Twisted Scriptures
Encyclopedia
Twisted Scriptures: Breaking Free from Churches That Abuse (first edition Twisted Scriptures: A Path to Freedom from Abusive Churches) is a non-fiction
book by Mary Alice Chrnalogar, published by Zondervan
. Chrnalogar instructs readers on how to determine if a religious group is manipulative
or abusive, and describes techniques of mind control
. The book was first published in 1997 by publishers Whitaker House and Control Techniques, and republished in 2000 by Zondervan
. A Spanish language
edition was published in 2006 by Vida.
. The Post-Tribune
called her a "leading cult deprogrammer", What Magazine referred to her as "an exit counselor and an internationally recognized deprogrammer", and she was described on CTV Television Network
as "an expert in Christian cults". The Yearbook of Experts described Chrnalogar as "an internationally renowned cult deprogrammer". She began her work as a cult deprogrammer in 1980. She operates a business, Freedom From Manipulation, and works with individuals in the United States
to assist them to leave cults or manipulative religious groups. In 2006 she resided in Tennessee
.
Chrnalogar was a member of Church Universal and Triumphant
, a group she describes as "an abusive New Age church". She first encountered the organization's leader, Elizabeth Clare Prophet
or "Guru Ma", in 1979. She experienced a personality change, and was deprogrammed by Ted Patrick
. Chrnalogar said that "I was so fascinated that someone could change my mind in 24 hours that I asked him if I could go on some jobs with him," and after that she became a deprogrammer.
in order to become obedient to a religious movement. Readers are instructed to be able to determine how to notice if a church is manipulating the Scriptures or using abusive tactics. "Discipleship control is worse than having a domineering mother who tells you whom to marry!. You usually will be viewed as 'going against God' if you act in opposition to the advice of your discipler, but seen only as a headstrong child if you go against the wishes of your mother," writes Chrnalogar in the book. Chrnalogar points out that mind control can be practiced without severe tactics, writing: "All that's needed is an environment where the information can be controlled, and more importantly, the way people perceive that information." She cites mind control characteristics identified by Robert Jay Lifton
, and asserts that only six of his "psychological themes" are required in order to manipulate followers in a cult.
characterized Twisted Scriptures as "a book designed to free cult victims". Leslie Malkin reviewed the book for What Magazine, and commented: "Through the questioning of authority, putting biblical scriptures back into context and restoration of critical thinking, Chrnalogar also shows readers how to find the path to freedom." The Cult Awareness and Information Centre
described the book as "valuable both as a self-help guide and as a tool for families and friends to free loved ones from destructive groups." Consultant on cults Rick Ross
commented, "Within her book Chrnalogar examines in depth how destructive groups can manipulate the bible." Cult Information Services of Northeast Ohio called the book "A valuable 'do it yourself' approach to breaking the grip of a controlling church or discipling relationship." Twisted Scriptures is used as a reference in books including the House of Bishops
book Promoting a Safe Church: Policy for Safeguarding Adults in the Church of England, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America published by Free Press
, Reframing Paul: Conversations in Grace & Community published by Inter-Varsity Press
, and The NIV Application Commentary published by Zondervan
.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book by Mary Alice Chrnalogar, published by Zondervan
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :...
. Chrnalogar instructs readers on how to determine if a religious group is manipulative
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
or abusive, and describes techniques of mind control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
. The book was first published in 1997 by publishers Whitaker House and Control Techniques, and republished in 2000 by Zondervan
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :...
. A Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
edition was published in 2006 by Vida.
Author
Chrnalogar is a former member of a cultCult
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...
. The Post-Tribune
Post-Tribune
The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, United States. It serves the Northwest Indiana region, and is owned by the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:...
called her a "leading cult deprogrammer", What Magazine referred to her as "an exit counselor and an internationally recognized deprogrammer", and she was described on CTV Television Network
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
as "an expert in Christian cults". The Yearbook of Experts described Chrnalogar as "an internationally renowned cult deprogrammer". She began her work as a cult deprogrammer in 1980. She operates a business, Freedom From Manipulation, and works with individuals in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to assist them to leave cults or manipulative religious groups. In 2006 she resided in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Chrnalogar was a member of Church Universal and Triumphant
Church Universal and Triumphant
Church Universal and Triumphant is an international New Age religious organization founded in 1975 by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. It is an outgrowth of The Summit Lighthouse, founded in 1958 by Prophet's husband, Mark L. Prophet...
