During the Spring and Summer of 1999 a Task Force mandated by the Maryland State Legislature conducted hearings on the "effects of cult activities" on campuses in the state system of four year colleges and universities.

The proceedings were shrouded in controversy from the beginning. By the time the work of the Task Force was completed on September 15, 1999, the proceedings had drifted ever closer to the brink of acrimony and confrontation.

This page offers an archive of the Task Force proceedings. To date we have over 70 documents that are either officially a part of the record, or are public records of actors who have sought to influence the outcome of the proceedings.

While the final report is a much-watered down version of what the anti-cultists wanted, the submission of the Task Force Report to the Governor will not end the controversy.

The record of these proceedings is important precisely because the problem of "cults" will not go away. At the core of the heated debate is the question of what is it that is problematic. Hopefully, a comprehensive record of the Maryland proceedings will be helpful to others as they sort out and evaluate claims that are so disparate.

Those who are unfamiliar with the Maryland Task Force hearings may wish to begin with the overview essay entitled "Cult Wars in Maryland". It will be updated as soon as the final report is released. An index of materials appears immediately below this introduction.

Jeffrey K. Hadden
09/16/99

House Joint Resolution 22

Hearings on House Joint Resolution

History of Resolution by Legislative Date



Introduction

"Cult Wars in Maryland: An Introduction to the Task Force to Study Cult Activities in Public Senior Higher Education," Jeffrey K. Hadden



Univ of Maryland President's Comments on Draft Final Report

Executive Summary and Final Report

Commentary



Task Force Hearings

May 25, 1999

June 7, 1999

June 29, 1999

July 14, 1999

July 27, 1999

August 9, 1999



Official Minutes of the Task Force



Testimony Before Task Force


Transcripts of Testimony Before Task Force

Documents Submitted for the Record



Testimony in Open Session


Transcripts of Testimony in Open Session

Legal Proceedings



News Coverage

Also available in this site section:

• Introduction
• The Brainwashing Controversy
• Conceptualizing "Cult" and "Sect"
• Conceptualizing "Anti-Cult" and "Counter-Cult"
• The Anti-Cult Movement
• The Counter-Cult Movement
• Links
• Bibliography
• Other Resources