Cult and Ritual Abuse: Its History, Anthropology, and Recent Discovery in Contemporary America

The purpose of this book is to educate professionals and the public regarding the etiology of cult and ritual trauma disorder. There have been increasing numbers of reports of ritual abuse by individuals and cults that have been made to law enforcement agencies, courts of law, child protection services, mental health professionals, media, and clergy. This team of researchers bring an objective approach to a subject that has been either sensationalized or dismissed for lack of evidence. By combining patients' descriptions with careful reading of the literature on cult practices, the authors have provided a much needed resource for understanding and treating trauma associated with cult and ritual experiences.