3+
Msg #: 3 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-01-90 16:37
To: ALL Rcvd: 09-03-90 14:57
Re: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROJECT
PRESS RELEASE: March 15, 1990
Religious Freedom Project
Media Contact: Mary Anne Ahmed, (312) 348-7788, for the
Church of Scientology
RFP Contact: Johnathon L. Nordquist, (312) 508-0595, for the
Religious Freedom Project
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
EDUCATION GROUP FORMED TO FIGHT
NEW WITCH-HUNT HYSTERIA
CHICAGO - March 15, 1990 - The Religious Freedom Project has been
established in Chicago by a group of volunteers to reaffirm the
commitment of area religions to Freedom of Religion in the United
States. Over the past year, a few groups have been fanning the fires
to create a new wave of religious bigotry under the guise of
"education" about the threat of Satanism. A recent article in the
WALL STREET JOURNAL by Anson Shupe entitled the "Pitchmen of the
Satan Scare" pointed out the mania that certain self- proclaimed
experts are pushing to forward their secret assault on the Freedom of
Religion guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution.
Foremost of these anti-religious groups is the notorious Cult
Awareness Network (CAN) which has now sounded the satanic conspiracy
alarm far and wide. This small group which operates out of its
secret and well-hidden headquarters at 301 East Main Street in
Barrington, Illinois, has taken in gullible professionals such as
policemen and teachers, to look for a problem that does not, in
truth, exist. CAN does this knowingly as an entrence point from
which it can spread its anti-religious propaganda against established
religious communities which it labels as cults.
Chief spokesperson for CAN is the groups Executive National
Director, Cynthia Kisser of Wonder Lake, Illinois. She has been heard
on local talk shows and occasional interviews in local newspapers
putting out the groups satanic message.
The Religious Freedom Project, working in cooperation with
representatives of religious freedom groups and churches from around
the country, is established to monitor anti-religious activities and
educate the public to this new form of Witch-hunt hysteria that is
being created by CAN and its front groups.
The project is composed of members from the Wisconsin Committee of
Religious Liberty and Freedom, the Chicago-based American Freedom
Coalition, the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition for Religious
Freedom, the Chicago Hare Krishna (ISKCON) temple, the Virginia-
based Friends of Freedom, and the Church of Scientology of Illinois.
Johnathon Nordquist, director of the Project, was himself a
deprogrammer associated with CAN and who took part in kidnapping and
anti-religious terrorism at CAN's direction. Deprogramming is CAN's
euphemism for a process of mental coercion using Korean War
brainwashing techniques that were used on American prisoners of War.
Mr. Nordquist relates that physical and sexual abuse have been tools
applied to deprogramming victims to break their wills. For more
information, or to find out how you can help, contact the Religious
Freedom Project at Box 86, 1744 West Devon Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
60660 (312) 508-0595
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 4 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-01-90 16:37
To: GARTH BIGELOW Rcvd: 06-26-90 09:36
Re: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROJECT
PRESS RELEASE: March 15, 1990
Religious Freedom Project
Media Contact: Mary Anne Ahmed, (312) 348-7788, for the
Church of Scientology
RFP Contact: Johnathon L. Nordquist, (312) 508-0595, for the
Religious Freedom Project
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
EDUCATION GROUP FORMED TO FIGHT
NEW WITCH-HUNT HYSTERIA
CHICAGO - March 15, 1990 - The Religious Freedom Project has been
established in Chicago by a group of volunteers to reaffirm the
commitment of area religions to Freedom of Religion in the United
States. Over the past year, a few groups have been fanning the fires
to create a new wave of religious bigotry under the guise of
"education" about the threat of Satanism. A recent article in the
WALL STREET JOURNAL by Anson Shupe entitled the "Pitchmen of the
Satan Scare" pointed out the mania that certain self- proclaimed
experts are pushing to forward their secret assault on the Freedom of
Religion guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution.
