, there are
ExclusiveWESTERN Up-to-DateWear of
Nashville
You are spoon (ed by the
Susan Alame Christian
Foundation is "more than
other former foundation
press throughout the Bibic
bell.
Where the
an ordinary charitable
followers who have se.
As Tony and Susan have
collection agency. The
verely criticized the
backgrounds different
foundation has attracted
Alamos and their (ounda.
Stars Shop
from that of most televi-
hundreds of young persons
tion. Some parents of the
sion preachers, $0 is their
Schice it was formed in 1969
young men and women in-
show unique, She is no
in California Many of
side the foundation have
Bible-thurping version of
these converts sub-
protested that the Alamos
Elmer Cantry. Instead,
stantial number of whom
have "brainwashed
she delivers her sermons
are teenagers and young
foundation members. One
in a solt spoken. well
adults have given up
woman sued the Alamos,
modulated voice. Her Rer:
their other interests and
charging she was beaten
mons almost sound like
pursuits to come and live
by foundation members
lectures
at the foundation, to work
during a visit to the Saugus
and pray in the religious
property.
SUSAN, IN her televi-
progr devised by Tony
One of the severest crit-
les of Tony and Susan is
sion shows, usually
and Susan.
These young persons
Susan's daughter by her
dreases in smartly failored
by
pants sults sometimes
some of whom are former
second marriage. Mrs.
with a vest accentuated
drug addiets live highly
Chris Mick, who now lives
by à turtleneck sweater.
Susan and Tony Alamo on Clothing Store Billboard
regimented lives and par-
in California, where she
She frequently wears a
ticipate in religious orien.
saysshe is hiding from her
cross on & chain around
The Alamos advertise their clothing store, of 325 Broodway, on
.
tation which Susan might
billboard on laterstate 65. The billboard is one of several ON local
interstates which CON be seen by motorists as they head toward
mother.
her neck.
Nashville. The store is billed as "where the stars shop."
describe as "giving every-
Mrs. Mick, who once
Sometimes she has worn
thing completely to God
lived at the foundation's
album
a long, flowing. while
$6 for a tape.'
working there, do they re-
she would not answ er spe.
Opal Horn. Tony. in - de-
religious group when she
II submitting complétely
Saugus property, testified
dress: and oceasionally
she invites her viewers,
relve a salary
cific questions about spé-
position. said she was born
was a youngster.
to Jesus
before a California legis-
she has worn a suit with a
giving them the address in
Tony answered "No
cific criticisms that have
in 1925, which would make
Apparently, she mar-
These young persons
lative committee in 1974
skirt.
Alma, Ark. as a location
Gifts And they
been made public in the
her 51 years old. She and
ried as a young girl. Her
live on properties owned
that foundation follow ers
ller long blonde hair
to Read the money
have is given to them by
past Telegrams sent by
Tony now occupy, and
first husband, Tom Brown,
by the foundation in Call-
sometimes were not ai-
The record being adver.
the foundation. such as
seems carefully ceiffured
the Tennessean to Tony
their foundation now owns,
an Arkansas man, said a
Mornia, Arkansas and here
lowed to visit a physician
and has the bleached-
tised these days is Sosan,
their living facilities, cars,
and Susan, asking for an
the house in Dyer, where
brief interview with this
in Nashville, and many of
when they needed medical
blonde sheen of a Dolly
Love You: So Much 11 Hurts
clothing. food and hospi.
in-depth interview, went
the grew up. according to
reporter that they were
them work in enterprises
attention, were not #1.
Me. Love Tony It was
talization.
unanswered
a newspaper interview
lowed to question those in
Parton wig (Dolly being a
wed in 1936. That may be in
owned by the Christian
published by Alamo Re-
The story of the back-
Thus, the story of Tony
published last February in
error, since Tony says she
Foundation.
authority at the founda.
country music singer
whom Susan speaks of as a
cords, according to a nota.
ground of the foundation,
and Susan and the founda-
the Fort Smith (Ark.)
was born only 11 years
tion, and were required to
personal friend).
tion on the record jacket.
which now collects more
lion of theirs which has
Times Record.
earlier
THERE IS a 160-acre
accept Susan's word in all
The address for Alamo
than $1 million a year and
attracted hundreds of
spread at Saugus, Calif.
things
ON CAMERA. Susan's
Records is listed as 325
has a business operating in
young adults must be put
TONY, WHOSE given
IN 1940 she was married
which includes the site of
fingers usually are ring.
Broadway. the location of
divintown Nashville, is not
together from public re-
name was Bernie Lazar
"MY MOTHER makes
to Sol Lipowitz. The date is
what formerly was a
fortune at this organiza.
bedecked. her nails lac-
the Alamos clothing store
easy to come by Tony and
cords, court documents,
Hoffman, was born in 1934,
given in a subsequent ti
motel-restaurant before
here.
Susan were reluctant to sit
lion, Mrs. Mick testilied
quered a metallic pink.
printed materials put out
which would make him 42,
vorce suit: She and LA
Tony a: and Susan bought
Her face, expertly pan.
While Susan makes no
down with this reporter
by the foundation, news-
in Joplin, Mo. He says he
"An absolute, raving for.
powitz lived in Los An-
tune.
caked for TV. appears a
direct TV appeal for gifts,
and discuss their past and
paper reports in California
originally was Jewish
geles. Apparently it was a
There is additional
and while some of the
the events which have em-
In a telephone interview
healthy tan. Indeed. at
and Arkansas, and from
Little is known of Tony
difficult marriage since
acreage owned by the
with this reporter in Nash-
first glimpse, she might be
foundation's printed ma.
broiled the foundation in
interviews with persons
and Susan's early days.
the filed for divorce four
mundationin the Alma and
ville several weeks age,
terial savs "we never soli
controversy.
who have come in contact
Susan did discuss with a
mistaken for a country
times before it was grant.
Dyer, Ark., area. At this
Susan said she would not
music star
cited finances. other
SUSAN DID respond to
with Tony and Susan over
reporter last February,
ed in 1966. Tony in the
location the foundation
respond in detail to the
Tony, not quite so helty
leaftels distributed by the
the years.
however, what she termed
foundation say, Susan
questions during one tele.
early days when he was
aperates a clothing store,
charges her daughter
as Johnny Cash. is hand-
phone conversation with
R is a remarkable story
her recovery from tuber-
known as Bernie Lazer
not unlike the one in Nash
made against her.
somely attired inone of his
has to have money to win,
this reporter, but she said
which begins with Susan's
culesis after she came in
Holfman 1 had his trau-
ville, a country store,
That daughter has
wide [apeled suits with the
more souls for Christ.
birth. She was born Edith
touch with 8 Pentecostal
(Continued On
fruit stand. a discount
been a blessing in dis-
Haredculfs. Thelapels an
TAX re.
Store and a large restau-
guise, Susan said, when
border
stitched
will
and
records
or.
file
in
tant nightclub. The "reli-
asked about the testimony
lighter thread. He seem: California leave no
gious oriented" nightclub
Mrs. Mick gave before the
to favor brown, and after doubt that the money has
has featured entertain-
legislative hearing.
"She
wears his collar open a come in to the fpunda-
meal by such country
is a girl with a weight
the neck.
tion
music stars as Dolly Par-
problem, Susan added,
A federal Form 1049,
Tammy Wynette, Bill
saying Mrs. Mick has 14
For most of lbehalf hour filed in 120% traces the
Marty Rehbins
perienced difficulties with
Busan stares intent secties of the Alama foum
Buck Owens.
uppers and downers'
Into the camera and dation in raining money.
The press Arkansas
while trying la control
That
form
mildle
which includes the site of
"MY MOTHER makes a
lingers usually are ring-
vis name My
the Alamos cloihing store
easy to come by, Tony and
cords, court documents,
Holiman, was born in 1931,
given is a subsequent et
what formarly was a
fortune at this organiza
bedecked. her eails fac-
moiel-restaurant before
here
Susan were reluctant to sit
printed materials put out
which would make him (2,
vorce sulf. She and LH
tion, Mrs. Mick testified.
overed a metallic pink.
While Susan makes no
down with this reporter.
by the foundation, news
in Joplin, Mo. He says he
powitz lived in Los M-
Tony and Susan bought
tune. An absolute, raving for-
Rer face, experily pan-
direct TV appeal for gifts,
and discuss their post and
paper reports in California
originally was Jewish
geles. Apparently It was 2
caked for TV. appears a
There is additional
and while some of the
the events which have em-
and Arkansas, and from
Little is known of Tony
difficult marriage since
Int a telephone interview
healthy 13n. Indeed, at
foundation's printed ma
broiled the foundation in
interviews with persons
and Susan's early days.
the filef for divorce four
dereage awned by the
with this reporter in Nash
first glimpse, she might be
foundation in the Alma and
terial says. we never soli-
contraversy.
who have come in contact
Susan did discuss with a
times before it was grant
ville several weeks ago,
mistaken for $ country
cited finances, other
with Tony and Susan over
reporter last February,
ed in 1966. Terry as in the
Dyer, Arks, area. At this
Susan said she would not
music start.
leaflets distributed by the
SUSAN DID respond to
the years.
however, what the termed
early days when Se Was
location the foundation
respond in detail to the
Tony, not quite se hefly
foundation say. Susan
questions during one tele-
it is a remarkable story
her recovery from luber-
known as Bernie Lazar
operates a clothing store,
char ges her daughter
4s Johnny Cash, is hand
has to have money to win
phone conversation with
which begins with Susan's
culosis after she came in
Holfman 1 had his Irms
got untike the one in Nash-
made against her.
somely aftired inone of his
more souls for Cirist
this reporter, but she said
birth She was been Edith
touch with a Pentecostál
(Continued On Pagelar
fille, a country store: In
That daughter has
wide suits ith the
fruit stand, a discount
been a blessing in dis
Clared culfs. The lapels an
FEDERAL T.S.Y 16.
More and R large restau-
guise, Susan said, when
border-stitched will
Cant nightclub. The "rell-
asked about the testimony
lighter thread He term: California leave no:
glous-oriented" nightclub
Mrs. Mick gave before the
to favor brown, and offer douht that the money has
has featured entertain-
legislative hearing She
wears his collar open a come in to the founds.
ment by such country
is a girl with a weight
the neck.
Gun
musit stars as Dolly Par-
problem," Susan added,
A federal Form 1010.
Inn. Tammy Wynetle, Bill
saying Mrs Mick has ax
For most ofthehall hour filed in 1974 traees the
Anderson, Marty Robbins
perienced difficulties with
show, Susan stares intent suress of the Alame foun
and Buck Owens
uppers and downers"
ly Into the camera and dation in raising money
The press in Arkañsas
while trying to control her
talks
That form a public "
reportedibal Jony and
weight.
Susan plan to build a $,000
"WE ARE IN the last
card, lists indital "glio,
seat aditorium and I 114
days. she warns her au
grants and contributions
SHE HAS made me on
diences, 'and Sarin and
over four years as fol-
room motel in the Dyer all out against drugs,
the Lord are laked in 3
lows:
Alma area.
said Susan
1970
$16,743
batile.
THE ALAMO Christian
During that same lefe.
