John Gordon Clark
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| Born | 1926 United States |
|---|---|
| Died | 1999 Vermont, United States |
| Residence | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Field | psychiatry |
| Institution | Harvard University |
| Alma mater | Harvard Medical School, M.D. McAlester College, B.S. |
| Known for | research on cults |
| Notable prizes | Leo J. Ryan Award, 1985 Psychiatrist of the Year, Psychiatric Times, 1991 |
John Gordon Clark, M.D. (1926 - 1999) was a Harvard psychiatrist and authority in research on the damaging effects of cults[1].
He was the target of harassment from Scientologists after he testified against them to the Vermont congress in 1976.[2]
His similarly harassed colleague Louis Jolyon West remarked: "I was lucky that I was a full-time professor in a big university like UCLA. Others, like Harvard's Jack Clark. who was primarily in private practice, nearly had their lives ruined by the Scientologists." (Psychiatric Times, 1991)
In 1985, John G. Clark received the Leo J. Ryan Award, named for the California congressman murdered in Jonestown.
The Psychiatric Times, when naming him 1991 psychiatrist of the year, described him as "a quiet, courageous man of conviction, who was fighting an all-too-lonely and unappreciated battle against well-financed, ruthless organizations."
Contents |
[edit] Works
- Testimony of John Clark regarding cults Read on 3rd November 1977 by Leo J. Ryan to the House of Representatives [1]
- Clark, John G. Cults. Journal of the American Medical Association. 242, 279-281. 1979
- Clark, J.G., et al.: Destructive cult conversion. Weston, MA: American Family Foundation. 1981
- Clark, John G.: On the further study of destructive cultism. In Halperin (ed.), 363-368 1983
- Langone, Michael D. and John G. Clark, Jr.: New religions and public policy: research implications for social and behavioural scientists Weston (MA.): American Family Foundation 1983
[edit] Awards
- Leo J. Ryan Award, 1985
- Psychiatrist of the year, The Psychiatric Times, 1991
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Dr. John Clark, 73, Psychiatrist was authority on danger of cults, Tom Long, Globe Staff, 10/09/99, The Boston Globe
- ^ John Clark, 73, Psychiatrist Who Studied Sects, New York Times, October 18, 1999, Eric Nagourney
The Church of Scientology objected strongly to Clark's assertions, and the church and Clark battled in court. Clark said the church had engaged in a campaign of harassment against him. In 1988, he settled with the church and received an undisclosed amount of money, but agreed never to discuss the group publicly again.
[edit] External links
- Obituaries on John Clark
- Prozac frees Ex-Scientology Leader from Depression, The Psychiatric Times, Volume VIII, June 1991
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