Foremost of these anti-religious groups is the notorious Cult
Awareness Network (CAN) which has now sounded the satanic conspiracy
alarm far and wide. This small group which operates out of its
secret and well-hidden headquarters at 301 East Main Street in
Barrington, Illinois, has taken in gullible professionals such as
policemen and teachers, to look for a problem that does not, in
truth, exist. CAN does this knowingly as an entrence point from
which it can spread its anti-religious propaganda against established
religious communities which it labels as cults.
Chief spokesperson for CAN is the groups Executive National
Director, Cynthia Kisser of Wonder Lake, Illinois. She has been heard
on local talk shows and occasional interviews in local newspapers
putting out the groups satanic message.
The Religious Freedom Project, working in cooperation with
representatives of religious freedom groups and churches from around
the country, is established to monitor anti-religious activities and
educate the public to this new form of Witch-hunt hysteria that is
being created by CAN and its front groups.
The project is composed of members from the Wisconsin Committee of
Religious Liberty and Freedom, the Chicago-based American Freedom
Coalition, the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition for Religious
Freedom, the Chicago Hare Krishna (ISKCON) temple, the Virginia-
based Friends of Freedom, and the Church of Scientology of Illinois.
Johnathon Nordquist, director of the Project, was himself a
deprogrammer associated with CAN and who took part in kidnapping and
anti-religious terrorism at CAN's direction. Deprogramming is CAN's
euphemism for a process of mental coercion using Korean War
brainwashing techniques that were used on American prisoners of War.
Mr. Nordquist relates that physical and sexual abuse have been tools
applied to deprogramming victims to break their wills. For more
information, or to find out how you can help, contact the Religious
Freedom Project at Box 86, 1744 West Devon Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
60660 (312) 508-0595
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 5 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-01-90 16:42
To: DALEN GARRIS Rcvd: -NO-
Re: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROJECT
PRESS RELEASE: March 15, 1990
Religious Freedom Project
Media Contact: Mary Anne Ahmed, (312) 348-7788, for the
Church of Scientology
RFP Contact: Johnathon L. Nordquist, (312) 508-0595, for the
Religious Freedom Project
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
EDUCATION GROUP FORMED TO FIGHT
NEW WITCH-HUNT HYSTERIA
CHICAGO - March 15, 1990 - The Religious Freedom Project has been
established in Chicago by a group of volunteers to reaffirm the
commitment of area religions to Freedom of Religion in the United
States. Over the past year, a few groups have been fanning the fires
to create a new wave of religious bigotry under the guise of
"education" about the threat of Satanism. A recent article in the
WALL STREET JOURNAL by Anson Shupe entitled the "Pitchmen of the
Satan Scare" pointed out the mania that certain self- proclaimed
experts are pushing to forward their secret assault on the Freedom of
Religion guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution.
Foremost of these anti-religious groups is the notorious Cult
Awareness Network (CAN) which has now sounded the satanic conspiracy
alarm far and wide. This small group which operates out of its
secret and well-hidden headquarters at 301 East Main Street in
Barrington, Illinois, has taken in gullible professionals such as
policemen and teachers, to look for a problem that does not, in
truth, exist. CAN does this knowingly as an entrence point from
which it can spread its anti-religious propaganda against established
religious communities which it labels as cults.
Chief spokesperson for CAN is the groups Executive National
Director, Cynthia Kisser of Wonder Lake, Illinois. She has been heard
on local talk shows and occasional interviews in local newspapers
putting out the groups satanic message.
The Religious Freedom Project, working in cooperation with
representatives of religious freedom groups and churches from around
the country, is established to monitor anti-religious activities and
educate the public to this new form of Witch-hunt hysteria that is
being created by CAN and its front groups.
The project is composed of members from the Wisconsin Committee of
Religious Liberty and Freedom, the Chicago-based American Freedom
Coalition, the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition for Religious
Freedom, the Chicago Hare Krishna (ISKCON) temple, the Virginia-
based Friends of Freedom, and the Church of Scientology of Illinois.
