Cult Information Centre Explained

Cult Information Centre
Type:Charitable organisation
Founder:Ian Haworth
Location:London, England
Focus:Cult education

The Cult Information Centre (CIC) is a British anti-cult organisation.[1] [2] The organisation also serves as a resource for information on controversial religious groups,[3] [4] therapy cults,[5] [6] and political cults.[7]

History

See also: Ian Haworth. The Cult Information Centre was founded in 1987 by Ian Haworth,[8] [9] [10] who had previously been involved with the Council on Mind Abuse, and gained charitable status in the United Kingdom in 1992.[11]

Reception and criticism

John Campbell of the evangelical Christian group, the Jesus Army, called the Cult Information Centre "unethical" and its views "absolute nonsense".[12]

William Shaw contacted the Cult Information Centre in his 1993 investigation of cults, and was explicitly critical of its methods and the reliability of its research throughout his book. His opinion was that individuals had joined cults out of "their own hunger to believe" and is dismissive of "absurd scare stories".[13]

A complaint was made in 2010 to the Charity Commission challenging the organisation's charitable status. The single complainant was never identified publicly.[14] The complaint was not upheld and the organisation remains listed and regulated by the Charity Commission.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Encyclopedia of New Religions: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities . Lion Hudson Plc . 2004 . 0-7459-5073-6 . Partridge . Christopher . 76.
  2. News: Lane . Megan . 2000-07-26 . Cults: Playing for keeps . . .
  3. News: Shipman . Martin . 2004-04-13 . Tourist board defends pounds 11,000 cash grant to 'cult' group . Western Mail . 2004 MGN Ltd..
  4. News: Shipton . Martin . 2004-04-02 . Storm over pounds 180,000 grant to Welsh 'cult'. . Western Mail . 2004 MGN Ltd..
  5. News: Staff . 2001-07-22 . 'Self help' cults target professionals. . The Independent . Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd..
  6. News: Hampshire . Mary . 2000-11-28 . I was raped.. then lured into misery by church fanatics. . The Mirror . 2000 MGN LTD.
  7. News: Kirby . Terry . March 27, 2004 . Grieving parents warn of dangers of 'political cults'. . The Independent . Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd..
  8. News: Kon . Andrea . 2005-07-25 . In the Hot Seat: Just the Job . The Evening Standard . Solo Syndication Limited.
  9. Chryssides, George. 1999. Exploring New Religions. London, GBR: Continuum International Publishing.
  10. Book: Gurr, Nadine . The New Face of Terrorism: Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction . Benjamin Cole . I.B.Tauris . 2002 . 1-86064-825-8 . 134, 158, 182, 193, 308.
  11. Book: Arweck, Elizabeth . Researching New Religious Movements . Routledge . 2006 . 0-415-27754-X . 69, 132, 194, 442, 443.
  12. News: Bacon . Hanna . 1999-07-16 . Sixth formers on cult alert . . .
  13. Book: Medway, Gareth J. . Lure of the Sinister: the unnatural history of Satanism . NYU Press . 2001 . 0-8147-5645-X . 277.
  14. Web site: Doward . Jamie . 4 March 2012 . Cults watchdog faces danger of being shut down . 2013-10-31 . The Observer.
  15. Web site: Doward . Jamie . 30 June 2016 . Data for financial year ending 30 June 2016 . 2017-09-21 . The Observer.

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