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Cult Information Centre

Founded	1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Founder	Ian Haworth
Type	Charitable organisation
Focus	Cult education
Location	London, England
Website	www.cultinformation.org.uk

The Cult Information Centre (CIC) is a British anti-cult organisation. The organisation also serves as a resource for information on controversial religious groups, therapy cults, and political cults.

History

The Cult Information Centre was founded in 1987 by Ian Haworth, who had previously been involved with the Council on Mind Abuse, and gained charitable status in the United Kingdom in 1992.

Reception and criticism

John Campbell of the evangelical Christian group, the Jesus Army, called the Cult Information Centre "unethical" and its views "absolute nonsense".

William Shaw contacted the Cult Information Centre in his 1993 investigation of cults, and was explicitly critical of its methods and the reliability of its research throughout his book. His opinion was that individuals had joined cults out of "their own hunger to believe" and is dismissive of "absurd scare stories".

A complaint was made in 2010 to the Charity Commission challenging the organisation's charitable status. The single complainant was never identified publicly. The complaint was not upheld and the organisation remains listed and regulated by the Charity Commission.

References

1. Partridge, Christopher, ed. (2004). Encyclopedia of New Religions: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities. Lion Hudson Plc. pp. 76. ISBN 0-7459-5073-6.
2. Lane, Megan (2000-07-26). "Cults: Playing for keeps". BBC News. BBC.
3. ^ Shipman, Martin (2004-04-13). "Tourist board defends pounds 11,000 cash grant to 'cult' group". Western Mail. 2004 MGN Ltd.
4. Shipton, Martin (2004-04-02). "Storm over pounds 180,000 grant to Welsh 'cult'". Western Mail. 2004 MGN Ltd.
5. Staff (2001-07-22). "'Self help' cults target professionals". The Independent. Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
6. Hampshire, Mary (2000-11-28). "I was raped.. then lured into misery by church fanatics". The Mirror. 2000 MGN LTD.
7. Kirby, Terry (March 27, 2004). "Grieving parents warn of dangers of 'political cults'". The Independent. Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
8. Kon, Andrea (2005-07-25). "In the Hot Seat: Just the Job". The Evening Standard. Solo Syndication Limited.
9. Chryssides, George. 1999. Exploring New Religions. London, GBR: Continuum International Publishing.
10. Gurr, Nadine; Benjamin Cole (2002). The New Face of Terrorism: Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction. I.B.Tauris. pp. 134, 158, 182, 193, 308. ISBN 1-86064-825-8.
11. Arweck, Elizabeth (2006). Researching New Religious Movements. Routledge. pp. 69, 132, 194, 442, 443. ISBN 0-415-27754-X.
12. Bacon, Hanna (1999-07-16). "Sixth formers on cult alert". BBC News. BBC.
13. Medway, Gareth J. (2001). Lure of the Sinister: the unnatural history of Satanism. NYU Press. p. 277. ISBN 0-8147-5645-X.
14. Doward, Jamie (4 March 2012). "Cults watchdog faces danger of being shut down". The Observer. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
15. Doward, Jamie (30 June 2016). "Data for financial year ending 30 June 2016". The Observer. Retrieved 2017-09-21.

• Organizations established in 1987
• Religious charities based in the United Kingdom
• Anti-cult organizations