Yes, mindonov, they are fighting internal demons.. so well stated! When the demons haunt her, the only thing she can do is to lash out at you, because you are bringing up her internal questions. She wants to silence the demons, and so she attacks you. It is wise that you can understand that. If she surrenders totally to the paradigm, she can be at peace. Questioning the paradigm causes t
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Saddest of all, Lil’, the MOL members are being had! As an outsider, you see the saccharin sweetness, and it IS maddening. Truly, when using those lines on us outsiders, they are not acting. They are merely using scripted lines that were used on them. Truly, they are trying to be helpful. Truly, are being as kind and supportive as they can be ..... to the lost souls of the Illu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Midonov: You got it! :(
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

That sounds potentially traumatic to the former 'cult members' on the show. He must be paying them a lot.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"Releasing the Bonds" is the only book of his that I'd read. I gifted it as an 'intro book' to the mother of my former partner/cult member, who was unfamiliar w/ the cult phenomenon. Personally, I got much more out of the writings by Singer, Langone, and Lalich - more in depth, but their writings are also more disturbing. Many (non cult) people may find it easier
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi UltAware: Yes, you are right about the ongoing reaching out. Yes, it is important to continue to be there for them and supportive. But, IMHO, a person can only do that for so long. After a couple of years, for me, with the other person was still sucked in and occassionally reaching out, it was just too very hard and painful to continue to be upbeat and supportive while he was with
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It is very hard when one parent has left the group, is still married, and the other spouse continues to be a true believer. The kids are caught in the middle. Been there, done that. No easy answers. Good Luck!
Forum: Destructive Churches

Thriving : Good for you staying away. Yuk! And so very sad too. Likewise my exBFplus, with another LGAT cult, years after breakup still sends me gifts, CDs of love songs, etc, despite his other relationship(s). Unwittingly I WAS part of a triangle, plus more, but didn't know it at the time. thus the title of this thread...... ew! :roll:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

UA: IMHO, the global growth of fundamental conservatism is scarey. Seems so many want easy black-and-white answers. Cult-awareness is critical, and far too rare.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

This is a dynamite thread! Explains so clearly the (deemed desired) results of those who have excessively meditated for years, depending upon their meditation practice. Attempting to not be be attached to even their own personality.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

At least his father was very anti-Nazi. Apparently he and his brother fled their mandatory stints as Hitler youth and beginning military training, spent a brief time in an allied POW camp, then joined the church. He is known for his conservative views, and was very close to the late Pope John Paul.
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

The cults that I've been close to, are also fairly monoenthnic at the upper levels. At the entry and midlevels there is more ethnic diversity. Just a thought here, there is no answer to be had. Is the racial unity at the upper levels of some groups actually a reflection of the racism of the group? Or is it that minorities in North America have to have a fairly strong inner core to
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

OK, Coz, I defer to you again. :D You've been at this longer than I have. In my experience, the devout have a very selective conscience... the knowing destructive lies and manipulation that wrecked havoc in the lives of my family, because of others' selective conscience, would lead me to believe that they lacked a conscience all together. Selective conscience, when the grou
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Just thoughts along the same lines of the prior excellent postings: IMHO, this is not only with Landmark, but with advancement to upper levels through most cults. Miracle of Love does the same thing, using sexctasy and other accolades to keep people hooked, then afraid to look back and undo their ways. Someone insecure, in a life crises is love bombed and supported by the other people in
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Omigawd....may i vomit now? (forgive my bluntness). Am watching a Chopra video (my first time) w/ my neighbor as I write this... word for word concepts from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Yes, Coz, he's just a personality cult, of non-science..and taken the pseudo-spiritual hinduesque from his TM background. ... gag.... All the wisdom my parents 'taught me' as they ran a TM center
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"Downfall" is a German flick, w/ English subtitles, currently playing in independent cinemas. It's based on three books, first person accounts, of the final days of Hitler's inner circle. The movie depicts the charming, charismatic man who kept people devoted through fear, manipulation. The closer followers depend upon Hitler's continued inspiration, while thei
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The link for the cuddle parties would be funny, if it weren't so terribly sad. How better to place people in a vulnerable childlike impressionale state than to replicate a pajama party? :roll:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Good question Likewise, when I'd left 'my' group I questioned such. From my New Agey-hinduesque upbringing, to my brother's Bible based cult like group, and others, I've been around a lot of 'isms' Years ago I'd decided that it doesn't really matter if reincarnation exists or not, if Jesus is the word of God, or Buddha or if there's a hea
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteIveGotIt Part of that is to get you to explain your choices to them. You don't have to do that. Proceed by just saying no. If your friend doesn't "get" that, you may have to let the friend feel bad about it. If you start doing the dance with him, he will keep dancing until he wears you down; so don't dance. Well put. They are programmed to lead you into the
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This is common, Coz, with many New Agey type of groups, as well as various Christian extremists. Chicken pox is minor compared to other stories along these lines. Why do people do it? In my family it has been justified by the power of the mind, spirit to heal, that natural healing is the ONLY way to go. blah blah blah The evils and side effects of various mainstream therapies are emphasi
Forum: Destructive Churches

