Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
LWFlouisa
()
Date: June 02, 2019 01:34PM
Worth noting, FIGU is a UFO cult in Switzerland. Often discussed informally, or not at all in the UFO community. Most of them treat as that estranged cousin nobody wants to talk about it.
In life, I'm a developer in artificial intelligence. I write science fiction and fantasy. So one might wonder, how would you get caught up in the FIGU stuff? Well it was a gradual thing.
Although my partner (who had ... issues of her own) noted it was my approach that may have helped me leave, even with some PTSD.
(1. I never fully attached myself to the group.
(2. Generally a lot of their believes I found unpalatable. (So it was easier to leave, being a member that was on the periphery.)
(3. I had dodged a bullet with other cults before.
I'm still not sure entirely sure whether The Satanic Temple is a cult, not because they don't fulfill the requirements of a religion (you can have an atheistic religion, contrary to what New Atheists might tell you).
But surviving FIGU has made me view all other groups with suspicion.
So if anyone else survived FIGU / Billy Meier, I'm happy to give whatever support I can.
I still kind of fear retaliation, but it's largely melted away.
What I'm doing now: Currently learning about and researching anarchism, and anarchism mode of thought. But I'm absolutely determined to study this stuff alone, without help.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2019 01:37PM by LWFlouisa.
In life, I'm a developer in artificial intelligence. I write science fiction and fantasy. So one might wonder, how would you get caught up in the FIGU stuff? Well it was a gradual thing.
Although my partner (who had ... issues of her own) noted it was my approach that may have helped me leave, even with some PTSD.
(1. I never fully attached myself to the group.
(2. Generally a lot of their believes I found unpalatable. (So it was easier to leave, being a member that was on the periphery.)
(3. I had dodged a bullet with other cults before.
I'm still not sure entirely sure whether The Satanic Temple is a cult, not because they don't fulfill the requirements of a religion (you can have an atheistic religion, contrary to what New Atheists might tell you).
But surviving FIGU has made me view all other groups with suspicion.
So if anyone else survived FIGU / Billy Meier, I'm happy to give whatever support I can.
I still kind of fear retaliation, but it's largely melted away.
What I'm doing now: Currently learning about and researching anarchism, and anarchism mode of thought. But I'm absolutely determined to study this stuff alone, without help.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2019 01:37PM by LWFlouisa.
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
Mvid
()
Date: June 07, 2019 07:18PM
That's a really intriguing post! A few questions.
1. How do you think FIGU fits the definition of cult, or how would you define "cult" to include FIGU?
2. What do you mean with join? Did you become a passive member? Did you go there at some point?
3.I'm assuming you studied the information for a long time before joining? What prompted you to become a passive member (assuming that's what you did) and what prompted you to stop being one?
4. What do you mean with "surviving" FIGU? That's especially intriguing. Did you face danger from reading the materials online? From being a passive member? From visiting FIGU physically?
5. Who do you fear retaliation from? Do you mean retaliation for simply terminating your passive membership, or for something you did when you visited there?
From the way you speak it seems unlikely that you were ever a core group member that would have resided at the center and had personal connections with the people there, so it's really difficult to tell where you are coming from...
1. How do you think FIGU fits the definition of cult, or how would you define "cult" to include FIGU?
2. What do you mean with join? Did you become a passive member? Did you go there at some point?
3.I'm assuming you studied the information for a long time before joining? What prompted you to become a passive member (assuming that's what you did) and what prompted you to stop being one?
4. What do you mean with "surviving" FIGU? That's especially intriguing. Did you face danger from reading the materials online? From being a passive member? From visiting FIGU physically?
5. Who do you fear retaliation from? Do you mean retaliation for simply terminating your passive membership, or for something you did when you visited there?
From the way you speak it seems unlikely that you were ever a core group member that would have resided at the center and had personal connections with the people there, so it's really difficult to tell where you are coming from...
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
LWFlouisa
()
Date: June 08, 2019 03:59AM
1. How do you think FIGU fits the definition of cult, or how would you define "cult" to include FIGU?
Not so much a core group member, as part of an American division that was beginning to splinter off from it.
2. What do you mean with join? Did you become a passive member? Did you go there at some point?
More accurate to say a passive member. Ken wanted me and kept trying to persuade me to become an active member.
3.I'm assuming you studied the information for a long time before joining? What prompted you to become a passive member (assuming that's what you did) and what prompted you to stop being one?
Before that point I had read Jim Mars books on UFOs, and assumed the stories about Billy Meier were greatly exagerated. But there is a lot of granularity I don't even think Meier intended.
4. What do you mean with "surviving" FIGU? That's especially intriguing. Did you face danger from reading the materials online? From being a passive member? From visiting FIGU physically?
There was never any explicit danger, but rather the feeling of uncertainty, and being stalked at one point silenced me for a while. (Although I never came back to the group.
5. Who do you fear retaliation from? Do you mean retaliation for simply terminating your passive membership, or for something you did when you visited there?
Mainly from people I was most immediatly involved with online. For example some of the people I knew actually followed me on some language learning sites.
One other disturbing factoid, they were really obsessed with learning German. There was also a very very strong anti-LGBT current in it. And at one point they had preached that the Plejaren (apparently that's what the ETs preferred to be called, not Plaiadeans). And that they had "bred out" LGBT people from their society.
There were other reasons i stopped being a passive member, but such implied non-support for my own variation of LGBT status was a major factor.
The fear of relaiation was so strong, that when I actually go around to writing my own memoir of that particular group, I had changed its name. (I'm not entirely sure if the new group I'm in is in fact actually a cult, or if they use the word cult in a tongue in cheek manner.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2019 04:04AM by LWFlouisa.
