Richard L. Dowhower
Encyclopedia
Richard L. Dowhower is a Lutheran pastor
, as well as an educator and religious scholar. He was actively involved in educating both his parish and the public about what he defined as "cult
s". In 1979, testified at a hearing on cults convened by the Pennsylvania
state legislature, and also before his own denomination's department of Church in Society.
Dowhower's has focused his work on educating military chaplain
s. He has presented to U.S. Navy chaplains in Philadelphia in 1979, in Groton-New London, Connecticut
, in 1981, and at their school in Newport, Rhode Island
in 1985-198, and 1990. The United States Navy Chaplains School considers Dowhower as a "Subject Matter Expert" on the subject of destructive cult
s.
Dowhower has also given presentations at the Pastors' Conference of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the Bowie Interfaith Clergy Association, Maryland
, and the Lutheran Social Services of Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Region.
Dowhower has also worked with campus pastors and college students Bucknell University
, Dickinson College
, and Thiele colleges, Pennsylvania State University
, and the University of Maryland
. He has also worked with high school students in the central Pennsylvania communities of Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Shippenburg, Hamburg, and Lansdale. Rev. Mr. Dowhower continued his parish
work and cult education ministry while serving as pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Bowie, Maryland
, and as an active member of International Cultic Studies Association
's Clergy Education Committee.
Dowhower has served as a consultant to Germany
on their "Commission on So-Called Sects and Psycho Groups". In March 1998 he met with the commission as Maryland House Joint Resolution #22 was in the midst of the legislative process.
In April 1999, Dowhower was interviewed by 60 Minutes II
on a story they were doing on Michael Bray
, who advocates death for physicians who perform abortions.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, as well as an educator and religious scholar. He was actively involved in educating both his parish and the public about what he defined as "cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s". In 1979, testified at a hearing on cults convened by the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state legislature, and also before his own denomination's department of Church in Society.
Dowhower's has focused his work on educating military chaplain
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
s. He has presented to U.S. Navy chaplains in Philadelphia in 1979, in Groton-New London, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, in 1981, and at their school in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
in 1985-198, and 1990. The United States Navy Chaplains School considers Dowhower as a "Subject Matter Expert" on the subject of destructive cult
Destructive cult
A destructive cult is a religion or other group which has caused or has a high probability of causing harm to its own members or to others. Some researchers define "harm" in this case with a narrow focus, specifically groups which have deliberately physically injured or killed other individuals,...
s.
Dowhower has also given presentations at the Pastors' Conference of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, the Bowie Interfaith Clergy Association, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and the Lutheran Social Services of Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Allegheny City was a Pennsylvania municipality located on the north side of the junction of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, across from downtown Pittsburgh. It was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907...
Region.
Dowhower has also worked with campus pastors and college students Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
, Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
, and Thiele colleges, Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, and the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. He has also worked with high school students in the central Pennsylvania communities of Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Shippenburg, Hamburg, and Lansdale. Rev. Mr. Dowhower continued his parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
work and cult education ministry while serving as pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Bowie, Maryland
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
, and as an active member of International Cultic Studies Association
International Cultic Studies Association
The International Cultic Studies Association , formerly the American Family Foundation, describes itself as an "interdisciplinary network of academicians, professionals, former group members, and families who study and educate the public about social-psychological influence and control,...
's Clergy Education Committee.
Dowhower has served as a consultant to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on their "Commission on So-Called Sects and Psycho Groups". In March 1998 he met with the commission as Maryland House Joint Resolution #22 was in the midst of the legislative process.
In April 1999, Dowhower was interviewed by 60 Minutes II
60 Minutes II
60 Minutes II was a weekly primetime news magazine television program that was intended to replicate the "signature style, journalistic quality and integrity" of the original 60 Minutes series.It aired on CBS on Wednesdays, then later moved to Fridays at 8 p.m...
on a story they were doing on Michael Bray
Michael Bray
Michael Bray is an American anti-abortion activist convicted in 1985 of two counts of conspiracy and one count of possessing unregistered explosive devices in relation to 10 bombings of women's health clinics and offices of liberal advocacy groups in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia...
, who advocates death for physicians who perform abortions.
Books
- Cults on Campus: Continuing Challenge, 1996, Contributor
- Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual AbuseRecovery from Cults (book)Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse a 1995 book edited by Michael Langone, director of the International Cultic Studies Association , published by W. W. Norton & Company, treats the theories of mind control as related to cults.The book has 22 contributors...
, W. W. Norton & Company, 1995, Contributor - Lord, speak to us that we may: A devotional guide for church councils and committees, 1989
Other
- "The necessary urgency for growth": A keynote address by Richard L Dowhower, Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
, 1986
Articles
- Prepared Presentation to The Task Force to Study the Effects of Cult Activities on Public Senior Higher Education Institutions, Maryland Cult Task Force, Reverend Richard L. Dowhower, D.D., June 7, 1999 (Entire Task Force Testimony)
- "Cults on Campus", September 1995 issue, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Religion versus Cult
- Clergy and Cults: A Survey, Cult Observer, Vol. 11, No. 3 (1994).
- Cults: What Clergy Should Know
- Book Review, Apologetics in the New Age: A Christian Critique of Pantheism, Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1992
- Book Review, A Guide to New Religious Movements, Cultic Studies ReviewCultic Studies ReviewInternational Journal of Cultic Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the International Cultic Studies Association.- External links :* , Don Lattin, San Francisco Chronicle, Religion Writer, February 13, 2001...
, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2005 - "Confronting the Cults," a two-part article, LCA Partners, (Feb. and Apr. 1982)
- "The Dangers of Pseudo-Religious Cults, a Statement of Pastoral Concern for Parents and Youth by Catholic and Protestant Religious Leaders.", Pennsylvania Conference on Interfaith Cooperation, 1979