Quotebarabaracolter: Quoteupsidedown: QuoteFrom my reading of this thread (I am only halfway through) it seems that the complaints arising from AA come from participants before, during and after participation in the group. That, to me, is what distinguishes AA from being destructively cult-like. So are you saying that if you complain about abuse and mental anguish while it is happening, i
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Controversial groups like Scientology and Landmark produce complaints only once a member is outside of the influence of the group. From my reading of this thread (I am only halfway through) it seems that the complaints arising from AA come from participants before, during and after participation in the group. That, to me, is what distinguishes AA from being destructively cult-like.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

I'm not sure of the veracity of this link but for anyone else who is interested, here is a link directly connecting the School of Philosophy or the School of Practical Philosophy, to the teachings of Gurdjieff. Thanks for the tip, Betsy. This is the one.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotebetsyYou can find it by doing a search on Gurdjieff. It will be on the second page of the results under "Cults, Sects and "New Religious Movements' I'll try. Thanks.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quoterrmoderatorupsidedownnewspaper: What is your purpose in starting this thread? Perhaps we could drop the "VS RICK ROSS" from the thread title...it is aggressive and doesn't indicate as I intended the idea of, "Richard M Green's new religion VS the beginnings of a destructive cults as defined by Rick Ross". Or just drop it all together.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quoterrmoderatorupsidedownnewspaper: What is your purpose in starting this thread? I guess I see the beginnings of a new religion as the perfect opportunity to case study the evolution of what could in fact be the beginning of a new destructive cult. But need not. You have witnessed and studied such things extensively and so probably don't need a thread like this. I understand
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'd like to know more about it.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterichardmgreenQuoteupsidedownnewspaperSo, Richard M Green, what's your new religion going to be called? Let's give it the Rick Ross treatment and see how it holds up. My tentative title is "Daat Emet" or "True Knowledge". But I'm currently in the Presbyterian Church in my town and I like it there. If you want to know what Rick thinks, ask him. I'd
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotebonnieMaybe one of the reasons we as a people are so vulnerable to outside influence from cults that would control us is that we have anesthetized ourselves through exposure to the media for far too long. We could turn off the TV and read a book once in a while. If I am not mistaken, better schools used to teach logic, ethics, and critical thinking. They don't seem to do that anymore.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

QuotemildredScientology thinks that the jews have erased themselves and not the nazis ! They also believe that someone who is murdered is guilty because they think that he was a murderer in a former live . No way. Really?! I've heard some horror stories about Scientology but that has got to be the ultimate. Are you sure about that?
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

So, Richard M Green, what's your new religion going to be called? Let's give it the Rick Ross treatment and see how it holds up.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBrad69For a great article on PTSD about people who have been cults see the article by Ilona C. Cuddy at Especially interesting is chapter four - What Effect do Cults Have on Their Victims? I found the parts about 'floating' especially interesting because my girlfriend has often said "I feel as if I am floating"; Now, it makes sense... I am not sure whether these
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotebarabararandomfactor; QuoteYet in practice, they essentially attack your ability to perceive reality, instead substituting an intensely subjective reality in it's place. And since you all agree on that reality, it becomes the Group Reality. This is what I have found true about all cults and "thought reform programs" I have encountered. (See the thread on Alcoholics Anonymo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, Escaped. I find myself horribly compelled. It is like a car crash. The religious section of the local library beckons and I find myself flipping through all the dianetic texts and the ones about the Moonies and I suppose what fascinates me is that there might be some point that I'll actually forget to question this stuff. Fortunately, there are also books by the escapees, and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you for your reply. I am not intending to be an "enflamer" of the issues. I am genuinely fascinated by the ideas. Landmark and Scientology both seem to breakdown into a core, sociopathic view that nothing in reality is knowable but ourselves. Do the cult-like aspects of these groups lie in the physical grouping of participants, or is the subject matter of the technique inh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A discussion topic: That the teachings of groups like Landmark Education and Scientology are in fact useful learning tools, and that personal study of these techniques may well be beneficial to the individual. It is not the study matter that is problematic but the study environment and the extremes to which the groups apply the techniques. One can be an at-home, quiet, moderate, personal S
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotebetsyThis sounds like the School of Practical Philosophy. There are other postings on the Rick Ross site regarding this group. I've heard it's a another 4th way related cult. If that's the case Stay Clear. Yes, it is associated with the School of Practical Philosophy. I saw that on the web. Thanks for the tip. But I have tried to find other postings and can't.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've an interest in philosophy and would like to study further. But in looking for a suitable course, I came across this website for the School of Philosophy. The extract from their website comes from the Melbourne, Australia page but the school has branches worldwide. QuoteDrawing on the great philosophic ideas of both east and west, past and present, this course explores the meaning o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotebarabara I have personally heard only one story of a therapist digging around for buried memories of occult abuse. In my opinion, her actions were reprehensible and she is a lousy therapist. Lord, read about the Christchurch Civil Creche Case. What a hornet's nest. A book by Helen Garner.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotenccg_concernQuoteupsidedownnewspaperIrrespective of one's beliefs or not in brainwashing and mindcontrol, in order to at least combat the effects of a possible brainwashing and/or mind-control situation, one would have to assume oneself responsible for believing oneself brainwashed or mind controlled. I cannot figure out what you mean in that post. Maybe you can say the idea in a diff
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

