Picking Up the Pieces

- by Craig Branch

It is always exciting to either hear about or be a part of

someone coming out of a cult and coming to Christ. But

occasionally there are those who leave a cult but are not

interested in Christianity, or drift away into the gray

world of non-commitment, or surprisingly, enter another

cult. This happens too often because the church and

individual Christians do not understand the dynamics of

psycho/spiritual abuse that effects a cult member. Some

groups employ more coercive mind control techniques than

others.

The extent of re-entry problems depends on the degree of

controlling techniques in place in the group, how long the

person has been in the group, and the emotional maturity

of the person. For instance, a church like the Mormon

Church is not as intense as the control of the Jehovah's

Witness organization. Even though this is true, to leave

the Mormon Church is like leaving another culture.

A person is often faced with the dilemma or problem of

having to leave their family, network of friends,

memories, theological orientation, and even understanding

of Biblical words. This can be traumatic and requires

understanding, sensitivity, patience and much support from

the Christian community.

People who have been exposed to the more intense

controlling cults present an additional set of problems.

These problems come from two directions. One is their own

psychological/spiritual scars and trauma from associations

with the cult, and the other is an unprepared Christian

community.

Dr. Paul Martin, a Christian psychotherapist, operates one

of the only rehabilitation retreat centers in the country.

In an article in the 1989 winter/spring issue of the

Christian Research Journal, he gives some helpful

instruction in "Dispelling of Myths: the Psychological

Consequences of Cultic Involvement." He identifies the

myths that Christians hold toward people coming out of

cults. They are:

1. Ex-cult members do not have psychological problems.

Their problems are wholly spiritual;

2. Ex-cult members do have psychological disorders, but

these people come from clearly non-Christian cults;

3. Both Christian and non-Christian groups can produce

problems, but all of the people involved in the groups

must have had prior psychological hang-ups that would

have surfaced regardless of what group they joined;

4. While normal unbelievers may get involved with cults,

born- again believers will not. And even if they did,

their involvement would not affect them so negatively;

5. Christians can and do get involved in these

aberrational groups and they can get hurt emotionally,

but all they really need is some good Bible teaching

and a warm, caring Christian fellowship and they will

be fine;

6. Perhaps the best way for these ex-members to receive

help is to see a professional psychologist,

psychiatrist, or mental health counsellor.

The trouble with dispelling these myths is that there is

some truth in them, but a half-truth is usually only half

helpful and can be very harmful.

The fact is that Christians as well as non-Christians get

involved in cults and many do need a combination of a

knowledgeable Christian community and rehabilitation

counselling to put the pieces back together again.

After evaluation of thousands of ex-cult members, experts

like Dr. Margaret Singer, Dr. Michael Langone, Dr. Paul

Martin and others, agree on the common problems associated

with re-entry after cult involvement.

These problems include confusion, depression, indecisiveness,

loneliness, anger, guilt, fear, disillusionment, and shame.

Many have been so indoctrinated that they think with the

cult mind, one that has been manipulated and controlled.

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