She does not preterid to
1971
$300,432
Form Estion, which got a
phone interview, Susan
be like other ministers
1972
$63,339
modest start in 1509 in Los
declined to respond in de-
1973
9937,347
tall to criticisms raised
During one of her ser-
The tos for those four
Angeles, has been ens-
nated in enotroversy and
about the foundation. She
muns, broadcast bete re:
yearsis: 52 million There
soid the press, in the past,
cently, she said: have
P: lician since its found-
never seen another
is no financial report
12 occording to public
has been unfair to her and
available for income the
records and press reports
Tony.
preacher or evancible
Sometimes on her tele-
would like 10 be like this
foundation received in
incities where the Alamas
side of the heaverly of
1974, according to IRS
have conducted their rivin-
vision show, however, she
heaventies anly
spokesmen, but the feders
does speak of bet critics
al Form 19:5 shows
istry
like to he like Jesus
Many of the foundation's
She says Ibove who are
She >2ys she is the only
income for that year at
follow seem to have ac-
against her, Mare going to
090 - an indication
preacher who has arbed
croted completely the al-
or legislation paysed to
that freedom of religion is
of continued growth. That
most Sportan life-style
take away freedom of rell-
same form shows the
being thre stened in this
and The Intense religious
gion.
foundation has and world
country Other preachers
orientation required of
fail to discuss this respect,
more than 5170 ona, total
those
HER FOES use words
in 5013
she said, because they
know It will bring on per
are worth of St million:
secution.
THE RECORD of
ON MOST of their TV
growth by the foundation
is remarksble But it is
progr the formatis the
even more when
same Susan presches
consideral in the Tight of
most of the time and Tuny
sings 140 goopel songs
testimony Tuny gave in à
in 198 in con-
times Estands by
fore the cumeras: some
nection with the paternity
linied she sits behind a
quit adjust his
table, referring and
Touy share
ally to a single puge of
he bud fat job. outed the
prepared undes
property, possessed no
On some relevable Tonj
assets and Red tited to
income DN returns the the
and Seall have dulled
about the wooder: the
years presentable
because be tall BU
Lord, hut usedle Tody
fimils humelf to
Inensive flic 420 informe
he received Is III
praism; the Card far No
wife and rendering The
was $157.29
invoice attech
songs which time
California because of his
are accompanied with
condition of United
phatie had and arm nes-
tures a sert of aching
Tony and Susan do
nil to the indicance
parently Mr (V) cabries
Tom and Susanmake no
out of Barr under RMA
direct appeal fir avery
poration Xor it para
during the teleer 4 Actif
15) the hundred of your
allen may TV Mations M
persons 886 come to lite
the country
and work at the
WIVE in have
Non,
# policy against sech 50-
Delation They 94% the
station wird for
IN ANOTHER
the
half
hour
of
Sunday
tien,
given
in
times
with justifier IN
which Both the and
SUSAN
live
Twoy
alsored
Tony's
(b)
for
the
nie
blood
that
The Alamos: Religion
Is Their Chief Business
(Continued From Page 14)
in
bles with the law. Police
the foundation founding in 1969, of Later outskirts the of tract Los Angelex was in
USA
and
the
records show lie was con-
Victed in Los Angeles on a
Tony and Susan were or-
dained to preach. accord-
creased to 160 acres.
receiving and concealing
stelenproperty charge. lie
ing to Tony testimony in
a deposition. This ordina-
PRESS REPORTS from
served three months for
show. that offunse, records
tion occurred. savs Tonr
those days tell how
at the Bible Assembly
members of the foundation
In 1961, records show,
in Santa Monica, Calif
would travel daily from
the Satigus location Into
Tony was charged with
IN 1967 Tony was rer.
Los Angeles, where the
mail Traud. He pleaded
tified as blind by the Blind
nork of conversion ent
ruilly. was fined $300 and
Institute of the Depart.
on. Persons on the street
as put on probation for a
meat of Social Welfare in
were approached by toun-
year by a federal judge.
California. He began to
dation members and
LIKE SUSAN, Tany has
draw state financial aid
ed to come to Saugus,
because of his disability
Many accepted the
been married three times.
In one of his depositions,
and apporently still sui-
foundation. tion and some stayed at the
Tom lestified he as mar-
fers some difficulty in see-
ing (sources say he decs
Members of the founda.
ried from 1932 until 1953 to
a woman named Joann
nut drive the big. hand-
tion en: in farm work
some cars which are
on the toundation's prop.
Dill From 1961 le 1955, be
tion). leased by the founds-
crly and 00 adjoining
Haggen. was married to liclen
farins Former members
This, then, is part of the
of the foundation say the
The paternity suil
against Tony was filed in
background of tu our
Alamos arranged for this
persons who had led onli-
work and that foundation
Culturals By à woman
named Jerly Stearns. Tony
nary lives until they may-
members he the work
lestified he met her at
ried and founded a Chris.
understood that wh
1 by Heavy Varida
tian foundation to spread
money was paid in them
a danceball in Omaha.
Alamos' Nashville Home
Neb. in 1964 Miss Stearns
their religious beliefs.
tion. would до to the founda
charged that she and Tony
In the beginning they
In return. the members
The Alames bought this mansion, of 1002 Tyne Blvd., several
months age, The evangalists stay in the home when they are visiting
Noshville. Some of the city's most established citizens make their
were infimate and that,
operated the foundation
received housing, food,
briefly, they lived in on
from 2 (our apart-
homes in this neighborheod.
ment in the Huts wood.
clothing and the necessi
were
"brainwashed"
dur.
member.
a
area. A California dows-
lies of life. The Mamos do
Ning
young
woman
apartment with Susan and
their
stay
with
the
named Lane Petri, told a
Mick, who left husband Jesus Christ (when you
when she weat to the
Fei other persons. not
not like the use of the ord
Alamos.
who still is member of
paper in November 1939
California court after her
vjoin the foundation]:
before August 10% when
commune however. to
The who have com-
the foundation
Seugus property where
stay of two years at the
you accepting my
reported that Tony's eye.
decided to quit the organi-
her daughter, Pally
Tony and Susan married,
sight might soon be gone
describe the operations
plained Include a young
foundation in Saugus:
mother. When you ques-
Thorpe, lives,
At some point in the
sation in about 1973.
because of his
they Arkansas. have at Sougus or in
man named Terry Sher-
came to realize
that
tion my mother you are
vin, who said the religious
In testimony before the
Mrs. Wizel testiried that
carly 1915. according to
condition. But the same
indoctrination during a
individuals in the group
questioning God.
California Seriate Legisla.
her daughter was amerge
Teny, he became quite
article added that ToDy
are being used under the
PRIOR TO 1071. most of
live Committeee, headed
these who beat ber. along
successful as a promoter
and Susan were operating
night worship service he
guise alreligion.
ANOTHER critié of the
with other member of the
of professional enter.,
fainers. Some of the leaf-
a ministry which was
the activity of the Alama
attended was so intense he
by Sen. Mervyn Dymally,
Alamos is Mrs. Lydia
foundation renter
almost fainted.
Mrs. Mick testified in Au-
foundation. She was paid
AND THEN, there is
Wizel of Encino, Calif.,
growing stendity.
California. In September
Another
Susan's
gust of 1974:
$12,500 to settle the case
lets passed out by the
former
daughter,
Chris
who sued the couple after
out of court.
foundation's members tell
of that year. the founda
You're not accepting
THE TENNISSBAN
she said she was beaten
(Continued On Page ⑉
hbout how Tony lived in
INHOLLYWOOD, Tony
tion mos into
high style with a chaut-
and Susan apparently de-
establishing the clothing
foured throusine. R was
dicated their work to the
store on lower Broad-
during that time. he test
effort of bringing their
nar
titled. that he chanced his
religious plogram many
Until the Alamos recent.
Religion Is Alamos' Chief Business
name to Truy Alamo be-
young persons who were
by bought the house at
(Continued From Page 131
God fet me live
cause Larin names were
considered hippies. giv-
Jesus
Type Boulevard and Isa.
that the foundation which
was a good one. Put his
popular at that time in the
ing them a chance 10
landLane. they occupied e
And in PST a proup was
Inc. died so that 1 might
she and Tony started in
change their lives.
formed in California to
accepted Jesus Chr 11c
entertainment held
residence on Terrace
1962. when both of them
A doctor who attended
washed away my with
They quickly outgrew
Place.
scok Indistation to deal
were down and out. has
their quarters in 1101.
In 1975 the Mames
with proups like Tery's
Susan at Sparks Medical
his blood. He died so
grown Nito one of the hig.
could live.
TONY HAD known
lywood and moved to a
began expanding their
and Susan's foundation.
Center in Arkansas con.
gust religious organiza-
Susan for some time be.
firmed she has been treat.
fore their marriage in
house on Carlos Avenue.
operation into Arkansas.
tions in the country
AI that location. they
rd for cancer Bet de: pite
"WHEN I WAS dead in
returning to the scene of
RECENT telreast.
The IS no doubt. 100.
1966, but she was married
would im ite persons in off
Susan's childhood
Susan said this proup in
the fact that Susan Ire.
my sins, He us willing in
that the foundation has at.
then to Lipowitz In fact,
California
thesireetstoparticipate
The revenues from the
to
quently on TV
walk to the old rug
tracted of converts,
Susan use still married to
crurb religious freedom in
that inquiries about her
cross so I could be saved of
their worship, and
fuundation's operations in
and continues to be sue-
my sins.
Lipon itz high she (ound-
California and Arkansas
America. toldef a man
condition can be directed
of in 1564 an organization
members of the group
cestui today
who she said kidnaped
to fat, at the hospi-
Looking sternly into the
would go out daily to cru-
to doubt make up a sub-
Susan and Tony decline
she called the Susan Li
sade for new followers
stantial part of the more
adults from the foundation
tai, the doctor said he was
camera, she then urges
to di cuss the specifies of
her audience:
Christian Feunda
The message which
than million the formula
and attempted 10
not athberly tadi cuss her
their success. 11i his depo-
a tax-exempt Chris.
Susan preached then was
Hon look in last year How
them against the
illness in detail.
"Give il all up to Jesus
sitims in various lawsuits.
tian organization which
Alothes
who gave Ilis life up for
much the same as the one
is the money spent?
Tony referred numerous us.
apparently never knew
she preaches today on
She warned that the na.
THE PHYSICIAN did
questions to his attorneys.
great success.
television: Those who be-
CEBREAT expenditure
tipn is reaching a print
say, however, that it not
his auditors and others
B
That early foundation,
lieve in Jesus should give
statements
Where people charelieve
correctio hay that "lermi.
which never got off the
in law and arder. people
and they both decline to
everything they have to
able (olitis now spaper, but
nal cancer could have
Him:,
who believe in this
discuss their past in de-
ground was similar to the
a public record in Cabfor
existed for more than tail.
Christian foundation Tony
country. people who be
nia showed that in 1973,
years.
THERE WERE times
when Income W 8:52 000.
lieve in Jesus Christ, are
Susan, in reaflet
EXPLAINS Susan:
in California
considered freaks,
When the foundation's act
expenses were 000
by the foundation she
"Salen is the one who
The
Tont
and
Susan
Intrine
attaine
And learnis but out he
heads
were intimate and that, Tony
ups rated the foundation
the
months ago. The evengelists stay in the home when they
briefly they lived in an
from a four-room apart-
received housing. food,
clothing and the necessi-
were
"brainwashed"
dur
member,
a
young
woman
Mick,
who
left
her
husband
Jesus
Christ
(when
you
when she went. to the
apartment ith Susan and
ment in the Hully wood
ties of life. The Alamos do
ping their stay with the
named Lane Petri, told a
who
still
is
member
pjoin the foundation);
Saugus property where
other persons. just
area. A California news.
not like the use of the word
Alamos.
California court after her
the
foundation
she
you te accepting my
her daughter, Palty
before August 1906 when
paper in November 1969
"commune, however, to
Those. who have com-
stay of two years at the
decided to quit the organi-
mother. When you ques-
Thorpe, lives.
reported that Tony's eye.
describe the operations
plained include a young
"I
zation in sbout 1973.
tion my mother, you are
Mrs. Wizel testified that
Tony and Susan married.
sight might soon be gone
foundation in Saugus:
At some point in the
because of his glaucoma
Arkansas. they have at Saugus or HB
man named Terry Sher.
came to realize that
in testimony before the
questioning God.
her daughter was among
early 1960., according 10
vin, who said the religious
California Senate Legisla.
those who beat her, along
individuals in the group
Tony, the became quile
condition. But the same
indoctrination during a
are being used under the
live Committeee, headed
ANOTHER critic of the
with other members of the
successful as a promoter
article added that Tony
PRIOR TO 1971. most of
night worship service he guise ofretigion.
by Sen. Mervyn Dymally
Alamos is Mrs. Lydia
foundation. She was paid
of professional enter.
and Susan were operating
the activity of the Alamyi
attended was so intense he
Mrs. Mick testified in Au-
Wizel of Encino, Calif.,
$12,500 to settle the case
lainers. Some of the leaf.
a ministry which was
foundation in
elmost fainted.