Johnathon Nordquist, director of the Project, was himself a
deprogrammer associated with CAN and who took part in kidnapping and
anti-religious terrorism at CAN's direction. Deprogramming is CAN's
euphemism for a process of mental coercion using Korean War
brainwashing techniques that were used on American prisoners of War.
Mr. Nordquist relates that physical and sexual abuse have been tools
applied to deprogramming victims to break their wills. For more
information, or to find out how you can help, contact the Religious
Freedom Project at Box 86, 1744 West Devon Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
60660 (312) 508-0595
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 8 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-07-90 18:26
To: ALL Rcvd: 08-29-90 22:17
Re: TERRORIST.COM AVAILABLE
TERRORST.COM, a collection in self-viewing format of the major CAN
deprogrammers is now available for download.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 9 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-08-90 13:04
To: ALL Rcvd: 08-29-90 22:17
Re: CAN EXPOSED
From Religious Freedom Alert, Washington, D.C. --
From: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ALERT April 2, 1990
Date: March, 1990
Page: 3
HEAD: Interviews Confirm Cult Awareness Role In Criminal
Kidnappings
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Three "anti-cult" activists have recently confirmed the role of
the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) in setting up illegal kidnappings
of adults belonging to minority religious groups.
In published inte.rviews, Mr. Arnold Berendsen of Illinois, Rev.
Art Morgan of Oregon, and Mr. Bob Geary of Ohio each named CAN as
responsible for putting them in contact with "deprogrammers" whom
they then hired. to commit criminal acts.
Victims of deprogrammings have long reported that their
abductions were orchestrated by the Cult Awareness Network. Last
August Ginger Brown, a Christian woman in San Diego, identified CAN
as responsible for her five-day ordeal at the hands of so-called
"deprogrammers".
More recently, Johnathon Nordquist, a deprogrammer formerly
employed by CAN, gave press conferences in New York and Chi.cago
exposing CAN's role in setting up deprogrammings.
Now three CAN supporters have confirmed the Brown and Nordquist
accounts in separate newspaper interviews.
In the Peoria, Illinois _Journal_Star_ of October 24, 1989,
Arnold Berendsen tells of CAN's role in kidnapping his adult
daughter, a member of The Way International church.
"Finally, Ber.endsen sought the help of Cult Awareness Network
Response Center in Evanston, which bragged a deprogramming success
rate of 80 percent, Berendsen said."
Berendsen paid his daughter's kidnappers "about $10,000," but it
is not known how much of the $10,.000 was received by CAN.
According to ex-deprogrammer John Nordquist, CAN usually rec.eives
donations from both the parents and the deprogrammers when it sets
up a deprogramming.
Rev. Art Morgan of Corvallis, Oregon told the
_Corvallis_Gazette_Times of January 19, 1990, about CAN's role in
the kidnapping of his daughter-in-law.
"Through the Cult Awareness Network her parents traced her to
Texas, kidnapped her screaming and fighting, and had her
deprogrammed.... It cost about $25,000 to get her out."
The Akron, Ohio _Beacon_Journal_ of January 21, 1990 tells of how
Bob Geary found a deprog.rammer for his wife Dorothy through CAN.
"The Geary's sought help from the local chapter. of the Cult
Awareness Network, and were referred to a Canadian
deprogrammer...."
"In the Geary case, however, it is possible that Mrs. Geary
consented to being. deprogrammed."
Despite such evidence as this, CAN officials continue to deny
that the organization has any ties to deprogramming. According to
the Creskill, New Jersey _Teaneck_Suburbanite_ of November 1, 1989,
"CAN President, Ron Loomis, a youth services administrator at
Cornell University, and other CAN officials vehemently denied that
the organization was ever involved with the kidnapping method or
deprogrammers like Ted Patric.k."
Critics of CAN, howev.er, point to a 1980 memo as evidence that
CAN has a deliberate policy of lying about its role in
deprogramming.
