Members' Personality Changes
In 1988, Researcher and psychologist Dr. Flavil Yeakley conducted a study of over 900 members of the Boston Church of Christ (BCC), the founding church of the ICOC. After completing the study, Yeakley concluded that "the discipling methods employed by that church" are "changing the personalities of its members in unhealthy ways". These are the same personality changes, Yeakley notes, found in "highly manipulative" sects, "not generally found in other churches of Christ or in various mainline denominations".
After publishing the results of his research in 1988, Yeakley reflected on developments within the ICOC and concluded that "erhaps the most important development in the year since this book was written is that counselors in virtually every city where this radical movement exists are now being flooded with clients who are the psychological, emotional, and spiritual victims of this authoritarian movement. Psychologists who specialize in treating cult victims have reported that in several cities they are now treating more people from these discipling congregations than from all other groups put together. These professional counselors are unanimous in their judgment that the Boston-led hierarchy of discipling churches is a dangerous cult".
Read more about this topic: International Churches Of Christ
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