QuoteHopeNo one said she or her material is cult-related. In my short time here, I have seen plenty of discussions get shut down for not being "cult-related." I have been to a Doreen Virtue seminar. She did some readings like John Edward and then gave some interactive instruction on how to read auras. There was a slight promo at the end for her class in Hawaii, and she sold books a
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Sigh. Just because people believe in things you don't believe in doesn't make them dangerous or a cult. I do not believe in Hell, nor do I believe that I need to accept Jesus Christ as my savior in order to avoid it. So should I then label ALL of Christianity a cult? What do you guys want to do, shut down all non-mainstream beliefs? Have people only be able to buy books tha
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Quotesametanner I think the only way to effectively combat them is to get LGATs regulated for use only by Psychiatric proffessionals under strict guidelines. Do you honestly think that will solve anything? Then they'll just go get psychology degrees and infiltrate the APA to get these methods "approved" and continue to rake in the bucks. Just because someone has a PhD doesn&#
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotekath You'd probably get better results if you use a real treatment proven by science to do something, is all. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome do NOT have "real treatments proven by science" at this point, because medical science has not found the cause yet. This does NOT mean these things are all in people's heads, and you insult sufferers by suggesting s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterrmoderatorAlternative medicine can be destructive if someone either delays or doesn't seek medical treatment in favor of an unproven alternative. In this area Stephen Barrett has performed a public service by exposing quacks. Look, if Stephen Barrett legitimately went after specific "quacks" who were actively harming people, then I might have more respect for him. Randi,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotecultreporter Objective thinking is all that I ask - not dismissing all things that are so called 'alternative' out of hand based on psudeo scientific and politically compromised principles. No kidding. Anyone who seriously suggests that supplements and herbs "do nothing" is NOT being objective. They are being reactive. Marijuana is an herb. It's natural. You ca
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think Karla has done a huge disservice here. She says she wants to "bridge the gap" but all she has done has flip-flopped from one end of the spectrum to the other. Now her words are being misused to say "I told you so! Look, the New Age is bad! Karla proves it because she left!" Please. It's been my personal observation that people who get disillusioned like this
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quoterrmoderator The same would apply to QuackWatch, which is run by a medical doctor. See QuackWatch is run by Stephen Barrett, M.D. a respected physician. Barrett is not a "respected physician." Do some more homework and you'll find out that: "Records show that Barrett never achieved any success in the medical profession. His claim to being a "retired Psych
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteexImpact At the T.I.T. level, Hans Berger uses his life experience (many of which were accurately quoted by Formerimpactgrad earlier in this forum) to "prove" that God exists, and that not only are we children of God but that we are all ALREADY, LITERALLY GODS. We are here to do what Jesus the Christ did, which was receive a body/ego mind, over come its limitations, embrace our div
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotekath How he would see it is he is exposing frauds and charlatans. Stopping people being taken in financially or even killed by these therapies if they were to follow them and refuse conventional medical treatment. It's my right as an American to seek out an alternative health practitioner if I so choose. No-one was killed by the people he went after, and he lost his cases. If he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteMaggieIn Laura's column today: Quote To those readers who read last week's column and inferred that I have been captured by a cult: I can assure you I'm fine. I researched the Landmark Forum thoroughly before attending and decided to check it out anyway. I had fun, and I remain in full possession of my skeptical mind. To those of you who oppose the seminar and think I have
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuotekathYour criticisms are aimed at things Randi has said or done on a professional level. That someone is 'wrong' in your opinion doesn't make them destructive. Destructive gurus' destructiveness isn't judged by that. I don't think Randi is personally destructive in the way a cult guru would be. However, he does create misinformation that has to be countered.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotekath There's also no strong evidence to suggest chiropractic does anything at all- on a good day. On a bad day, it has proven fatal . Conventional medicine itself kills 100,000s each year. Stephen Barrett (Mr. QuackWatch) is a cult in and of himself. He's been known to aggressively go after his detractors with frivolous SLAAP lawsuits in the same way Scientology and Landmar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The use of the word "transform" is common in the personal development field and does not necessarily indicate a manipulative organization. The concept of "distinguishing" is also not owned by Landmark and is used by a lot of personal coaches, many of whom do have solid credentials in traditional psychotherapy. This seminar, to me, seems harmless. It might be fruity, but
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It is absolutely fair to call into question the credentials of someone who is actively working to discredit another. That said, I think Icke is a bit loony. But Randi should be fair game too, especially if he is being espoused as the "infallible expert" that we all are "supposed" to listen to.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultWhat is most likely happening when people think they are experiencing "psychic" moments, is they are falling prey to the Confirmation Bias Right. That's why, a week before the tsumani of 2004, I had recurring nightmares of being engulfed by tidal waves for days. Vivid, horrible dreams of running from large waves coming in and threatening to engulf me. Dreams ful
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The problem with Randi's challenge is that you just can't call up mystical experiences on cue. I'm intuitive. I've predicted some strange things for friends, that could not have possibly been coincidental. But I'd totally fail the test because my intuition only pops out at strange moments - usually unbidden - and there's no rhyme or reason to when it happens. T
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just watched the first part of the French documentary and it was fantastic. I am going to forward it to all my friends because here in LA there are TONS of people taking Landmark. But the documentary stopped halfway through...there is a part two or something that is missing? It ended where the doctor had admitted he was pushing Landmark on patients. If there is a link to part two, please
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I take yoga classes and go to a free meditation at a local non-profit yoga center. I checked everywhere and nowhere is it listed as a cult (and it's been around for a while). Just because some cults use meditation techniques does not mean all meditation or yoga is an entry way to a cult or has no value. For example, just because some cults use the name of Jesus, this does not mean Jesu
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Excuse me, sir, but I've been a paid freelance writer on and off for over 10 years (yes, for print publications) and just because someone has a column in the Podunk News doesn't mean they are a great writer or journalist. Furthermore, good personal essays are not egocentric, but touch on universal themes that everyone can relate to. There's a huge difference in writing a story
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Ahhh, don't get me started on Abraham-Hicks and the Law of Attraction! I am a New Ager. I like to think of myself as a thinking, open-minded, and yet practical New Ager. LOA (Law of Attraction), as a meme, is a virus that has completely INFECTED the New Age and personal development world. Yes, positive thinking can be helpful. But NO, we do not "attract" negative experienc
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Quotemagnumpi It's hard to explain to people how utterly devastating it is when you get hooked into psuedoscience and fanciful thinking too heavy. It literally destroyed my life. And yet, there are so many people who have found this stuff works for them and they find it uplifting and helpful. So why did it "destroy" your life, but for many others, it is a source of comfort and
Forum: Destructive Churches

