Jon Trott, senior editor of
Cornerstone Magazine, published by the
Jesus People USA (JPUSA), uncritically accepts the views of
cult apologists - and actively promotes their work. In addition, like the cult defenders whose work he admires, Trott attacks those who use proper terminology such as "cult" and "cult apologist." He also objects to the identification of the
Church of Scientology as a "hate group," even though hate and harassment activities are specifically condoned and encouraged in that organizations's scripture (and consequently
evidenced in the cult's group's behavior).
Trott also co-edits the
Sacred Tribes Journal, a magazine whose principals put stock in the ideas of several notable cult apologists. The magazine is hosted on web space provided by JPUSA's Cornerstone Magazine (with the following disclaimer:
Sacred Tribes is neither a sponsored project nor an official publication of JPUSA/Cornerstone.)
Though Trott apparently has little practical experience in dealing with actual current and former cult members, and is not considered to be a cult expert, he vehemently defends his views, often getting downright nasty in the process.
Recently, Jon Trott also re-opened JPUSA's attacks on
Ron Enroth, with the inclusion of a chapter in cult apologist
Anson Shupe's book,
Bad Pastor: Clergy Misconduct in Modern America. Enroth's response to Trott can be
read here.
For further information, see the entry on
Jesus People USA (JPUSA)
