Series of lectures deals with ‘new
religion’ concept, changing world
By Shelley Ball
Of The Print
Anyone interested in learning
more about cults and new religions
can still attend three lectures at
Clackamas. Community College. To
day’s lecture, titled From Drugs to
Dharma, will run at 7 p.m. in the
McLoughlin Theater.
From Drugs to Dharma con
cerns the counter-culture of the ’60’s
usage of LSD (lysergic acid
diethylamide) to their adoption of
East Indian religions, and is one of
five free lectures by Irving Hexham,
who is from the deparment of
religion at the University of Manitoba
in Canada.
The five lectures make up the
program Understanding Cults and
New Religions, and will run through
April 14. Two of the lectures, The
Threat of the Cults and Loss of Faith
and the New Religions both ran April
12..
Wally Johnson, College religi
ous studies instructor, was involved
in planning Hexham’s visit. “This is
our (Religious Studies Program’s)
spring term seminar for the public,”
he said.
Sponsored by the College
Religious Studies Program and
Special Programs, Hexham was ask
ed to speak at the College in order to
“provide better information for our
constituency,” Johnson said. “We’ve
seen a revised concern about cults,
particularly in Oregon. My concern is
that people be adequately informed
and
understand
why this
phenomenon arises,” he explained.
Hexham said that he hopes to
“help people not to panic,” especial
ly those who know of anyone con
sidering joining a cult. He has been
studying religions since 1967 and has
met members of religious groups
such as the Moonies and Ra-
jneeshees, and he said that the real
“threat” of cults stems from the
media’s general portraying and label
ing any fast-growing, major religious
movement as a cult, a word that has
a negative tone to it.
Because of the word’s negative
quality Hexham prefers to use the
term “new religions,” and he said
that overall a small majority of peo
ple actually join any of these groups
for a significant amount of time. He
also said that more people should be
less preoccupied with whether or not
a particular group uses brainwashing
techniques, since thinking about
brainwashing actually avoids thinking
about the group itself.
“We’ve seen a revised
concern about cults,
particularly in Oregon.
My concern is that peo
ple be adequately in
formed . .
“People are treating the symp
toms rather than the cause. They
(new religions) will be here for
awhile; we need to find out what it is
that produces these things,” Hexham
said.
Religious education would also
be a deterrent to joining religious
groups. “If more people were taught
religious education they wouldn’t be
so impressed with groups like the
Moonies,” Hexham said.
Not putting pressure on people
or the religious groups they may join
is another important step in handling
the situation. Hexham explained that
the new religions are based on three
beliefs: 1) their religion knows the ab
solute truth; 2) the rest of the world
doesn’t acknowledge that they know
the truth; 3) the devil is at work to
prevent members from knowing the
truth, so they need to “watch out.”
“The best way to get somebody to
join a cult is to tell them they can’t
join,” he said.
It’s when you put pressure on
these groups that they become really
hasty; it’s like putting a rat in a cor
ner. When you put a rat in a corner it
will bite. But if the religious groups
are left alone, they will usually con
form to society’s values. Personally, I
don’t see them as a great threat, and
besides, a lot of people have chang
ed their beliefs but have not joined
the Moonies,” Hexham added.
Hexham’s last two lectures will
run tomorrow. The New Mythology
starts at 10 a.m. in the McLoughlin
Theater and will explain that many of
the concepts found in new religions
are not always new. He said new
religions tend to systemize beliefs.
They may take the subjects of rein
carnation and astrology, subjects that
potential candidates may have a
vague belief in, and make them
become meaningful in their lives.
Who Joins the Cults and Why?,
Hexham’s last lecture, will begin at 7
p.m. In this lecture he will explain the
factors that contribute to people join
ing new religions. “Religions are very
much like soap powders-there’s a
market for them,” he said.
Basically, Hexham said that the
“established churches have not come
to terms with technology,” such as
the Pill and the changing sizes of
family structures, whereas many new
religions like the Moonies have a
definite and positive stand on
technology. He also said the new
religions can help people come to
terms with death' and guilt, subjects
that our society prefers to deny. New
religions also offer people security in
a world that is faced with atomic war,
Hexham added.
Spring graduate
deadline slated
Graduation ceremonies at Clackamas
Community College are set for June 10, and
any student planning to participate in the
event is asked to have their petitions com
pleted by May 2 to insure they can partake.
