How is it that in a time of unprecedented opportunity  for individual expression, we become members of cults of so many types -- political, religious, social, environmental, new age, psychological? All are dedicated to the principle that they  have the way, the world view, the magic words to save our communities, our nations,  the world, the universe, or at least our selves. I believe the answers are missed by those who blame solely the leaders, the tyrants, the Chaplinesque buffoons who run the cults. I intend to explore the answer in my experience of 20 years in the Brennan Cult as it evolved. But that is for another place.

This site is dedicated not to these larger questions, but to the more limited sphere of the James DeLore Brennan Cult operation of Hawaii. I was a member from 1969 until 1988, starting in California as a teenager. I left Hawaii, the final location of the cult,  in my late thirties. Since I returned from a visit to Hawaii in 1998 after publishing the document exposing the highlights of the misdeeds and horrors of the Brennan Cult, some people from Hawaii, several families on the mainland, and others including ex-members have contacted me. The original exposure document is still on Tripod, however, it is included on this site as the Original Exposure Document

The people of Molokai, where Brennan himself now lives, were warned and know of Brennan. It is my  hope that they will be wary of invitations into Brennan's world.

The father of Bernie Strehler learned of his son's location via the exposure document and contacted Bernie as a part of the mother's deathbed wish to see Bernie one last time. Bernie was offered a round trip ticket for a two day visit. He refused. Mrs. Strehler died with tears in her eyes whispering Bernie's nickname Butch, Butch, Butch. Her son never heard. He was enslaved by a rule that members of the Brennan Cult not travel away from the clutch of "clarity" even to visit a dying parent, even for one day. Brennan supposedly based his dynamics on love, honesty, genuine connection. Why was he so fearful that a man near 50 years old who had been with him for more than three decades would be shaken by a few days absence? I will never forget the utter misery in the eyes of the father as he tried to puzzle through the suffering of his wife as she died calling for their lost son.

The father and mother of Chris Crawford contacted me regarding estate planning after reading the Original Exposure Document. They did not want to give money to their son that would ultimately end up in Brennan's hands. On the other hand, they were aghast that their talented and hard working son, as so many in the cult, would have worked all of his life with little or no retirement build up. This led to correspondence between the father, mother, and Chris. The mother passed away. Chris was invited to the funeral, but did not attend. Missing a funeral, I suppose, is less despicable than shunning a death bed visit. And yet again, the Crawfords are believing Christians. Chris often sent Christian books to convince his parents and particularly his mother that his cult life was in some way in concert with early Christianity. This is not really possible to reconcile with the facts in the Original Exposure Document, but Brennan is a clever propagandist both to his members and those outside.

Since this website was published, Chris has started corresponding with his father. This change in the rules of the cult may have been prompted in a shift toward laxity. It may have been prompted by reactions to the information contained herein.

My brother is still a member of the Brennan cult. He was a beautiful young man who lived with Brennan as an intimate. My sister, also a former member,  and I left the cult with heavy hearts, knowing that we would probably never see Alden again. All who left, as we did, became ostracized "departed souls." The pictures of departed souls were carefully culled from the extensive slide collection of events -- their names excised from all records.

As our mother neared the end of her life from the ravages of cancer, Alden returned a call from my sister. He seemed to be motivated in part by genuine concern. However, as he talked to my sister and dying mother, he began to demand of them that I take down this website. Even though all of us in California were in deep grief, he exploded in rage at my sister because she could not persuade me to unpublish.  After all, she had nothing to do with the publication or content of this site. His mantra screamed dozens of times:  f_ck you I hate you, f_ck you I hate you.

There are other stories that I hold in confidence. I am in touch with other old Brennan cult members and the families of current members. However, I do not have permission to relate their stories. 

All who have relatives or friends in the Brennan Cult, please feel free to contact me. I may set up further resources to allow discussion and exchange as interest develops.