AND THEN, there is gust of 1974:
who sued the couple after
out of court.
lets passed out by the
growing steadily.
California, In September
Another former Susan's daughter, Chris
You're not accepting
she said she was beaten
(Continued On Page in
foundation's members tell
of that year. the 1 unda-
THE
TINVESSIAN.
Sundre.
-
19.
1976
about how Tony lived in
IN HOLLYWOOD. Tony
tion moved into Nashville,
high style with a chauf-
and Susan apparently de-
establishing the clothing
leurn Timousine It was
dicated their work to the
store on lower Broad.
during that time. he les.
effort of bringing
way.
Religion Is Alamos' Chief Business
blied, that he chanced his
religious program many
Until the Alamos recent.
name to Tony Alamo be-
young persons who were
ly bought the house at
(Continued From Page 121
God
let
me
live
Jestis
that the foundation which
wash good one But when
died so that 1 might
she and Cony started in
accepted Jesus Christ, He
Cause Latin names were
considered hippies." giv-
Type Bodiet and and Lea.
And in 1974 a group was
popular at that time in the
ing them a chance to
land Lane, they cerupied
live
1963. when Lasty of them
washed away my sins with
formed in Cailfornia to
entertainment field.
residence on Terrace
A doctor who attended
were down and cal, has
his blood. He died so
change their lives
seek legislation to deal
They quickly outgrew
Place
with groups like Tony's
Susan at Sparks Medical
grown into one of the big.
could live.
their quarters in llul.
In 1975 the Alamas
and Sushis foundition.
Center in Arkmisas con.
gest religious organiza,
TONY HAD known
tions in the country.
"WHEN I WAS dead in
lynood and moved to a
began expanding their
tirmed she has treat.
Susan for some time be.
house on Carlos Avenue.
operation into Arkansas,
IVA RECENT teleast,
ed for cancer But despite
There is no doubt. Ino.
my sins, He was Jling 11
fore their marriage in
At that location, they
returning to the seene of
on said this Croup in
the fact that Susan fre.
that the foundation has at-
walk to the old mg red
1966, but she was married
would ite persons in oil
quently suggests on TV
track scares of converts,
cross so could be saved of
Susan's chil thoul
Califor is Pking to
then to Lipowitz In fact,
that Inquiries her
are to be sue-
my sins."
the
The revenues from the
curb religious freedom in
Susan still married to
their worship, and
foundation's operations in
America. total a man
cen lition can In directed
cestal In
Looking sternly Into the
Lipowitz who she found.
said
to ply sicians at the hospl-
Sus.n undel Tony decline
camera, she then wra."
members of the group
California and Arkansas
ed in 1564 an organization
would 1:0 out daily to cru.
151, the aid he was
to discuss the specifies of
her madence:
no doubt make up a sub-
sdults Gun the foundation
she called the Susan Li.
nd at liberty Indiscries
their success. In his depo-
"Give it all Hp to Jesus
sade for new followers.
stantial part of the more
and attempted to away
illness in detail.
sitions avaious watnits.
who gave Ills life up for
powitz Christian Founda-
The message which
than It million the founda-
them against the
lion, a tax exempt Chris
Susan pread I'm n Has
tion took III year. How
Tony referred numerous us.
Jian organization which
much the same as the one
is the money spent?
She warmed that the na-
THE PHYSICIAN did
GIV otrs for his attorneys.
[
apparently never knew
she preaches today on
finn 4 reaching a point
say, however, that if is not
his auditors and others
great success.
television There who be-
"shere people lieve
correct to that termie
and they both keline in
CURRENT expenditure
That early foundation,
statements were not avail-
in Law and order. people
nal rancer could have
discuss their paid in de-
which never got off the
lieve in Jesus should give
everything they have to
ableto this but
who believe in this
existed for more then
(ail.
ground. was similar to the
Ilim.
a public record in Caltfor.
country, teach who be
years
Christian foundation Tony
nia showed that in 1973,
here in Jesus Christ, are
Susan, in a leafted potnut
EXPLAINS Susan:
and Susan founded in 1969
when income as
considered freaks.
by the teundation she
Satah is the one who
in
THERE WERE times
California.
when the foundation's ac-
And leaflets put out by
beads, recalls that she was
starts people to talking
The Tony and Susan
expenses were $673,000.
about their past lives. It
fivities created contro.
There was $63,000 listed
their foundation also de
hospitalized earliet this
Alama Christian Founda-
tion was organized three
very A newspaper chip
for automobiles, (ini)
lend the Mamos against
year in Fort Smith for her
duesn't matter what a per-
ping from the early days,
for clothing and $486,000
lucis erities. One baild
The leaf!!! says
" was like
years after Tony and
for example, quotes Susan
for food.
5.135 Su.3n has been "al-
sine told the doctors them
And in her television 3P
Susan married. And al.
as protesting what she
There is way todeter. I
tacked by a group of radi-
"I'm thing to let you
pearances. she adds:
though Susan urged him to
called police harassment
mine the number of for.
cals who afted her a thirt.
operate on me, but you
When 1 was 3 sinner, !
give up his entertainment
of the members of her
lowers of the Tony and
racketeer a hy photist, a
cannot & anything for me.
business, Tony continued
group. The article reports
Susan Alamo Christian
and ACCORD Pher of
1 have had terminal
to promote for quite some
that Susan said police had
Foundation. Both Tony
Brahiwa cause she
cancer for its years and
Susan. time after his marriage to
come into their building
and Susan say they don't
Langht prople 10 believé in
have worked every day of
and sprayed nerve gas on
know the exact number
the Lord Jesus Christ.'
my life. When me
worshipers.
who live at the founds.
up. you will every
ONE OF Tony's clients
in addition, neighbors
tion's properties in Call.
THE LEAFT ET adds
part of me is ealetrim with
during this time was a
with whom this reporter
fornia. Arkansas and here
The inesha picked
cancer.
singer whose professional
talked recalled that there
InNashville
up these vicious stories
name was Rouvan.
were perhaps 200 followers
But leatlets distributed
and cireglated them
THREE the
Rouv he is now
of the Alamus in 19:0. and
by the foundationsay Tony
around the world. When
leafter says, the dactors
dead, later signed a per-
that there were distur.
and Sesan started the
me Hoopen tristmer
called Tony assie 10 tell
forming-right contract
bances in the neighbor.
"Jesus movement" nhichi
to support ourselves, the
Irim: "We just sewed her
with RCA Records. RCA
hood because of their 20.
they contend is sweeping
press moved in with mali-
back up. Even tideg in ber
subsequently sued Tony
livities and the opposition
America and the world.
cious stories that Susan
is cancer. Nothing can to
and Susanov er some tapes
which the foundation en-
was operating stave labor
done surgically.
of Rouvan voice The
ALTHOUGH there are
gendered
camps: even though our
Despite that diagnosis,
dispo-ation of that suit is
Soon, the foundation had
scores of young persons
work supports bus of
how er, Susan has con-
not well established, but
the have emliraced the
outgrown its quarters on
apparently it was settled
brand of religion preached
people and me have never
tinued to pppear on her
ims and at
Carlos Avenue, and Tony
out of court.
by Tony and Susan, there
solutited finances,
and Susan purchased
hat. would Susan
the closhing store on lower
At same point between
are others who have aban
seven acres of land at
money
Broadway from time to
the time of their marriage
doned the foundation after
for? To buy a 10mb.
time, She has also been
Saugus, which is on the
a while, contending they
seen at church & rices in
alone?
Arkamar She indicates that the
THE ERE
to Susan's illness, he hout
fact she is still alive is a
with what she terms It
in Tact: unr of
minit which she
the afters out by the
foundate
people
to
mays she has had for at
"come and see the miracle
least The yours
She Recemently talks of
that God is working in
during
her
these last days
Easy
send
health
THERE
If
Sunan's
of
doubt
fact
CRI
CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Mailing address
Post Office Box 500
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
Office located at
22672 Lambert St., Suite 604
El Toro, CA 92630
PAUL CARDEN
714/855-9926
Research Consultant
CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Box 500, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693(714) 855-9926
F
or many years Christian mission agencies and boards
zine he has been described by Christianity Today as "the
have been faced with the problem of non-Christian
most productive evangelical scholar writing in this field
religions and cults. On all mission fields competitive
today."
religious forces exist which pose constant threats to Chris-
Professor Martin is the author of more than a dozen
tian evangelism and many established congregations.
major books, assorted articles, pamphlets, and tracts on
Foremost among these forces are various cults or sects,
sects having their origin in the United States. He has
originating in the United States, who send literature and
labored among the cults and the occult for more than thirty
missionaries to proselytize established religious groups.
years and has lectured throughout the United States,
Such groups as Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Chris-
Europe, and Asia where he spoke to six thousand mission-
tian Science, The Unity School of Christianity, Religious
aries and workers under the sponsorship of World Vision
Science, Herbert Armstrong's World Wide Church of God,
International. Time Magazine, describing some of
Baha'iism and Eckankar have grown to alarming propor-
Professor Martin's constructive work, characterized him as
tions and their influence is felt on many major world
"one who brought 'peace and not a sword.' He is an or-
mission fields.
dained minister and a member of the Southern Baptist Con-
Christian missionaries are literally in the dark when a cult
vention, the American Academy of Religion and the
or occult invasion begins in any given area of World Mis-
Society of Biblical Literature. He is also listed in Who's
sions either here or abroad. The situation in the United
Who in the East, the Dictionary of International Bio-
States is as bad as that overseas. While it is true that a good
graphy, Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans,
body of literature exists in this area, a large percentage of it
and Who's Who in Religion. Dr. Martin is a Professor of
is out-dated, unreliable, and unscholarly and shows a
Comparative Religion at Melodyland School of Theology,
marked lack of personal investigation in the field. Field
Anaheim, California, and Dean of the Master's Degree
work itself is virtually unknown and second and third hear-
program at the Simon Greenleaf School of Law in Orange,
say are often accepted as fact. This type of apologetic ac-
California, and has made numerous television and radio
complishes little and continues to do much harm.
appearances throughout the United States.
Recognizing this problem for what it is-a massive threat
Under Professor Martin's direction, the Christian Re-
to the missionary life of the whole Christian Church-the
search Institute has begun effectively to meet for the first
Christian Research Institute was founded to deal specific-
time in the history of the Christian missions the challenge
ally with this issue on an international basis.
of the non-Christian cults and occult.
A non-profit research, educational, and charitable cor-
Christian Research Institute is a pioneer in the field of
poration, the Institute is headed by Professor Walter
evangelizing the cults and the occult and is building a team
Martin, a recognized authority on cults, the occult, and
of missionaries and researchers who devote all of their time
non-Christian religions. The Institute supplies to mission
to actively evangelizing members of the cults and the occult
agencies, schools, churches and laymen up-to-date infor-
through personal witnessing, research, publications, and
mation concerning the history, doctrines, and methods of
lecture series in interested churches and schools throughout
the major cultic religious systems functioning in the United
America and elsewhere.
States and all major world mission fields.
