Cult Information Centre

Cult Information Centre
Founded1987 (1987)
FounderIan Haworth
TypeCharitable organisation
FocusCult education
Location
Websitewww.cultinformation.org.uk

The Cult Information Centre (CIC) is a British anti-cult organisation.[1][2] The organisation also serves as a resource for information on controversial religious groups,[3][4] therapy cults,[3][5][6] and political cults.[7]

History

The Cult Information Centre was founded in 1987 by Ian Haworth,[8][9][10] who had previously been involved with the Council on Mind Abuse, and gained charitable status in the United Kingdom in 1992.[11]

Reception and criticism

William Shaw contacted the Cult Information Centre in his 1993 investigation of cults, and was explicitly critical of its methods and the reliability of its research throughout his book. His opinion was that individuals had joined cults out of "their own hunger to believe" and is dismissive of "absurd scare stories".[12]

In 1999, the BBC reported that the Cult Information Centre was giving talks to sixth-formers. A spokesman for the Jesus Army, one of the groups criticised in the talks, called the Cult Information Centre "unethical" and its views "absolute nonsense".[13] However, the Jesus Army eventually closed after a series of scandals, and was described as "one of the UK's most abusive cults".[14]

A complaint was made in 2010 to the Charity Commission challenging the organisation's charitable status. The single complainant was never identified publicly.[15] The complaint was not upheld and the organisation remains listed and regulated by the Charity Commission.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Partridge, Christopher, ed. (2004). Encyclopedia of New Religions: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities. Lion Hudson Plc. pp. 76. ISBN 0-7459-5073-6.
  2. ↑ Lane, Megan (26 July 2000). "Cults: Playing for keeps". BBC News. BBC.
  3. 1 2 Shipman, Martin (13 April 2004). "Tourist board defends pounds 11,000 cash grant to 'cult' group". Western Mail. 2004 MGN Ltd.
  4. ↑ Shipton, Martin (2 April 2004). "Storm over pounds 180,000 grant to Welsh 'cult'". Western Mail. 2004 MGN Ltd.
  5. ↑ Staff (22 July 2001). "'Self help' cults target professionals". The Independent. Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
  6. ↑ Hampshire, Mary (28 November 2000). "I was raped.. then lured into misery by church fanatics". The Mirror. 2000 MGN LTD.
  7. ↑ Kirby, Terry (27 March 2004). "Grieving parents warn of dangers of 'political cults'". The Independent. Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
  8. ↑ Kon, Andrea (25 July 2005). "In the Hot Seat: Just the Job". The Evening Standard. Solo Syndication Limited.
  9. ↑ Chryssides, George. 1999. Exploring New Religions. London, GBR: Continuum International Publishing.
  10. ↑ Gurr, Nadine; Benjamin Cole (2002). The New Face of Terrorism: Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction. I.B.Tauris. pp. 134, 158, 182, 193, 308. ISBN 1-86064-825-8.
  11. ↑ Arweck, Elizabeth (2006). Researching New Religious Movements. Routledge. pp. 69, 132, 194, 442, 443. ISBN 0-415-27754-X.
  12. ↑ Medway, Gareth J. (2001). Lure of the Sinister: the unnatural history of Satanism. NYU Press. p. 277. ISBN 0-8147-5645-X.
  13. ↑ Bacon, Hanna (16 July 1999). "Sixth formers on cult alert". BBC News. BBC.
  14. ↑ "Jesus Army: Investigating one of the UK's most abusive cults". BBC News. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  15. ↑ Doward, Jamie (4 March 2012). "Cults watchdog faces danger of being shut down". The Observer. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  16. ↑ Doward, Jamie (30 June 2016). "Data for financial year ending 30 June 2016". The Observer. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
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