The memo is by John Sweeney, National Director of CAN, which was
then calling itself the Citizens Freedom Foundation (CFF), Sweeney
writes:
"CFF is an anti-cult organization and like it or not we're
involved in rescues, deprogramming and lobbying. So it is okay to
present another face to. the public but lets not try to conn (sic)
each other.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 10 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-08-90 13:14
To: ALL Rcvd: 08-29-90 22:17
Re: GEORCE VS. ISKCON
2 12-08-88 03:46 pps Multimillion-dollar award to ex-Krishna
Slashed...
SAN DIEGO (UPI) _ A state appellate panel indicated Thursday it will
likely throw out most of a $9.7 million jury award to a former Hare
Krishna devotee who claims she was brainwashed and falsely imprisoned by
the religious sect.
Chief Justice Daniel J. Kremer said he and two other justices had
reached a tentative decision that damages should not be awarded to Robin
George on grounds of false imprisonment, intentional infliction of
emotional distress and libel.
Because the young woman voluntarily accepted the religious tenets of
the Krishna sect when she joined a temple in 1974, "the panel has
difficulty finding any restraint that in any way overcame Robin's will,"
said Kremer.
However, Kremer said, damages awarded to Robin's mother, Marcia George,
for emotional distress, libel and the wrongful death of her husband, who
died of a stroke following his daughter's Krishna stay, might be upheld.
The justices' final decision is due by March. If they rule against the
damages to Robin George, the $9.7 million jury award, which threatened to
bankrupt the Krishna sect, would be reduced to approximately $2.5 million.
An Orange County jury originally awarded the Georges $32 million in
1983. A judge reduced the award to $9.7 million and placed assorted
Krishna property in the United States and Canada in receivership pending
appeal.
Both parties have predicted the case will eventually go before the
California Supreme Court, which in October ruled in favor of two plantiffs
who similarly charged they were brainwashed by The Rev. Sun Myung Moon's
Unification Church, which has been widely criticized for its alienating
influence on young people.
At age 15, Robin George left her parents' Cypress, Calif., home to live
at a Krishna temple in Laguna Beach. A year later, following discussions
with her parents and the Citizens Freedom Foundation, an organization
devoted to cult deprogramming, she broke with the sect, returned home and
later filed suit.
The Georges' appeals attorney, Louis E. Goebel, argued that Robin, as a
minor, was psychologically coerced into staying with the sect and
forbidden to communicate with her parents.
Krishna leaders went so far as to transfer the teenage girl to temples
in New Orleans, La., and in Canada to distance her from her parents, said
Goebel.
The Krishnas "controlled her resources, her money, her clothing and her
ability to travel," said Goebel.
"The Little Sisters of the Poor do that all the time," Associate
Justice Don R. Work responded, referring to the Catholic order.
On the issue of Marcia George's damages, defense attorney Alan Martin
said Robin's voluntary conversion to the Krishna religion "was at the
heart of the emotional distress claim."
"She adopted and embraced the religion (and) that was distressing
conduct to her parents," said Martin.
The justices agreed that George, even though she was a minor, was not
coerced into staying with the sect for a year.
"She willingly participated ... with every single element that (she)
postulates as a barrier to moving back (home). She cooperated almost
enthusiastically," said Kremer.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 14 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-16-90 23:48
To: ALL Rcvd: 08-29-90 22:17
Re: CAN CHALLENGE...
Well, the challange went out over a month ago, both publicly and
privately to many different people within the "Cult Awareness
Network". No response...
The challenge was: give even one proven instance where the Hare
Krishna movement "deceptively recruited" someone, or engaged in
"unethical indoctrination" techniques on new members. Both are
buzz-terms used by the "Cult-watchers' to determine whether or
not a religious group is a 'destructive cult'. The Cult-watchers'
routinely throw the Hare Krishna movement in as a destructive
cult...