Hello all, This link came to my attention. It is an apt explanation for my purpose behind posting about MOL. Due to lack of knowledge about proper exit counseling, I'd failed to guide someone out of MOL. Hopefully, those who read here will better understand the gentility and psychololgy necessary to support someone out of this or any high-demand group's influence. Speaking of y
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Martin : You'd mentioned (in a private message) that you and I are probably two sides to the same coin, r.e. our TM history. You worked closely w/ and observed the Circus Master, who you then identified as a charletan. Yes, probably two sides of the same coin. Good analogy -- I observed the circus in which I was raised! My kids born in the circus, but I took them and fled the circ
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Martin, Your postings have been quite informative! Thank you! Also I do thank you for bringing back so many memories, some pleasant and some not so pleasant. Your story of your departure was wrenching. It must have taken you a while, contemplating what you were witnessing, to make the final decision to walk away. How painful that must have been for you, to leave your close community
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteToniThat is why people on the 'inside' are so resisitant to facing their manipulation and stepping out. Even to the point of your conversations on the other internet chat group, w/ the devotees attacking you on minor typos, etc. They are not capable of logic and have a knee jerk protectionist reaction. Let me rephrase that..... To function in the realm of logic would call
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi again Martin : Am sorry to hear of the prolonged period of anxiety attacks as you adapted to post cult life. It is hard to readjust to life when all your adapted ways of assuming life's organization are now reshuffled to be in 'normal society' That is why people on the 'inside' are so resisitant to facing their manipulation and stepping out. Even to the point of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi ULTAWARE : I don't know anything about alpha wave TV. What is that? Yes, the similarity of experiences are amazing! So many conmen/women out there. My experience was not worse than yours, w/ your exspouse, necessarily, just another flavor. It IS a terrible thing to watch a loved one be sucked into this psychological 'little boxes and they all look just the same'
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Interesting. Tks, Coz, Isn't the group CAN now owned by Scientology? Of course they'd flame Rick! As I remember, from an earlier extensive reading through Rick's site, Rick has written an explanation of every allegation mentioned about him.. from his teenage auto incident, etc. He may have an attitude sometimes (no offense intended, Rick), but he's forthcoming and
Forum: Hate Groups

Buongiorno... Yes, all, we know this is gossipy, hope the readers are finding it interesting rather than totally boring. Yes, Mahesh, and ALL the cult leaders are brilliant psychopaths. They flatter w/ such sincerity to build up the insecure and keep them hooked. then slowly make their followers afraid of functioning outside their little protected bubble. Whatever the method used for hyp
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

:lol: Martin, thank you for patiently typing out that story (twice, no less!) r.e. messages being 'eaten up' when you click 'submit'. I learned to first copy the message to my clipboard before I submit, this way can repaste when/if logged out unknowlingly. Again, your history and stories are so funny. Your wit is great. So much that I have not thought about for d
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families