Communities

Journal of Cooperative Living

Table of Contents/No. 88. Fall 1995

DEPARTMENTS

SPECIAL FEATURE

Intentional Communities and "Cults"

From the Guest Editor

"Cults" as a Useless Word--Tim Miller

Religious Intolerance--Not "Cults"--Is the Problem

By Catherine Wessinger. Flinging pejorative terms around loosely"cult," "nigger," "bitch" can hurt innocent people.

Taking Our Children, Part I: Messianic Communities, Sociologists, and the Law

Jean Swantko and Ed Wiseman relate how teams of police and sociologists have frequently taken children from their group of Messianic communitiesand returned them, finding nothing amiss.

Taking Our Children, Part II: My Son Michael

By Isaac Dawson. A father grieves over the loss of his son, repeatedly removed by the government, acting "in the child's best interests."

The Cult! Scare is Nothing New

Historic communitiesHarmonists, Shakers, Mormons, and othershave been subject to stereotyping and savage antagonism. By Tim Miller.

Leaving the Hare Krishnas

Steven J. Gelberg, a devoted Hare Krishna member and passionate spiritual communitarian for 17 years, tells how he gradually grew disenchanted with his community.

The Procession of Bigotry

A short history of intolerance, starting with Catholics in the 1840s. By Tim Miller.

Deprogramming Our Members

During the '70s deprogrammers kidnapped, attempted to deprogram or exorcise, committed to a mental hospital, or shipped out of the country, three members of the Love Israel Family, who repeatedly faked being cured, escaped, and hitchhiked back to the community. Serious Israel, as told to Diana Leafe Christian.

Identifying Cults: Those Lists of Generalizations

Tim Miller questions the usefulness of lists of characteristics which attempt to identify cults.

Covenantal Groups and Charges of Abuse: The Case of Jesus People USA

Sociologist Anson Shupe notes how "covenantal" groups (many spiritual communitiesbased on assumptions of trust, obedience, sacrifice, and group social control) are profoundly misunderstood by mainstream "contractual" society.

What Really Happened At Waco? "Cult" or Set up?

Investigative journalist Albert K. Bates  and the staff of the Natural Rights Center  offer compelling evidence that the BATF and FBI first lied to government officials and the press about Branch Davidian members; then shot, gassed, and bulldozed them (resulting in their immolation); and colluded with government officials to cover it up.

The Heart Will Find a Way: Creating a Network of Reunion

Ramón Sender Baryón  tells how hundreds of isolated former Bruderhof members found each other againand how reunion with community can heal the heart.

The Bruderhof Responds

Doug and Ruby Moody tell the Bruderhof's side of the story.

A Few Commonsense Suggestions

While we don't condemn "cults," Tim Miller  offers a few helpful suggestions to avoid getting taken in by potentially harmful situations.

COLUMNS

PERIPATETIC COMMUNATARIAN --Constructive Criticism

Geoph Kozeny  contends that neither personal nor collective growth can occur without feedback, and gives examples of mutual criticism dating back as far as the New Testament.

COMMUNITIES MAGAZINE SPECIAL

"Benevolent Dictators" in Community? Part 1 Kat Kinkade  of Twin Oaks and Mildred Gordon  of Ganas debate strong central government vs. decision by dialogue.

MY TURN--Proposing a "Bill of Inalienable Rights" for Intentional Communities

Concerned about the potential for (and actual) abuses in community, sociologist Benjamin Zablocki  proposes a bill of 10 "inalienable rights" for community members and their children.

FELLOWSHIP NEWS--How Should the Communities Movement Handle Questions of Abuse? Responding to Benjamin Zablocki's Proposed "Bill of Rights"

Also concerned, the Fellowship for Intentional Community responds to the proposed " bill of rights" by seeking to widen the debate, asking: "What are appropriate rights and responsibilities for communities and members?" By Laird Sandhill.

ECOVILLAGE REPORT--Learning How to Be an Ecovillage

Lois Arkin  notes that ecovillagers tend to be "inhabitants" rather than "residents," and suggests beginning steps for creating an ecovillage.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES--Christian Communities and "Cults"

David Janzen  cautions that we not let society's disapproval of "cults" cause us to abandon those aspects of community which have the power to transform lives.

COHOUSING REPORT--Getting Started

Rob Sandelin,  our new cohousing columnist, offers six steps for cohousers (and members of other newly forming communities) to get the ball rolling.

FEDERATION UPDATE--Are Federation Communities Aspiritual?

Alex McGee  of Twin Oaks observes that multi faceted spirituality. not religion, is blossoming in FEC communities.

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH--"Cults" and Communitarians

Researchers Mike Cummings  and Harv Bishop  compare the views of ex-Hutterite and ex-Bruderhof members with those of Celebration of Communities participants on "cults"-- and being falsely labeled a "cult."

GROWING COMMUNITY--Finding and Financing Community Land, Part II

(Robert H. Watzke); Off the Grid! In the Palm of Your Hand (Dan Drasin) Practical "how to" information for people planning to form new communities.

CHILDREN IN COMMUNITY--Supporting Children in Community

Daniel Greenberg  shares his research on how communities can support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of their children.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN WASHINGTON D.C.--The Need for a Synthesis of Hierarchy and Democracy

Corinne McLaughlin  observes that a "Transformational" synthesis of hierarchical leadership and democratic decision making brings out the best of both.

REVIEWS

Diana Leafe Christian  reviews The Guru Papers, by Joel Kramer & Diana Alstad; Strange Gods, by David G. Gromley & Anson D. Shupe; Insight (videotape); Torches Extinguished, by Elizabeth Bollen Zumpe; Free From Bondage, by Nadine Moonje Pleil; The Church Universal and Triumphant, James R Lewis & J. Gordon Melton, Eds.; and Leaving the Fold, by Marlene Winell, Ph.D.

CREDITS

Editor
Diana Leafe Christian

Guest Editor
Tim Miller (University of Kansas at Lawrence)

REACH Ads
Patricia Greene (Renaissance Community)

Directory Update
Geoph Kozeny (Community Catalyst Project)

Design & Production
Lansing Scott (SeaChange Media Coop)

Cover Design
Paul DeLapa

Illustrations
Billie Miracle (Woman Share)

Cartoons
Jonathan Roth (Twin Oaks)

Photos
Doug Jones (Birdsfoot Farm)
Ramon Sender
Jean Swantko (Community at Island Pond)

Business Manager
Laird Sandhill (Sandhill Farm)

Editorial Review Board
Betty Didcoct (TIES)
Geoph Kozeny (Community Catalyst Project)
Laird Sandhill (Sandhill Farm)

COMMUNITIES (ISSN 01 99 9346) is published quarterly by Fellowship for 
Intentional Community at Route 1, Box 155, Rutledge, MO 63563.

Subscriptions are $18 ($22) for four issues, S25 $30) for institutions 
(prices in parentheses are to foreign addresses). Single copies are $4.50 
in the U.S., $6.00 elsewhere. (All payments in U.S. dollars.)

Send editorial submissions to COMMUNlTIES, PO Box 169, Masonville, CO 
80541-0169. For changes of address, write 138-W Twin Oaks Road, Louisa, VA 
23093.

Copyright 1995 by Fellowship for Intentional Community. All rights 
reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Opinions expressed by authors and 
correspondents are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the 
publisher.

Movement groups may reprint with permission. Please direct inquiries to 
COMMUNITIES, PO Box 169, Masonville, CO 80541  01 69; 970 593-5615.

This magazine printed on recycled paper, using soy based inks, at Modern 
Printing in Quincy, IL, USA.