J. Gordon Melton

John Gordon Melton (born 19 September 1942) is an American prolific and prominent religious scholar.

Quotes

 * After a decade of activity, the anti-cult movement had one significant accomplishment to its credit. It had succeeded in creating a pervasive negative image of the new religions and spreading a popular public prejudice against several groups which had become well known as "cults." However, it proved incapable of implementing any of its major program goals, which sought to severely regulate, inhibit the growth of, and eventually eliminate the cults altogether.
 * Encyclopedic handbook of cults in America. 1992, Garland Pub. p. 355.


 * Ex-members, even those with righteous complaints, tend to reconstruct their experiences — ambiguous situations at worst — into totally negative encounters. They tend to demonize the leaders and turn the members into zombielike followers. Harmless comments are recast into sinister threats, group jargon into conspirational fantasies.
 * Finding Enlightenment: Ramtha's School of Ancient Wisdom. 1998, ISBN 1-885223-61-7, Beyond Words Publishing, p. 164.