Cult and Ritual Abuse: Its History, Anthropology, and Recent Discovery in Contemporary America Revised Edition

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 288 pages
• Published by: Praeger Paperback
• Edition: Revised Edition June 30, 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0275966658
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0275966652
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 15.2 ounces

Product Review
“This provocative book should be read by all who work in the area. This book provides the reader with a rigorous and interesting account of a contentious issue/”–Contemporary Psychology

“anyone who is interested in the topic of cult and ritual abuse will find this book worth the time to read.”–Psychiatric Services

Product Description
A personal but also scholarly journey into the clandestine and confusing world of ritual abuse, this book provides unique insights into the catastrophic experiences of ritual abuse survivors and their efforts to find healing through psychological treatment. This revised edition provides contemporary revelations about cults in existence today and also new therapies developed since the first edition was published in 1995. Co-authored by a clinical psychologist and the executive director of a professional organization dedicated to treating survivors of cult and ritual abuse, this edition will be of interest to both academic and professional markets. The special legal dilemmas, survival problems and day-to-day life experiences of these survivors are examined in a scholarly but sensitive manner. The book presents the idea that ritual abuse is an age-old phenomenon found in many cultures throughout the world. That ritual abuse causes a variety of specific psychiatric symptoms is noted. Special attention is given to the diagnosis dissociative identity disorder that is frequently found among ritual abuse survivors. Suggestions are offered for effectively dealing with the various social and legal problems that result from this severe form of abuse. New diagnoses--cult and ritual trauma disorder--are proposed for this newly identified problem.

Reader Reviews
This is a carefully researched and reasonable look at a very volatile topic. The so-called experts at the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (founded by parents whose daughter, Jennifer Freyd, claims they molested her) would much prefer that you don't read this book, which includes evidence that a founding member of the FMSF board, Ralph Underwager, is an advocate of pedophilia. As the author discovers, ritual abuse is often not an act of random sadism, but the deployment of a long-proven technology that uses trauma to create dissociative states and alternate identities for the purposes of mind control and physical enslavement. Apart from a brief mention of the discredited author Mike Warnke, this is a highly credible work that deserves close scrutiny; abuse survivors should be aware that the content could prove triggering for them. Be prepared for dismissive responses from people who should know better and refuse to review any evidence that contradicts their views when you tell them that you are reading this. This is a subject that inspires impassioned screeds and debasement instead of debate. There are varied reasons for this, but fear of discovery on the part of practitioners in high places is definitely one of the them. The Franklin Cover-Up: Child Abuse, Satanism, and Murder in Nebraska is good book to read as a follow-up.