As our program expands we will be instituting missionary
Professor Martin, Founder and Director of the Institute,
outreaches to all of the major cultic and occultic move-
comes well prepared and qualified for this unique ministry.
ments in America with a special emphasis on preparing the
A graduate of Stony Brook School, Shelton College, New
Church to begin its own evangelizing effort to these groups.
York University, and California Western University, he
Christian Research Institute has as its goal a strong and
holds degrees in Philosophy, Religious Education and The-
complete staff to help the Christian Church help those mis-
ology. As a former Contributing Editor to Eternity maga-
led by the cults of our day.
"Dearly beloved, while I was doing my best to begin writing you
about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write and
urge you to carry on a vigorous defense of the faith that was once
for all entrusted to God's people.'
-Jude 3
CRI
SEAL
OFFICER
OF
GREAT
THE STATE
STATE
OF
CALIFORNIA
Court of Appeal
FOURTH DISTRICT, DIVISION TWO
STATE BUILDING
planet after on
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA 92401
CHAMBERS OF
F. DOUGLAS McDANIEL
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE
August 30, 1982
w/
ne.
Morton Blackwell
am
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Blackwell:
This letter is directed to you on the advice of Tom
Nassif, my former law partner, whom you know as the Deputy
Chief of Protocol. The enclosed copy of my letter to the
is A
President indicates that the objective in writing to him, as
well as writing to you, is to seek an audience with the
national stature. Mr. Williams is General Director of Nichiren CULT
President for George M. Williams, a religious leader of
THISPANESE
Shoshu Soka Gakkai of America, headquartered in Santa Monica, WHICH
California. This organization, which its members refer to as
NSA, is putting on an historic patriotic pageant and rally in
BeLieves
Washington on October 9 and 10. NSA has staged a number of
you c AN
breathtaking patriotic pageants in the past, not the least of
which was the entire Fourth of July Bicentennial observance for
experience and demonstrated capability of NSA in such things
you WANT
Get ANY THING
the City of New York in 1976. It is because of this past
HANTING
that I can assure you that its upcoming rally in Washington
By
will surpass anything that even the capital has ever seen.
CERTAIN
A MANTRA FRONT
It is my sincere hope, because the audience sought here
IN
in no way involves pursuit of any private purpose either for
OF
A
Mr. Williams or for NSA, that you will afford my request for an
SCROLL,
audience with the President for Mr. Williams a favorable
SHALL
recommendation. Your reason for doing so is amplified in my
letter to the President.
we ASK
CONTROL OF
NSA has an executive office in Washington which functions BOTH
under the direction of Guy C. McCloskey Mr. McCloskey is the
key person on the site involved in arranging for the rally. He
Houses?
also is authorized to speak for Mr. Williams, and he will be
calling you soon after you receive this letter to discuss
arranging a possible meeting between the President and the
General Director of NSA in advance of the rally.
Respectfully yours,
F. Douglas McDaniel.
FDMc:d
GREAT
Court of Appral
FOURTH DISTRICT DIVISION TWO
STATE 31 LDING
SA: BERNARDING CALIFORNIA 92401
August 30, 1982
Ronald Reagan
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
A very important event is taking place in Washington on
October 9 and 10. More than 20,000 members of the Nichiren
Shoshu Soka Gakkai of America will converge on the capital from
all over the United States, including Hawaii. Their purpose
will be to stage, under the leadership of General Director
George M. Williams, and to participate in the "Aloha, We Love
America Rally!" The festivities will include a gala entertain-
ment at Sylvan Theater on the evening of October 9, immediately
following which there will be one of the largest fireworks dis-
play ever seen in Washington. On October 10, there will be a
parade in which over 20,000 marchers will each be carrying an
American Flag to show the nation and all the world that there
are young citizens who love the United States enough that they
have gathered together as volunteers at their own expense to
give a public answer to your detractors. Daytime fireworks
will conclude the parade following which there will be a
Hawaiian extravaganza staged on the west lawn of the Capitol.
As one of your longtime supporters, going back long
before you appointed me to my present position, I have endured
frustration and even anger over what I perceive to be the
unfair treatment you have received and continue to receive in
the media, both electronic and print. The "Aloha, We Love
America Rally!" will be so massive in its size and so impres-
sive in its content that it cannot help but attract major media
attention. Because of its positive, upbeat theme with which a
substantial majority of the nation's people can readily relate
and respond to, the rally represents for you an ideal opportun-
ity to be identified publically with a popular and patriotic
commitment which the rally will proclaim more eloquently than
has ever been done on such a vast scale.
With the hope that you will grasp at once the favorable
opportunity which the rally holds for you, I am writing partic-
ularly to urge that you meet personally in advance of the rally
Ronald Reagan
Page 2
with General Director Williams to discuss possible ways in
which the staging of the rally could be directed for your
benefit.
While you were Governor of California, you occasionally
exchanged correspondence with Mr. Williams, and you visited the
NSA's World Culture Center on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa
Monica. As a result, you will recall that the Nichiren Shoshu
Soka Gakkai of America is a Buddhist lay organization whose
240,000 members live in every state in the union and come from
all walks of life. Their common goal is world peace and the
realization of human dignity for all people without regard for
race, color or creed.
As a practicing member of NSA, it is my honor to have
been selected to make this initial overture to you. There are
two reasons for this. First, I am personally acquainted with
Mr. Williams; he himself sponsored me for membership some years
ago. Because of this personal acquaintance and friendship, I
am in a position to assure you without reservation of his total
and enthusiastic support of your leadership, a support which
neither seeks to exploit nor to aggrandize. It is Mr.
Williams' sincere belief that you will be greatly benefited by
your identification with the rally, and it is because of this
belief that he feels both confident and justified in inviting
you to do so.
The second reason for my writing is the fact of my
credibility with you and your staff. My past service to you in
the 1971 CRLA skirmishes and as a member of your Manpower
Policy Task Force in 1972 plus the faith I have kept with your
precepts in pursuing my present duties, enable me to make this
overture in good conscience. By that I mean I would be the
last person in the world to suggest your involvement in
anything other than what would accrue to your lasting advantage
and particularly put you one up on the media.
For all the reasons stated, I therefore urge you to
consider favorably meeting with Mr. Williams in advance of the
rally and to set aside that weekend for what will be a fabulous
and inspiring experience for you to enjoy and to take pride in.
Ronald Reagan
Page 3
In aid of this direct overture I am writing currently to
National Security Advisor Clark and also to a member of your
staff, Morton Blackwell. My former law partner Tom Nassif,
whom you know as Deputy Chief of Protocal, suggested that Mr.
Blackwell would be the appropriate member of the White House
Staff with whom to coordinate because of Mr. Williams' national
stature as a religious leader.
Respectfully yours,
F. Douglas McDaniel.
FDMc:d
File
cults
Brainwashing
SOCIETY Mar./Apr. 1980
THE CASE FOR DEPROGRAMMING RELIGIOUS CULT MEMBERS
Edward M. Levine
T
he term deprogramming (or its counterpart brain-
arbitrary means of forcing young people to leave cults.
washing) has become extremely suspect, since it is
or enabling them to make more effective adjustments to
often associated with attempts of parents to regain their
society subsequent to leaving cults, although it does work
children from religious cults such as the Unification
toward both objectives. Deprogramming is more than
Church and Hare Krishna. Quite frequently this means
persuading cult members to question and abandon the
abducting the children against their will or in some other
religious beliefs they adopted, and encouraging and as-
way enticing them to leave the cults. It also entails the
sisting them to re-adopt those they held prior to joining
efforts of hired agents or friends and family to persuade
cults. The generally unrecognized task of de-indoctrina-
the cult member to renounce his association with the cult
tion is to help these young people overcome the indescrib-
and break with its religious views. The parents' ultimate
able tenacity with which they cling to their cults' religious
objective is to regain the affection, loyalty, and physical
doctrines and world views. While a truly adequate expla-
presence of their children-and to help them reassume
nation of the reasons cult members need, accept, and so
their independence.
intensely identify with such absolutist values and the
Since cult members are often involuntarily induced to
cults' authority figures is beyond the scope of this article.
leave cults, or do so as a result of subterfuge, many regard
some comments are pertinent at this point.
deprogramming as a coercive means of persuading them
to accept others' values and reject their own. Depro-
Programming Methods
gramming is envisaged as a deliberate, unconscionable
abridgment of the members' right to join religious cults
Those who join cults are characteristically white,
and to adopt and remain identified with their religious and
middle-class young people, many of whom were attend-
secular beliefs, values, and practices. Since it is widely
ing college immediately prior to conversion. Deliberately
believed that cult members freely adopted these beliefs
and carefully sought out and recruited by cult members,
and values and freely chose to convert, individuals at-
they are, and for some time remain, unaware that they
tempting to deprogram them are regarded as intentionally,
have been selected as prospects by the proselytizers. The
immorally, and unconstitutionally abrogating their right
latter resort to every ruse imaginable to induce these
to join religious cults and to accept and practice their
young persons to join the cult. Invited to dinner or an
religious views. From this perspective-which is that
informal social gathering with others their age (cult mem-
adopted by the American Civil Liberties Union, many
bers who usually were former college students), the pros-
well-intentioned individuals, and the cults-deprogram-
pects are casually. yet persuasively, assured that they can
ming is unequivocally a premeditated attack on the First
resolve their personal difficulties and the problems of
Amendment. Prima facie, the critics and opponents of
society and the world by joining those with whom they are
deprogramming appear to he standing on firm constitu-
gathered to pursue such beckoning, idealistic-ventures.
tional ground.
This approach has a compelling appeal to young people
There are persuasive reasons for endorsing depro-
who are isolated and lonely at school, eager to find con-
gramming, however, reasons that are directly related to
tinuing companionship with peers who appear to share
the fundamental rights and self-interest of cult members
their outiook on life. Those who are interested in the goal
and, by extension. of society. Deprogramming or dein-
of human betterment seem to be far more susceptible to
doctrination should be removed from the arena of social
the blandishments and seductive appeals of the cults than
controversy. It is more accurately understood as symp-
are those who are more conservative and less identified
tomatic of much more serious, if not immediately ob-
with or drawn to such goals.
vious. issues.
Such devious ruses are used in exceptionally subtle
"Moonies" (Unification Church), bring prospective
clear sense of purpose, dispel confusion and uncertainty,
members to idyllic settings for retreats lasting a weekend
and provide them with direction, stability, and an in-
or one or a few weeks. Prospective members are com-
tensely sought-after inner peace. Consequently, many
pletely unaware that they are being recruited or that they
who have had serious drug and emotional problems before
have unwittingly entered the first phase of what is actually
joining cults discontinue drug use and become free from
a process of indoctrination. Now enveloped by a process
of thought control conducted by the most cunning kind of
deception and manipulation, cult recruits are deliberately
Lying, deceit, threats, and manipulation
kept involved in group activities for fifteen hours and
more a day. They are never left alone, even when going to
are termed "heavenly deception"
the bathroom, lest in isolation they begin to doubt or
by cults.
question what they are doing and being told. Purposely
kept fatigued so that their minds cannot function effec-
tively, deliberately not told that they are being pros-
emotional difficulties for an indefinite. but impressive,
elytized, only gradually introduced to the cult's religion,
period of time following conversion. Because of this,
and constantly kept under peer pressure to accept what
some parents of cult members regard the cults as at least
they are told, cult recruits are deprived of any opportunity
partially benign, even while they bitterly resent having
rationally to learn about, examine, and appraise the reli-
lost their children to them. Journalist Nicholas von Hoff-
gious and secular views of the cult. The ultimate objective
man wrote favorably about religious cults essentially be-
of the proselytizers is not merely to bring in new recruits,
cause their members found a religious belief that enabled
but to transform the newly converted into unquestioning,
them to straighten out their lives.
subservient members who automatically obey regardless
Cult Indoctrination
of what they are ordered to do. This is partially ac-
complished by preying on and manipulating their weak-
Less well known is that cults characteristically indoc-
nesses and gullibility, as well as by "love-bombing"
trinate or program their members with a deep-seated belief
them-continually building up their egos, their sense of
that the cult alone represents good and all who live apart
self-worth and importance; admiring their personal
from its beliefs are evil, whether they do so out of choice
characteristics, abilities, and potentials; and constantly
or ignorance. Only the cult's righteous ways and judg-
giving them attention and interest. In such ways the re-
ments are true and must be accepted; questioning, chal-
cruits and novitiates are buoyed up emotionally as they
lenging, criticizing, or opposing them and the cult cannot
have never been before, understandably coming to believe
be tolerated. For these reasons, cuit members must sever
what they are told. Such likable persons, so much like
their relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and
themselves, unstintingly giving them affection and
friends-as well as because such persons are likely to try
friendship and wanting them to join their cause, provide
to persuade them to leave the cult. Since the outside world
irresistible inducements to join cults, even though the
is held to be evil, cult members are justified in resorting to
any means when dealing with it. Lying, deceit, threats,
and manipulation, the customary techniques of dealing
The ultimate objective of cults is to take
with the non-cult world, are therefore termed "heavenly
deception," practices which gain additional legitimation
control of the minds and lives
because they are used for the purpose of advancing the
of their members.
cult's objectives. Those who have watched members
fund-raising for cults by selling items on the streets or in
airports realize that they do not hesitate to resort to distor-
prospective members are not informed that they are al-
tion, evasion, and other unethical practices.
ready in the process of being indoctrinated.
