QuoteIt's like all of a sudden there's some 1800's type of social stigma against talking about cults. It's been scary experience for me, to tell you the truth, I just needed to vent to keep my sanity. That's what RR.com is here for. Someone named 'Hartley' describes how he or she felt in a situation involving a different leader. This conveys the bewilderme
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I agree with Stoic. I learned a self induced method of dissociation at about age 13. Too many things were happening in my family and, by that time, inside myself. I needed a way to 'check out' and knew that 1) running away from home was not an option. From the time I was a tiny kid, I'd see homeless people and knew, in my guts, that I'd never make it on the streets.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteHope I picked up a free publication entitled, "Inner Realm", and even though I laughed all the way through it, it was at the same time kind of frightening to see how many PhDs, LSWs, etc who are licensed in their state to practice medicine, therapies, etc. are involved in this stuff, quite frankly to make a quick buck. There are also groups with weekend-trained reverends, and all
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ingredients of the cultic milieu--and I have probably not covered them all. Note--none of these by itself is necessarily a cult. But these form boundary markers for a social scene in which recruiters can fish and media types can advertise any product, whether its a food or a vitamin, body care product or a guru. First, magazines serving the Buddhist and yogista communities. Look at the ad
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Carlos, there is also a concept, 'cultic milieu' which may be a good model for what you are trying to grasp. This denizens of this milieu think themselves as 'cultural creatives' and as part of a liberating alternative to mainstream society. The ironiy is they are still very much part of mainstream culture, and have been identified as a lucrative niche market. Denizens
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am not saying she read anything by Bubba Da Free John, but believe it or not, in the 1970s, Bubba (who later took the name, Da Free John, and then yet laterwards took the name Adi Da Samiraj...) He authored a book entitled The Four Fundamental Questions. So people have had similar names and titles of stuff floating around in the ether. Gurdjieff called his stuff 'The Work'
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Years back, Ken Wilber, Dick Anthony, and Bruce Ecker edited a book entitled Spiritual Choices:The Problem of Recognizing Authentic Paths to Inner Transformation (Paragon House Publishers, 1987) The book is the product of a seminar on the subject. The Jonestown massacre was still fresh in everyone's minds. Scandals had happened at various Buddhist centers and Hindu ashrams. One case discu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To repeat--Jones did not just manipulate his immediate followers. Jones brilliantly manipulated the context--social, political, even journalistic-- in which people made thier choices. He didnt just put items on the menu--he chose the paper that menue was printed on! We cant stand to face the extent to which the context of our choice making can be manipulated. But if we can face this s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Free, if you've not yet found this article, it might be worth a look.. The author was a New Age teacher and healer who eventually left. She wrote that part of what made it hard for her to learn from the skeptics was that all too often they tended to write in a painfully harsh manner. And she wrote this while making it clear she had come to value their perspective and had crossed over
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesolea13 The idea that there is some kind of nefarous 'green agenda' and that global warming, etc. do not exist is nonsensical. Scientists have confirmed and re-confirmed time and time again the perils facing the global environment. As discussed in the following article. Yes, dating back to last year… QuoteIn my own opinion, the morass of conspiracy theories that plague t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotexythos Before I continue let me quote the president that that Obama clown is constantly being referred to but is nowhere close in possessing any real authentic charisma (not fabricated by the media or his backpushers), substance, integrity or uprightness (he's a Kenyan born 'bought' lackey who is doing his masters' bidding, just like Bush Jr was): Xythos you are enti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What follows below are characteristics of a cult leader. These are given so that the reader may understand what to look for in patterns of cult leadership. The text was excerpted from chapter five of Captive Hearts Captive Minds by Madeline Landau Tobias and Janja Lalich pp. 67-79, and is reprinted with permission of the author. Psychopathy and the Characteristics of a Cult Leader In ge
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hmm. This is where things get complicated. Theosophy, by itself, may not necessarily indicate that something funky is going on. What may be helpful is a concept, described by sociologist, Philip Jenkins, termed 'cultic milieu'--a social venue of alternatives to the mainstream, that is not itself cultic, but can sometimes serve to attract persons who are a little too willing to ta
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Much of New Ageism is based on ancient religious or pagan superstitions. Belief in karma and reincarnation has been assimilated into New Ageism so that it is accepted dogma throughout many of the different belief systems. Another good reference point along these lines is , also Stripping the Gurus... You say, Judy, that it's hard to know what's true in the here and now, never mind w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Go read Steve Salerno's Shamblog...he has articles on Oprah, Byron Katie, Eckie Tolle, and others. He covers exactly how cultic New age milieu has infiltrated the mainstream. And I am very sorry to report that psychotherapists who are gullible and are NOT adequately trained on the scientist practitioner model are another gateway through which snake oil gets marketed by charis