Not so much a core group member, as part of an American division that was beginning to splinter off from it.
2. What do you mean with join? Did you become a passive member? Did you go there at some point?
More accurate to say a passive member. Ken wanted me and kept trying to persuade me to become an active member.
3.I'm assuming you studied the information for a long time before joining? What prompted you to become a passive member (assuming that's what you did) and what prompted you to stop being one?
Before that point I had read Jim Mars books on UFOs, and assumed the stories about Billy Meier were greatly exagerated. But there is a lot of granularity I don't even think Meier intended.
4. What do you mean with "surviving" FIGU? That's especially intriguing. Did you face danger from reading the materials online? From being a passive member? From visiting FIGU physically?
There was never any explicit danger, but rather the feeling of uncertainty, and being stalked at one point silenced me for a while. (Although I never came back to the group.
5. Who do you fear retaliation from? Do you mean retaliation for simply terminating your passive membership, or for something you did when you visited there?
Mainly from people I was most immediatly involved with online. For example some of the people I knew actually followed me on some language learning sites.
One other disturbing factoid, they were really obsessed with learning German. There was also a very very strong anti-LGBT current in it. And at one point they had preached that the Plejaren (apparently that's what the ETs preferred to be called, not Plaiadeans). And that they had "bred out" LGBT people from their society.
There were other reasons i stopped being a passive member, but such implied non-support for my own variation of LGBT status was a major factor.
The fear of relaiation was so strong, that when I actually go around to writing my own memoir of that particular group, I had changed its name. (I'm not entirely sure if the new group I'm in is in fact actually a cult, or if they use the word cult in a tongue in cheek manner.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2019 04:04AM by LWFlouisa.
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
Mvid
()
Date: June 08, 2019 07:43AM
I know that there have already been several attempts to create a splinter FIGU group in the US, but they have all failed because certain members were assuming leadership and becoming too authoritarian. So, probably for the same reason that made you feel that you were in a cult. It's also strange that you were being persuaded to become a part of the group (from what I can understand) while having so little knowledge of the case. The way I see it, such group would be formed by enthusiastic people who had already read all available English translations, which would have already kept them busy for a very long time and allowed them to make up their minds about everything.
As for LGBT variations, certain passages from (supposedly) earlier prophets, such as Jmmanuel and others, are definitely anti-homosexuality. FIGU's current stance is tolerant and accepting of homosexuals. Homophobes will probably be able to find something they can cling to. Other people, including homosexuals that I know of, seem to accept and integrate the different and potentially confusing references without viewing them as personal attacks.
As for LGBT variations, certain passages from (supposedly) earlier prophets, such as Jmmanuel and others, are definitely anti-homosexuality. FIGU's current stance is tolerant and accepting of homosexuals. Homophobes will probably be able to find something they can cling to. Other people, including homosexuals that I know of, seem to accept and integrate the different and potentially confusing references without viewing them as personal attacks.
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
LWFlouisa
()
Date: June 08, 2019 08:29AM
It does make my wonder how they plan to resolve that issue if they're accepting now? Of homosexuality.
I wonder if that's what drove me to anarchism eventually? I don't know, which such a weird life, everything seems connected.
I tried reading the passages, but I was also having PTSD ... from ... some other issues not entirely unrelated to the UFO topic.
Yea Jmmanuel was kind of their stand in for Star Trek jesus, or at least it seemed like to me.
I wonder if that's what drove me to anarchism eventually? I don't know, which such a weird life, everything seems connected.
I tried reading the passages, but I was also having PTSD ... from ... some other issues not entirely unrelated to the UFO topic.
Yea Jmmanuel was kind of their stand in for Star Trek jesus, or at least it seemed like to me.
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
Jay1986
()
Date: October 10, 2020 06:25AM
The FIGU people and MEIER only hold a viewpoint that corresponds to PLEJAREN viewpoint and if you try and go against it they dissuade and taunt you into oblivion.
I regret being so naive that I keep falling for their tricks and traps, is there any proof that culteducation.com is not yet another trap?
I regret being so naive that I keep falling for their tricks and traps, is there any proof that culteducation.com is not yet another trap?
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: October 11, 2020 11:24PM
Here are up front warning signs of a potentially unsafe group.
[culteducation.com]
[culteducation.com]
Quote
Warning Signs
Print Email
Potentially unsafe groups or leaders "come off very nice at first, they go for vulnerable people who are looking for answers, lonely, what you'd call 'normal people.' They're very good at what they do and can get people to believe anything. You might think you'd never get taken in, but don't bet on it. "
-- Margaret Singer, Ph.D.
By Rick Ross, Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.
Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
The group/leader is always right.
The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.
Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
Ten signs of a safe group/leader.
A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.
Don't be naïve, develop a good BS Detector.
You can protect yourself from unsafe groups and leaders by developing a good BS detector. Check things out, know the facts and examine the evidence. A safe group will be patient with your decision making process. If a group or leader grows angry and anxious just because you want to make an informed and careful decision before joining; beware.
Re: Survived The Billy Meier experience,
Posted by:
Jay1986
()
Date: October 16, 2020 03:08AM
Corey Leff among others have passed away under mysterious circumstances and I want to know what happened to them. If anyone has any information please email me at (Deleted by Moderators. Message board rules prohibit use of personal emails. Message board users can use the Private Message (aka PM) function.)
Thank you in advance
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2020 08:45AM by corboy.
Thank you in advance
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2020 08:45AM by corboy.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.