Given the objectives of cults, reason is anathema to
There are other cuits that are more open in identifying
their ways of dealing with members. Reason necessarily
themselves in their approach to prospective converts.
stresses independent thought, choice, and action. It
Nonetheless, the remarks of ex-cuit members indicate that
threatens to weaken the attachment of members to the
cults generally use much the same disguised tech-
group and must be stifled. The paradoxical attraction of
niques-indoctrination, programming, brainwashing-to
cults for many young people is that they have grown up as
gain and bind new members, since their ultimate objective
reasonably well-educated, middle-class individuals who
is to take control of their minds and lives.
have been accustomed to using reason. Their abandoning
Cults appeal to young people by offering charismatic
reason and freedom, and withdrawing from and turning
authority figures, fundamental beliefs, clear-cut, strin-
against their families and society, point up certain impor-
gent regulations to govern their daily lives, and on-going
tant questions. Why have they accepted the strictures of
associations with others their age who share their life sty 2
cuits after having been accustomed to a life that offered a
and outlook on life. The beliefs and standards give them a
plentirude of gratification? Why have they suddenly be-
March / April 1980
35
come so docile and willing to lead an ascetic life, to reject
collapsed. During this interval he "processed" 140 such
SO much of what they were accustomed to in favor of a
cases, individuals who were in such a dire state of emo-
new belief and way of life so at odds with what they had
tional distress that they could function in only the most
known? And why are they so magnetically drawn to
menial, routine kinds of tasks, such as kitchen work.
charismatic leaders upon whom they become so depen-
Except for being sent to this center and given such work,
dent?
they received no other assistance for their problems.
Many who join cults appear to have pronounced depen-
Apart from such starkly tragic costs, certain kinds of
dency needs that are far more than the ordinary emotional
material custs are incurred by all who remain in cults for a
residues from childhood and adolescence. These young
few years or more. Efforts to encourage them to recognize
people exhibit a marked need to turn to and depend upon
these costs seldom avail; cult members dismiss them with
strong-minded, decisive personalities-which they find
indifference because of their absolute faith that all their
in the cults' religious leaders and in those who have
important material needs will be properly met by the cult.
authority over them. Their unusually high rates of drug
Yet for the unknown numbers who have left cults after a
use and emotional distress prior to joining cults are further
signs of the emotional insecurities which cult life helps to
stabilize. Such persons also seem to be susceptible to
domination by those in positions of authority. Thus it is
Deprogramming obliges cult members to
not surprising to find that they remain emotionally and
confront the false claims, distortions, and
ideationally bound to cults, even when their dissatisfac-
rationalizations that cults have used to
tions and doubts begin to mount and momentarily con-
front them with the realities they had avoided seeing or
control their minds and lives.
accepting. In addition, they are held in place by their fear
of physical and emotional reprisals-and by their strong
sense of guilt.
few years or more, and for those who will break away in
Former cult members state that guilt, more than any-
the future, this is an unrealistic assumption. For example,
thing else, is the ultimate force driving cult members on
cult members usually do not pay social security taxes, nor
during times of great physical and emotional duress. They
does the cult make contributions for them, since the in-
believe that their dissatisfactions with the rigid imposi-
come they produce from cash sales is given to the cult
tions of cult life, with the stress brought on by inability to
leaders. Nor, because of this. do they have personal sav-
fulfill insensitive demands to work excessively long hours
ings accounts. They do not have health insurance cover-
and meet fund-raising quotas, are due to their personal
age or pension funds. Finally, and equally self-disserving,
failure to believe completely in the cult's religion. One's
most have no record of occupational experience, a lack of
doubts, inability to persevere, or exhaustion brought on
which will leave them at a clear disadvantage when seek-
by overwork or malnutrition are signs of failure of the will
ing jobs after leaving the cults. Those who leave cults after
to believe. Objective considerations yield to subjective
two years or more find themselves dependent upon the
beliefs, with the individual disciplined by the cult to turn
financial aid of parents and friends until they become
against himself. Here, too, the role of reason has been
gainfully employed. Those stable enough to become in-
displaced by irrational considerations, another manifesta-
dependent and seek employment have difficulty finding
tion of the fruits of cultist mind control.
jobs suitable for their age and life style because they have
Eventual Costs
not completed college and lack work experience accept-
able to personnel managers and employers. Costs such as
To suggest that cult members become shorn of their
these are as unavoidable as they were unanticipated by
reason and will by indoctrination and peer pressure to
cult members.
conform may appear to be a contrived exaggeration intro-
duced for polemical purposes. For many cult members,
Judicious Deprogramming
however, this is a fair description of their state of mind.
From the foregoing one might conclude that depro-
Their automatic readiness to carry out all kinds of tasks,
gramming is an indispensible technique to detach cuit
including working sixty hours a week in fund-raising
members from their absolute dedication to and identifica-
activities (and, for at least a few, prostitution), is a fair
tion with the cult's religious beliefs and views. the instru-
indication of their state of mind. For unknown numbers,
mental means of breaking the cult's control of their minds.
however, emotional pressures ultimately take their toll;
If deprogramming dealt only with the individual's cogni-
some of them eventually lose their powers of mental
tive faculties, it would still be in extremely difficult
endurance and suffer nervous breakdowns-some cults
undertaking. Companing the premises. substance. and
'erm such persons "burn-outs." A former member of the
meaning of conflicting (not merely contrasting) religious
Unification Church revealed in an interview that he had
and ideological beliefs. as well as holding to logical,
worked for three months in a special center whose chief
rational exchanges of views. would be arduous and time
function was to take care of those who had emotionally
consuming with cult members whiting to engage in such
36
SOCIETY
intellectual dialogues. But the full and open exercise of
reason is not a mode available to deprogrammers. The nub
of de-indoctrination is to crode and detach the cult
member's intensely emotional adherence to the beliefs
and individuals who have controlled his mind and be-
havior. For some, this results in resurfacing of latent
emotional problems and insecurities which may seriously
PRAEGER
impair their lives.
At the outset, deprogramming obliges cult members to
entering our fourth decade
confront the false claims, distortions, and rationalizations
that cults have used to control their minds and lives.
Proposes realistic, well-integrated long-range
Directly and insistently, it requires them to question and
policies
reconsider the beliefs and values that have been ingrained
BLACK-WHITE RELATIONS IN THE 1980's
and have led them to permit their own subjugation. Con-
Toward a Long Term Policy
fronting and accepting the truth about cults and oneself are
HUBERT M. BLALOCK, Ir., University of Washington
changes not easily or quickly made, for facing and ac-
220 pp. 1979 LC 79-10224 ISBN 0-03-050461-9 $17.95
cepting the truth-that one was extremely naive and
discusses the efforts made to deal with the
gullible-can be very embarrassing. It is painful to admit
problem of race relations in the U.S. Army
that one has been wrong in believing cult leaders and the
RACIAL STRIFE IN THE U.S. MILITARY
Toward the Elimination of Discrimination
cult's religion and that one's family and friends are not the
RICHARD O. HOPE, Morgan State University
incarnation of evil. In addition, de-indoctrination revives
144 pp. 1979 LC 79-65932 ISBN 0-03-046146-4 $18.95
the cult member's awareness of the inherent imperfections
a needed contribution illuminating some
and shortcomings of human beings and society. In so
neglected aspects of the subject." - Ceorge
doing, it supplants the absolute claims of cult leaders for
Cerbner, the Annenberg School of
infallibility, omniscience, and, for some, divinity, with a
Communication, University of Pennsylvania
relativistic perspective and a sense of tolerance for other
ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY
religious and secular beliefs.
Television's impact on the American Political
The process of deprogramming achieves different de-
Process
ANNE RAWLEY SALDICH
grees of success, apparently because of the different per-
Foreword by Bernard Rubin
sonalities of those undergoing de-indoctrination. Some
142 pp. 1979 LC 79-18592 ISBN 0-03-052146-7 $18.95
effect the transition from cult life to re-entering society
sheds light on the causes and meanings of
with little, if any, real difficulty, even if slightly jolted by
political events
their recognition of having been duped by the cult. Such
MORAL DEVELOPMENT AND POLITICS
persons readjust to their former way of life with relative
edited by RICHARD W. WILSON and GORDON J.
ease. Others seem to experience early. though short-lived,
SCHOCHET, Rutgers University
360 pp. 1980 ISBN 0-03-052146-7 $24.95
problems as a result of breaking with the cult's doctrinaire
Challenges and clarifies myths about the
values and ways. Yet they, too, appear to reacclimate
Vietnam veterar.
themselves to society rather well. There are others, how-
STRANGERS AT HOME
ever, who do not respond positively to deprogramming,
The Vietnam Veteran Since the War
individuals who apparently have considerable insecurities
edited by CHARLES R. FIGLEY, Purdue University, and
and dependency needs. Deprogramming deprives them of
SEYMOUR LEVENTMAN, Boston College
385 DD. April 1980 LC 79-24398 ISBN 0-03-049771-X ca. $19.95
the stability, assurance, and meaning of life which they
Also available in paperback: ISBN 0-03-0-9776-0 ca. $8.95
still require and which cults provide. Although such per-
"A landmark in sociological research in
sons may not show signs of discontent and emotional
Ireland." -
distress. they continue to need the structure and certainty
Professor Liam Ryan, Mavnooth College
found in cult life. Subsequent to deprogramming, they
PREJUDICE AND TOLERANCE IN IRELAND
sooner or later either rejoin the cult they left or convert to
MICHEAL Mac GREIL. St. Patrick's College, Ireland
another. In the latter case, their dependency needs, rather
634 pp. 1980 LC 79-49275 ISBN 0-03-056718-1 $31.97
than the different substance of the new cult's religious
views, are very likely to be responsible for this alterna-
tive.
This last category is comprised of those for whom
PRAEGER
deprogramming causes severe emotional disturbances.
