I was just going to post this. Cruise is a nutcase. I hope he keeps yacking like this in public, and showing just how nutty he is. He has inherited Hubbard's paranoia against "psychiatrists". My sister is a shrink. They are not evil people. Just smart people trying to do the best job they can and help people. Cruise is likely not even a high-school grad. He knows nothing of
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

You could ask Steve himself on his list. He just made a couple of statements, and then he is going to treat these girls.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Well, Dr. Phil would believe 100% he is helping these girls, and they would be paid minimum scale, which is about $500 i think. I just watched this episode, on during "sweeps" of course. Its interesting that the girls saw Dr Phil on TV and were attracted to him, as he is male authority figure. But i didn't think the show was too bad. They had Steve Hassan on as the expert.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Anything to do with Cult-Busting is playing HARDBALL. They will do whatever it takes to attack and silence their critics. In terms of an internet message board, i do not believe it is possible to have an open discussion in good faith, for all the reasons you just mentioned. It only takes a couple of people to cause some serious damage. So even though i am the biggest supporter of Free Spe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I suggest you read up on this Sterling group. There is nothing wrong with a "Mens Group", it all depends on what is being discussed there, and how this is being applied. All you can do is do your research, ask questions, and take it slow. The truth will out. Coz
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is a great resource full of interesting info, from the Skeptics perspective. This might be a thread others might be interested in giving more Skeptical links and perspectives. He has some interesting entries...
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

What a mess. It seems pretty obvious that Landmark is about breaking up relationships if they do not submit to Landmark. Then they get 100% of this woman's time. Then they get to take over her life. Maybe then she starts dating the Landmark manager? It would not surprise me. Obviously, i don't know the details. But I do feel sorry for this woman. She sounds so insecure and destabi
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is another link to Ramtha's followers response to the Media. This is a classic cult apologia...it never ceases to amaze me what appears to be going throught their minds... Here is an HTML version of this letter. [64.233.167.104]
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is some more info about the Ramtha HOAX DOC created by followers of Ramtha. also, here is the bizarre response where the filmmakers admit to being followers of Ramtha, and make a number of OTHER absurd claims!!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Has anyone read Steve Hassan's books? Any comments?
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Below is an excerpt of a funny, and yet fairly accurate portrayal of a Robbins seminar. (this was linked to above). He touches on many key points... 12 hr days, Love Bombing, Music Blasting, Shouting "Yes!", etc. He also mentions the fact that much of Robbins act is DATED. But that is intentional. Those are all repetitive hypnotic cues for his followers. They "stack" on
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Steve, thanks for the posts. Please post whatever you want here. If some important info of yours has been deleted, or will be, then feel free to post that info here. Also, please feel free to list some of the homophobic comments you have heard Robbins make. I would be interested in hearing them. As far as "Black Belt" and those other guys, long ago they were exposed as flat o
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is some info on CBT, and how to apply it to cult recovery issues.. To get the full info, read "The Feeling Good Handbook" by Dr. David D Burns. -------------- The Role of Cognitive Distortion Proponents of cognitive therapy, based on the work of Aaron Beck and others, believe that by changing the way we think we can have a profound effect on the way we feel.(6) In Fe
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Here is a recent article that is far too kind to Robbins, but at least she picks up the sense that what he is doing is cultlike, and involves brainwashing. What Robbins is doing is pure Mass Hypnosis and profound mass persuasion. Coz Can Firewalking Really Change Your Life? Associated Press/March 14, 2005 By Emma Ross London -- Seconds before stepping up to the coals, I was semi-s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

