infoSekta - information and counselling for cult-related problems PO Box CH- 8055 Zurich / Switzerland   phone: +41 1 454 80 80 (Thur) fax: +41 1 454 80 82 infoSekta is an independent and non-denominational center which offers information, advice and counselling for problems regarding cults. infoSekta regards itself as a consumer protection association. It is supported by specialists from law, medicine, psychology, sociology, psychiatry, social and youth work, adult education, comparative religious studies, and the media. infoSekta focuses on problems relating to the ideological and group dynamic control mechanisms which are used recruit and absorb individuals into cults. It offers careful, objective and in-depth analyses of the groups and their methods. infoSekta investigates and assesses such issues as leadership and group structure (hierarchy, international holding structures), public relations (methods of advertising/ hard selling, propaganda, transparency), communication styles within groups (information management, isolation, ban on criticism), conception of the world and themselves (thinking in black-and-white terms, end-of-the-world beliefs), and methods to recruit new members and mobilize and control members (disguise, manipulation, group pressure, awareness-changing methods).   Within the increasingly confusing market of ideologies and offers of self-realization, infoSekta provides: assistance in decision making for people confronted with organizations that try to draw them into a dependent relationship which undermines their self-determination or harm their health and social integration, information for disorientated people who are looking for identity, meaning and motivation, who are trying to improve their performance and self-confidence and, not least of all, who are searching for a community, support for people with friends and relations in problematic groups.   infoSekta was founded in 1990, and since September 1991 the organization has operated an information and counselling centre in Zurich for issues concerning cults (with one full-time position and two employees). infoSekta concerns itself in a committed and critical manner with the phenomenon of cults by offering: identification of problems and dangers analysis and information documentation, research and investigation advice to individuals and institutions development of educational and prevention projects cooperation with other advice and specialist centres publications and reports organization of topical events   A growing and committed group patrons supports the independence of infoSekta and promotes its work. Patrons are individuals and organizations who pay a minimum of 100 francs a year. They are entitled to a free documentary report of their choice and receive information updates from infoSekta. Contributions from the Canton of Zurich and the Social Department of the City of Zurich cover just under one third of the organization's budgeted expenses.