So, I challenged them. Prove even one case of deceptive
recruitment in the quarter-century history of the Hare Krishna
movement in America, and I'd issue a public apology to CAN and
end my involvement with the Religious Freedom Project. If they
could not do so, as the challenge went, they would issue a public
apology to the Hare Krishna movement and discontinue their illegal
and unconstitutional activities against them.,
I don't know. I thought the challenge was quite reasonable.
If the Hare Krishna's are a cult, and CAN is in the business of
exposing these cults, they'd gladly tell people HOW and WHY they
determined that. But, as I suspected from the start, they declined
the challenge.
You be the judge.
Questions/Comments? Religious Freedom Project
Janardana Dasa, Director
1744 West Devon, No. 86
Chicago, IL 60660
(312) 508-0595
Or leave message here.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 15 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 06-25-90 14:56
To: ALL Rcvd: 08-29-90 22:18
Re: CAN ATTACK ON NARCANON
DATELINE: Chilocco, Oklahoma, 06-25-90
Religious Freedom Project On-Line
HEADLINE: Cult Awareness Network Blasts Anti-Drug Group
=======================================================
Chilocco, Oklahoma, site of a one of the country's largets new
drug rehabilitation centers, is coming under attack by a group
calling itself "Cult Awareness Network".
Under the guise of an educational, non-profit organization,
Cult Awareness Network, or CAN as it likes to be called, is known
for its vehement support and activities related to deprogramming,
the process of kidnapping and, through mental and physical
coersion, forcing persons to give up their sincerely held
religious beliefs...
So why is CAN going to Oklahoma to attack a drug
rehabilitation center? We asked a representative from the Anti-
drug group, called Narcanon.. "CAN is attacking us because we're
founded by the Church of Scientology, even though our program has
nothing to do with Scientology... CAN just cannot stand the fact
that the Church is succeeding in getting people off drugs".
It has been learned by Narcanon that CAN is sending their
President, Mike Rokos, to Enid, Oklahoma, where he will meet with
the CAN contact there (the Cook Family), to personally arrange for
the strategy to ruin the grand opening event for the Narcanon
facility on Thursday, June 28th, 1990.
The grand opening event is currently attracting many VIP
guests from around the world who work and study within the drug
rehabilitation world.
Says our Narcanon contact: "We certainly hope CAN can use
restraint and keep their hate-philosophy and bigotry out of the
Anti-drug campaigns... we have a very successful program in
getting people off drugs... but since it seems they are indeed
going to come to attempt to ruin the program here, it wil; be used
against them to get their tax-exempt status stripped.."
CAN has been fueding with Scientology, and other groups it
deems as not "real religion" for the past 15 years. CAN members
have been indicted and convicted across the country for criminal
activities in relation to their anti-religious campaign.
RFPFile:COS.900625
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 17 FNET Conference
From: SARVOPAMA DASA Sent: 07-01-90 05:47
To: JANARDANA DASA Rcvd: 07-27-90 13:22
Re: (R)CAN ATTACK ON NARCANON
> facility on Thursday, June 28th, 1990.
> The grand opening event is currently attracting many VIP
> guests from around the world who work and study within the drug
> rehabilitation world.
> Says our Narcanon contact: "We certainly hope CAN can use
> restraint and keep their hate-philosophy and bigotry out of the
> Anti-drug campaigns... we have a very successful program in
> getting people off drugs... but since it seems they are indeed
> going to come to attempt to ruin the program here, it wil; be used
> against them to get their tax-exempt status stripped.."
> CAN has been fueding with Scientology, and other groups it
> deems as not "real religion" for the past 15 years. CAN members
> have been indicted and convicted across the country for criminal
> activities in relation to their anti-religious campaign.
So, hey, I give a hoot and a hollar... What's with Barbara Mandrell and
John Travolta? What happened on the 28th? Come on- fill us in on all
this stuff. Did the Cook family come storming down out of the hills
with rifles blazing? Did the Scientologists prevail? Did the meeting
convene? What the heck happened?
