Here we go again. Neo's message was deleted. Victim bashing will not be allowed here. The perpetrators are to blame not the victims.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

To whom it may concern: No one must follow any proscribed path to recovery. Some of you have sought out research and professionals that have experience in dealing with cults for counseling and assistance and others have not. Each person will manage their own situation, in their own way and either decide to attend a church, not attend a church, receive counseling or not, etc. The point th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Udumbara: Please don't engage in victim bashing here. If you are intent upon becoming a disciple and risking harm that's your choice, but attempting to dismiss the first-hand accounts of others may make you feel good about your choices, but it serves no useful purpose here.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ANON541: "never abdicate one's own authority"? Predatory destructive groups manipulate participants deliberately to gain undue influence in an effort to gain authority. They break people down to create self-doubt and engender dependency. "growing up and not being dependent and a baby all or lives"? Again, authoritarian destructive groups want child like depend
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Mara Fiota: Please take a "chill pill" and stop judging people. This thread is not about victim bashing and insulting people. This thread is about asking the question is "Mooji a cult?" Please don't distract from the subject of this thread and review the rules. Personal attacks are not allowed according to the rules that you agreed to before posting here.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

JungleJames: I have received very serious complaints about MacArthur over the years. IMO a very authoritarian personality-driven group. There are Christians that feel they were abused by the ministry. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. But it does seems like you are trolling here and attempting to attack people. This is a safe place for those victimized by a destructive
Forum: Destructive Churches

ohgreatfoot: Why are you here? You seem to be an apologist for Frederick Lenz, who was a deeply destructive and notorious purported cult leader. You are offering terrible advice here and engaging in victim bashing. People that join cults most often are tricked and trapped by the group through a process of deception and manipulation used to gain undue influence. Please don't wast
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Amos: You said, "When one idolizes a leader, one tends to emulate the worst of their traits. In this case it seems that they definitely do ..." Leaders like Stevens set up a system to clone themselves. It's what cult leaders do and its universal to the cult experience. Please don't engage in victim bashing here.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Amos: See This page answers the basic questions about cults and how they operate. How to recognize a destructive cult or leader and how they typically manipulate people. Each cult victim may think that their group or leader is unique, but they all share common characteristics and patterns of behavior. Note the links within the page that provide additional information and research.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

poliscigrad: Let's not get too off topic here. The topic here is The Walk and John Robert Stevens. My point is to avoid any sort of victim bashing. For example, that those conned by a cult leader are somehow guilty and/or duplicit in their victimization. I have deprogrammed five medical doctors. They all had highly developed critical thinking and analytical skills. Nevertheless t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

whatevahs: Let's not be too quick to engage in any sort of victim bashing. The con man is to blame for running a scam not the victim. All of us go through periods in life when we are having a rough time and are more vulnerable than we would normally be. Also people are often brought into questionable groups through deception and/or by friends, family a romantic interest--someone the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Malene: Steve Hassan has a long list of people he has abused, burned and lost as friends and/or associates over the years. It's ironic how someone that supposedly is dedicated to "combatting cult mind control" could be so manipulative and controlling. It seems to me that he behaves more like a con man or a cult leader than someone dedicatedto "freedom of mind."
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To whom it may concern: There will be no "bashing" of anyone that is a meber of this message board. That is against the agreed upon rules. No one should blame a victim of a cult or guru in any way, shape or form. Anyone that does this will first lose their pre-approved status and then if such victim bashing does not cease, that person will be banned from this message board.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Icarus: For the purpose and focus of this thread there is no meaningful comparison between cults, mainstream religion and the Roman Catholic Church. It is off topic and not an accurate or useful analogy. Cults by definition deceive or trick people through a "bail and switch" process. Mainstream religion is open and honest about beliefs and it works, etc. Please don't en
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

b4u: "I would like to say that APOSTLE Mike Neville who founded Praise Chapel...had clearly stated over the pulpit in front of God and the congregation and it was recorded and sold on tape cassette as well that he intentionally wished to brainwash all of us." Wow! That's an incredible and revealing admission. But blaming the people victimized by a group as somehow responsi
Forum: Destructive Churches

