walknntalkn: The books and research cited all delve into how cult leaders exploit the vulnerabilities of people who are looking for answers, have problems, are experiencing personal pain. The common thread in many cult recruitment situations is that people are going through some personal difficulties, which makes them more vulnerable to coercive persuasion and cult recruitment techniques t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

To whom it may concern: Mankind Project is a controversial training program that has a history personal injury litigation, complaints, bad press and controversy. Anyone considering such training should do research before becoming involved. See Based upon this history I would not recommend Mankind Project to anyone for anything at any time. There are far safer more viable alternati
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY: Please read the relevant research. You might read "Cults in Our Midst" by Singer. "Influence" by Robert Cialdini. "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen Or you can click through on links that have been posted on this thread. The thought reform and coercive persuasion used by destructive cults is not rekevab
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBoy: Don't you ever seriously read any research about cults, thought reform, coercive persuasion, influence techniques and cult recovery? The links to research have been posted on this thread. Just point and click through. Seems like you have not done that or you would know that many of your claims don't match the detailed research on the subject of cults and how people get in
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo: I am sorry if this seems like a sales pitch, but pick up my book "Cults Inside Out" it explains everything in very fine detail. It includes analysis from biblical scholars and wide array of experts. It has more than 1,250 research footnotes and an 18 page bibliography. The book can be downloaded through Kindle or bought as a paperback through Amazon. I have also pos
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Personal attacks are against the rules of this message board. Please read the rules you agreed to before posting here.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

kBoy: "Stumbling head-first"? Not really. Tricked and trapped deliberately by a calculating and manipulative leader. Stumbling upon such a group can be seen as unfortunate, but there is no blame on the victims since they were deceived and coerced through manipulation.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBoy, The "elixir" has also been called "kool-aid" in popular culture. That is, a synthesis of coercive persuasion, thought reform and influence techniques known commonly as "brainwashing" used to gain undue influence. No one signs up to be brainwashed, but that is what happens in destructive cults. People lose their ability to critically think and reason in
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo, Thanks for that clarification concerning scripture. Another thing that's quite important when dealing with supposedly bible based groups is to recognize how the leader may have twisted the scriptures. Getting a good mainstream study bible and talking with a qualified biblical scholar with recognized credentials (i.e. seminary degree from a well recognized and accredited
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington: IMO Yes probably, but I am not an attorney.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBoy: What you are describing is incredible control over people's lives with no boundaries whatsoever. The only way to stop it is to leave the group. And groups like this make that very difficult by characterizing those who leave as "leaving God" and/or rejecting "God and His word." They make you feel that obedience to them is obedience to God and disobedience to t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

BraedLeah: You should report this immediately to local law enforcement authorities in your local area. You will have to name the group, its leader and location. Go to the police now if you think any crime has been committed. This message board is not a substitute for reporting a crime to the proper authorities.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wombat: Do you have anything critical to say regarding Mooji? What has he done that you have a problem with regarding his personal conduct and conduct? Please give me some examples of Mooji mistakes per your observation.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Welcome little red flag: Thanks for taking the time to comment and add your observations to the thread.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBoy: "Our decision to deny what was in front of our face--for the sake of our 'greater purpose'"? The "denial" your refer to is common in highly controlled authoritarian groups. It's commonly understood within the context of cognitive dissonance, which is the process that resolves the conflict between the "red flag" we see and what the leader an
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion: What I am trying to do here is address the layers of conditioning and training of the walk and destructive cults generally so that people can recognize what happened and move on into life out of the cult more easily. It's like when Dorothy recognizes that the Wizard of Oz is really the old man behind the curtain. You then cease to be afraid of the pyrotechnics and bag of tricks
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBoy: "Recognizing an error in judgement"? No. Recognizing that deception and manipulation through coercive persuasion is used to essentially eliminate the ability to make an informed choice and effectively utilize critical thinking, which enables people to make good judgements. That's how groups like "The Walk" and leaders like Stevens have tricked and trapped p
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

KBoy: The simple truth is all destructive cults share three core characteristics in common and are therefore largely the same, despite their veneer, which is part of the "bait." See This paper published at Harvard nails it concisely. Certain psychological themes which recur in these various historical contexts also arise in the study of cults. Cults can be identified by thr
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY: You should not imply blame regarding the victims, but rather place the blame on the predator. Deception and manipulation is inherently involved in the any destructive cults's recruitment and retention of members. Rather than being "intoxicated" their feelings are being managed and whatever "misstep" occurs it is under undue influence and through manipulatio
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wombat: "Witch hunt"? You are here as an apologist and to dismiss criticism. "Proper measured debate"? Seems like you are trying to control and/or dominate this thread.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Wombat: This forum is specifically the place to discuss "gaslighting" and other forms of manipulation and abuse in authoritarian often personality-driven groups. That's why people post here. Often when people post complaints here a supporter of some group, guru or leader will come in and try to dismiss complaints through their posts and/or denigrate people who post complai
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I will be watching and may pull the plug soon. You are right this isn't the place to plug for cult apologists and people that try to somehow spin that Jim Jones wasn't so bad.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I_woke_up: Nothing objectionable in the posts you quote. Pretty standard considering the Christian background of the group as I posted before. IMO there are people who are now trolling this thread in an effort to frustrate people posting here. They seem to want to chase people off and/or start arguments that lead to people not posting anymore. Trolls and trouble makers will be banned.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Often regarding supposedly bible based groups that have been called "cults" the group and/or leader may manipulate the bible and utilize various verses twisted out of context to control people. In discussions on this message board about such groups former members may point this out and quote scripture to illustrate this issue. In this sense the quoting of the bible and referenci
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY: You have ignored the previous warning and the rules you agreed to before posting here. Last warning. Stop promoting your personal beliefs with posts and links or you will be banned.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed: YOu seem to be here as a troll and/or a cult apologist. Rebecca Moore is a cult apologist who engages in the worst sort of apologies about Jim Jones. She worked to include his name on a memorial at a cemetery where there is a mass grave of Jones' victims. Jones is not buried there, but Moore wanted his name engraved on the memorial stone at the mass grave anyway. Sic
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

KBoy, Stop preaching. No one is interested in your personal philosophy or sayings, etc. If you continue your will be banned from this message board per the rules you agreed to before posting here.
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"

Tmason: No. It's about the behavior and group dynamics of the Living Word Fellowship, The Walk and how its leadership treated people. It's also about the leadership structure and the issue of accountability and financial transparency. People can believe whatever they wish, but they cannot do whatever they want in the name of their beliefs. People posting here are question
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families