Identifying High Pressure Religious Groups

We strongly recommend that students seek religious and spiritual community in one of our supported undergraduate or graduate student groups.

Tufts University supports many religious and philosophical groups that reflect the wonderful diversity of our Tufts community. These communities are open to every Tufts student and are places for building community and exploring and celebrating different practices and traditions. These groups have access to campus spaces, are funded by Tufts, and have regular interaction with Tufts employees. They must follow Tufts policies related to conduct, non-discrimination, and funding. If you are interested in starting a new group, the first step is to reach out to University Chaplain Elyse Nelson Winger.

We want you to be aware that there are religious organizations that operate in the metro-Boston area and on other campuses that we consider high pressure religious organizations. These organizations approach students on and near the Tufts campus. These interactions may seem harmless at first, but often involve high-pressure and manipulative recruitment tactics which over time can affect a person’s emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical well being.

The official Tufts policy on avoiding high pressure religious organizations and groups with controlling practices can be found here. Please reach out to University Chaplain Elyse Nelson Winger if you have any questions about the policy or student groups.

Are you or someone you know involved with a high-pressure religious organization?

Consider these questions:

• Does your group show unquestioning commitment to its leader(s)?
• Are doubts, research, and questions about the group and its beliefs discouraged?
• Does the leadership dictate how members should think, act, and feel? How they should dress, where they should live, who they can be friends with?
• Does the group feel they’re on a special mission to save humanity? Do they see their leader as a prophet, supreme being, or divine source of authority?
• Does the group have an us-versus-them mentality?
• Does the leadership induce feelings of shame or guilt in order to influence or control members? This is often done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
• Do members of the group seem to be following you or showing up unannounced regularly?
• Does the group expect you to participate in their activities multiple times a week, at the expense of your academic responsibilities?
• Does the group require or strongly encourage members to cut ties with family and friends, or to radically alter their personal goals and activities?
• Has the group’s leadership ever encouraged members to change their major, drop out of school, or quit a job in order to dedicate more time or energy to the group and its mission?
• Is the group preoccupied with bringing in new members and/or making money?
• Do you fear backlash to yourself or others if you leave—or even consider leaving—the group?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions and think you or someone you know may need help, please reach out to one of our chaplains. They are confidential resources who can support you and help connect you to campus and external resources. Help is always available to you as a Tufts community member. 

Other Resources on Tufts Campus:

The above language has been adapted and used with permission from Boston University.