Harold L. Busséll is a pastor and author. He has a M.A. in Psychology from Santa Clara University and a Doctorate of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary.[1] Between 1968 and 1970 he served with Teen Challenge Paris, a Christian outreach program that works with drug addicts in Paris, France.[1] His book Unholy Devotion – Why Cults Lure Christians, (later renamed, By Hook or by Crook: How Cults Lure Christians) talks about his experiences while in Europe. Busséll has written, "my wife and I were involved with an Evangelical youth mission based in Switzerland. We were with the group only six weeks, but it was almost seven years before I had overcome the psychological damage caused by their cult-like control and spiritualization... Questioning a leader was considered an act of rebellion against God and His chain of command." Busséll went on to become a pastor in Saratoga, California.[1] He also served as one of the Deans at Gordon College.[1][2] Serving as Senior Pastor from 1984 to 1996 at the First Congregational Church in Hamilton, Massachusetts, a mainline church affiliated with the United Church of Christ.[1][2] The New York Times recognizes Busséll as an author who has written books about mind control and religious groups.[3] Christianity Today noted Busséll as a pastor who has "experienced spiritual warfare."[4] Paul R. Martin has noted Busséll's opinion on recovery from what they refer to as cults, that "a clear understanding of the gospel is the single most important issue in a cultist's recovery and future immunity from further cultic involvement."[5]
Books
edit- Thoughtful Prayers For Serious Believers. Nashville: Westbow. 2016. ISBN 978-1512739534.
- Unholy Devotion – Why Cults Lure Christians. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1983. ISBN 0-310-37251-8.
- Later published as:
- By Hook or by Crook : How Cults Lure Christians. New York: McCracken. 1993. ISBN 1-56977-585-0.
- Lord, I Can Resist Anything But Temptation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1985. ISBN 0-310-37271-2.
Articles
edit- "Why Evangelicals are Vulnerable to Cults" Cultic Studies Journal Vol. 2, Num. 2 [2]
- "Checks on Power and Authority in the New Testament" Cultic Studies Journal Vol. 3, No. 2, September 2004 [3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Bussell, Harold, Rev. Dr". ICSA. Cultic Studies Journal. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ a b James L. Franklin (April 3, 1994). "Quietly, America's faith in religion is born again". Boston Globe.
- ^ Robert Lindsey (June 22, 1986). "Isolated, strongly led sects growing in U.S." New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Facing the wreckage". Christianity Today. October 1, 1986.
- ^ Paul R. Martin, "Dispelling the Myths" Christian Research Journal, 1989 Winter/Spring [1]