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 18 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 07-03-90 11:53
To: SARVOPAMA DASA Rcvd: 08-18-90 16:43
Re: (R)CAN ATTACK ON NARCANON
> So, hey, I give a hoot and a hollar... What's with Barbara Mandrell
> and John Travolta? What happened on the 28th? Come on- fill us in on
> all this stuff. Did the Cook family come storming down out of the
> hills with rifles blazing? Did the Scientologists prevail? Did the
> meeting convene? What the heck happened?
Haribol! Did the Scientologists prevail? I'ma gonna told you a
story... I spent one of the most rewarding and educational weekends I
ever spent in this lifetime. Seriously. I don't know where to begin,
or how to explain just how special this program at Chilocco NARCONON
was...
Imagine a few thousand people from around the world, Sweden, France,
New Zealand, Spain, UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, (it
goes on and on), all converging on one spot in the middle of desolute
Oklahoma, on an ancient Indian holy ground...
Imagine everyone there filled with spiritual energy, loving every
minute of the day, happy to see every other person there, laughing,
crying, smiling, enjoying...
Imagine even stodgy folks like United Nations representatives, big
businessmen, Pentacostal, Methodist, Catholic, (etc.) leaders, all
enjoying, all exhibiting this high energy, despite temperatures
averaging 104 degrees in this dry, desert-like region...
Imaginethe leaders of all the major Indian nations and tribes,
Comanche, Ponca, Apache, etc., all meeting there in one spot to convene
the first ever combined Indian Nations Council of War since General
Custer was handled...
Imagine music and concerts around the clock, Barbara Mandrell, Nicky
Hopkins (the 6th Beattle), Maxine Nightengale, David Pomeranz, and
personalities like John Travolta and Kristie Alley, and footbal hero
Joe Theissman, among thousands, there for the same spiritual energy,
the same goals...
Probably sounds like one of the famous New Age Namby-pamby Airy Fairy
whoodoo-gooroo gatherings, eh? All is one, we are god, etc? Nothing
of the sort, this was a war council on drugs... as cold, clinical and
hateful most drug programs can seem, this place convened the largest
gathering of persons dedicated to winning the drug war ever.. and as a
new note to the drug crisis, this group laid the blame right where it
belongs, on the government and psychiatry, who make all this possible...
Ther weekend was sponsored by the Chilocco Indian tribes (a five
tribe council), and Narconon, the drug rehabilitation system
established by L. Ron Hubbard..
I was there because CAN, the Cult Awareness Network, actually had
hopes of disrupting the festival... these creeps would rather see
people on drugs in the major cities, gutter-hyped, dying, than to see
Scientology do something successful. Talk about envy!
Man, I had the most wonderful time! I hung out with Heber
Jentzsche, the successor to L. Ron Hubbard, who is an amazing and
profound individual... he knows an awful lot about Krishna
consciousness, likes it, and we spent a good long time comparing the
similarities between Scientology and Bhagavat-dharma... in summary,
there are no fundamental points where SCI and HKM could not agree, even
with respect to the authority of the Vedas.. I presented him with my
small altar and the Gita, and ... well, running outta space..
I really am having a hard time trying to tell people just how heavy
and wonderful this experience was... Hare Krishna!
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 19 FNET Conference
From: SARVOPAMA DASA Sent: 07-03-90 13:05
To: JANARDANA DASA Rcvd: 07-27-90 13:22
Re: (R)CAN ATTACK ON NARCANON
> I was there because CAN, the Cult Awareness Network, actually
> had hopes of disrupting the festival... these creeps would
> heavy and wonderful this experience was... Hare Krishna!
So did any CAN crumbs show their faces? Sounds like they really would
have had their hands full had they tried.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 21 FNET Conference
From: SARVOPAMA DASA Sent: 07-08-90 11:34
To: JANARDAN DASA Rcvd: -NO-
Re: PHILLIPS
Tried to get you on the phone but with no luck so here goes... We lend
credibility to Phillip's side of the argument by not letting him bring
in a class.. Randy said when pressed on the point that the violence
that Phillips claimed was inevitable when anyone becomes involved wiht
a cult is not so much on the physical as the mental level.. So if we
take that seriously we tend to support the whole notion of mind
control.. Beyond that, if we deny entry to someone who isn't actually
drunk or violent or smelly... We indicate that we're afraid of them for
the same reasons- their ability to use mind control.. Ultimately that's
what yoga is all about.. The point is we want to control our minds and
senses for the pleasure of Krishna..