zeuszor: There is no difference per Lifton's definition of a cult, which was previously linked. See "Certain psychological themes which recur in these various historical contexts also arise in the study of cults. Cults can be identified by three characteristics: 1. a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

zeuszor: "the-cult-is-always-the-bad-guy"? Well, yes cults are the "bad guy" by definition. See You seem confused to say the least. Maybe it's time for you to start over with your studies? And the victim bashing will not be allowed on this message board.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

zeuszor: In my opinion the McKay group easily fits the criteria of a "cult". And on that basis you are now engaging in victim bashing. Cult members are victims. If you don't get that than you have really failed to learn the most basic foundational aspect of cult dynamics. Adrian is right, McKay's followers appear to be under his undue influence and they will eve
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

dostfez: No. What you said was quite "clear". But we do disagree and I think your perspective is wrong. Regardless of where someone is "personally" -- when groups are deceptive and manipulative they are to blame, not their victims. You appear intent on insinuating blame elsewhere, which is frankly, victim bashing. And your sympathy seems somewhat contrived, t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

dostfez: There is no such thing as "an 'anti cult CULTIST'". It seems like your only purpose here is to argue. And the post corboy commented about comes across as carefully crafted and cryptic "victim bashing". Have you heard of the description "Internet troll"?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

bribri: "Do we really know why we join SGI? Maybe we need to find out"? "...none of them had a good relationship with their fathers"? You seem to be engaging in a bit of victim bashing here and/or amateur psychoanalysis. People most often join cults through some level of deception. Cult members are often recruited by friends, family or co-workers (i.e. someone they
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

j845: There have been a number of MKP supporters that have come to this thread apparently in an effort to spin and/or apologize for the group. Please understand that attempting to place the blame on supposedly "weak minded" people that participate in MKP for any problems or injuries they may sustain linked to the the training is typical of the "victim bashing" that MKP s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

GwT: SGI has been called a "cult" both in the United States and Japan, despite the cultural differences of the two nations. Ikeda is seen as a totalitarian leader by both societies. Frankly, he seems to fit the classic profile of a power-hungry "cult leader." Many Buddhists see SGI as a fringe group that doesn't represent mainstream Buddhism. The magical th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

People that are controlled in cults don't typically choose to be so involved. It's a gradual process that largely depends upon a slow gradual process of deception. Lifton, Ofshe and Singer explain this succinctly. To think otherwise can easily be seen as "victim bashing." And victim bashing is not what this message board is about.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

boo_spooky: You seem to be here to attack people personally and engage in victim bashing. Apparently everyone but CC is wrong according to your mindset. Please understand that victim bashing and personal attacks are in violation of the rules you agreed to before posting here. Frankly, you appear to be the one that is "misdirected" and "not...justified."
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

questioner: "pro-cult side"? What is your purpose for posting here? Seems like you are attempting to do a little bit of "victim bashing." People that base their business schemes on "channeling" claims are dubious to say the least. Frankly, the Hicks appear to be little more than "con artists" playing on people's vulnerabilities to make m
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

To whom it may concern: Do not attack people personally on this message board, which is against the posted rules. "Victim bashing" will not be allowed.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

karen: It's also important to recognize that many things in life that happen to people are not their fault. Others may do bad things that cause damage and circumstances my beyond an individual's control. Victim bashing isn't very productive in such situations. And there are also bad therapists that hurt people.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

RandomStu; Please stop posting your blog link over and over again, it will be deleted. Spamming the board with promotional links is against the rules. Again, you are engaging in victim bashing. Thought reform victims, something you seem to be in denial about, are not always capable of avoiding bad decisions as their critical thinking is impaired. In such situations people are sub
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RandomStu: "'Brainwashing dogma'"? "this 'anticult' dogma"? Frankly, you seem to have bought into a cult apologist dogma and accompanying victim bashing. Seems like you never really sorted through your own cult experience very well. Perhaps you should read and learn more before commenting. It seems you are either ignorant and out of your d
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"