OK, but even if they don't fit the full definition, some might be dangerous and are fair game for discussion here, no? It's just been my personal experience that fundamentalist Christians - many of them very nice people - are some of the most brainwashed folks I've ever met.
Forum: Destructive Churches

Re: "amazing" - just another example of that strange self-importance and ego cropping up.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuotecorboyThis article is especially good: The author speaks of bridging the chasm between rational/scientific thinking and New Age. She ended up changing careers as a result. Karla McLaren, who wrote an actually decent and famous book about Chakras, was always a skeptical New Ager. From my perspective, from reading her New Age book, she had already gotten herself in way deep with New Ag
Forum: Destructive Churches

But then by your own definition a lot of the organizatons criticized here and on this website are not cults. Landmark Education is no longer fronted by a charismatic leader. I'll bet a lot of Landmark attendees don't even know who the founder is. Tony Robbins certainly doesn't create fear and doom in people. Many things here criticized as cults do not follow all the warnin
Forum: Destructive Churches

Seems to me quite a few fundamentalist/evangelical organizations DO fall into the category of "potentially unsafe" based on those very guidelines you quoted. Fundies often have charismatic church leaders. They are taught not to question the ultimate authority, the Bible (but this is actually the intepretation of the Bible by the charismatic leader). They believe in the end time
Forum: Destructive Churches

I actually signed up with a username just to comment on this, because I find it interesting. My reaction to the column - not being someone who is passionately interested in bringing down Landmark Forum but who does think it is suspect - was this: I thought the column sounded sincere. Frankly, it creeped me out and I was surprised that the editor published it. If it was satire, it was unsucc
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"