Praeger Publishers CBS Educational and Professional
Publishing, A Division of CBS, Inc., 521 Fifth Avenue,
Sherman Feinstein, a psychiatrist at Michael Reese Hos-
New York, N.Y. 10017 (212) 599-8400
pital in Chicago, has remarked that the mental state of
such individuals resembles that following a psychotic
breakdown. He also observed that in undergoing a
March / April 1980
37
psychotic alteration of the conscious they develop a post-
intentionally deprived of this right, it is reasonable to state
psychotic state of regression during which they have
that deprogramming cult members is an essential means of
fragmentary self (ego) controls. Such individuals are in
helping them to retrieve their freedom of thought, speech,
constant danger of regression from almost any stress, and
and action.
can be described as being in a "floating state' though
The controversy over deprogramming raises another
they were drifting into a complete fantasy life or panic.
issue, one that is much wider in scope and significance
Saul Levine, a psychiatrist at the University of Toronto,
than those discussed above. The number of cults has been
has found that, subsequent to deprogramming, some en-
estimated at three thousand, and their membership has
tering therapy have a compelling need for the psychiatrist
been said to approximate as many as three hundred
to express a genuine religious commitment as a prerequi-
thousand. Yet most converts have not gone about search-
site of their ability to identify with and trust him. For the
ing for cults to join. Instead they have been deliberately
therapist to feign or exhibit only a moderate interest in
and carefully sought out by proselytizers. Given the lat-
religion tends to lead the ex-cult member to feel that the
ter's limited numbers and time. it is quite possible that
therapist is incapable of understanding how central a reli-
there are many more young people who would respond to
gious belief is to his mind and outlook on life. In such
their blandishments and false promises were they ap-
circumstances therapy is futile, for the therapist has
proached.
created an unbridgeable cognitive and emotional gap be-
The issue of deprogramming raises the question of why
tween himself and his patient. For such individuals, de-
so many young people so easily succumb to the deceptions
programming alone poses a real danger to their emotional
and predations of cult recruiters, and the extent to which
stability. Their counterparts who remain in cults may be
other young people may readily submit to the misrepre-
those who "burn out" when their belief in cults wanes or
sentations, lies, and delusions of cults. There is a com-
alone can no longer sustain them.
pelling need for research to determine more specifically
For those in the latter two categories, de-indoctrination
why so many individuals have yielded to the brainwashing
severs them from a highly structured. predetermined way
of cults, and how many others there are like them. To the
of life in which choices are nonexistent and plunges them
extent that cults are symbolic of broader, if less visible.
into the amorphous cultural anomie of urban-industrial
social conditions, it may be that growing numbers of
society in which confusion and uncertainty abound over
unprincipled persons, the emerging authoritarian per-
fundamental values and standards-acondition which can
sonalities of our times, are coming to the fore. Are such
arouse considerable anxiety in those requiring clarity and
antisocial persons no more than persona in a trend that will
certainty in their lives. While deprogramming may be
soon recede and disappear, or are they a contemporary
necessary to break the cults' control of their members'
sign of the warning that Erich Fromm issued four decades
minds, it also arouses in some the latent insecurities they
ago when he cautioned about the underlying forces that
are unable to manage apart from cult life. Consequently,
lead human beings to "escape from freedom," as cult
however benign their intentions, deprogrammers are well
members so obviously have done.
advised to be sensitive to such possibilities and mindful
that such persons often require assistance from counselors
or therapists. Deprogramming can help break the iron grip
READINGS SUGGESTED BY THE AUTHOR:
of cults, but it cannot provide the structural and ideational
Galanter. Mark; Rabkin, Richard; Rabkin, Judith; and Deutsch.
substitutes that many former cult members need once they
Alexander. 'The Moonies': A Psychological Study of
have become independent.
Conversion Membership in a Contemporary Religious
Sect." American Journal of Psychiatry 136
Cults as Symptom
(1979):165-70.
Those who are concerned about or alarmed by depro-
Horowitz. Irving Louis. ed. Science. Sin. and
gramming on the grounds that cults are bona fide religious
Scholarship. Cambridge. Mass: MIT Press, 1978.
groups, no different from those of the past'or from others
Levine, Edward. "Rural Communes and Religious Cuits:
that are more acceptable because they are offshoots of
Refuges for Middle Class Youth." Adolescent
major Western religions, incorrectly oppose deprogram-
Phychiatry, in press.
Patrick. Ted. Let Our Children Go. New York: Ballantine
ming and defend freedom of religious choice. Cult con-
Books. 1976.
verts are deprived of any meaningful freedom of choice
Rothchild, John, and Wolf. Susan. Children of the
and lead a servile existence which does much to impair
Counter-Cuiture. New York: Doubleday & Co., 1976.
and ruin their lives. and minds. It is ironic, therefore. that
few voices are heard in defense of the right of individuals
recruited by cults to be given full and factual information
about the cults' religious beliefs and practices. so that they
Edward V. Levine is projessor of sociology at Loyolu Uni-
vasir. Chicago The author of The Irish and Irish Politicians.
can rationally examine and evaluate them at their lei-
he has focused nis recent ork on middle-class adolescents and
sure-unencumbered and unintluenced by the powerful
youth, empirasizing various mental health issues from the
pressures and subterfuge of recruiters. Since they are
perspective of osseriatre sociology.
38
SOCIETY
File lults
828 Oakton Street 1C
Evanston, IL 60202
JUL 24
July 22, 1981
Mrs. Elizabeth Dole
Assistant to the President
for Public Liaison
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mrs. Dole,
As one who has written a number of articles about the ways in which religious
cults ruin the lives of their converts and deliberately misrepresent them-
selves to prospective members and in their dealings with the public, as a
member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Destructive Cultism, having
lectured to parents and to professional groups about the danger that cults
present to society, and having recently been maliciously attacked physically
by two members of the Unification Church, I am writing to urge you to support
all efforts by government officials and private citizens to counteract relig-
ious cults. In order to provide you with information about cults, I have en-
closed copies of my publications about them.
Sincerely,
Leone
Edward M. Levine
Professor
Department of Sociology
Loyola University
WITHDRAWAL SHEET
Ronald Reagan Library
Collection Name
Withdrawer
BLACKWELL, MORTON: FILES
KDB 6/7/2010
File Folder
FOIA
CULTS [AND MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS] (2)
F09-0043/01
STRAUSS, C
Box Number
9084
10
DOC Document Type
No of Doc Date Restric-
NO
Document Description
pages
tions
1
LETTER
3 8/12/1981 B6
TO ELIZABETH DOLE
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
B-1 National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
B-2 Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
B-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
B-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
B-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
B-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
B-8 Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
B-9 Release would disclose geological or geophysical information concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of gift.
RELIGIOUS CULTS: THEIR IMPLICATIONS
FOR SOCIETY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
(Journal of Political Psychology in press)
Edward M. Levine
Department of Sociology
Loyola University
Chicago, IL 60626
During the past decade, there has been a steady growth in the literature
dealing with religious cults. Scholars have studied such of their character-
istics as the following: the nature of cults' religious views (Enroth, 1977:
Bellah, 1974); their providing a meaningful alternative to young people troubled
by identity diffusion and social rootlessness (Robbins, 1974; Levine, 1980b)
the appreciable degree of drug use and emotional distress of pre-converts
(Galanter and Buckley, 1978; Galanter, et al., 1979) the serious emotional and
attendant behavioral problems of ex-cult members (Singer, 1979); the case for
de-programming (Delgado, 1980; Levine, 1980a) and the case against de-program-
ming (Anthony and Robbins, 1980) religious cult members; the psycho-social in-
centives used to recruit and maintain members (Levine, 1980b; Swope, 1980) and
whether or not religious freedom of choice is at issue for those who join cults
and for those who resist efforts to get them to return to their families (Rob-
bins, 1979; Levine, 1980a). Even the organizations which they have formed
have been discussed (Shupe, et al., 1980).
Despite the comprehensiveness with religious cults have been studied, they
remain extremely controversial, as even a casual conversation with parents of
young people who are or have been in cults attests. Such persons are convinced
that cult life is generally impairing, and occasionally destructive, of the
well-being of their children. And there is some evidence to substantiate their
claims, if the reports of ex-cult members are given due regard and the findings
of clinicians are considered seriously.
However, much of the scholarly research about cults has either assumed or
indicated that they are but the contemporary counterparts of the religious sects
of much earlier eras; or they have concluded that cults provide a stable and
structured setting for those who can not cope with these anomic times and the
pervasive disbelief that typify this age. In addition, numbers of studies
suggest or contend that those who join cults do so voluntarily. Converts, it
is said, Teely choose their new religion which usually represents an outlook
on life and a doctrine that is radically different from those they abandoned.
Furthermore, religious cults are also said to be a welcome sign evidencing the
persistence of religious faith, even though, as will be seen later, there is
little that is genuinely religious about cults.
The thesis of this paper is that the cults under discussionihere (e.g.,
the Hare Krishna, The Way International, the Unification Church, the Divine
Light Mission, the Children of God, The Alamo Foundation, etc.) are signifi-
cantly different from those of preceding generations and centuries, and must
therefore be regarded as social phenomena that are essentially unique to urban-
industrial society. That is, these groups have not been organized as a result
of irreconciable theological differences that led them to break away from es-
tablished religions. These are non-schismatic cults that have been formed to
satisfy the personal interests of their leaders for what are essentially non-
theological purposes. What further distinguishes them is that they inten-
tionally seek to recruit white middle (and upper-middle) class, single, young
people--particularly college students, and virtually never attempts to prosely-
tize families. In addition, these cults seek individuals with dependency needs
of varying degrees of intensity, needs that are more psychological than social,
and which they have been unable to resolve because of the inadequacies of the
upbringing and values that are characteristic of middle class nuclear families
(Levine and Shaiova, 1977; Levine, 1980b).
1
2
In what follows, this paper will identify and describe what seem to have
been the salient conditions of the lives of young people during the preceding
two decades; why they have been inadequate in stabilizing and guiding the minds
and lives of many who joined cults; the ways in which cults impose costs on
their members and on society; and, finally, the significance that cults may
have for the well-being of the democratic process. Durkheim's (1897) obser-
vations concerning the functional utility of deep-seated fundamental beliefs
and close attachments to meaningful social groups are especially relevant for
this analysis.
The 1960's: From Euphoria to Dejection
Historians will be pressed to find a decade in this country's history that
gave birth to more striking and transforming kinds of change than did the 1960's,
changes that created a substantially different social and cultural landscape.
Adults registered shock, consternation, and dismay at the profound changes in
values, attitudes and behavior that increasingly became characteristic of what
was then termed "youth culture." The "generation gap" that this culture sig-
nified to many, a term fallen into the limbo of outworn phrases popular during
that decade, was actually a conflict between the values and life style that
youth so eagerly created and adopted and those that their parents took for granted,
found comfortable, and expected their children to adopt.
As it developed, the culture of young people took on two distinguishing
characteristics. First, it was largely anomic and solipsistic, having essen-
tially dispensed with concern for form, structure, theme and standards. This
is illustrated by rock music and dances (Levine, 1966), wearing apparel (Winick,
1968), the graphic arts, and a pointless relativism (there is only opinion, no
knowledge). Second, the new attitudes that youth increasingly accepted toward
sex, religion, drugs, marriage, life style, and adult authority represented
more than it sharp departure from and break with the past. They reflected the
impulᶜ --gratifying, self-centered, present-oriented emphases that were ever in-
creasingly gaining ascendance in their minds and lives. In discussing the sex-
ual difficulties, involvement with drugs, and academic problems of college stu-
dents he studied, Keniston (1965) said of them that their lives were absorbed
in a "search for sentience," a quest that has continued to attract growing
numbers of adolescents and young adults, as present day rates of drug use alone
attests. Parenthetically, for numbers of young people, "tuning in and turning
on" proved to be dysfunctional for their lives, and "dropping out" has led them
to join religious cults.
