Christian Research Newsletter
by Ron Rhodes
Volume 3: Number 1, 1990
Alamo Sues Jewish Federation Council
The December 21, 1989 Los Angeles Times reports that “an ongoing dispute between the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles and followers of fugitive preacher and clothing designer Tony Alamo moved to the courts this week, as the Alamo faithful filed suit against the federation, which has launched a successful campaign to stop the sale of Alamo jackets.”
The sequined, airbrushed jackets have been good sellers in Southern California boutiques. But sales have dropped off drastically ever since the Jewish Federation’s Commission on Cults and Missionaries began urging retailers to stop selling the product, “charging that money from jacket sales finances cult activities.”
Federation officials said they have been trying to educate retailers about the criminal charges facing Tony Alamo, who — along with three others — was charged with felony child abuse after the alleged beating (to the point of bloodshed) of an 11-year-old boy. Alamo and his cohorts have evaded arrest since October, 1988.
Alamo Designs has responded to the Jewish Federation’s efforts with a lawsuit, seeking $250 million in damages for libel and slander.
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In: 1990-1999
Los Angeles Times
June 25, 1990
The Mattel Toy company has sued religious cult leader Tony Alamo and
two of his companies for having damaged the image of Mattel and
Barbie by marketing an unapproved T-shirt with a “religious symbol.”
Alamo has called Pope John Paul II a “Nazi war criminal,” and has
been evading arrest for felony child abuse. Alamo Designs obtained
two licenses in 1989 to make and sell denim jackets with Barbie
images.
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In: 1990-1999
by Ken Blue
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Are you a victim of Spiritual Abuse?
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In: Books
by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen
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In a breakthrough book first published in 1991, the authors address the dynamics in churches that can ensnare people in legalism, guilt, and begrudging service, keeping them from the grace and joy of God’s kingdom.Written for both those who feel abused and those who may be causing it, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse shows how people get hooked into abusive systems, the impact of controlling leadership on a congregation, and how the abused believer can find rest and recovery.
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In: Books
by Janja Lalich
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Lalich and co-author Madeleine Tobias, a Vermont psychotherapist, make clear that modern day cults have not disappeared. “If there is less street recruiting today, it is because many cults now use professional associations, campus organizations, self-help seminars, and the Internet as recruitment tools” to entice the unwary.
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In: Books
by Mary Alice Chrnalogar
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Dangerous leaders – some even in mainstream chruches – are twisting the scriptures to coerce their members into subordination. In the process, once-promising lives can become mired in a distorted religious reality that supresses human freedom and destroys lives.
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In: Books
Click here to go to Moving On: Getting Support and Speaking Out
Although, MovingOn.org was created for people born and/or raised in the religious group known as The Children of God or The Family, there are many similarities to the people born and/or raised in the Alamo Foundation. While the majority of participants are people who have left (hence the name Moving On,) second or third generation young people who still live in Family communes are welcome to participate on there as well.
The purpose of their web site is to provide a forum for open and frank discussion on the unique experience of being raised in The Family, on life after the group and how they have adjusted (or not). This site benefits all people who have been born and/or raised in any similar totalistic group, such as the Alamo Foundation.
In: Counseling & Support
December 2006
Hal Mansfield, M.A.
Director, Rocky Mountain Resource Center on Violent, Destructive, and Hate Groups
“In this article, I want to explore the nature of critical thinking in the role of recovery for ex-members of destructive groups. Former members face many difficult changes in the recovery process including anger, intimacy, and how to just get along in life, to mention just a few. I want to focus on critical thinking for the purpose of clarifying the role it plays in recovery and try to clear up misunderstandings of what we mean by critical thinking.
To start, let’s look at what critical thinking is. There are many popular ideas about it. I have heard everything from defining critical thinking as a measuring stick to reality, and to a more base definition as a crap detector. Both of those have some validity, but I prefer to use the definition from the Dictionary of Psychology by Arthur Reber. The dictionary defines critical thinking as a cognitive strategy consisting largely of continual checking and testing of possible solutions to guide ones work. Another way to look at it is to test existing ideas and solutions for flaws and errors. Looking at this definition, destructive groups block critical thinking.
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In: Articles & Literature of Interest
by Ron Burks and Vicki Burks
Click here to purchase it from Watchman Fellowship
Book Description
Damaged Disciples is the account of Ron and Vicki Burks’ search for a meaningful faith. Unfortunately, the nontraditional church they found trapped them in a branch of the charismatic movement that taught them to be subject to their spiritual “masters” in every area of life. Vicki was taught to submit herself to her husband where she was to be sustained by his spiritual life which, in essence, allowed none for her. This is also the chronicle of the beginning of their journey back to faith and wholeness.
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In: Books
by Steve Hassan
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An excellent examination of the cult phenomena. Described as “The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults,” Hassan’s book explains what elements are common to cults, and what defines a cult.
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In: Books
by Ronald Enroth, Edward C. Ericson, and C. Breckinbridgc Peters, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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This trio of authors from Westmont College attempts a thorough and objective analysis of the state of the Jesus Movement as of the fall of 1971. They begin with a review of other attempts to cover the same or similar ground and indicate the shortcomings of each, which they have consciously attempted to overcome. They pinpoint the origins of the modern Jesus Movement in the beginnings of several ministries in 1967 and 1968, one of the first of which was the conversion of dope-addict Ted Wise in 1966 in Sausalito, California; Wise is now in charge of a drug prevention center in Menlo Park, California, The most striking fact about the Jesus People is this: whereas theologically they are fundamentalists, sociologically they are anything but.
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In: Books
Click on pictures to enlarge
Jackie G – On her wedding day.