As far as "conscience" this is a very slippery topic. This is why it bothers me so much when Stephen Mormon Covey talks about CONSCIENCE as if God came down and created it or something! Also, its just as incorrect, in my view to say that person X has no conscience. Sure they do. What they have is a very SELECTIVE conscience. We all have a selective CONscience, but theirs is jus
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Nice analysis! Good work. The people who made Tony Robbins famous, Guthy-Renker, originally described Robbins as selling GREED and VANITY. That is the truth. Also, in Landmark, they are selling Greed and Vanity, as well as Lust, which i would take a subset of Greed. Greed is Good! So they say.... It seems to me they push people slowly, into the mindset similar to that or Werner Blowhar
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Christian (Anti)Science is a complete farce, and a total lie. The damage caused to people, expecially CHILDREN, who are not given medical treatment is beyond belief. No question, the vast majority of Christian Antiscientists are True Believers, who are deluding themselves, withe Mary Baker Eddy's delusions and outright falsehoods. All these guys would have to do is do some controlled,
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I missed this post. Do NOT go to Robbins seminars. In my view they are much worse than Landmark, as Robbins is much more talented. Before you spend one cent, read this entire THREAD. It gets very JUICY later in the thread! Get a coffee, and sit back and read it. Coz Also, read this thread on the Robbins forum called Unconscious Influence.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I missed this post. Do NOT go to Robbins seminars. In my view they are much worse than Landmark, as Robbins is much more talented. Before you spend one cent, read this entire THREAD. It gets very JUICY later in the thread! Get a coffee, and sit back and read it. Coz Also, read this thread on the Robbins forum called Unconscious Influence.
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Hi there, i will just throw out a few ideas for fun. Ultimately, Science and Religion do clash. Look at Evolution, for instance. But it doesn't have to be traumatic. But I wouldn't try to FORCE yourself to be an atheist! Perhaps just TRUST YOUR OWN THINKING, and continue to explore and think carefully about everything. For instance, even as an Atheist a person can look at the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

yaayyeeee!!!!! I always cheer where i see a rational secular humanist response, so that's about once a quarter! ;-) We can certainly be Good without God. We can be ethical without the God theory. I am an Atheist myself, and use scientific methods, and philosophical methods, and Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Science, etc, to TRY to make sense of things. But i do think that each p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

These people are Bad News. Its all a bunch of manipulation, and using sex to try and reel people in. Also, the guy could have some type of sexual fetish or sexual disorder, like a type of Frotteurism, or infantile pajama fetish, and this lets him get his jollies. I didn't read the entire thing, but it seems to me to be BAIT. Get them in the tent, and then start doing your crap on the
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Press on the pictures of the children here who have died from lack of medical care for their stories. What a heartbreaker. I know a New Agey couple who is full of medical conspiracy theories, and refuses to vaccinate their kids, etc. One kid just got chickenpox due to not being vaccinated. These type of parents are so arrogant, and brainwashed, and just lack common sense. What these typ
Forum: Destructive Churches

All we can do is complain to PBS, and hope they will stop this nonsense. But i guess Dyer is a Master at reeling in people, so lots of people sign up to PBS. Most likely middle aged women. We did a thread on Dyer.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I just read Covey's new book the 8th Habit. www.The8thHabit.com Total piece of junk. Of course, in this huge book, there are lots of good points. But the FOUNDATION of the entire book are his "timeless eternal self-evident" principles. Where did he get these? Did he discover them as he has said? Nope. Its pure Mormonism. He wrote a book called The Divine Center a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

TFP certainly sounds cultish to me. Maybe Rick will create a page for them, and start collecting articles about them. Coz
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

First, off, gives us the links to the info about this group. I don't see a listing for them. Also, just because something is listed doesn't make it a "cult". Read the disclaimers. It could have lots of complaints against it, or some greedy leader, or various other negative aspects to it. Just because its "catholic" doesn't mean its healthy. I used to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is some website dedicated to smearing Rick Ross.
Forum: Hate Groups

Hey there Jimmy P: I am just going to make a few general comments. I too got suckered by some LGAT stuff years ago, so i feel your pain. If i were you i would be very cautious about legal action. If you are "only" dealing with a few grand, then it is not going to be worth it, unless you had some type of personal injury lawsuit, which is not easy to win. THINK CAREFULLY before you
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I would suppose that if they hated EVERYTHING, they would have to hate themselves too. Its usually more like WE GOOD, THEY BAD. Dicotomous Thinking. black or white good or bad all or nothing Coz
Forum: Hate Groups