This is very sad. As far as I know, my friend is hoping to become a leader (a carrot they dangle in front of many, no doubt), and is probably in training to become an introduction leader. To me, this shows how effective Landmark's persuasion tactics are. Here are people who have to memorize an entire book of answers to negative questions about the organization they're involved with.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quoteshe told me that I wasn't being supportive and that it was a direct insult to her that I was saying bad things about it! I wonder how she came up with that idea? She claims to have read some of the information about Landmark on the internet, but insists that there are only a handful who have written negative reports and that the number of people helped by Landmark far outweighs thos
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi, speranza, and welcome! You're right to be concerned. Your friend has become involved with a destructive group...and her obsession with it is a symptom of what they're doing to her mind right now, I'm afraid. If possible, I think the best thing to do is to stick by your friend, stay supportive, remind her of good times you had together before Landmark, and try to read up a
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteThe good news is, he is visiting his new doctor for the first time tomorrow - - and this doctor has treated a handful of patients who have suffered this very same thing. That's terrific. Please be sure his new doctor does indeed understand what happens in groups like this. Sometimes psychologists (I'm not sure what type of doctor your family member is seeing) who are unfamiliar
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Sonnie Dee, I think Oz has given you excellent advice. It must be difficult to resist coaching. I've read that there is a period after leaving a coercive group called "floating," where you may still be very vulnerable to returning to the group. You may be in this period right now. So I agree with you that it's best to avoid being in contact with anyone from Landmark
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteGlam, the kind of continual belittling that occurs when on staff at landmark is very similar to that which occurs to "battered" wifes. What stuns me is that I could not see it. Don't be hard on yourself. I think pretty much everyone can look back at some relationship with hindsight and see things much more clearly than they did when they were in the relationship (even if th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi, Sonnie... What you're saying reminds me of nothing so much as one of my friends who's had abusive husbands. They berate her and knock her down, telling her she's "ugly," "fat," "stupid," nobody else will ever love her, etc. After a while she starts to internalize this and to believe it herself -- even though, in reality, she's very pretty,
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteI was told I was failing and causing the centre to go under, I was told I needed to cause a breakthrough. Hi, Sonnie. It may help you to know that you're not alone -- from what I've read about the effects of coercive groups, your experience sounds very much like what others have gone through. Try to keep in mind that while the foks at LEC were blaming you for your centre&
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteIs it ever truely possible to de-programme yourself? How do you begin to think critically, to make decisions, to be able to decide what is right what is wrong? I can't help but wonder how so many seemingly intelligent highly education, successful people can get so sucked in by this organisation. How did I get so sucked in? I've heard it is possible to deprogram oneself, b
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi, Sonnie, and welcome to the group. I'm sorry to hear about your Landmark experience. I have a friend who's currently pretty heavily involved in Landmark. I've heard and read that it sometimes helps to read up on as much information as you can (as much as you can handle, of course; healing is the most important thing right now). Past LGAT participants have felt the Lifespring
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Oz, I've read about this blocking technique in a couple of books. Cult members absolutely refuse to hear anything negative about their group. I believe some even repeat positive phrases (or chants) about the group in their heads while being confronted with negative information; this reinforces the positive beliefs even more strongly in their minds, having the opposite effect of what�
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I tried, but I couldn't listen to the whole thing.... Lurch really gets on my nerves. But I'm amazed at how he twists the holiday spirit and the spirit of giving into an opportunity to sign more people up for Robbins seminars and buy more Robbins books and tapes. He even talks about other people in the world who "are just trying to survive." His solution? Give someone you know
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I'd like to hear how things are going. Is it possible to pass her any information now? I ask because once someone takes a stand against Landmark with someone close to them, the relationship tends to deteriorate. It's possible and perhaps probable that your girlfriend will be pressured to make exactly the decision you speak of, and then you'll have even less contact with her and
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

