I'm so upset, deeply concerned and profoundly shocked and didn't know where else to notify people about this. The ASI, which I joined several years ago, calls for ethical integrity among spiritual teachers, a noble cause, but it turns out that rather than embodying the ethical standards they advocate for, their director (also a co-founder) and several on the board of advisors/staff appe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Check out YouTube for "Charles Buhl". One of the cult leaders of a Course In Miracles. He is said to have grabbed women by the breasts or hair and thrown them to the ground to "awaken" them. This Cult held property in Taylor's Falls, WI for many years. It has since closed. Buhl died many years ago but his videos still appear on YouTube. Gary Renard is another of their wac
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

7. Couldn’t Be That Person When my first child was over a year old, my chronic pain worsened. I became debilitated. When I had a pelvic exam with my doctor, I had my usual panic attack, I hyperventilated, I wept and wept. Normally I avoided doctor’s exams because it always felt traumatizing and physical touch felt painful. My doctor called in a nurse (university hospital) and asked the n
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Be Scofield has announced that in November 2019 she will release a book titled Toxic Spirituality: Abuse, Denial and Delusion in New Age Culture. The chapter list is at QuoteByron Katie & The Work Mooji Abraham Hicks & The Law of Attraction Teal Swan Marianne Williamson & A Course In Miracles Eckhart Tolle John of God Agama Yoga & Tantric Abuse Scandals Mindfulness
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you, Corboy. You share with me and then I go look these things up. Helen Schucman was very troubled woman. Hated real Jesus till the end. She died of pancreatic cancer. Said she wish she never wrote the course in miracles. I find this in Amazon review of the Course in Miracles: "A course in nihilism February 9, 2010 Format: Hardcover I mean, the ACIM is more ridiculous
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

corboy wrote: "Material of this kind waters down Christianity by removing tiresome things such as ethics, and the obligation to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, use money and power responsibly and to be just as aware of the welfare of others as of oneself." I usually agree with anything corboy writes, but what's missing here is context. Having been in what is now called &q
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I know some pretty level-headed, non-cult people who really like ACIM, but the thing to remember here, in my humble opinion, is that it is not necessarily the original philosophy or religion that is so insidious in these groups, but the way that it is applied. Both Jim Jones and David Koresh considered themselves Christians, but their applications and interpretations of the Bible were not wha
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

TCIM was supposedly dictated by Jesus to one Helen Schuchman,* a respected academic psychologist. What is interesting is that Schuchman's mother was an adherant of Theosophy. Scuchman's channeled material is typical of Theosophical literature. Quote ACIM dictates that guilt, fear, illness, and sin are only states of mind. I argue that it drains such terms of their rich and appr
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Today mi famila still in Gratitude Training tells me she wants to go to event taught by trainer Chris DeSanti about The Course in Miracles. I am still so worried about her. I don't see good things about this book. Is this a bad thing? Is this a book cults use? Does anyone know about this teaching or book?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I relate to this strongly. I was deeply involved in a group that held some similar beliefs to a course in miracles for 10 years and am honestly contemplating going back. Same exactly as you shared--anti-therapy, anti medication, quick fix.. We addressed childhood trauma to a point of invalidating its effect because "it's just something playing in the brain--not happening now, and you ca
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was part of a high control group which preached New Thought doctrines such as Emmet Fox and A Course in Miracles for 18 months. As a result I ended up on a psychiatric ward completely delusional about my relationship to God, who I was, and who I thought the people inside the group to be. I’d had many past life revelations during which I’d come to believe that I was St Paul and two of the promi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotes below are from POV's recent ad. POV has lost two Canadian trainers and at least two U.K. trainers. The two Canadian former trainers have gone on to form their own seminar business. The two U.K. are Jeff and Sue Allen, Chuck Spezzano's top people. Jeff Allen has recent health challenges that he says are why he no longer will be a trainer (not having to pay the annual POV fee w
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Friends, a well run Alanon, AA, Overeater's Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous etc meeting must never be a place where one is pressured by any one member or by the entire group to get involved with a guru, or political movement or and LGAT. Among the Three Obstacles to Success in Alanon, there is this: Quote1. Discussions of Religion: Al?Anon is not allied with any sect or denomination.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Joe Szimhart has background in studying gnostic groups. His entire essay on the ACIM can be read here. QuoteAt this point, we can look into the characters that developed ACIM. Helen Schucman, the channel or "scribe" for the ‘voice,’ grew up as an only child to Jewish parents in New York City. Her father was aloof to religious beliefs while her mother was an early “new ager” wh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ACIM stands for A Course in Miracles The author of this review appreciates ACIM but had some concerns. A review of Awakening Through a Course in Miracles Quote of 6 people found the following review helpful 2.0 out of 5 stars The mysteries of David, February 12, 2014 By Amazon Customer (Gold Coast, Australia) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?) This revie
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another error results if you start to see anything in form or in the script as being causative, since images are really unreal effects of an unreal cause. The images of the world are unreal effects. And the unreal cause is the ego. The Course teaches that God didn’t create this world, God creates the eternal. God creates in Spirit. You know we are all familiar with the phrases in the Bible, “Hold
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Will have to divide this text into a third post. Once again, I invite readers to examine their states of mind as they read this material in the privacy of thier own homes. Then imagine the impact if you heart this given by a skilled public speaker in a room full of people. If (by ANY chance) you are led through chanting, or are kept up past your normal bedtime, impact of listening to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Friends, notice how complex the sentences are. THis entire document is so lengthy that it could not be fitted into a single post. Notice your state of mind as you read through this. If by any chance, you feel rather dizzy while reading this in the privacy of your own home, imagine the impact if you are seated in a room full of people listening to this same thing. (
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Comments from the Anti Skeptics Boils down to Heavy use of pathos. Describing oneself as Grandma X, a long tale of woe about ones husband with a heart condition, one being an advocate for disabled persons, etc. To dare argue with someone with pathos credentials means running the risk of looking like a bully. But Brian L had guts and did not back down. Grandma argued with forensic skill
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is page 119 of the pages that were lost from this thread since the domain name was changed. Some links might be out of date but links to this forum have been updated. ............................................................................................................................................................................................... December 08, 2011 03:15PM
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