, a group she describes as "an abusive New Age church". She first encountered the organization's leader, Elizabeth Clare Prophet
Elizabeth Clare Prophet
Elizabeth Clare Prophet was an American spiritual author and lecturer who was the leader of The Summit Lighthouse and Church Universal and Triumphant, a New Age religious movement which gained media attention in the late 1980s and early 1990s while preparing for potential nuclear disaster.During...
or "Guru Ma", in 1979. She experienced a personality change, and was deprogrammed by Ted Patrick
Ted Patrick
Theodore Roosevelt Patrick, Jr. is widely considered to be the "father of deprogramming." Some criminal proceedings against Patrick have resulted in felony convictions for kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.-Early life:...
. Chrnalogar said that "I was so fascinated that someone could change my mind in 24 hours that I asked him if I could go on some jobs with him," and after that she became a deprogrammer.
Contents
Twisted Scriptures has an intended audience of people stuck in manipulative religious organizations. Chrnalogar writes that some churches manipulate text of the Bible to coerce followers. She describes how individuals can be subjected to mind controlMind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
in order to become obedient to a religious movement. Readers are instructed to be able to determine how to notice if a church is manipulating the Scriptures or using abusive tactics. "Discipleship control is worse than having a domineering mother who tells you whom to marry!. You usually will be viewed as 'going against God' if you act in opposition to the advice of your discipler, but seen only as a headstrong child if you go against the wishes of your mother," writes Chrnalogar in the book. Chrnalogar points out that mind control can be practiced without severe tactics, writing: "All that's needed is an environment where the information can be controlled, and more importantly, the way people perceive that information." She cites mind control characteristics identified by Robert Jay Lifton
Robert Jay Lifton
Robert Jay Lifton is an American psychiatrist and author, chiefly known for his studies of the psychological causes and effects of war and political violence and for his theory of thought reform...
, and asserts that only six of his "psychological themes" are required in order to manipulate followers in a cult.
Reception
Michelle K. Witowski of the Post-TribunePost-Tribune
The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, United States. It serves the Northwest Indiana region, and is owned by the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:...
characterized Twisted Scriptures as "a book designed to free cult victims". Leslie Malkin reviewed the book for What Magazine, and commented: "Through the questioning of authority, putting biblical scriptures back into context and restoration of critical thinking, Chrnalogar also shows readers how to find the path to freedom." The Cult Awareness and Information Centre
Cult Awareness and Information Centre
The Cult Awareness and Information Centre is an organization based in Brisbane, Australia that provides resources and information on groups they identify as cults and other controversial groups...
described the book as "valuable both as a self-help guide and as a tool for families and friends to free loved ones from destructive groups." Consultant on cults Rick Ross
Rick Ross (consultant)
Rick Alan Ross works as a consultant, lecturer, and intervention specialist, with an interest in exit counseling and deprogramming of former cult members. He runs a blog at CultNews.com, and in 2003 founded the Rick A...
commented, "Within her book Chrnalogar examines in depth how destructive groups can manipulate the bible." Cult Information Services of Northeast Ohio called the book "A valuable 'do it yourself' approach to breaking the grip of a controlling church or discipling relationship." Twisted Scriptures is used as a reference in books including the House of Bishops
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.-Composition of Houses of Bishops:...
book Promoting a Safe Church: Policy for Safeguarding Adults in the Church of England, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America published by Free Press
Free Press (publisher)
Free Press is a book publishing imprint of Simon and Schuster. It was founded by Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman in 1947 and was devoted to sociology and religion titles. It was headquartered in Glencoe, Illinois, where it was known as The Free Press of Glencoe...
, Reframing Paul: Conversations in Grace & Community published by Inter-Varsity Press
Inter-Varsity Press
InterVarsity Press is a publisher of evangelical Christian books. IVP is linked to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and is headquartered in Westmont, Illinois.-History:...
, and The NIV Application Commentary published by Zondervan
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :...
.
See also
- Anti-cult movementAnti-cult movementThe anti-cult movement is a term used by academics and others to refer to groups and individuals who oppose cults and new religious movements. Sociologists David G...
- Combatting Cult Mind ControlCombatting Cult Mind ControlCombatting Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults is a non-fiction work by Steven Hassan. The author describes theories of mind control and cults based on the research of Margaret Singer and Robert Lifton as well as the cognitive...
- Cults in Our Midst
- DeprogrammingDeprogrammingDeprogramming refers to actions that attempt to force a person to abandon allegiance to a religious, political, economic, or social group. Methods and practices may involve kidnapping and coercion...
External links
- Twisted Scriptures, info at ZondervanZondervanZondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :...
- Twisted Scriptures, info at FACTnet