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rattyboy
Scoobydooby and other forum members - We have had some forum members in the process of breaking free from SGI who would not be considered full-fledged "former members". Especially since full extrication from the SGI community can be a difficult process, I hope we stay open to a degree and not discourage those on the fence. I agree that kasumi sounds suspicious, and will leave it at that.
One might still hesitate even after reading nearly 500 pages of testimony, opinions, advice, facts, examples, challenges. I hope that each individual's own gut feeling, intelligence, and research around SGI is the main driving force before absorbing all that is on these pages.
Although -Newbies to the practice might want to read and absorb this forum to establish an informed opinion.
As I thought about what might be the "obstacles" to me getting away fully in my mind (terminology like that for example) I considered how it is difficult to completely disengage from SGI members as they are human beings and one might consider those forged "heart to heart connections". (even though I never see any members) I consider the context, however, and also remember some condescending and controlling language from those leaders and members I considered most respect-worthy or genuine. And just plain lies!
There are posters here who I characterized as "SGI-lite" because they made it clear that they were still in the org but were having serious doubts. Those posters have been welcomed with open arms. None of them came in wanting to rescue our paraphernalia from us (why does kasumi want this stuff anyway?). Instead, kasumi was, in my opinion, setting the stage to argue about doctrine and the relative merits of other Buddhist sects former SGI members may have joined. If he or she is not a troll, then they are certainly at liberty to respond to posts directed at them and give more information about themselves and make it clear why they are here. Instead, they flounced, which is what most trolls do when challenged.
Speaking for myself, I would never discourage anybody "on the fence" about SGI from posting here, this is a good place for them. However, Kasumi's post did not sound like it was coming from a fence-sitter, but from a kool-aid drinker. We all know extraction is a difficult process, having been through it, that's why cult apologists should not be coddled because they do not help the process of leaving and adjusting.