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy, thank you for your response. What you say about Cultic Milieus makes sense re. New Age. Critical thinking is most definitely discouraged. Anyone who asks questions isn't "getting it" and is dismissed. You wrote: "The sad thing is, those in the cultic milieu think they have escaped the evils of mainstream culture and have escaped from the forms of marketing and c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Excellent comments, corboy. The notion of a Cultic Milieu definitely carries some weight as regards understanding the phenomenon of the New Age. I have been meaning to read that book, 'Against the Modern World' by Mark Sedgwick, so thanks for drawing my attention to it again. Also, I meant to post the link to that Karla McLaren article earlier but couldn't find it. By the wa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Cultic Milieu--a Possibly Helpful Concept? 'The concept of 'cultural milieu', as developed by sociologist Bryan Wilson,is very helpful in understanding this conglomeration of alternatives. According to Wilson, there is exists in Western societies, a milieu, which he terms 'cultic' where much that is rejected by the dominent cultureaccumulates.(Corboy's italics) --
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Never mind my opinion about the Myers Briggs. What is interesting is you call yourself guruphobic, yet you seem as emotionally invested in the e--gram and whoever taught it to you, as if these were your guru. You say you dont take it very seriously, merelyu found it useful, yet all I had to do was express my opinion that the ethingie was part of the cultic milieu and all at once its as though
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy wrote: It may be that a common denominator for cultic milieu is not so much what people believe, but the mood and suspension of critical thinking and refusal to concern oneself with long term consequences. One can move within this milieu and take up a succession of belief systems that are actually incompatible, but that doenst matter. What matters is clinging to the mood--possibly a way
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hope wrote: "but they were so comfortable with him that they thought he had and/or thought it was forthcoming. And he was the treasurer!" If we read enough first person accounts, what hope and Solea describe show up again, and again and again. One thing these folks do and do very well is they treat human relationship as a giant game of chess. In practice, they learn to surround
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A Wee List of Wilber Critiques (In all his studies of gurus and spirituality, KW has never, but ever made any use of Zimbardo's Prison Experiment. Yet, Zimbardo was a participant in a seminar convened in the 1980s by Wilber, Eckler and Dick Anthony, whose findings were published in the book, Spiritual Choices. Yet despite being listed as a participant, Professor Zimbardo was neve
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultThere are lots of so-called "Yoga" groups which are little more than front groups for cults. Its the best way to get people in. Yoga is trendy and to most people they think its like an exercise class. They then start slipping people the Swami, when they are bent over in the Downward Dog...so to speak... Hey, if I were an ambitious eastern based Guru in the west,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In answer to Anticult's question: in the 1950s there was a fake guru named Lobsang Rampa. He got away with it because back then there was little information about Tibet or Tibetan Buddhism. His material looks very quaint today. Rampa was actually the pen name of a British author, who wrote a wildly popular book, 'Opening The Third Eye'. "The Third Eye, published in 1956 and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Cultic Milieu--further pondering Another author refers to 'oppositional subcultures' as part of the cultic milieu. Cultic Milieu: Oppositional Subcultures in an Age of Globalization (Paperback) by Jeffrey Kaplan (Author In 1972--a period of social upheaval much like today--sociologist Colin Campbell posited a cultic milieu: An underground region where true seekers test hid
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you want information on AC, read this blog which was started by a former editor (Hal Blacker) of AC's What Is Enlightenment? magazine. The EnlightenNixt articles are good start because they give an orientation to the entire collection of articles, plus comments. The blog ran for 3 years. And WIE magazine is still published to this day, and each issue includes an interview bet
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

TAC wrote: "Its always those who do the victimizing of others who don't believe in victims, until they get caught, and then they see themselves as the victim." This double standard is readily seen when a powerholder's suffering elicits endless compassion from followers but if underlings report incurring harm at the hands of the leader, or by following the leader's
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Below are the "39 criteria for identification of teachers and teachings with integrity" according to Hawkins. I address each. Identification and Characteristics of Spiritual Truth, Integrous Teachers and Teachings By Sir David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD 1. Universality: Truth is true at all times and places, independent of culture, personalities, or circumstances. Hawkins’ AK testin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I thought it would be helpful to define what the pejorative term "cult" means and where it comes from. Cult Definition: Cult Cult Noun 1. Adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices. 2. An interest followed with exaggerated zeal: "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season". 3. A system of religious
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

QuoteQuestionEverything...Hawkins pronounces what the truth is and anyone who disagrees with him can be discounted because their consciousness rates low on the scale. You are very correct. You have hit on several of Lifton's eight criteria just in your statement. Milieu control - Hawkins determines who is or who is not above "200," or in the "elite" as you put
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"