That questionnaire is amazing. There's info about the Sea Org here at the site, under Scientology. Here's one link: I've read a lot more about it in the book "L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman?" which I would recommend. Apparently Hubbard had a yacht and certain members of Scientology were accepted to work in the "Sea Org," an "elite" corp of
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Thanks for the post. I really feel badly for the guy. He alienates most people with his constant preaching and odd beliefs. Since my other friend got involved in Landmark and I've done some research into coercive groups, I've come to realize that he might be even worse off than my Landmark friend. He keeps inviting me to potluck raw-foods dinners/prayer meetings, but I refuse. I'm
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Does anyone know anything about Halelujah Acres, which promotes the raw-food vegan Halelujah Diet? One of my friends is into this. He's frighteningly thin. From what I understand, this diet is closely tied to worship of Jesus, who supposedly handed down this diet, strictly controlling what foods you're allowed to eat. According to my friend, sticking to this diet (and praising Jesus con
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, Oz...I found the Lifespring study very eye-opening. It really gave me a clear idea of what actually happens in an LGAT training weekend and the effects it has on people. I'm glad it helped your ex. I'm also very glad Rick Ross has all this info available to read online.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteMaybe I should send him an anonymous copy of "Outrageous Betrayal" (I haven't read it myself yet) I have heard that some people were surprised to hear what a jerk Werner is and it made them think twice about Landmark....but others in Landmark know all the Werner dirt and accept it...they're actually proud that he transformed his life. Is it possible to get your friend s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

From what I've read, groups like these target people who are at a low point in their lives or questioning things about themselves. They promise "transformation" to people who are feeling down or feel a need to change something about their lives. In my friend's case, he'd injured himself and was out of work for months, looking possibly for a new career. That's when he
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here's a site where you can download videos about cults; some are about Scientology. I watched one, but my 7 years of French classes didn't help me understand a single word! Maybe Montreal can watch & give us the gist if time allows?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I don't know about the suicide or murder, but by using the search function on the French site mentioned, you can find all kinds of French articles about Landmark. I used Babelfish to translate one: Quote Training courses Seminars of personality can have monstrous consequences (Source: Suedwest Presses transmitted on the news by Roger Gonnet Ulm, August 11, 2001 Master craftsman
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Sounds like I need to rent/buy this movie. I've never seen it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

No wonder Madonna loves Kabbalah so much...it sounds like she's the one who's being worshipped: QuoteGive me back my old Madonna Raquel Hecker used to worship at the same Kabbalah centre as the singer. Now she's become disillusioned - both with mystic Judaism and with her favourite star Sunday October 31, 2004 The Observer A petite blonde steps into an unassuming fi
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I don't know what I find more amazing -- how much the Kabbalah class experience and the promise of "transforming our creation" sounds like the Landmark Forum, or how people who've become involved in either organization can come here, read accounts like these, and somehow still believe that what they've experienced is truly unique and honestly transformational. How can the
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

It's frightening -- he has degrees and certifications, but basically he's a Landmark Leader-For-Hire. He "transforms" people one at a time rather than in a mass group. He's certified in hypnosis, so I'm sure his patients "get it" pretty quickly. And he selects particularly vulnerable people -- people with substance abuse issues who are looking for help. Sad
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Wow. His site sounds so much like LEC's I'm surprised they haven't sued him.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Apparently this doctor has created substance abuse programs centered on Landmark's "transformation:" QuoteAbout Dr. Harry Henshaw   Dr. Harry Henshaw Director of Outpatient Services Holistic Addiction Treatment Program 16170 NE 11 Court North Miami Beach, Florida 1-800-559-9503 www.drugrehabcenter.com Dr. Henshaw earned his doctoral degree in Human Development and Co
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Do you have any idea how to get hold of an original edition of Margaret Singer's book? I've tried looking, but all I've found is the new edition, with the Landmark stuff removed (I've read it). Glam
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotePerhaps you like dishing it out but can't take it yourself?! Funny that you would bring that up in the context of Landmark...have you ever tried to "dish it out" to your Landmark leader?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteWhat two or three tough question can I put to a Landmark sales person that will bother them? I am looking for tactful questions that will make them think – yes this is a challenging request. Not all that challenging. Just think for yourself. And if the "salesperson" says something that doesn't make sense to you or raises red flags, just counter it with an intelligent q
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"