This is an area that for me remains grey. And perhaps it is in the grey areas that a person's belief becomes defined: that most fundamental core belief that predicates all others. My interest in these matters with, for example, Scientologists and Landmark zombies and Lubavitcher Jews, is what they "core believe". What, ultimately, is fundamentally different, the core differenc
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Irrespective of one's beliefs or not in brainwashing and mindcontrol, in order to at least combat the effects of a possible brainwashing and/or mind-control situation, one would have to assume oneself responsible for believing oneself brainwashed or mind controlled. Or is that LGAT nonsense?
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Anyway, the best possible way of dealing with a terrorist attack would be to mis-allocate blame and become more powerful in doing so. Who'd continue with terrorist attacks if that were the result?
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

I suspect any and all of these new movements will resemble each other with their quick fix, plant-a-smile-on-your-face-and-get-on-with-it profiteering. The "Don't be negative! All you need is a determination to succeed. And a credit card" baloney is the linking factor. I'm sure sociopathic Landmark graduates are infiltrating all sorts of areas and with their new gungho a
Forum: Destructive Churches

I imagine even the most nefariously brainwashed would have to concede that in the end it was their own choice to act. Jonestown suiciders took their own lives. Suicide bombers pulled the pin. Short of kidnapping, long-term indoctrination, and threats, accountability would be meaningless.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Isn't the "Important Note" that prefaces all of L Ron Hubbard's Scientology publications reason enough not to continue reading? The "Important Note" entreats readers to study carefully and if something doesn't make sense, to go back and find the word misunderstood, and only then progress further... My immediate thought: what if the words are wrong? I s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteestieQuoteMyles ... The father was obviously a drunk who abused his family...Then, after all of this, the son looked over to the left side of the auditorium and said, "I forgive you dad."...The room went silent as his father and the guy's mother both walked up to the stage and hugged their son. What I want to know, since the father was in the room, where was he during all
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Oh, you can do this for any movie. Superman Returns, for example. Superman shuttles to earth on a meteor: Thetans shuttle to earth on a meteor. "The world doesn't need a saviour": Scientology has its work cut out in a skeptical world. Superman battles evil: Scientology battles criminals and psychopaths. (Oh, you can do this for any comic book hero movie...? I am goi
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

QuoteMonkeyvomitHowever what I came to post here for was specificaly to solicit the communities thoughts on the possibility of POSITIVE results from Landmark, without it becoming dangerous or harmful Is it possible Landmark may lead to POSTITIVE results? It is an interesting question with regards a course that requires a $400-odd and 72 man-hour outlay. It amazes me that so many people are co
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteskepticMaybe I'm naive (not skeptical enough), but I got the impression that Myles is here to hear this side of the story. That's to his/her credit... ...I don't think Myles is here to recruit anyone! Yes, I also get the impression that alot of Landmark apologists end up on this site looking for the elusive logic that they need to get out. So keep reading, Myles. You ca
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"