Yeah, I hear you. For me, it's a combination of things -Quote
One of my biggest hang-ups still is imagining those voices of those still 'in' and what they would say about my objections. That they would try to counter any argument I posted here, or, maybe its that I would like to see them cave in to some points I'm making on this board.. This whole 'win' or 'lose' thing. I'm caring too much about what others think. (Well, if you were still chanting, all this would clear up and you would be happy). But its a cult! (You've been deluded by the devil of the sixth heaven or one of the 8 winds). Well I'm angry about...(Anger is one of the lower worlds!) Yeah, but anger can be medicine, too, by your philosophy (Well, President Ikeda says,or, you are stuck in your head, why don't we do sancho?) No! (You should talk to so and so. They had the same feelings of doubt...only worse and now they're chapter leader and blah blah benefits after challenging negativity).
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Hitch
Two red flags of a cult are the doublethink mentality and the thought stopping behaviors to reinforce it.
The $oka Gakkai Cult Org. is full of doublethink and silly regressing rituals (here's just one, gakkai "SoulTrain" dancing [www.youtube.com].)
CULT!
- Hitch
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sixtyseven
@rattyboy: I can relate to this what you've posted before about the voices you hear and how they would talk about your objects. I often find myself creating an encounter in my mind what I would say to them. Once a friend on fb had told me, that he bumped into an ex-member on the street and they had a discussion about This and that. Afterwards he had made a story and at the next Cousin Rufus meeting his great experience had been the model of courage. His district leader had complimented him and he patted himself on the back for what an heroic encounter with a taiten! So I think you can say what you want, you can be angry, friendly,whatever, they will twist it and use it for their own needs. In the end you would stand there with an egg on your face, the disgruntled ex member and your seven future generations disgruntled too. I say,I'm glad that I have not to sit in one of these meetings and listen to their long stories. I am better off now.
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TaitenAndProud
Hey, I was just over at Spartan's site, and where's Chapter 5???
I don't believe he (Spartacus) ever finished it. What's on-line may also be just a preview for a future book (?). I can't really say, because I don't know. One thing I do know, however, is that much of what's in that story rings absolutely true.
- Hitch
Daisaku Ikeda set the precedent of "creative license" to misrepresent *useful* individuals as important allies and fans - why shouldn't the membership follow suit? I myself experienced how a HQ leader *changed* my experience to make the estranged member involved sound both needy and beggy - when in fact she was neither. She simply made the mistake of accommodating us as a good-natured host. I hope she'll never make THAT mistake again. Just keep your distance - nothing good is going to come of it. Once you're taiten, either you're a target to be won or an enemy to be denounced - or both. Take your pick.Quote
sixtyseven
@rattyboy: I can relate to this what you've posted before about the voices you hear and how they would talk about your objects. I often find myself creating an encounter in my mind what I would say to them. Once a friend on fb had told me, that he bumped into an ex-member on the street and they had a discussion about This and that. Afterwards he had made a story and at the next Cousin Rufus meeting his great experience had been the model of courage. His district leader had complimented him and he patted himself on the back for what an heroic encounter with a taiten! So I think you can say what you want, you can be angry, friendly,whatever, they will twist it and use it for their own needs. In the end you would stand there with an egg on your face, the disgruntled ex member and your seven future generations disgruntled too. I say,I'm glad that I have not to sit in one of these meetings and listen to their long stories. I am better off now.
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TaitenAndProud
You know, in reading Spartacus's analysis, I think perhaps one of the things that kept me from being drowned in the SGI was that I don't have father issues. Thus, Mr. Williams and Pres. Ikeda never appealed to me. I didn't need a father figure - I had a good relationship with my father; I was his favorite! What I had were MOTHER issues, and thus I ended up taking far more shit from WD and pioneer crones than any reasonable person should have. Of course, I believed the promises, that if I did, I would "grow" and "advance" and all that nonsense.
Taiten and Proud: No Longer Advancing in the Wrong Direction!
Very true, TaitenAndProud. People I have known in the organization who've had problematic relationships with their fathers really go for the Sensei gaga-ness. I also had a great dad, so never felt the need to glom onto Mr. Ikeda or Mr. Williams as a Master/Father figure. The cult of personality I saw never reeled me in at all, which looking back, I am very grateful for.
There have been so many great posts lately--they have enlightened me even further!