<P> The apostate therefore fashions a retrospective account which takes the form of a captivity narrative . In this account, he or she never really "joined" the spiritual group, but rather was taken captive through some diabolical form of mind control which rendered her unable to resist . She or he was then held in captivity for some years, subjected to atrocities, and finally "escaped," or was "rescued" by some agent alleged to represent normative values, such as a therapist, anti-cult counsellor, or fellow apostate (the "hero" in such modern tales). She or he is, above all, a victim, and cannot be blamed for her former involvement with a stigmatized group . By recounting her captivity narrative to a new secular audience, the apostate confirms and reinforces negative views about the spiritual group in question, and so rehabilitates her or his reputation in the secular world . </P> <P> Thus, apostate captivity narratives containing atrocity stories have come to occupy a central place in the study of new religious movements, and in contested views about such movements . No one questions that a murder / suicide took place at Jonestown, but critics of the anti-cult movement claim that this rare event is treated as paradigmatic and used to paint a negative picture of new religious movements as a whole . </P> <P> "Cult survivor" tales have become a familiar genre . They employ the devices of the captivity narrative in dramatic fashion, typically pitting mainstream secular values against the values held by some spiritual minority (which may be caricatured). As is true of the broader category, anti-cult captivity narratives are sometimes regarded with suspicion due to their ideological underpinnings, their formulaic character, and their utility in justifying social control measures . In addition, critics of the genre tend to reject the "mind control" thesis, and to observe that it's extremely rare in Western nations for religious or spiritual groups to hold anyone physically captive . </P> <P> Like captivity narratives in general, anti-cult captivity narratives also raise contextual concerns . Ethnohistoric Native American culture differs markedly from Western European culture . Each may have its merits within its own context . Modern theorists question the fairness of pitting one culture against another and making broad value judgements . </P>

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