1 of 3: Karen Pressley - Not In My Back Yard: Cults, Communities, and Concerns

Part 1 of 3 of a presentation to the Georgia Sociological Association by Karen Pressley.

Why would a community consider its health or safety threatened if a cult moves into town? Who should bear the burden for religious tolerance and freedom of religion? This paper examines the NIMBY syndrome ("not in my back yard") relevant to cultic groups. Drawing from my 16 years of experience as a former member and staff at the Church of Scientology senior management level, and subsequent expert consultant on Scientology, I examine my work with community members on how to address Scientology's infiltration into their communities. This study looks at data from consultations across the southeastern U.S., particularly across Georgia, between 2002 - 2010. I combine Noelle-Neumann's communication theory, the Spiral of Silence, with Ludwig Feurbach's anthropological principle and Durkheim's views about religion to examine the concept of a safe community within the context of religious diversity in a contemporary social environment. Findings suggest that support for religious freedom is contradicted by opposition to cultic groups as risk-generating influences. A growing fear of cults equated with terrorism, mass suicides, brainwashing, and exploitation of followers is expressed through a rising form of anti-social activism in communities against groups perceived as cults.

For more information please visit:
http://www.ReachingForTheTippingPoint.net/
http://karenpressley.com/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Karen
• Pressley
• Narconon
• Scientology
• Cults
• Georgia
• sociology
• drug
• rehab

[qui3tude]

Any cult that believes, that if somebody doesn't believe according to the cult manifesto, their 'god' is gonna annihilate or torture them for ever; is highly dangerous, destructive and generally is a cause for hate and alienation.

I don't see how religious leaders can say that they are spreading 'truth' when they have to use fear based coercion techniques to keep their 'cash-cow' members in attendance.

Well all modern governments use the same techniques so I guess its no wonder really...

[depleteduraniumiswmd]

Scientology is an extremely dangerous greedy unscrupulous SATANIC criminal cult!!! Scientology Kills, Scientology ruins lives, abuses children, lies, deceit, protects rapists, forced abortions, uses intimidation to silence, splits up families, assault, defamation, false imprisonment and fraud, false reports, litigious, families losing their life savings, No ot powers, Tommy Davis is a liar. David Miscavige beats his staff, Criminal Enterprise, TOXIC ORGANIZATION, Stiffs Contractors, HAIL SATAN !

[anon8109]

Scientology is not a religion, it's a private for-profit corporation.

[AgentxAnonymous]

@NotSoOldHippy ok is it me or does this woman totally NOT get it. Scientology is dangerous as all hell and needs to be destroyed. Period.

[AgentxAnonymous]

@NotSoOldHippy agreed. scientology is a dangerous cult

[NotSoOldHippy]

Insane Scientology criminals, pushing known quack medical frauds that the fucking crooks know don't work. No wonder their NarCONon fraud isn't certified as workable anywhere in the world. Fucking insane crooks.

[Rotulette]

Great. Thank you for sharing.