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ISKCONInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness
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aka: Hare Krishna. A sect of Hinduism.
Overview
The information in this overview is quoted from Hinduism, TM & Hare Krishna, by J. Isamu Yamamoto. The book is part of the 16-volume Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements
The above information is quoted from Hinduism, TM & Hare Krishna, by J. Isamu Yamamoto. The book is part of the 16-volume Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements
- Footnotes -
Research Resources
Articles![]() ![]() Books![]()
This is a highly significant work for scholars and students of new religious movements. Not only was Muster a devoted member but she also worked for a decade in the hierarchy of the Western world headquarters in Los Angeles of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as a public relations secretary and editor of the organization's newspaper, the ISKCON World Review. Her book recounts her initial joy and excitement at being at the nexus of communications with the outside world, finding a fulfilling spiritual path as an undergraduate at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and also her growing disenchantment with the Hare Krishna movement as media tales spread of drug dealing, weapons stockpiling, deceptive fund-raising, child abuse, competition among American gurus, and murder. But it was over the movement's rigid patriarchal hierarchy and paternalistic treatment of women that Muster ultimately resigned. Her story proves an insight into the decline of a movement that has lost 95 percent of its original members.
[...more...] A reader's review posted at Amazon.com
Buyer Beware: Ironically, the book is endorsed by Dr. Arnold S. Weiss, director of the Los Angeles Institute for the Study of A Course in Miracles - a channeled, three-volume book that claims the world, sin and sickness are just illusions. According to a press release at Nori Muster's site, "Dr. Weiss critiqued early versions of Betrayal of the Spirit for the author and due to his influence, the book embodies the principles of A Course in Miracles such as forgiveness, faith and unconditional love." Readers ought to be aware of the anti-Biblical beliefs and practices promoted by A Course in Miracles.
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() » See also: Betrayal of the Spirit
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» Hare Krishna News Tracker at Religion News Blog: News about religious cults, sects, alternative religions and related issues.
News Archive
» Database of archived news items
(Includes items added between Oct. 25, 1999 and Jan. 31, 2002. See about this database) Items added after August, 2002: » Religion News Blog ![]() Older items, not in the searchable database (May 22, 1999) Hare Krishnas in Yugoslavia feel war's stress (May 17, 1999) Hare Krishnas denied charter school (Feb. 22, 1999) Hare Krishna airport solicitations curtailed (Feb. 21, 1999) Welcome to Lesmahaglow (Oct. 10, 1998) Religious sect reports abuse of children at its boarding schools (Oct. 8, 1998) Hare Krishnas lift the lid on history of child abuse
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[This] web site was created as an offering to His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in honour of His Centennial. We make this humble offering on behalf of all disciples of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, especially those who no longer find shelter in their Spiritual Master's beloved movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It is our hope that this effort will enliven and reunite all of Srila Prabhupada's devotees, in the spirit of Vaisnava association
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VOICE mandates to speak freely our version of reality in gurukula. This is presented as a growing number of critical and thoughtful articles on the Hare Krishna movement. VOICE is and will remain autonomous and non-affiliated. We are, according to our research, the only group to be talking publicly about our traumatic childhoods in Iskcon. There is a need for our experiences of abuse and neglect, over the past 25 years, to be heard.
VOICE homepage, accessed June 18, 2000
History of Hare Krishna
1896 A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the Hare Krishna movement, is born in Calcutta. 1933 Prabhupada becomes a disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent Vedic scholar. 1965 Prabhupada, aged 69, travels to New York on a freight ship to bring Hare Krishna philosophy to the West. 1967 Mantra-rock festival influenced by Krishna chants held in San Francisco: the first Rathayatra festival. 1968 International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) established in Britain. 1969 George Harrison becomes a devotee, releases a record of its mantras. 1971 First Hare Krishna school, or gurukula, established in Dallas, Texas. 1973 Harrison buys a manor in the Hertfordshire village of Letchmore Heath and gives it to the movement. 1976 Dallas school forced to close by state authorities after allegations of child abuse. 1977 Prabhupada dies after creating worldwide movement. 1990 Boy George cites Hare Krishna as a factor in conquering his heroin addiction. 1995 Villagers of Letchmore Heath complain about noise from festivals at the Harrison manor. Iskcon prosecuted by Hertsmere council and fined. 1996 Ten former Krishna pupils claim they were beaten, caned and denied medical care at school. Some said they were forced into homosexual sex at knifepoint. 1998 The movement acknowledges in its official journal that sexual, physical and emotional abuse was prevalent in its boarding schools in the 1970s and 1980s. 2000 44 former students of Iskcon schools across the United States and India file a £274m case against the movement, accusing senior leaders of sexual, physical and emotional torture dating back to 1972. Source: Spirit of bankruptcy descends on Hare Krishnas as they fight huge sex abuse claim, The Independent (England), Feb. 8, 2002
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