Jump to content

INFORM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jayen466 (talk | contribs) at 18:32, 19 December 2009 (create). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
INFORM (Information Network Focus on Religious Movements)
Formation1988
TypeProviding accurate, balanced, up-to-date information about new and/or alternative religious or spiritual movements
HeadquartersLondon School of Economics, United Kingdom
Chairman
Eileen Barker
Website[1]

INFORM (Information Network Focus on Religious Movements) is an independent charity located at the London School of Economics. It was founded in 1988 by the sociologist of religion, Eileen Barker, with funding from the British Home Office and the support of Britain’s mainstream churches.[1] Its aim is to provide neutral, objective and up-to-date information on new religious movements (NRMs) to government officials, scholars, the media, and members of the general public, in particular relatives of people who have joined a new religious movement.[2][3]

History

The foundation of INFORM was motivated by a shared impression among clergy and academics that groups hostile to cults often aimed to feed enquirers' fears rather than alleviating them, and that many of the so-called "cult experts" lacked credentials.[4] The British Home Office had received many complaints related to NRMs from concerned parents, but did not feel that any of the existing counter-cult and anti-cult groups deserved state funding.[4] To address this situation, Eileen Barker, a leading sociologist of religion based at the London School of Economics and Political Science, established INFORM in 1988, with the support of both the Home Office and the Archbishop of Canterbury.[4]

Activities

INFORM, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science, collects information on new religious movements and makes these data available to all interested parties – government officials, researchers and the media as well as relatives of people who have joined a new religious movement.[4][2] Seeking to dispel the often inaccurate and distorted information disseminated about new religious movements in the media, INFORM aims to provide reliable information, based on in-depth research, about the character, policy and origins of new religious movements, as well as information about what motivates converts, and how movement membership tends to affect members' subsequent lives and careers.[2]

INFORM does not itself perform counselling, but refers enquirers to a nationwide network of qualified experts.[1] In some instances, INFORM has arranged meetings between families and founders or officials of new religious movements.[2]

Reception

In a book of essays in tribute of Eileen Barker, Bryan R. Wilson said that INFORM has often managed to resolve or defuse the deeply emotional conflicts surrounding membership in a new religious movement.[2]

INFORM has been criticised by other anti-cult organisations, in particular the Family Action Information Resource run by former Conservative Home Office minister and anti-cult campaigner Tom Sackville, who cut INFORM's Home Office funding in 1997.[5] In 1999, it was reported that INFORM was facing closure, due to lack of funds.[6]

By 2000, Home Office funding was restored, prompting Sackville to warn that INFORM might provide government with bad advice, adding, "I cancelled Inform's grant and I think it's absurd that it's been brought back."[5] Criticism of INFORM has focused on Barker's reluctance to condemn all new religions as "cults".[5] Barker responded to the criticism by saying, "We are not cult apologists. People make a lot of noise without doing serious research – so much so that they can end up sounding as closed to reason as the cults they're attacking. Besides, I imagine Fair was disappointed not to get our funding."[5]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Beckford & Richardson 2003, p. 5
  2. ^ a b c d e Wilson 2003, p. 20
  3. ^ ICSA 2009
  4. ^ a b c d Chryssides 1999, p. 351
  5. ^ a b c d Telegraph staff 2000
  6. ^ Thomson 1999

References

  • Beckford, James A.; Richardson, James T. (2003), "Introduction", in Beckford, James A.; Richardson, James T. (ed.), Challenging religion: essays in honour of Eileen Barker, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN 9780415309486{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  • Chryssides, George D. (1999), Exploring New Religions, Continuum International Publishing Group, ISBN 9780826459596
  • ICSA (2009), Profiles: Eileen Barker, Ph.D., OBE, FBA, retrieved 19 December 2009
  • Telegraph staff (2000-07-31), "Cult advisers in clash over clampdown", The Daily Telegraph, retrieved 19 December 2009{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Thomson, Alan (1999-02-12), "Cult-watch centre faces closure", Times Higher Education, retrieved 19 December 2009{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Beckford, James A.; Richardson, James T., ed. (2003), "Absolutes and relatives: problems for NRMs", [last=Wilson Challenging religion: essays in honour of Eileen Barker], Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN 9780415309486 {{citation}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check |url= value (help); Missing pipe in: |url= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=INFORM&oldid=332709895"