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Pseudoscience versus Minority Religions

An Evaluation of the Brainwashing Theories of Jean-Marie Abgrall

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Regulating Religion

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Social Justice ((CISJ))

Abstract

This chapter evaluates the scientific status of the cultic brainwashing perspective of the French psychiatrist Jean-Marie Abgrall, who appears to be playing a similar role in anti-cult crusading in Europe to that which was earlier played in the United States by American psychologist Margaret Singer (Singer, with Lalich, 1995). Abgrall has emerged as a key “cult expert”1 because he was the first psychiatrist in France willing to embrace brainwashing theories. Abgrall has been involved in dozens of legal cases and has become the foremost expert on sects and cults in France and even Europe.

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Anthony, D., Robbins, T. (2004). Pseudoscience versus Minority Religions. In: Richardson, J.T. (eds) Regulating Religion. Critical Issues in Social Justice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9094-5_9

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