http://www.psychologyofvision.com/events/ http://www.chuckandlencyspezzano.com/ Chuck and Lency (Lenora) Spezzano have quite a racket running expensive large group trainings around the world. These are a mix of Course in Miracles, Oneness Movement, Landmark type training, along with techniques of persuasion and manipulation. They run a form of affinity fraud by finding communities that have
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Eric Allen Bell inspires the kind of irrationality, and blind loyalty usually associated with followers of a cult leader. I think psyborgue may be one more example of this. I really do not see how anyone can read this statement by Eric Allen Bell, and not come to the conclusion that Eric is telling his followers to stay away from Shoebat because Shoebat is a Christian. This is consistent
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello psyborgue. "Just because somebody is spiritual, charismatic, has followers, and is critical of major world religions does not make one a cult leader. Does he have a group with a totalist structure? " I am not sure what "totalist structure" is, but in the cult of Eric Allen Bell one is free to come, and go. "Does his organization practice thought reform?&qu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteJudyHello everyone! I've been dealing with health issues for some time now and whilst consulting with regular MDs (who were of no help) and a naturopath (the most helpful, so far), I've also been reading the works of people such as Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue and Wayne Dyer... (And yes, I also read The Secret and started A Course in Miracles, but couldn't get past the first
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am continuing to heal from the mental torture inflicted on me by a man in Charleston, SC who had advertised his "services" on the internet. About a year ago I sought the help of a hypnotherapist to assist me in getting past some childhood abuse. In our first session this "God Nazi" told me he had something that worked faster and better than hypnotherapy. I trusted him as he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Is "Scott Perry" really Robert Perry...A Course in Miracles Teacher who lives in England and makes his living "interpreting" A Course In Miracles?" NO WHERE IN THE COURSE DOES JESUS (? OR IS IT SIMON MAGUS) SAY WE NEED YOU TO INTERPRET A COURSE IN MIRACLES. It IS a cult, Robert. And you, Robert are one of the egotistical humans who think they are endowed with the brillian
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"Remember that theology comes first." This definitely applies to any spiritual teacher or psychologist who uses A Course In Miracles (ACIM) as the basis for their "therapy/counseling." Look further for info on ACIM as well as Endeavor Academy (EA) and Unity Church. EA now has "counselors" posing as "spiritual teachers" , psychics, hypnotherapists, and life
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

In fairness, I want to state that everyone is different. Some quite honorable and innocent literature may affect people. I was in a class studying a classic text of Mahayana Buddhism, The Diamond Sutra. It put me to sleep each and every time. I'd conk right out at the table while taking notes. A friend told me that if she had insomnia she found that reading mathamatical texts did t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Walter Berlin seems to be trying to expunge bad news of himself off the internet. He's going to be pretty busy considering there are a wealth of very credible newspaper articles about him. There's also a damning 60 Minutes report. Walter Bellin is credited with creating the Turning Point course. You can read plenty about this course here: In particular, he considers this minor
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

I'm not a therapist and have no experience with Landmark, so I'm not qualified to give you advice. Having said that, your therapist's job (what I'm assuming you signed up for) is to help you and your husband deal with your issues, to learn tools that will help you now and in the future. It's not your therapist's job or her right to try to recruit you for Landmark.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"