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Sigh, thank you. Perhaps you are correct - the inside scoop that I picked up on has certainly been invaluable in the research process. And not only have I learned to steel myself against the critics, but against the other types of controversial/destructive/manipulative groups that are out there as well. But still - hopefully the next potential consumer will have more information available to him/her than I did...
Nothing like first hand experience to deflect the attempts at 'enrollment' by those who didn't google either!
I am freaked by the numbers of other culty groups in existence. I had nooooooo idea whatsoever about the seriousness of cults and cult-like groups until my friend introduced me to LE. I knew of groups like David Koresh and that nutbar who caused his followers to participate in a mass suicide to catch the spaceship...I used to think that all the new agey stuff I got into years ago was just harmless inconsequential stuff. I had no idea the connection to bad things all of that stuff has.
I'm not sure how well I would have fared had a cult like landmark, PSI or any other destructive group, had ever gotten their hooks into me. I am not one to sway once I've made up my mind on something. If I ever made up my mind in favor of a cult, God knows where or how I'd be right now. I think one group tried recruiting me in my late teens but luckily I was too into partying and working to get caught up! That was a fairly close call, I remember a woman trying to get me to re-experience bits and pieces of my childhood and trying to get me to re-write how certain moments played out, only she was giving the 'alternative' scenario to replace the original memory with. I remember thinking how absurd to think of myself crawling around in a flippin toy store looking for just the right teddy bear to have....it was too weird for me and I resented her thinking she could erase a memory that was significant to me with a friggin teddy bear in some middle-of-nowhere toy store! I have no idea to this day which cult that was but it was a brush I never forget! Thank goodness I loved to party because after that little episode I went out with a friend and washed it all away at a favorite haunt :D
I'm thinking your own experiences serve a good purpose today and have likely served to protect others from taking the same path.