Youth, Brainwashing, and the Extremist Cults

An exploration of the dynamics of conversion and member participation through some case studies of various controversial minority religious groups such Hare Krishna (ISKCON), Children of God, Alamo Christian Foundation, the Love Family, the Unification Church, the Way International, and the Divine Light Mission.

Enroth argues there are characteristics to cult commitment that are aberrant, such as the separation of youth from their families; intensive and manipulative activities of instruction and recruitment; and tests of loyalty to the group. He argues that the sociological and psychological processes of recruitment and indoctrination involve some form of brainwashing or mind control.

The final part of his study explores the spiritual problems he discerned with cults from the standpoint of evangelical Christianity. Although Enroth argued in support of the brainwashing theory of cult conversions, he was nonetheless very critical of the tactics of secular anti-cult individuals who engaged in deprogramming.