cult-consulting-australia

Press Release (16 July 2024)

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 07:01:42 GMT

“The federal government should consider, as a matter of urgency, setting up an authority to oversee and monitor religious groups which claim to offer healing and, in some circumstances, deny their followers access to registered health providers,” according to Raphael Aron, Director of Cult Consulting Australia.

Mr Aron referred to the case in Toowoomba, currently before the courts, involving charges of murder and manslaughter relating to the death of a young girl after she was denied medical treatment for her diabetes by members of a religious group who claimed that God would heal her. “This behaviour reflects an attitude which is not uncommon in other organizations presenting as legitimate religious churches” Mr Aron said

A combined investigation by Channel 9’s 60 Minutes and The Age Newspaper last year revealed a connection between the religious belief of a Christian fundamentalist church and the death of four Victorian police officers on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne in April 2020. It was alleged that the driver who suffered mental health issues and was high on ice, was given the go ahead by a member of the religious group, an employee of the trucking company, to drive the truck that was responsible for this tragedy after he had been cleared of a “witch’s curse.”

In relation to another organization offering radically alternative health options, in an article quoted in The Sydney morning Herald in July 2012, John Dwyer, the former head of medicine at University of NSW, described one of their practices as ''utter nonsense''. ''GPs might be sending a person off in good faith to get a legitimate therapy but what this person is getting is nonsense,'' he said.

At the time, The Australian Medical Association reportedly said the federal government's pledge to reduce public money going to unproven alternative treatments needed greater focus.

“The fact that some of these organizations enjoy charity status is also a concern. This status also assists these organizations to claim an air or legitimacy around their practices.” Mr Aron said

“Tragically, as we have seen, these organizations may be putting lives at risk. And when treatment is eventually sought, it may be too late. The government needs to act before another tragedy occurs.”

Spirituality and Intimacy

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:17:26 GMT

Spirituality and Intimacy (Devora 2008)

In today’s world we have become susceptible and subject to an unprecendented assault on traditional standrards of Jewish ethics and morality. Our response, accordingly, needs to be innovative and readily accesible if we are to correctly and effectively guide and teach our young people growing up under the inevitable influences of such an amoral society.

— Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick,

Rabbi of Elwood Talmud Torah Congregation; President of the Organization of Rabbis of Australia

Diaries of Addiction

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:15:36 GMT

Diaries of Addiction (American Publishing Company 2011)

This book will take you into the intimate lives of two young people on the fringes, hoping to make their way back to their homes and themselves. If you are an educator, parent, addict or someone who knows an addict, or if you just need a little inspiration, this book will take you beneath the surface of addiction and show you the reasons why you should never give up.

— Millennial Mind Publishing

Believe: From Addiction to Redemption

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:11:26 GMT

Believe: From Addiction to Redemption (Fontaine 2009)

I had the privilege of reading “Believe.” As Chairman of Odyssey House I would like to congratulate Raphael Aron for his personal and enlightening account of the addiction issue which will enable the reader to gain a profound understanding of the problems faced by addicts in their struggle to regain control of their lives.

— Mr John Winneke AC, RFD, QC,

Chairman Odyssey House, Victoria Retired Judge and former President, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria

Cults, Terror and Mind Control

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:03:05 GMT

Cults: Too Good To Be True (Harper Collins 1999)

“Raphael Aron challenges our ideas about our about the role of mind control and the part that it plays in cults and terrorist groups – and provides an interesting new take on how terrorism might be countered.”

— Professor Clive Williams MG,

Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism,

Macquarie University, Australia.

Cults: Too Good to be True

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:57:11 GMT

Cults: Too Good To Be True (Harper Collins 1999)

“Cults: Too Good to be True” is an enlightening combination of personal experience and in-depth knowledge of the cult phenomena. It will be a great asset in providing understanding for families, the community and the helping professions.

— Rt Hon Zelman Cowen,

former Governor General of Australia