Scholars Shed Light On "Cult" Controversy

An increasing number of academicians are taking strong objection to the accusation of a few self-proclaimed "deprogrammers" that the Hare Krsna movement is a type of "brainwashing cult." Protesting the charge that Krsna consciousness robs an individual of his freedom of thought, dozens of members of the New England Psychological Association recently signed a petition decrying "the use of colloquial terms [like 'brainwashing' or 'mind control'] as legal weapons against a legitimate religious minority." And in St. Louis, at a joint convention of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the American School of Oriental Literature, over two hundred scholars declared the Hare Krsna movement to be a bona fide spiritual organization in the Indian tradition. Indeed, scholars all over the world have expressed their deep appreciation of ISKCON's work, particularly the publication of many volumes of classic Vedic texts in English, French, German, Spanish, and other languages.

One of ISKCON's most outspoken supporters has been Dr. Joseph T. O'Connell, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at St. Michael's College and Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Studies at the University of Toronto. He recently wrote as follows:

"The Hare Krsna movement is but the most recent phase of an ancient tradition of religious piety known in India as Vaishnavism. The devotees in the Hare Krsna temples live a full and active life of study, prayer, singing, and day-to-day management of the temple's activities. Many are also active in a variety of more practical tasks, such as the publishing and sale of books, the manufacture of incense, the operation of vegetarian restaurants, and the launching of a small dance-drama company. All observe abstention from meat, intoxicants, and drugs. Only between married couples is sexual union permitted. In my judgement, it is indeed fortunate for these individuals and for the society in which they live that there has been available this outwardly exotic but inwardly authentic and well-rounded way of religious communal life.

"Accordingly, it is deeply disturbing to me to find young men and women who are finding personal religious authenticity in the Hare Krsna movement being subjected to gross misrepresentation, kidnapping, and other harassment of their personal integrity and religious convictions. I can well appreciate that many parents are baffled and disappointed to find their children alienated from their former way of life. To such parents I would say, 'Please try to be calm and talk with persons who have some understanding of young adults and of the new communities into which they have gone. But please, do not be misled by the professional "deprogrammers." They are engaged in a parasitic business that feeds upon fear and misunderstanding and uses illegal and brutal means. Whatever may be the mixture of misguided zeal and pecuniary interest motivating the "deprogrammers," what they are doing is wrong and should be stopped.' "