“There are no deadlines for the petitions,
but the May 2 -deadline will assure the
student’s participation in the program,” Mary
Dykes, assistant to the dean of admissions
and records, said. “That way we can make
sure everything is set for that individual.”
Any student who has completed Cer
tificate, Associates Degree or General Educa
tion Dèvelopment (G.E.D.) requirements is
eligible to graduate.
The ceremony is for all students who
have completed their requirements during the
past year. Dykes feels that most students who
participate are spring term graduates, but
some earlier graduates always take part in the
ceremony.
Each year there are about 750
graduates, Dykes said, but only 250 par
ticipate in graduation. The reason for this is
unknown by Dykes.
“To some this means a lot. Especially for
some of the older students--it is the first time
they have ever been recognized,” Dykes said.
“But for a student who is going to continue on
and get his doctors, it may not be as impor
tant. It just depends on the student.”
One reason Dykes has set the May 2
deadline is so she can check to make sure the
student " has fulfilled all .of his/her re
quirements. If there is a problem with re
quirements Dykes said there is usually
something that can be done to compensate. If
not, the student will have to reapply the next
term.
One advantage the College’s graduation
presents to a student is there is no charge.
Dykes said the only charge would be if the
student would want to purchase a tassel or
honor cords.
For more information concerning
graduation or the graduation ceremony,
please contact Dykes at the Admissions Of
fice, ext. 254.
Controversy rises in current ASG elections
By J. Dana Haynes
Of The Print
Controversy has arisen
surrounding the upcoming
Associated Student Govern
ment elections. Two members
of this year’s ASG executive
cabinet are also members of the
campaign committee for one
candidate.
The committee to elect
John Sagoe for ASG president
includes current president Paul
Nastari and this year’s Activities
Director Steve Vohs. Nastari is
the chairperson of the Sagoe
campaign, while Vohs is public
r elations/media director.
The other candidate for
the 1983-84 presidency is Don
Porter, who is running on a
“ticket” with vice presidential
hopeful Tim Sytsma. “The cur
rent regime should have re
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Page 4
mained impartial,” Sytsma
said.
Porter is less upset by the
committee to elect Sagoe. “I
think it’s hard for a person in
that position (current president)
to not support a candidate.
Nastari should want to see
some of the programs he’s
started carried on,” he said,
Nastari said he thought
about the prohlems inherent
with a current office holder
supporting one candidate over
the other, but he feels there has
been no conflipt of interest. “I
simply don’t see eye-to-eye
with Don (Porter) on some
issues. I’m not saying he’d do a
bad job, but John (Sagoe) is
willing to add continuity with
my administration to his. That’s
missing with Don, I think.”
Activities Director Vohs
also sees no problem in his ac
tive support of Sagoe. How
ever, Vohs was scheduled to
moderate last week’s Can
didates’ Fair, a fact which
Porter’s running mate Sytsma
felt was “low class.”
Vohs explained that, as-
moderator,, his only duties
would have been to introduce
the candidates. In fact, the Fair
was canceled due to lack of any
audience.
Vohs sees nothing wrong
with his activities for Sagoe,
saying “None of us (the elec
tion committee members) will
be on the ASG next year. Also,
there is nothing in the constitu
tion against (their participation
in the elections).”
Vohs is supporting Sagoe
and his running mate, Linda
Cox, because he feels “they
will be one heck of a good
team,” he said. Also, he has
serious doubts about a Porter-
Sytsma administration. “I think
if they get in, it’ll be a political
arena for them,” Vohs said.
Debbie Baker, student ac
tivities director and advisor to
the ASG, sees nothing wrong
in Nastari and Vohs working
for Sagoe. “Paul Nastari is ac
ting on his own behalf as a stu
dent, not as a representative of
the ASG,” she said.
Volunteers needed for
‘Youth Adventure’program
Volunteers are needed for
the summer sessions of the
Youth Adventures Resident
Treatment Program. The
20-year-old rehabilitation pro
gram serves to counsel young
law offenders.
Members of the communi
ty are invited to share time and
talent. Terry Moore, resident
counselor, said anything from
yoga to gormet cooking would
be helpful. Moore said, “These
kids are really deprived; they
need enrichment of all kinds.
And, any time you can offer is
welcome.” Moore said the
length of the workshops are
determined by the amount of
time one has.
Interested persons should
contact Terry Moore at the
Youth Adventures Resident
Treatment Program at
655-7913 or 656-8005.
Clackamas Community College