History: Jackie was just 12 years old when Tony Alamo dictated her marriage to a man almost 30 years old. Twelve year old Jackie G. (daughter of Jack and Shelly Garner) was married off to Dale Shono, a 29 year old man, in early 2003.
They were married at the Alamo Gloryland Church in Ft Smith, AR and Don S, performed the ceremony.
Pictured from left to right: Sophie T. (who also married at 12), Micaiah S., Joy Way, Jackie G. (bride), Shelly Borek-Garner, Melissa Borek-Knetter (sister of the bride) w/Grace Knetter, Lynnette Perez-Falasz
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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In: The Children
by Ronald Enroth, Ph.D.
It is common practice for church goers in American society to refer to their own congregation as their “church family.” Students away at college make reference to their “home church.” Church people sing hymns about being part of “the family of God.” Parents often employ family imagery to convey spiritual content to their children.
As behavioral scientists remind us all too often, that most basic of social institutions—the family—is increasingly subject to frailty and failure. The label that is currently popular for unhealthy families is “dysfunctional.” Unfortunately, sociologists of religion (as well as many ex-members) know that some churches are also dysfunctional, even to the point of being spiritually abusive. If truth in advertising standards could be applied to religion, some churches would be required to display a sign reading: “Warning: this church could be harmful to your spiritual and psychological health.”
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In: Articles & Literature of Interest
by A Wellspring Alum
With the Heaven’s Gate tragedy still so fresh in all of our minds certain questions seem to come up: What kind of person joins a cult? Why do they stay and put up with the abuse? How could anyone be so devoted that they would kill themselves? Can’t they see that what they are doing is crazy? Are they crazy?
I feel that I am in a unique position to address these questions as I spent 10 years with a communal cult. Yet, now being out for 11 years, I also can look at the horrors that happened at Rancho Sante Fe and ask, along with the rest of a stunned nation, “Why did they die like this?”
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In: Articles & Literature of Interest
The following was posted on the Factnet discussion board. Click here to read more former member’s accounts of living in the group.
I was a member from 1970-1986 and am sorry to say I was involved at all. I met Tony and Susan when I was 21 years old being just a kid and feel for there doctrine, and was completely indoctrinated into their beliefs. Later to find out that they were nothing but a couple of con artists. They ran there place with a strict hand beating the children or having them beaten for the slightest provocation. I am told they, after I left, had the adults spanked and beaten as well. The people that lived at the foundation were kept impoverished. The members were at the time, full time workers, either on outside of the foundation jobs like tree crews or they worked for the foundation at one of the many businesses. All there earnings was confiscated by the church and everyone was given $5.00 for the week. Anybody that didn’t blindly follow them were kicked out penniless and without their families. Tony did this to keep people in line. Tony solely ran the church and all its business totally by himself and nobody had any power to make decisions at all. If anything need to be done or money needed to be spent it was put on an “ask Tony list”, which of course also gave him the power to deny people clothes , food, toilet tissue water or anything else that are necessities of life. This man wouldn’t know God if God was standing in front of him….
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In: Eye Witness & First Hand Accounts of Abuse
The following posts are all from former members of the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation. They were posted on the Factnet discussion board IN 2005 AND 2006.
Click here to read more former member’s accounts of living in the group.
TONY ALAMO IS A LIAR
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In: Eye Witness & First Hand Accounts of Abuse
For years after we left the Alamo Foundation, in 1989, I was a big Tony Alamo supporter and defender. I wanted nothing more than to go back to the Alamo Foundation. We drove from Fresno to LA every other weekend to attend services. That was about a 4-5 hour drive 1 way. We tithed 10% or more of our pay, I spent countless hours listening to Tony’s tapes, passing out tracts, praying for Tony and the foundation. Spent hours on the phone with Tony, Yes, he would call and we would talk about what he was doing and the court cases. He told MerryAnn and Lenore to call and fellowship with me. Why Tony even had my friend Tommy S call me to see if we needed anything.
While living outside of the foundation I testified at court cases, supporting and defending Tony Alamo.
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In: Victim's Testimonies
The following was posted on the Factnet discussion board. Click here to read more former member’s accounts of living in the group.
I remember this one time we were at one of the many warehouses owned by the Alamo Foundation. A few kids were there packaging candy for Bruce G. Tony Alamo called and asked for Lizzie G. Man was that a Kodak moment – her countenance fell 3 stories. She got on the phone and you could tell Tony wanted her to be his wife. I heard Lizzie say I’ll ask God for a sign. I heard Tony Alamo yell on the other line
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In: Tony's Wives
The following was posted on the Factnet discussion board. Click here to read more former member’s accounts of living in the group.
I was a member for 14yrs at the Alamo Church. My then husband was kicked out for something very trivial. We were at an out post in a ruff section in Chicago. It was the coldest recorded winter in 100 yrs. A message was delivered by one of the Alamo Foundation members (we were never able to talk to the pastor). We were told that Tony Alamo said, “she can stay but he has to go” There was no regard for the sanctity of marriage. I choose to leave with my husband. We were not offered a dollar for a cup of coffee or a way out of the city. We were flat broke and had it not been for my family, who knows what we would have done. It didn’t matter that we had spent14yrs in the church and had given 100% of all the money we made towards the Alamo Foundation. The whole experience was very traumatic and still effects my feelings toward organized religions. Do I believe in God? Yes! I’m doing well, I own a hotel and 4 beautiful horses.
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In: Victim's Testimonies
Click here to view this article from the Texarkana Gazette.
Texarkana Gazette
January 30, 2000
Alamo Church has controversial background
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In: 2000-2007