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 23 FNET Conference
From: MATTHEW KOWALSKI Sent: 07-12-90 22:52
To: JANARDANA DASA Rcvd: 07-27-90 13:22
Re: I'M HERE....
I just logged on here for the first time. Am pleased to see all the
discussion. Looks good.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 24 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 07-13-90 10:22
To: ALL Rcvd: 08-29-90 22:18
Re: RESIGNATION...
Dear Friends of Religious Freedom,
As of today, 13 July 90, I am no longer the director of the
Religious Freedom Project. I have certainly enjoyed working with the
various participants of the project in the past, and have particularly
enjoyed the many triumphs gained over the Anti-religion networks...
The reasons for this resignation are as follows, in the order of
priority:
1) I have been spending much too much time on Religious Freedom
Project activities and neglecting my own religious duties and
activities... Sort of misses the mark there.
2) I will not be responsible for letters distributed in my name,
or implying my support, that I haven't seen or approved of,
only to be told of them later... (I am not a rubber-stamp).
3) Since taking on RFP tasks and projects I have only
experienced loss. Loss of jobs, loss of family support, etc.,
and there have been no gains. (All give, no take).
4) Frankly, to fight against the Anti-Religion Network is a dirty
business. My philosophy has always been to particularly not
dwell upon the negative, but work within what's positive. The
Anti-Religion Network, (CAN, AFF, etc.), is full of
sleazy-slimy dirt-bags, and perhaps I'm getting contaminated
as a result of dwelling upon their sleaziness...
Stay tuned for the announcement as to the new director of the
Religious Freedom Project. I will still contribute to this Conference
regularly.
Thank you.
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 25 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 07-17-90 11:31
To: MATTHEW KOWALSKI Rcvd: 07-24-90 22:16
Re: (R)I'M HERE....
> I just logged on here for the first time. Am pleased to see all the
> discussion. Looks good.
>
Wonderful! Glad to see you made it. Incidentally, as of yesterday this
FNET conference is being sent out to Tocoma, Washington, and perhaps
others between here and there will pick up on it.
We invite everyone to contribute. This is that one conference where
all the various religious groups can come together with something in
common, the threat to their very existence!
_ _
Janardana Dasa
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 26 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 07-22-90 01:46
To: ERIC PEMENT Rcvd: 08-25-90 23:13
Re: REPLY
Eric,
Received your note on the Computers for Christ BBS and
figured I'd have a better chance getting it to you here on
HKBBS than anywhere else since I know nothing of UNIX systems.
I'll try to answer your questions as fully as possible.
> If you don't mind a few personal questions, please let me
> know more about yourself.
> (1) Are you still a Krsna devotee? If so, to which group
> or association of Krsna devotees do you most nearly identify
> with?
Yes, I consider myself a devotee, although I am not
associated directly with ISKCON anymore. I'm not sure what you
mean by "to which group or association of Krishna devotees...",
but if you refer to the West Virginia group following
Bhaktipada, you should know that they no longer count
themselves Hare Krishna devotees, but have converted to a
quasi-Christian-neo-Catholic-New-Age something or another. The
have broken their connections with Srila Prabhupada's movement.
I am participating in a new Krishna program coming to Chicago
that is designed to bring back the many who have become
disaffected or expelled for lack of faith in the leadership of
ISKCON. (stay tuned!)
> (2) Is the Religious Freedom Project simply an "interfaith"
> association of people who reject deprogramming? What groups
> fund the RFP currently?