A companion trend, one seemingly unrelated to the emergence and efflor-
escence of youth culture, began during this same decade. Impressive numbers of
highly dedicated, intelligent college students became seriously and actively
involved in the Civil Rights movement, in the campaigns of Senators Eugene
McCarthy and Robert Kennedy, and, above all, in the anti-Vietnam War activities
that swept the campuses and the nation. In these and related endeavors, grow-
ing numbers of college students, and even those in high school, exemplified in
practice their commitment to the ideal of social justice that they had learned
from their parents, religion, and education. The underlying significance of
their involvement in social. and political action was that their indentification
3
with religion lost much of its transcendental meaning and importance, because
it was primarily directed to a concern with secular objectives--social better-
ment. Furthermore, by now they had become largely independent and had lost
the more traditional understanding of and identification with the family. In-
dividuals such as these were the products of middle class nuclear families
whose attachments to tradition and religion had greatly attenuated. And re-
ligion's secular relevance became the signpost of their faith (Bellah, 1974).
As its limitations for bringing about social betterment became evident, youth's
belief in their family religion waned.
It is sobering to remember that many very talented young people casually
abandoned a middle class upbringing and life style and left college for what
was called the "hippie" way of life. Some of these "drop-outs" trekked into
rural areas in a quixotic attempt to form communes, their utopian notion of a
viable alternative to urban living. Inspiring the many who joined them were the
goals of unrestricted freedom for the purpose of self fulfillment (the prede-
cessor of the Human Potential Movement) and the abolition of all social and
age differences by equalizing all aspects of life (Berger and Hackett, 1974).
Theirs was an essentially anomic existence, with impulse gratifying, self-
centered pursuits the enveloping interests in their present-oriented lives
(Levine, 1979). Communes were short-lived experiments with a self-deceiving,
illusory conception of an alternative way of life. They also destroyed the
belief of many young peoplethat the freedom to lead wholly self-indulgent
lives could provide them with the sense of purpose and direction in life they
so ardently sought. Upon having taken the pendulum of freedom to its outermost
limits, they found a barren vista.
The Plight of the Nuclear Family
The standards that serve as the foundation for the social controls that
deter anti-social behavior (including delinquency and crime), as well as for
the f rective socialization and emotional development of children, are those that
emphasize impulse-regulation, other-regardingness (altruism), and a future-
orientation. These standards are viable and effective when they are rooted in
cohesive, ethno-religious communities, and characteristically weaken and lose
their influence under the impact of the forces of urbanization and industrial-
ization. This is particularly true for members of middle class nuclear famil-
ies (Riesman, et al., 1950).
The affluence, commitment to utilitarian individualism, and the consumer
life style of such families had made it increasingly difficult for them to
parent effectively. Yet as August Aichhorn (1925), Margaret Mahler (1975), and
Selma Fraiberg (1979), and others have shown, sound parenting is instrumental
in rearing children SO that they effectively learn how to manage their impulse
life. Otherwise, their aggressive and libidinal drives tend to dominate their
minds, feelings, and behavior, with seriously self-impairing, and often anti-
social behavior often resulting. Whether because of parental neglect, indif-
ference, permissiveness, or inattentiveness, it appears that increasing numbers
of middle class children do not receive adequate love and attention, support
and guidance, from their fathers and mothers, and therefore become victims of
what may be termed parental--deprivation (Levine and Siaiova, 1974, 19'77).
4
Individuals who grow up without adequately internalizing sound standards
to regulate their impulse life lack effective self (ego and superego) controls,
and are too frequently dominated by their impulse life. Such persons are said
to have character defects or disorders, and experience considerable difficulty
in being self-disciplined. Frustrated because of their inability to gratify
their impulse needs as frequently as the latter urgently seek satisfaction or
relief from tension, they develop a great deal of anger and depression (Freud,
1953; Waelder, 1960; Gaylin, 1968; Levine and Shaiova, 1974, 1977). These
disruptive, self-impairing feelings, coupled with feelings of self worth and a weak
weak self-confidence often make it exceedingly difficult for such individuals
to establish sound, mutually gratifying, enduring relationships with others.
And numbers of such persons use drugs as an anodyne for the emotional dif-
ficulties that continually beset them. Parenthetically, character defects and
disorders are said by psychotherapists and social workers to be the most preval-
ent psychopathology among adolescent youth today.
Those who are afflicted with such emotional problems and those troubled
by different kinds of psychopathologies are alike in having only few and weak
standards to help them chart their destinies and to serve as constraints against
their propensity to resort to self-impairing behavior, be it drug use, sexual
promiscuity, or abandoning their freedom of choice and action to others who
submit them to their will (Levine, 1980b; Swope, 1980). This is largely the
result of the secularization of life, itself the product of urbanization
and industrialization of life (Riesman, 1950; Potter, 1954; Berger, 1967, 1977).
However, a major part of the legacy of the late 1960's and early 1970's for
many young people was the bitter realization tha their inspired hopes and
humane visions for fundamental improvements in society enjoyed so little suc-
cess. A decade of protest and more practical efforts was required to end the
was in Vietnam. President Johnson's "war on poverty" was limited to winning a
few skirmishes and an occasional battle against what thus far has proved to be
an ineradicable human plight. And the progress won in race relations came
only after breat effort and still remains a goal to be realized. Because
their Jentification with religion was linked to its efficacy as an instrument
of social betterment (Bellah, 1974), numbers of young people found themselves
shorn of their secularized religious faith. Their religiously inspired ideal-
ism had born little fruit, thus proving to be an inadequate source of belief
for a meaningful existence.
Thus did the pendulum of youth's needs swing to the opposite extreme as
they sought to "escape from freedom" by joining autocratic religious cults.
As Hendin (1977) has shown, young people whose sense of self is weak or damaged
are particularly vulnerable to authoritarian personalitieswho need and
seek to dominate those who are weak, passive, and submissive. This has been
all the more true for those whose Rousseauian visions and convictions in the
porsibility of individual and social perfection were crushed and lost. No
longer had they an unshakable conviction in a fundamental belief to which they
could turn for meaning, clarity, and purpose in life.
Religious Cults: Symptoms, Not Causes, of Alienation
Cults made their appearance almost imperceptibly at the end of the 1960's.
Since then, they have proliferated (their numbers are estimated as high as
3000 and they have been extremely successful in attracting converts (300,000
to 3 million
are said to have joined cults, although such figures are at
5
best estimates). Those about which most has been written or reported (e.g.,
the Hare Krishna, The Way International, the Unification Church, the Divine
Light Mission, the Children of God, Scientology, World Wide Church of God,
Apostles of Infinite Love, etc.), as well as others about which less is known,
are unquestionably intent on controlling their members minds and lives. It is
of less importance that some, such as the Unification Church (the "Moonies"),
intentionally use exceptionally deceptive and fraudulent recruiting techniques
while others, such as the Hare Krishna, The Way International, and others,
are open and direct in their recruiting methods. Regardless of their pro-
selytizing methods, their objectives are the same: the control of the minds
and much of the lives of their members, to submit them to their dictates.
Whatever the differences among cults in their recruiting techniques
and the extent to which they control their members' lives, they are alike in
that they provide their converts with three incentives of immense importance
to them (Levine, 1980b) a charismatic, authoritative leader with whom to
identify; a religious doctrine that purports to be able to resolve the problems of
the world and those of their members; and close, ongoing, personalized rela-
tionships with others like themselves. Put in the paralance that has been
frequently used to describe what draws people to cults, "belief and belonging"
are the two crucial factors responsible for their popularity among young
people. However, some cults, such as the Hare Krishna and the Unification
Church (the "Moonies"), arbitrarily impose stringent regulations that complete-
1y govern their members daily activities and life style. For example, members
of such cults are forbidden to eat meat, to smoke, drink, or use drugs, and
must forego pre-marital sex and even socializing with or dating members of the
opposite sex. Marriage, in large or mass ceremonies, is permissible only with
the approval of the cult leader. As a parenthetical observation, many of the
groups that are involved in what has been described as the "human potential
movement" also provide their members with the first three incentives.
Because there are so many cults and cult members, hard data for even a
small representative sample are understandably not available. Many are not
known to scholars, some refuse such inquiries as they would make, and the
resources to find and study them are probably not available to numbers of those
who would like to study them. However, there is some persuasive, albeit
limited, evidence, that many who join cults led troubled lives prior to their
conversion. For example, Judah's (1977) study found that eighty-five per
cent of the Hare Krishna members he studied had used LSD occasionallly before
joining this cult. And a study by Galanter and Buckley (1978) of the Divine
Light Mission (n=119) showed that 38 per cent had sought professional help
for emotional disturbances and 9 per cent reported having been hospitalized
for emotional problems at some point before joining this cult. In addition,
the authors found that:
the amount of drug use prior to joining was considerable
almost nine-tenths had smoked marijuana at some time, two-
thirds had used hallucinogens, and 14% heroin. With the ex-
ception of alcohol, the level of all drugs used was two to
four times that reported by a representative national sample
of college students for the same period.
Comparable findings vere reported in a
study (Galanter, et: al., 1979; n=2'37)
of the Unification Church. Thirty-nine per cent reported that they had
"serious emotional problems in the past, thirty per cent had sought hospit-
alization for emotional disturbances, and six per cent had been hospitalized
because of them. Furthermore, "the average convert was apparently in emo-
6
tional distress prior to joining," and twenty-three per cent said that they
had "serious drug problems" in the past. Here, too, the proportion who had
ever used drugs of abuse was higher than for a comparable national sample
(for hallucinogens, 45% V. 14%). Adding to this is the information given me
during an interview with a member of Jesus People USA that approximately
seventy-five per cent of their members had serious drug problems before con-
version, and that many female members had been extremely sexually promiscuous
before they had joined.
In his detailed analysis of the reasons underlying the serious drug use
of college students, Hendin (1975) has graphically illustrated the deep-seated
emotional conflicts and seriously impairing dependency needs that were the
primary causes of this form of escape. It is particularly instructive to note
that subsequent to joining religious cults, those afflicted with drug, sexual,
and emotional problems became completely stabilized for indefinite periods of
time, which also suggests that they had substituted a dependency on their
cult leaders and new religious beliefs for the dependency problems they had
before undergoing conversion. That the latter may flare out again and com-
pletely disrupt their lives is attested to by a former member of the Unifica-
tion Church who had "processed" 140 "burn-outs" (those who had complete nervous
breakdowns) during a four month period. **
Still other evidence indicating the harmful and, for some, ruinous inse-
curities and dependency needs that afflict the lives of cult members has
been reported by Margaret Singer (1979) and Saul Levine (1979), therapists who
found many of the ex-cult members they saw suffering from serious to extreme
emotional disturbances. Whether or not the cult member's loss of belief in
the cult's leader and his religion occurs while in or subsequent to leaving
the cult, for numbers of such persons the emotional costs are extremely high,
and point up that their dependency needs were merely stabilized, not resolved.
The Social Costs
The aggregate of the emotional costs to cult members, frequently the re-
sult of the cults' constant use of fear and guilt to maintain control of their
members, the costs of psychotherapy that numbers of ex-members incur, the un-
happiness caused their families, their costs of locating their children and
of inducing them, voluntarily or otherwise, to leave the cults are substantial
enough to be termed social costs. To them may be added the cessation of in-
dividual growth and fulfillment by those whose cults (e.g., the Hare Krishna
and Unification Church) put them to work full-time, and often at excessive
hours, in recruiting and fund-raising activities. Such persons, it should be
noted, receive no income for themselves, nor health and accident insurance, make
no social security payments, and are given no pension fund payments. Those who
leave, thus, have no personal funds despite their years of dedicated efforts.
Other cults, such as The Way International, tithe their members ten per cent
of their salaries. In all cases where the cult derives money from its members
or work or income, the money is tax-free since the cults are recognized as
religious bodies. The huge sums they acquire are devoted to the personal use
of their leaders and to expanding their membership.
*Also known as the "Jesus Freaks The above information pertains only to the
Chicago chapter, but members elsewhere apparently have had similar problems be-
fore joining this group.
