CultNEWS101 Articles: 10/16/2024

Book, India, Maharishi, Psychology of Cults

Colorado Sun: Cult-like "shimmerings" sent Sue Hinkin in search of answers

Although her family's religious life could frighten her, the author dug deep to learn the dynamics that power "The Snake Handler's Wife"

" ... My father was a liberal Presbyterian minister; my grandfather was an extremely conservative Baptist minister (after careers as an ironworker and a professional baseball player). Grandpa ran revival meetings and oversaw rescue missions in small midwestern cities. Grandma played the piano, sang (some would say caterwauled), and headed up the meal lines.

Their ministry wasn't a cult, but sometimes it had shimmerings of one that frightened me a bit. Things that scare me, I want to know more about. How extreme views of any kind can morph into something rigid and destructive was always one of those themes of interest that floated around in my head, so I decided to explore how my characters Lucy and Bea would deal with someone in the thrall of a cult."

" ... I could never quite understand the psychological dynamics that turn seemingly sane, reasonably intelligent people into sycophants. This has always been a fascinating mystery to me. In the current fractious and frightening political climate, the question of groupthink and cults rises again."

" ... I lived in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon, where the murderous Charles Manson cult remains a notorious part of canyon history. In "The Snake Handler's Wife," I wanted to explore how a young woman could be manipulated by a charismatic, narcissistic leader and how she might escape."

India Today: Over 50 private universities under UGC scanner for failing disclosure norms

The UGC's action against 54 private universities comes amid growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in higher education.

"The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a formal notice to 54 state private universities across India for failing to comply with regulations under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, and for not uploading required public self-disclosure information on their official websites.

The notice refers to the Public Self-Disclosure by Higher Education Institutions, 2024 guidelines issued by the UGC on June 10, 2024.

These guidelines require universities to maintain functional websites where key information is accessible to the public without requiring login or registration.

Universities were directed to submit detailed data along with attested documents through their registrar's office.

They were also required to upload this information to their website, with a link on the home page, to ensure transparency for students, parents, and other stakeholders.

Despite repeated reminders through emails and online meetings, 54 state private universities have not complied with the requirements. The UGC's latest action underscores growing concerns about transparency and accountability in higher education.

The list includes [Maharishi University of Management and Technology,  Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Vedic Vishwavidyalaya."

Folio: The Psychology of Cults

Most of what we think we know about cults comes straight from Netflix binges and Hollywood thrillers, and it's easy to take that at face value without ever digging into the reality. The truth is, cult psychology runs a lot deeper — and a lot stranger — than the stereotypes. Some of the sharpest, most capable people end up getting pulled in. And a cult doesn't always look like robed figures on a mountaintop screaming about the end of days. Sometimes it's subtler. Sometimes it's in your school, your office, or even your neighbor's backyard.

 

For Ashlen Hilliard, growing up in Utah, where culture, religion, and history collide, is what sparked an early fascination with belief and influence. That curiosity eventually pulled her back after college, where she took on the tough job of helping people leave Mormon Fundamentalist polygamous communities across the West. The work was intense, sometimes dangerous, but it forged her into a fierce advocate for survivors.

In 2022, Hilliard launched People Leave Cults, a resource hub for survivors and the loved ones trying to help them. As one of the few Cult Intervention Specialists in the country, she works with a team of experts to design personalized strategies for families dealing with everything from cults and gangs to trafficking, domestic violence, and violent extremism.

 

Her path here is backed by serious credentials. Hilliard earned her MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control, and her published research, "Understanding Reproductive Coercion in Cults and Destructive Group Settings," broke ground as the first exploratory study of its kind. Before founding People Leave Cults, she also served as director of events for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), where she organized workshops, conferences, and support programs for people affected by cults and psychological manipulation.

 

And now, she is bringing her studies to the stage for a live show that takes audiences deep inside the world of cults — how they start, why people get pulled in, and what it really takes to break free. From notorious groups like Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, and NXIVM to lesser-known but just as dangerous organizations, she unpacks the psychology, the manipulation, and the subtle tactics cults use to keep control.

 

We had the opportunity to sit down with Hilliard before her show at the Florida Theatre on Oct. 8 to get an exclusive look at what to expect during her show.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.