I remind myself that he has "taken on various cults unequivocally pernicious" in the past. He told me that:
"A cult will break down when it modifies its view that there are only two people in the world, the insiders and the outsiders. The Family have moved away from this position. The controversy in Australia and elsewhere has led them to adopt different views about "flatlanders" and "systemites"."
He found it significant that whereas changes in the past were initiated through Berg's fiat, now major changes, for example, PER, have taken time to formulate as views are invited and respected before policy is changed. Although he was cautious enough to state that he was still making his judgments about this group, his opinion was that the changes were irreversible because The Family were opening up to the world through their contact with the established churches, through opening their homes to the public, and to making themselves available to experts like himself. Whereas other groups have tried to keep hold of their principles, they have allowed change and his opinion is that if secrecy and isolation break down, then that also breaks down any errant behaviour.