**From a personal interview and from remarks taped at a conference.
7
Other, and perhaps more serious, social costs are also attributable to
cults. Rather than having created and representing improved and more vigor-
ously conscientious and thoughtful theological values and secular moral stand-
ards, the realities of cult values and practices are vastly different. Seek-
ing only true believers among the vulnerable and susceptible, the deteriora-
tion and corruption of moral standards become normative in the lives of those
who are proselytized. Insisting on complete subservience and obedience, they
degrade any reasonable meaning of individuality and individual dignity. Fur-
thermore, it is therefore morally justifiable for cult members to deceive,
lie to, and cheat the public when selling items to raise funds and in other
kinds of encounters. Such moral degradation is accepted by those whose
psychological subjugation and insecurities lead them to believe the distor-
tions of those who control cults. Their ultimate immorality, therefore, is their
deliberate denial and squelching the independence and reason of their members.
From this perspective, the disapproval of their family and friends, their
loss of freedom of thought, choice, and action, and the evidence of their emo-
tional problems and dependency needs are reasonable grounds for questioning the
assertions of those who claim they join them as a result of well thought out,
rationally made decisions. The academic and other non-cult defenders of cults
fail to take into account that those who properly need a firm, decisive, autho-
ritative adult with whom to identify, from who to gain guidance from his beliefs,
and in whom to believe; who benefit from the fundamental beliefs such figures
provide them in order to understand their role in life and how to deal with
others; who also need detailed rules to assist them in learning how to regu-
late their daily lives--are young children.
That college students and young adults have such basic dependency needs
is a sign of their emotional problems and immaturity, their lack of a firm
sense of self worth and their inability to be self reliant. Troubled by
domineering impulses and other psychopathological problems, they can not
fend for themselves. Such persons are easy prey for the authoritarian per-
sonalities of cult leaders and those who rise to positions of power in cults.
Their insatiable ego needs feed on the weaknesses and susceptibilities of
the weak and insecure who are unaware that they are being used.
The Implications for Society and the Democratic Process
Since cults have emerged as groups purporting to be able to meet certain
of the pressing needs of young people that apparently can not be met elsewhere
in society, they can be said to be symptoms of the times rather than agents
of change. However, since the recruiting efforts of cults are necessarily
limited, it is likely that there are far more individuals in society who are
troubled with the problems that cults at least temporarily stabilize. Con-
sequently, cult members should not be regarded as more recent examples
of those who were "drop-outs" or radical political activists during
the late 1960's and early 1970's, or only as persons who are excercising a basic
right to make mistakes, to take senseless risks, or to be servile. Instead,
they should be regarded as an ominous sign of the times, those who are drawn
to organizations which unhesitatingly and openly preach religious intolerance
of each other and of all other religions in society. Morever, since cults
8
almost always recruit young people and do not seek to attract and convert
families, their exclusionary character becomes more obvious, as does their
failure to contribute to and participate in society. Cults are fringe
groups living a parasitic and predatory existence.
The literature dealing with cults very seldom mentions the incalculable
loss to society of the contributions of those who join cults and sever them
selves from the outer world. Having succumbed to the domination and apocalyp-
tic prophesies of their leaders, they have been removed from the pressing
social and political issues and problems so urgently confronting society
today. Insisting that there is only futility and evil in society, cults in-
tentionally segregate their members from responsible involvement in that
never-ending secular struggle whose moral premise is the dignity of all
human beings, whose goal is human betterment, and whose conception of society
is pluralistic rather than monistic.
Apart from standing in hostile opposition to society and wasting the
lives of so many young people (and ruining the lives of numbers of them),
there is a more telling significance found in cults. Eister (1972) wrote
that when there is a proliferation of cults, a special explanation is required,
such as the erosion of confidence in traditional belief systems. This has
been made evident in what has been discussed above. What seems more pertinent
is that there are numbers of individuals with controlling, manipulative person-
alities who capitalize on the needs of so many young people for stability, pur-
pose, and direction in their lives, and from whose labors some have amassed
considerable wealth. They have resorted to various kinds of intimidation in
order to halt the efforts of parents to rescue their children and to prevent
members from leaving. And some, such as the Unification Church, Scientology,
and the Hare Krishna, have sued parents and others for huge sums-and been
sued by the latter. * Actions such as these, deliberately undertaken to prevent
the exercise of freedom of speech and legal efforts to redress grievances,
fundamental constitutional rights, involve them in the political process.
Whether religious cults will become more generally politically assertive
presently remains an imponderable. However, the considerably weakened control
of political parties over primary and general elections may render them less
able to fend off or to defeat the attempts of those who may make such efforts.
The diminishing influence of the two-party system in the political process,
it might be noted, has occurred over approximately the same span of time that
has witnessed the decline of the family and religious institutions and tra-
ditional cultural and religious beliefs and values. Perhaps because of this,
the alleged use of its members by The Way International on behalf of the
candidacy of Hayes Gahagan for the U.S. Senate merits some comment. According
to Michael Harden (1979)
In addition to volunteer efforts, aid was also sought in other
forms. A Way 'Bless A Letter' from Warwick, R.I., in early
1978 reminded Way members, 'Mr. Hayes Gahagan, from Maine,
is running for Senator (federal) and needs $100,000 by June
1st. Send what you can to Gahagan for Senate
(Here, the
Bless A Letter offers the address of Gahagan's Senate campaign
headquarters in Maine).
9
Warden's (1979) observation about this kind of political involvement are per-
tinent enough to warrant quoting.
The question about the entire matter, even though Way
members do not seem to have done Gahagan a great deal of
political good (he pulled down 7.4 per cent of the vote run-
ning as an independent in the general election for the U.S.
Senate), is whether a gorup of members of a religious organ-
ization should use their numbers to align behind chosen (poli-
tical) candidates.
It would be rash to surmise that this represents a trend and that other re-
ligious cults will sooner or later be actively involved in similar kinds of
political efforts. Nor is it any more reasonable to speculate that because
some evangelical churches have openly supported the candidacy of Ronald
Reagan and actively worked on his behalf, this will encourage cults to follow
suit in the years ahead. More likely than not, cults leaders will be content
to gratify their ambitions in other than political ways. However, the tendency
of the mass media to publicize unconventional trends and personalities might
help those with autocratic impulses to capitalize on the currents of confus-
ion, uncertainty, and anxiety that may become more pervasive in society than
they are today. In no small measure, such conditions and states of mind have
been responsible for the success of religious cults. Those who belabor the
point that cults offer young people a more meaningful religious choice would
be well advised to consider this.
Summary
The significance of contemporary religious cults is least of all that they
offer
is
ughtful, genuine, and meaningful alternative as social groups and
belic systems to young people with dependency problems. Considerably more
is involved in their lives than the loss of meaningful social attachments and
deeply held fundamental beliefs. While these are clearly among the de-stabil-
izing influences upsetting their lives, numbers of them were seriously troubled
by drug use and emotional distress before their conversion. Thus, not only is
it erroneous to hold that young people rationally turn to religious cults to
meet certain pressing needs, but it is also the case that cults are prone to
manipulate and exploit their lives, some deliberately make their members sub-
servient, and almost all intent on some form of mind control. That so many
young people are or become passive-submissive in order to bring order, clarity,
and meaning to their lives suggests that there are many more such individuals
in society with similar problems and no more than merely satisfying relation-
ships with their families and little more than moderately held beliefs in
their religions.
If one uses the criterion of individual fulfillment by which to assess
how cults deal with their members and their sense of social responsibility, it
is evident that they fail to meet any reasonable test. As exclusionary groups,
their objectives are manifestly those which are set to gratify the aggrandistic
needs of their leaders, and the means they employ often are at the expense of
the well-being of their members. They are morally bankrupt.
10
As advocates and practitioners of religious intolerance and having a
history of having used a variety of means to silence their opposition and
deprive it of its First Amendment rights, religious cults have to this
extent affected the political process. As presently constituted, they are
anti-democratic in precept and example. Whether more of them will quietly
(or overtly) enter the political process to advance their interests, as it
appears The Way International did a short time ago, can not be said. Never-
theless, religious cults erode and vitiate the moral climate of opinion and
those values which are the indispensable foundation of a democratic society
and polity. They may prove to be a more ominous sign of the times, in that
light, than the public and those who observe religious and social changes
now imagine.
11
References
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Berger, Peter, 1967. The Sacred Canpoy. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and
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File
THE AMERICAN COPTIC ASSOC.
CHRISTIANS OF EGYPT
P.O. BOX 9119 G.L.S.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07304
PRESS RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Date: 10/6/1982
Dr. Shawky F. Karas
Tel.: (203) 239-9264
CONTINUING DETENTION OF
POPE SHENOUDA
On the first anniversary of the assassination of President Sadat, the Coptic
Americans can no longer remain silent about the continuing detention of Patriarch
Shenouda III, the Patriarch of more than 8 million Egyptians and leader of several
other millions outside of Egypt.
The Coptic House of bishops, The Holy Synod, delivered a petition to President
Hosni Mubarak on May 26, 1982, asking him to release Pope Shenouda. The petition was
signed by 32 bishops. Eight bishops could not sign the petition because they have
been prevented by the Egyptian government from participating in any religious activi-
ties. Only five bishops refused to sign the petition.
The petition was not accepted by the Egyptian government for resubmittal by Mr.
Hanna Narouz, a prominent Coptic attorney and an appointed member of the Egyptian
People's Assembly. Mr. Narouz submitted the petition to President Mubarak with a
cover letter. Mr. Narouz stated in his letter that the petition represents the
Consensus of the whole Coptic People for the return of Pope Shenouda. He also
stated that the committee of bishops appointed by President Sadat is isolated from
the Copts who do not recognize the committee; and the high Coptic officials are
isolated from the Coptic People, who consider them as seeking self-interest on the
expense of the people's welfare. Mr. Narouz acknowledged in his letter that President
Sadat's era was marred by the killing of Christians and attacking their properties
without making serious efforts to bring the criminals to trial. Narouz indicated
that the return of Pope Shenouda will not have more serious repercusion that the
government's decision to allow the republishing of the communist newspaper, "Al-Ahali,"
which is the first enemy of the Muslim groups!
The bishops in their petition stated that revoking President Sadat's decision to
depose Pope Shenouda will not pose a security problem. They stated that the decision
to depose the Egyptian pope has not affected his ecclesiastical status as the Supreme
Head of the Coptic Church. They indicated that Pope Shenouda has been in complete
isolation and has been prevented from carrying out his priestly and administrative
functions. The bishops stated that many Egyptians have been able to present their
point of view to the Egyptian government and President Mubarak; however Pope Shenouda
has not had the opportunity to do so. They urged President Mubarak to implement an
era of reconcilation between Muslims and Christians for the welfare of Egypt.
After the submission of the petition, the bishops were exposed to harassement by
the Egyptian secret police. They were threatened by the Egyptian officials and warned
-2-
that such activities were against Egyptian law which forbids the bishops from meeting
without the permission of the Minister of Interior! Other Christian groups were also
threatened by that if they submitted similar petitions. The members of the Coptic
Community Council were likewise threatened with arrest and dismissal from their
positions if they dared to submit a similar petition. Also, priests in Cairo and
Alexandria were threatened with arrest if they tried to meet together to ask for the
return of Pope Shenouda.
It is clear that the Coptic People and clergy are unified behind Pope Shenouda.
We call on the Egyptian government to respect the freedom of Pope Shenouda and the
released bishops. We call on freedom-loving people to write to President Mubarak,
c/o Egyptian Embassy, 2310 Decatur Pl., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, and ask for
the release of Pope Shenouda and for the respect of the freedom of the released
bishops and priests. We also call on people to write to President Ronald Reagan,
the White House, Washington, D.C. 20500, and ask him to intercede.
N.B. Attached is a copy of the petition submitted by the Coptic bishops and the
cover letter of Mr. Narouz that accompanied the petition.
THE BISHOPS' PETITION
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THE COVER LETTER