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Revision as of 21:07, 7 January 2007

Jan Groenveld
Occupation(s)Founder,
Cult Awareness and Information Centre
SpouseSimon
Children5

Jan Groenveld (1945 - October 22, 2002) was a former member of the Mormon Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses[1]. She spent a total of fifteen years in these organizations before leaving them in 1975[1][2]. After her negative experiences in these organizations, she resolved to make more information about cults available to the general public.

Her personal experiences involving these groups were featured in Richard Guilliatt's book, Talk of the Devil[3][4].

Groenveld coined the often quoted phrase:

The most dangerous lie is that which most closely resembles the truth.

— Jan Groenveld - See also Wikiquote: Cult[5]

Education

Helped affected individuals

Groenveld first began providing information about cults to the public and helping affected individuals in 1979[1]. In 1980, she founded the Freedom In Christ ministry whose purpose was to counsel former members of controversial groups, and provide information about coercive religious sects[2].

Jan founded the Cult Awareness and Information Centre (CAIC), in 1990[1][2]. Groenveld first met Steven Hassan in 1993, when she brought him to Brisbane, Australia from the United States for a seminar. Hassan educated Groenveld as to the serious potential for doubt and lack of veracity in satanic ritual abuse stories[2].

Groenveld's name eventually became well-known as an educator and campaigner against cults and controversial religious sects. Groenveld's Cult Awareness and Information Centre was listed with her name as a resource in Marlene Winell's book, Leaving the Fold[6]. "Jan Groenveld" is a prohibited term on the Church of Scientology's internet filters, software it gives its members to filter out critical information on the internet[7]. See Scientology versus the Internet.

Cited as "cult expert"

In 1999 an Australian publication interviewed Groenveld on the likelihood that more destructive cults would show up in their country. The publication titled Groenveld a "cult specialist"[8], and two other Australian publications titled her a "cult expert"[9][10]. She warned the publication about a cult called the Twelve Tribes Mission, believing them to possess militant tendencies. She warned: "There are people out there all over the place who would like to be another Jim Jones", referring to the Peoples Temple cult suicide[8].

Groenveld's definition of a cult was cited as "any group which has a pyramid type authoritarian leadership structure with all teaching and guidance coming from the person at the top. The group will claim to be the only way to God...and will use thought reform or mind control techniques to gain control and keep their members."[11]

Death

Jan passed away in October 2002, and was survived by her husband Simon and five sons[12].

Publications

Articles

Presentations

References

  1. ^ a b c d About Jan, Cult Awareness and Information Centre, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d "My Story in: Talk of the Devil", Jan Groenveld, excerpted portion of Talk of the Devil (with permission), 1996.
  3. ^ Talk of the Devil: Repressed Memory & the Ritual Abuse Witch-Hunt, Richard Guilliatt, The Text Publishing Company, 1996 [1]
  4. ^ Book Review, Talk of the Devil, September 3, 1995. News Review Page A14, New Zealand Herald
  5. ^ Parable of the New Soap, Jan Groenveld, Computers For Christ, Chicago, Illinois
  6. ^ Leaving the Fold, Marlene Winell, December 1983, New Harbinger Publications.
  7. ^ The Scientology Net Censor, List of censored terms, retrieved 1/6/2006.
  8. ^ a b Doom Cults Aussie Alert, Sunday Mail Brisbane, Australia, January 10, 1999
    However, Queensland cult specialist Jan Groenveld said the doomsday merchants were more likely to come to Australia. "If it's a biblical cult, they may go to Israel, but eastern, Nostradamus-based and UFO-based cults believe the southern hemisphere, in particular Australia, may suffer less or later damage as the end approaches."
  9. ^ Twelve Tribes Café in Australia, Chris Griffith, Amanda Watt, Courier Mail, Australia, December 26, 2001.
    Brisbane cult expert Jan Groenveld said that the group's commercial operations may look benign, but that the public should be wary if approached by cult members with invitations to visit their community. [2]
  10. ^ "Cult Alert", The Mercury, (Australia), November 2, 2000, By Harriet Binet
    A Brisbane cult expert Jan Groenveld has worked with the families of members involved with Infinity. She described it as a cult which used subtle mind control to manipulate people for financial gain. "They cut off their family if there is any opposition," Mrs Groenveld said. "People become separated from families and become totally absorbed. "They really get hooked on the leader. No one that's in a cult knows that it's a cult. "It's not until you start to see that things are wrong that you can see what you're in." Mrs Groenveld, who has counselled victims and families of cults for more than 20 years, said isolating people from their family and urging them to "stay away from unbelief" was a common tactic.
  11. ^ "Keith Butler: Minister, Senatorial Candidate, Fanatic", JM Kern, T Foundation, [3]
  12. ^ In Memory of Jan Groenveld, Free Minds, Inc.

See also

Official sites
Groenveld in Press/Media
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