Editing The Order of Christ Sophia (section)

==Controversy and criticisms==
The group first encountered opposition in 2001, when parents of some members became upset with the level of involvement of their adult children and began to suggest that OCS was a “dangerous cult”.  Families claimed that OCS had brainwashed its members and had caused [[sleep deprivation]], health problems, emotional turmoil and unhealthy levels of allegiance to the group and its practices. They claimed that OCS had "poisoned" their children against them and had destroyed their once happy families.<ref>Henry, Coleen.  "Order Of Christ-Sophia Refutes Allegations That It's A Cult." WISN-TV, Milwaukee, Channel 2, ABC.  May 21, 2003. [https://archive.today/20110807091845/http://www.wisn.com/video/2666421/index.html]</ref>

Several families staged intensive interventions with their adult children and attempted to convince them of the danger of the group, only a few of which were successful. Fueled by families irate over the "loss" of their adult children to what they considered to be a cult, some online forums sprung up, criticizing  the OCS and its leaders. Several journalists investigated the OCS and articles appeared in the ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', ''The Guardian Observer'' and ''The Boston Phoenix''.<ref>Heinen, Tom. "Mystics Misunderstood? Religious Order Says It's Out Of The Mainstream But Not A Cult." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 5, 2005.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=307267</ref><ref>Johnstone, Nick. "Beyond Belief." The Observer, December 12, 2004.  http://www.observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,,1371787,00.html [https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/dec/12/features.magazine137]</ref><ref>
Wright, Chris. "Sex, God, and Chocolate Ice Cream." The Boston Phoenix, February 15, 2004.
http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/03595748.asp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812063929/http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/03595748.asp |date=2009-08-12 }}.
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Much of the ground for controversy died down after the OCS split in 2012. OCS members claim that the order was opened up to greater transparency, to more choices in levels of involvement, and became a more democratic, empowering and supportive organization.{{citation needed|date = March 2015}} Members are referred outside the organization for counseling, are encouraged to have good relationships with families and relatives and to interact with people within and outside of the group.{{citation needed|date = September 2014}}