Legal, Financial, and Political advantages
Date: May 27, 2005 09:31AM
Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing your pondering.
I've had similar musings today.
So, what IS wrong with these groups?
WHY did I post what I know?
It is deeper than finanical abuse.
And yes, concern about children's issues.
As a society, we speak up about other social issues. This cult phenomenon likewise should be addressed.
In my ponderings today, about "WHY did I post anything?"
I considered the following scenes in my home this past week:
A couple of young adults, raised in cult, recently at my home. David (fictitious name) figured out that he was raised in a cult, from his college psychology class - Lifton's criteria of thought reform. David has now been "out" for a year, his family and his entire history still in the cult. He's sorting out where to go from here. When I'd asked him "Do you still meditate?", David hesitated as was afraid of offending me and /or ostrasization for honesty...
David's private-cult high school curriculum, accredited school, included learning to read Sanskrit, so Hindu scripture could be read in its original purity.
Also in high school he had a mandatory class preparing youth to answer questions about the TM movement and their education, geared for those who would attend college elsewhere. They role played answering such questions as "Is TM a religion?" "What is your relationship to Maharishi?" "Why is your mantra a secret?"
What programming!!
As the boyfriend of my "niece", David stayed here a few days. One day, I happened to wear all black (no reason; they were my only clean clothes that day)
David said, "Toni, you know Maharishi said that wearing black is as bad as having a south facing entrance to your home."
As I glanced at my south facing front door, I asked "So, what's wrong with a south facing door or wearing black?"
"It invites evil spirits in"
"Oh mi gosh, I guess we'll get struck by lightening now!" :lol:
David was wide eyed visiting the Zoo - had never seen a rhinocerous; but could read Sanskrit.
One evening, after running with my dogs, he enthusiasticly said (no cult determined bedtime here)
"I have so much energy, I don't know what I should do now.. should I eat, or run with the dogs again, or what?"
He laughed at my response: "You're not in a cult now - You can do whatever YOU want! Just no drugs in my house!"
The internal cage is programmed into people; it takes years to break out of the patterns.
THAT, IMHO, is what is wrong with these groups.
It goes beyond the leaders' power and finanical benefits.