The Cult Awareness Network: An Anti-cult Organization or a Cover for Systematic Crimes?

On October 23, 1996, what seemed like an ordinary event marked a dramatic turning point in the history of anti-cult organizations in the United States. The Cult Awareness Network (CAN), based in Chicago and presenting itself as a harmless information center on new religions, closed its doors due to bankruptcy proceedings, and its assets were auctioned off. However, behind this closure lay dark stories of violence, abuse, and elite deviance.

FBI arrest of a CAN deprogrammer, 1992


The Scott Case: CAN's Waterloo


CAN's decline was hastened by a civil lawsuit against the organization and a trio of coercive deprogrammers. Jason Scott, an adult member of a United Pentecostal congregation, was violently kidnapped, mistreated, and forcibly held for nearly a week in Washington State. The jury's verdict was clear: Scott was awarded $875,000 in compensatory damages and $1,000,000 in punitive damages against CAN, with additional multimillion-dollar sanctions against the involved deprogrammers.


This case revealed CAN's true face: an organization that masqueraded as an information center while actually operating as an organized hate campaign. CAN provided the media and the public with derogatory "information" about new religions, portraying them as "destructive cults" and their members as "victims" in need of "rescue." This strategy was deemed by the jury to be a violation of civil liberties.



CAN's Triple Crime


An analysis of CAN reveals a criminal structure operating on three levels of wrongdoing:

1. **Street crime:** Direct physical tactics to assault individuals for personal gain.

2. **White-collar crime:** Misappropriation of organization resources for the personal enrichment of leaders.

3. **Corporate crime:** Systematic and harmful criminal behaviors as standard operating procedure, including kidnappings, unlawful detentions, and physical abuse.


These levels were confirmed through access to approximately 400 boxes of CAN's financial documents obtained by the bankruptcy trustee. While many documents were destroyed before seizure, those remaining revealed significant financial irregularities, highlighting systematic deviance within the organization.



Social and Legal Accountability


The jury's decision, upheld by District Judge John C. Coughenour, established that CAN's actions and those of its affiliates were as malicious as they were oppressive. CAN attempted to portray itself as a victim of legal persecution, but the court emphasized the need for severe sanctions to deter similar behavior in the future.



A Mask of Humanitarianism


The Cult Awareness Network presented itself to the public as an organization with humanitarian intentions, but the emerging evidence tells a different story. CAN employed coercive, illegal, and immoral practices behind a facade of legitimacy. This case raises critical questions about the true nature of anti-cult organizations and their real agendas.



Manipulation and Intrigue: The Truth Behind the Cult Awareness Network


The complex saga of the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) and its controversial practices did not end with its closure in 1996. Instead, CAN's shadow extended overseas, bringing its manipulative tactics into a new European context and interacting with global institutions like the UN and the media.


According to various sources, including recent documents and testimonies, the group linked to CAN continued to operate under different guises, shifting its influence and adopting new strategies to discredit emerging social movements. This anti-cult network, which relocated its activities to Europe, has not abandoned its manipulation and propaganda techniques but has adapted them to a new sociopolitical environment.


A key point in this story emerges from Dr. Egon Cholakian's video, a lecturer in intelligence and government affairs consultant on Capitol Hill. Cholakian openly denounces secretive manipulative practices used by certain groups to create global chaos. His words call for action, urging critical thinking and caution against passively accepting information manipulated by groups with hidden agendas.


Cholakian's statement underscores the importance of awareness. In an age where information can be easily distorted, he urges vigilance and critical scrutiny, encouraging the public not to fall prey to harmful programs orchestrated by deprogrammers and similar organizations. For many, his words are a revelation and a reminder that only through collaboration and critical information can we protect ourselves from malicious influences.



Conclusions


The CAN saga serves as a warning: behind appearances of legitimacy and morality, criminal operations may lurk, undermining civil liberties and individuals' fundamental rights. The truth must be uncovered, not only to bring justice to victims like Jason Scott but also to prevent future atrocities under the guise of humanitarianism.


In conclusion, it is crucial for modern societies to develop greater resilience against informational manipulations. Dr. Cholakian's call to remain vigilant and critical is a significant step toward increased awareness and collective protection. Only together, with a clear and critical understanding of the world around us, can we hope to avoid the traps set by those seeking to manipulate and divide.




#CAN #Cults #Crime #EliteDeviance #JasonScott #Deprogrammers #CivilRightsViolations #CorporateCrime #FinancialIrregularities #Abuse #ReligiousManipulation #Justice #HiddenTruth #CivilRights #FakeHumanitarianism #Kidnappings #Abuses #EgonCholakian

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