Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “stop mandated shunning”
In recent months, significant developments have been taking place in the Czech Republic regarding the legal status of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society). The Czech government is currently reviewing whether this religious group should maintain its status as a recognized church, a status that grants them certain privileges, including financial and legal benefits. This scrutiny has prompted Jehovah’s …
As we count down to the pivotal appeal trial in Oslo this February, attention is drawn not only to the victims who will testify but also to the dedicated advocates fighting for change. One such advocate is Hilde Langvann, the leader of Hjelpekilden, an organization devoted to helping individuals recover from the psychological trauma of life in high-control religious groups, …
It’s every parent’s nightmare—watching your child get drawn into something you know isn’t right, powerless to protect them. That nightmare became my reality when my daughter, as a teenager, was coerced by her father and the leader of the Concerned Christians cult. The group, which had started as a Christian counter to the New Age movement, evolved into an apocalyptic …
In 1993, Jeffrey was a 23-year-old struggling to find his place in the world. Penniless, jobless, and living with his parents, he felt isolated from his siblings. So, when his sister and brother suddenly began showering him with attention and affection, he couldn’t help but wonder why. What Jeffrey didn’t realize at the time was that his siblings were no …
I was raised in the New Independent Fundamental Baptist movement from age 10 until I left when I was 18. This high-control group expects complete and utter obedience to the church, their version of the Bible, and your parents. There were several large incidents of shunning during my childhood and teen years. Every time it happened, someone would be completely …
In 1984, at the age of 36, I found myself at a crossroads. After years of witnessing the notorious corruption and cruelty of the untouchable leaders within the Watchtower Society, I began to see through the deceptive ideology that had trained Jehovah’s Witnesses like myself to be nothing more than distributors of the Watchtower Society’s publications—Bibles, books, periodicals, and brochures. …
Craig Hoyle’s memoir, Excommunicated: A multigenerational story of leaving the Exclusive Brethren, is a powerful and emotionally charged account that will leave readers both moved and enlightened. This gripping narrative takes us on a journey through generations of Hoyle’s family, trapped within the confines of a secretive and controlling religious group known as the Exclusive Brethren. From the very first …
By Monica Velin Rodriguez Stories are powerful. Two weeks ago, on July 2, I was sitting on an aeroplane headed to the annual conference of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA). A local Minnesota philanthropist saw the stories my husband and I had shared on the Stop Mandated Shunning website. He was so moved that he wanted to support the cause. He said, “You’re …
Stop Mandated Shunning (part of The Open Minds Foundation) are thrilled to announce an innovative research initiative in collaboration with the University of Roehampton, London, to study the harmful effects of mandated shunning as practiced by high-control religious groups. This three-year, comprehensive research project, costing approximately $100,000 per year, will be spearheaded by esteemed researchers Dr. Savin Bapir-Tardy and Dr. …
July 2-7, 2024, the vibrant city of Barcelona hosted the Annual International Conference of the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA). This event stands as a beacon of hope and a platform for change, bringing together experts, survivors, families, and advocates from around the world who are united in their commitment to addressing the harms of high-control environments and psychological manipulation. …
