Another person wrote a vignette of a therapist who seemed to want to be a guru. (Corboy note: Its not being Wiccan or feminist or a particular clothing style that is the problem. Its not having the knowledge, and worse, wanting to be someone's guru. I want to emphasize that some therapists who turn into wannabe gurus do not appear spacey at all. They may come across as quite grounded,
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

FROM RENSIL: EDITED HIGHLIGHTS OF EXPERIENCES BY SMC EX MEMBER - RENSIL - SELECTED BY ME - CLIVE - APOLOGIES IF BITS ARE MISSING : I went to Struthers Church for over 20 years. I found that rules made by the church leadership can change but with no announcement of the fact or instruction to the members. For example, it used to be that women were not allowed to wear trousers, especial
Forum: Destructive Churches

THIS IS MY SAVED TEXT EXTRACTS FOR RENSIL - EDITED BY ME - APOLOGIES IF BITS ARE MISSING : "I also found that rules made by the church leadership can change but with no announcement of the fact or instruction to the members. For example, it used to be that women were not allowed to wear trousers, especially not jeans. Nowadays most of the women there wear trousers including, in
Forum: Destructive Churches

Although John denied any involvement with the Latter Rain movement, I know from a family member that many reel to reel tapes were removed from the family home after Martha's death - the assumption by all was that they had once belonged to John. Some of the familiar doctrines belonging to the Latter Rain that later showed up in TLWF teaching are: an end time latter rain, the restoration of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I’ve always loved the teachings of Unity; and when I discovered Science of Mind I became even more fascinated by the power of our minds! And since I was so interested on learning more about these teachings I found a Unity church which I’ll call ‘Violet.’ So I started attending believing that it was going to further accelerate my growth, and increase more some of the happiness and exhilaration tow
Forum: Destructive Churches

Shayam is going to do a service -- for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. At Vera City's request, here is something I'd posted over on the yoga troubles thread. --- This is a small quotation from an essay written by Brad Warner and posted on Suicide Girls' website. Warner reflects on the film Kumare. But he points out there is a lesson from the film that risks bei
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ok -I thought I would enlighten folks with the incessant caterwauling Calvinist do over completely useless doctrines. They had to make up their own vocabulary to slice hairs over how God Selects people for heaven or Hell, now it may seem laughable to normal people, even boring, but I assure you they are constantly arguing over these things. They think THIS arguing is walking in faith
Forum: Destructive Churches

During March, 1987, at age 35, I walked into Christ Church Unity of Anaheim, California. My life was never the same again. I loved the church immediately. Reverend Mario de Ferrari was a wonderful Minister, & soon became a good family friend. I made wonderful friends, started attending every sermon, every class, & joined the Lay Ministry Program. I even became the Recording Secretary of t
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

I found one of Wendy Byrd's columns, "Choices and Voices", archived at Buddha Jones - here it is: July 10, 2008 Choices and Voices As usual, I've been thinking about Nichiren Buddhism and how it translates into Western language and culture. I've also been thinking again about a discussion I had a couple of months ago with some SGI-USA leaders, one of whom had recen
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Dear Aunt M & Justin et.al., I have been waiting to post on this forum until after I had talked a few things over with my son and one of the elders of the Church at Wells. While I thought that would be the most appropriate way to poceed, since I have not heard back from them yet I thought it best to go ahead and share just a few things anyway since I did start a dialogue here and the issu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Now here is a letter written by Tim Folzenlogen in 1994 to Rev Moon regarding the violence he experienced from Hyun Jin Moon. ---- THESE ARE A FEW QUOTES from the main letter. -- He then walked over, put his face close to my own and said “What was that piece of shit that you sent to my wife?” (This was the first I realized that Jun Sook was his wife.) I told him that it was something I wrot
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

DAVE HARVEY STEPS DOWN FROM THE SOVEREIGN GRACE MINISTRIES LEADERSHIP TEAM I have some news that is now sprinkling our holiday season with an unexpected grace and I’m eager to share it with you. As I’ve been experiencing the care of the elders and reflecting on the way forward, it’s become clear that the connection to my local church, my team, and my family should be prioritized in this
Forum: Destructive Churches

COVENANT LIFE CHURCH ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE FROM SOVEREIGN GRACE MINISTRIES For the past 18 months, Covenant Life Church has been going through a time of testing which we see as an expression of the Father’s loving discipline. Various circumstances have led us to evaluate ourselves and consider how God is calling us to grow. While we can already see ways in which God has used this experienc
Forum: Destructive Churches

JOSH HARRIS ON A POSSIBLE SPLIT WITH SGM Our Main Focus Tonight But now let’s turn our attention to our primary focus tonight. Let’s talk about the issue of our church’s participation in Sovereign Grace Ministries. And let me state again, this was not influenced by the lawsuit or its allegations. We came to a place of clarity and unity as a pastoral team before we knew anything about the
Forum: Destructive Churches

I think calling those who run the Struthers church, pastors is laughable. I don't think I ever witnessed an ounce of true pastoral care and from what I hear from others, it seems this was the case long before I even knew Struthers existed. My friend was told to have nothing to do with me and I know the same was said to others. I was told by Diana Rutherford that she would not be happy about
Forum: Destructive Churches

