The Anatomy of Illusion: Religious Cults and Destructive Persuasion (American Series in Behavioral Science and Law, Publication Number 1067)

This unique theoretical orientation dispels uch of the confusion and mystique surrounding the cult experience. Written in an easy-to-understand format with numerous quotes from ex-cult members, this book answers questions such as: How do cults recruit people? Are cults harmless expressions of religious pluralism or do they represent a threat to traditional values? What is deprogramming? Chapters address such topics as the cult controversy; facts about brainwashing; brain damage an conversion; strategies of destructive persuasion; belief and attitude change; and religion, illusion and the law. Legal implications including the rights of cult members, remedies for parents, and the risks of coercive deprogramming are examined.