The Cult around the Corner: A Handbook on Dealing with Other People's Religions [Paperback]

Nancy O'Meara (Author), Stan Koehler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2002

Reinforcing the right of all to believe as they wish while giving practical advice on how to rationally deal with possible dangerous or alarming situations, this sensible guide addresses the concerns that arise when a loved one joins an unfamiliar religious group. Advice is interspersed with real-life scenarios that illustrate different ways to handle the situations that arise and the pitfalls to avoid. Stressing tolerance and understanding, this book will help maintain communication in the face of adversity and foster acceptance of a loved one's new way of life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent handbook ..." -- Dr. Huston Smith, Author,

America needs this book! -- Dr. Anson Shupe - co-author,

America needs this book. -- Dr. Anson Shupe, co-author, Strange Gods - The Great American Cult Scare

Powerfully concise -- Ravi Peruman, United Religions Initiative member

Such common sense - which seems to fly out the window when someone is concerned about religious groups. Good job! -- Kay Lindahl, author, "The Sacred Art of Listening"

Your book is excellent - nicely laid out, clear and helpful. -- William F. Fore, Editor, Religion on Line

From the Author

This is the most recent book published about "cults" - and is a book for the new millennium. It is about how to understand other people's religious choices and learning to live in a pluralistic society. Coming from a family that includes a sister who is atheist, a brother who is a Methodist minister and another sister married to a Catholic and raising four daughters, I have had first hand experience coping with deep seated belief differences. The Cult Around the Corner is the perfect book for the challenges people are dealing with today on a personal and professional level coping with a shrinking world of every greater religious diversity.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Foundation For Religious Freedom; 1 edition (March 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928575102
• ISBN-13: 978-1928575108
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,105,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Propaganda for the Church of Scientology, October 9, 2004

By 

Dogma - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cult around the Corner: A Handbook on Dealing with Other People's Religions (Paperback)

According to a 1993 agreement between the IRS and the Church of Scientology, the Foundation for Religious Freedom (the publisher of this book) is a "Scientology-related" entity. This means that the publisher is affiliated with the destructive group known as the Church of Scientology. This book is infused with cult propaganda under the guise of "dealing with other people's religions." They suggest that it would be great in schools and libraries, and that you contact them by phone or mail or email or just drop by and have a chat. DO NOT.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sane advice on dealing with religious choice, June 9, 2002

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cult around the Corner: A Handbook on Dealing with Other People's Religions (Paperback)

If someone you love has joined a religious "cult" or such a group has moved into your neighborhood or they are becoming active in your community or any similar situation occurs then this book is where you should start when wondering what to do. It is not an exposition about the beliefs of various religious groups nor what defines a cult from a religion or any such thing. Instead it deals with an all too common problem, people basing their understanding of a group on prejudiced things they have heard, gossip or similar information. It deals with the alienation that often follows when parents and friends don't understand why a person joins a different religious group. It also deals with how to recover that communication and recover the relationship.
This book guides you through various techniques to deal with this situation. The first and foremost is to be calm and find out about the group for yourself. There are various ways of doing this and the book covers all of them. It also covers the things not to do in a situation like this.
This book is a definite recommendation to anyone seeking guidance on how to deal with someone else's religious choices or anyone who may be thinking of making a change themselves.

12 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guidebook, April 3, 2002

By 

Jane James "homeschoolmum" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cult around the Corner: A Handbook on Dealing with Other People's Religions (Paperback)

This is a sensible guidebook for anyone who is concerned about the religious choices of others.

Written out of the experience of helping thousands of concerned parents, friends, neighbors, etc., this book explains how to address the "problem" of a loved one joining a religion one doesn't fully understand.

Logically, the first recommendation is to "calm down" so one can be effective in addressing the situation. Then a range of choices are given... advice on actual steps one can take to restore or improve communication, and why that is important, pitfalls to avoid in these situations (like deprogrammers), how to communicate your concerns to your loved one without alienating him or trampling on his rights, etc.

Surprisingly enough, the book gives good advice for parents about how to prepare one's child for the myriad of religious choices out there! Very useful for just about any parent, I think.

Many varied real-life examples are given, along with their successful resolution.

No one religion holds the focus of this book, and it is not an overview of the religions of the world, but rather a basic guide anyone can use in restoring communication with a loved one who has joined a new or little-known religion. Advice on researching the religion is very clearly written and easy to understand and follow. Reading this book should be a first step towards resolving this sort of conflict.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about a loved one's religious choices. Also, I would recommend this book to anyone who has changed religions and may have relatives or friends who are concerned about this change - this book is sure to assist in fostering understanding and preventing a host of upsets in the future.

Every library should have a copy of this book, and I recommend it to mediators, religious leaders, family counselors, etc.