It wasn't/isn't only the unclean and those out in the world, who we were told not to associate with or let into our home. I was told on two occasions that I remember (there may have been more) not to have certain persons who were members (not new to the church, I add) of the church i.e. SMC, come to my house. I queried this because I found it hard to understand, as we like to welcome
Forum: Destructive Churches

A good discernment question: Corboy. Is building expensive additions to the temple given greater priority than seeing to the needs of a low ranking member of the sangha who is ill? Dialog Ireland is a great resource. Just feel free to ignore or skim posts by persons who astroturf it in attempts to thwart the discussion and run it off topic. Is the Line Between Cults and Non cults
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

(Archived copy per recent removal from the Cult Awareness and Information Centre) The Lord works in mysterious ways Mystery revealed about religious groups on campuses nationwide; your campus is their mecca. By Rachel Alterman Uncle Sam wants you. He wants you to fight in his army to save your country. Witness Lee wants you too. He wants you to fight in his army to save your soul. Unc
Forum: Destructive Churches

SOVEREIGN GRACE MINISTRIES ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT JOSH HARRIS' RESIGNATION FROM THE BOARD This past week we (the Sovereign Grace Board and Joshua Harris) came to the mutual decision that it would be best for Covenant Life Church and Sovereign Grace Ministries for Joshua to step down from his role as a board member. While still committed to our shared theological foundation and par
Forum: Destructive Churches

BRIAN CHESEMORE ON HIS RESIGNATION AS PASTOR OF COVENANT LIFE CHURCH Dear Pastors and Members of Covenant Life Church, I love Covenant Life Church deeply and it broke my heart to recently arrive at the settled place where I believe it is necessary to write this letter of resignation. My hope is that what follows adequately explains the reasons for my transition from the pastoral te
Forum: Destructive Churches

COVENANT LIFE CHURCH PASTORAL TEAM ON THE RESIGNATIONS OF MIKE BRADSHAW AND BRIAN CHESEMORE Dear Members of Covenant Life, We (the pastors of Covenant Life) are writing you with heavy hearts. What follows are two separate letters—one from Brian Chesemore and one from Mike Bradshaw—announcing their decision to resign as pastors and withdraw their membership in our church. We
Forum: Destructive Churches

JOSH HARRIS TALKS TO COVENANT LIFE CHURCH ABOUT C.J. MAHANEY'S LEAVE OF ABSENCE Part 2 From “The Stenographer” July 14th, 2011 From “The Stenographer” comes the following, which are notes from this past Sunday night’s meeting at Covenant Life Church. The attendees of that meeting were promised that an audio recording would be posted on CLC’s website, but to date, that has not happe
Forum: Destructive Churches

MICKEY CONNOLLY RESPONDS TO BRENT DETWILER Brothers and Sisters, I’ve been made aware that Brent Detwiler has emailed a document to many of you regarding what he calls the “ethical demise” in Sovereign Grace Ministries. While I’m not surprised by this development I am saddened and angry. This is what we would have anticipated when, in November, we marked Brent as a divisive man beca
Forum: Destructive Churches

THE TOMCZAK DEPARTURE FROM SOVEREIGN GRACE MINISTRIES: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? Larry and Doris Tomczak (November 2011) As you read of our time with Sovereign Grace Ministries, we are sharing some traumatic experiences, yet endeavoring to do so accurately and redemptively. I want to say at the outset that I am not blameless, but I at times yielded to a spirit of fear when told I “lacked disce
Forum: Destructive Churches

Quoteflashlight_on_roachesA different dailykos link about Tulsi Gabbard's fund raising plus how funneling was done in the past for her Father's campaign: Thanks flashlight for reposting this. Shliapnikov writes a good commentary. QUOTE FROM Daily Kos (SEE above link) QuoteSHLIAPNIKOV FEB 18, 2012You apologize for your choice of title, but it IS bizarre. I can understand
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Welcome to the Forum, Calvary, and thankyou for sharing your experiences and thoughts. Please keep posting because many people have found help through reading the Forum postings and it has helped to start or continue the healing process for people who have been damaged by their time in SMC. I agree with you, Calvary, in your reply to Mandrake, that the other leaders wouldn't do anything
Forum: Destructive Churches

This is still online What’s Wrong with Our Politicians QuoteVera CityButler has pursued his political interests over four decades, telling his followers that one of them will eventually be president of the United States. To date he has succeeded in having a disciple on every level of Hawaiian government. Quote Source Jagad Guru Chris Butler's Political Agenda - In his own words W
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi everyone, unfortunately I have been dealing with this group for almost a year now :(. The original three boys were sent to Texas from a baptist church in Missouri (possibly with Calvinistic roots) however, over time the Texas group has become extremely radical. They have taken the depravity part to a whole new level and if someone outside the church does not 'act' as they do then t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Came across this gem of an experience: "When I was 19 I was living in an abusive relationship with a real gem of a guy, working a lousy job at Dunkin' Donuts, and generally a miserable little git. I was raised basically religion-free, my parents both having left the Catholic church when I was a year old and they divorced. At the age of 12, I had decided to become an active member
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Remember that theology comes first." This definitely applies to any spiritual teacher or psychologist who uses A Course In Miracles (ACIM) as the basis for their "therapy/counseling." Look further for info on ACIM as well as Endeavor Academy (EA) and Unity Church. EA now has "counselors" posing as "spiritual teachers" , psychics, hypnotherapists, and life
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse