Groups

Because colleagues in this field maintain excellent archives of recent news, and because Web searches can produce much group-related information, ICSA no longer expends manpower to place recent news on this website. We will, however, search our archives for ICSA members who make a specific group request.  We also link to colleagues who post recent news reports.  We also list below  articles from ICSA publications that deal with specific groups.

Among websites maintaining current news is Cult News 101 (scroll down for topics and groups listed on the right of the Cult News 101 home page).  One will also find information on specific groups on the World Religions and Spirituality Project , Cult Education Institute, Apologetics Index, and INFORM.

Before researching a specific group, one should keep in mind that information from newspapers and magazines has limited utility. That is why ICSA emphasizes understanding the PROCESSES that cause harm - see our information pages for Families and Former Members.  Several topic collections are relevant to people interested in specific groups: (1) Catholic Aberrations; (2) Buddhist Aberrations; (3) New Age Movement; (4) Polygamy.  Some readers may also find ICSA's subsidiary website to be useful: www.spiritualabuseresources.com.  

Also keep in mind that groups vary significantly and different persons will respond differently to the same group. We urge inquirers to avoid the temptation to oversimplify. 

Although in our archived news we tried to keep abreast of important news regarding groups, you should keep in mind that updates to news summaries (e.g., a conviction may be successfully appealed) may not have come to our attention and may not be in the archive. Therefore, do not treat news reports on a specific group as definitive or complete. Seek out supplemental sources of information. 

ICSA does NOT maintain a list of "bad" groups or "cults." We nonjudgmentally list groups on which we have information.

A listing in ICSA's archive does not mean that ICSA perceives any group to be a cult, practices coercive or destructive tactics, or is in violation of any law. It simply means that ICSA has information on the group and/or has received inquiries from current and former members, their families, professionals, researchers, the media, or the general public.

Groups listed, described, or referred to in ICSA's archive may be mainstream or nonmainstream, controversial or noncontroversial, religious or nonreligious, cult or not cult, harmful or benign.

We encourage inquirers to consider a variety of opinions, negative and positive, so that inquirers can make independent and informed judgments pertinent to their particular concerns.

Views expressed on ICSA Websites are those of the document's author(s) and are not necessarily shared, endorsed, or recommended by ICSA or any of its directors, staff, or advisers.

Articles from ICSA Publications That Deal with Groups

__ICSA Pubs by Group