The Religious Freedom Project was designed to be pretty
much what you describe, although more than just an association,
it was designed to actively counter the propaganda of the Cult
Awareness Network and other groups engaging in illegal
deprogramming activities. I have since resigned as Director of
the Project for personal reasons (the resignation letter can be
found if you J)oin the FNET Conference on line here and read
messages to ALL, 07-13-90)
CONTINUED ------------->
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 27 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 07-22-90 01:48
To: ERIC PEMENT Rcvd: 08-25-90 23:13
Re: REPLY
> (3) Do you think that such a think as "cults" or
> "destructive cults" exist today? If so, what specific groups
> would you name as being representative of this category?
Do cults exist? Certainly. Do destructive cults exist? I
don't think that can be established as provable. By
destructive cult, the Cult Awareness Network describes
"deceptive recruitment" as the primary attribute. Then they
list the Hare Krishna movement as one of the chief destructive
cults. You tell me, how on earth can a person be deceived into
shaving their heads (keeping a small pony-tail), wearing
saffron robes, marking their foreheads, chanting and dancing?
Is there anyone so mindless that he wouldn't know what he was
getting into? A person joining the Krishna movement has to
wait at least six months, studying and examining, before he can
be considered a candidate for initiation. It's a lot of work
becoming a devotee, it's not as if someone can be tricked.
"Oh! I thought I was joining the Peace Corps!" Through my
work with the Religious Freedom Project, I have come into
contact with many representatives of the various CAN target
groups, and I saw absolutely nothing "destructive" in their
nature. They weren't mindless, they were simply practicing
their sincerely held religious beliefs, and you or I or CAN or
anyone else has ZERO rights to take those beliefs away. If the
religious group they believe in is bogus, well, that's too bad.
We are all entitled to our own mistakes in life. If we feel we
have the right to "correct" a persons philosophy, where do we
draw the line? That kind of sentiment is dangerous and has
many lessons historically.
> (4) Did that anti-cult BBS you mentioned in area code 815
> ever get off the ground? Or was that an idea you had going
> while you were still in your anti-cult phase? If the BBS you
> mentioned in your _first_ message to me on the Hare Krishna BBS
> is up and running, please give me its phone number, even if
> you disagree with its present philosophy.
While I was with the Cult Awareness folks, we did indeed
establish a BBS, called ICIX BBS. We set up a Spitfire Board,
and began a full scale program of getting files on-line about
every "cult" imaginable, including JPUSA, Willow Creek
Community, Vinyard Christian Fellowship, Jews for Jesus, and
other Christian groups (as well as the standard "BIG-5",
Scientology, Hare Krishna Movement, Unification Church, The Way
International, and Church Universal & Triumphant). I can give
you the number, but warn you of two things: 1) Mary Krone, the
SysOP, lists you as one of the so-called "cult-dogs",
particularly dangerous because you educate people about cults.
>--------------------CONTINUED----------------------->
--- RBBSMail 17.3A
* Origin: Hare Krishna Electronic BBS Chicago 312/743-7729 (RBBS 1:115/800.0)
Msg #: 28 FNET Conference
From: JANARDANA DASA Sent: 07-22-90 01:51
To: ERIC PEMENT Rcvd: 08-25-90 23:13
Re: REPLY
<--------------------PART 3--------------------------<
You have been described as a very serious threat to Cult
Awareness. 2) The ICIX BBS has 9 public conferences and file
sections, and 9 PRIVATE/HIDDEN ones. Guess where you'd find
the cult-related files? In the Hidden ones. I have no access,
even though I set up the whole system and was SysOp. Access is
given only to those who tote the party-line. They do have a
few bulletins on Cults, but they are fearful of law suits if
they make all the files public. Logging on as Eric Pement will
infuriate her. (Apparently you spoke at her Church once years
back, and she has a special place in hell reserved for you
Return to The Skeptic Tank's main Index page.
The views and opinions stated within this web page are those of the
author or authors which wrote them and may not reflect the views and
opinions of the ISP or account user which hosts the web page. The
opinions may or may not be those of the Chairman of The Skeptic Tank.