NCJ Number
56244
Journal
Revue internationale de criminologie et de police technique Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 275-284
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FRENCH ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE 'PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLATION' AS A MEANS OF DEALING WITH BRAINWASHING BY DANGEROUS CULTIST ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MOON'S UNIVERSAL CHRISTIAN UNIFICATION CHURCH ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOUTH KOREAN, MOON, AND HIS CHURCH, AS WELL AS QUOTATIONS FROM HIS BOOK INTERPRETING THE BIBLE, INDICATE THAT HE VIEWS HIMSELF AS A NEW MESSIAH CHOSEN BY GOD TO START A PERFECT RACE AS A NEW ADAM UNTOUCHED BY SIN AND TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS TO PROTECT SOUTH KOREA FROM AGGRESSION. THE MOON ORGANIZATION, REGISTERED IN FRANCE AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS BRANCHED OUT INTO A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF NONRELIGIOUS BUSINESS ACTIVITIES ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AMASSING AN EXTENSIVE FORTUNE. AT LEAST TWO COMPANIES OWNED BY MOON WERE INVOLVED IN A FRAUD SCANDAL IN 1977. THE OSTENSIBLE GOAL OF THE CHURCH IS TO UNITE MANKIND, BUT THE METHODS USED FOR CONVERTING YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVE A SOPHISTICATED PROCEDURE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONING LASTING 40 DAYS; INITIATES ARE SUBJECTED TO ECSTATIC RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND INTENSIVE WORK WITH LITTLE SLEEP UNTIL THEY RESPOND LIKE AUTOMATONS. PARENTS OF YOUNG RECRUITS HAVE ALMOST NO LEGAL RECOURSE, BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE THAT THE YOUNGSTERS, WHOSE PERSONALITIES HAVE BEEN ALTERED, ARE BEING HELD AGAINST THEIR WILLS. TELEVISION PROGRAMS HAVE EXPOSED THE HIGHLY SUSPECT NATURE OF THE SECT'S BUSINESS DEALINGS. FOR THESE REASONS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN FRANCE TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF 'PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLATION,' DEFINED AS PRODUCTION OF PATHOLOGICAL ASTHENIA BY VIOLENCE, MANIPULATION, OR DECEPTION, COMBINED WITH SOPHROLOGY TO INDOCTRINATE A PERSON IN A PARTICULAR IDEOLOGY. THE COMBINATION OF LOSS OF CRITICAL POWERS (ASTHENIA) WITH RELAXATION TECHNIQUES PERMITTING UNCONSCIOUS MEMORIZATION (SOPHROLOGY) BRINGS ABOUT CONVERSION. BOTH ELEMENTS MUST BE PRESENT, A RESTRICTION INTENDED TO PREVENT ABUSE OF THE NEW LAW. UNDER THE LAW, VICTIMS OR PARENTS COULD SUE FOR DAMAGES SUSTAINED DURING THE VICTIMS' STAY WITH THE ORGANIZATION IN QUESTION. ONE NOTE IS PROVIDED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)