QuoteLineageholderThe only thing that Geshe Kelsang Gyatso did to earn a bad reputation amongst Tibetan Buddhists was to oppose the Dalai Lama's sectarian ban of the Buddhist Deity Dorje Shugden. He was one of the very few who was brave enough to say that it was wrong for the Dalai Lama to do this and he has paid the price, but he's fearless in standing up for what is right, regardless
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sile/Sheila is my real name. As you may know, the more common spelling is often taken. My full name (as I believe I've already posted) is Sile Shigley - I'm a real person from Madison, WI, USA, and very easy to find if you have remaining doubts. I welcome discussion both online and in person.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoic'By filing in criminal court.' So Sile, advise Sogyal that his time of protection is coming to an end, despite your puny efforts to whitewash his reputation here. I've never met the man. Examine my words to date carefully: If Mary Finnigan, Victoria Barlow and Evelyn followed some of my suggestions, they would shore up their cases. Never assume.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteMisstyk I'm curious to know how victims of Catholic clergy abuse finally managed to get their charges taken seriously By filing in criminal court.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rick Ross is violating copyright law by hosting the article. More importantly to researchers and potential victims, the translation has not been approved by its author, nor by its publisher. The translation may be an excellent one, but it needs to be approved so we know what we're discussing here, with few misunderstandings. That in fact is one reason international copyright law forbi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Both RR and Dialogue Ireland are currently hosting an unauthorized translation of an article which first appeared in the French magazine, Marianne. In addition to the unauthorized translation, Dialogue Ireland is also hosting an unauthorized repost of the French original. I have an interest in accessing the article, as I believe it contains information relevant to my own research; however,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotezeuszorYeah, I hear ya RR. Anyway, I really dig the Black Jesus on the cover of Steps to Christ. Me, too :)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

1. A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. 2. A process call coercive persuasion or thought reform. 3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie. Ellen G. White's writings are now being pushed anew - employees are b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry." This was called The Great Disappointment. The Millerites were told that on Oct 22, 1844, Jesus would return to earth. Thousands sold all their earthly possessions including their homes; some donned "white raiment." Families gathered outside and in t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The mere fact that SDA hold the collective works of an 1800s woman claiming to be a "divinely inspired prophetess" at or nearly at the level of the Bible makes them far outside mainstream Christian teachings. That this prophetess was discovered not only to have faked divine inspiration, but to have stolen her "divinely inspired" writings from other authors, and yet the chur
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Despite Trungpa Rinpoche's more infamous qualities, his advice remains some of the most profound I have heard. Cutting through spiritual materialism--what a concept. I feel it's entirely possible that if I had met Trungpa Rinpoche, I might have been turned off by the other stuff and not been able to appreciate his advice. So in a way, it was a blessing to have it in book form, an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, to be fair, the amalgamation point continues to be debated. As in "Did Sister White change her views on amalgamation over time?" Gulp. But, at the same time as having all these wild views, Adventists can be (as you saw) wonderful friendly people. There is certainly no systematic violence or coercive sex. I guess that's a good question for discussion - "What
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Adventists are indeed a generally kind lot. It's so ironic that Steps to Chris now depicts a black savior, given that the woman who wrote it teaches that the "black race" is a result of "amalgamation of the species" (men and apes producing offspring). I sure wish I were kidding.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think "exclusivity" is a helpful concept as well. Adventists maintain exclusivity of salvation (only SDA's will be saved), and encourage exclusivity of contact. In other words, one is not really supposed to have contact with non-Adventists. Having contact with "the world" is contaminating. Growing up Adventist, one knows and plays with only Adventist children; Adven
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Many (most) Christian churches do not teach that you will not go to heaven unless you are a member of that specific denomination. Adventism teaches you will not go to heaven unless you are Adventist. Catholics pass a collection plate, but they do not systematically demand 10% of members income. If you do not put something into the Catholic collection plate, in my experience no one bats an ey
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The chief exploitation in Adventism is financial and emotional. Converts around the world are told they will not be "saved" if they do not become Adventists. Only Adventists will go to heaven; all others will suffer eternal death. Once you become Adventists, you are informed 10% of your income must be given to the church (this includes childrens' income). If you do not give 1
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

These are not my experiences - they are our experiences. The Adventist church encourages members, at every turn, to accept Ellen G. White's plagiarized writings (including Steps to Christ, mentioned above) as divinely inspired, and further, to respect these writings as one would respect the holy Bible itself. The Adventist church is indeed concerned with members doubting the Spirit of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I found the case. It was not against Sogyal Rinpoche, but “Sogyal Rinpoche et al” and included Rigpa Fellowship and the Spiritual Care for Living & Dying Network as co-defendants. Complaint Number: 0001 — COM COMPLAINT of DOE JANICE Original Filing Date: 11/02/1994 Complaint Status: Entry of Ct. Ordered Dismissal 02/22/1996 The case was ordered dismissed.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another odd bit - as a child, we were taught in school that Catholics had what they claimed were wine cellars under their churches, but were in reality, dungeons of some kind. We were told that in the "end times," Catholics would imprison us in these "dungeons." Catholics would first enact "Blue Laws," forbidding us from observing the Sabbath and forcing us instead
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Very interested to hear your thoughts, Yasmin! The definition of cult doesn't require the group to be overtly mean; there are many levels of pressure. My mother would be told, "When you get to your new station, you are going to do this and that job." There was nothing she could do about it. She would be told, "Upper-level conference people are coming to stay with you.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A settled civil case means 1) there either was no criminal case, or if there was, Sogyal Rinpoche was found not guilty and 2) the complainant felt satisfied with the results of the civil case.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Whatever anyone outside thinks, I was raised in Seventh Day Adventism, and in my opinion, it's a cult. It has not reformed into some mainstream religion; in fact, the current president, Ted Wilson, is making all upper-level employees of the church (physicians, professors, lawyers, college presidents) sign a "loyalty contract" in order to keep their jobs. It reminds me of the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My apologies, rrmoderator, I thought my posts had been deleted. I'll stop participating in the Ole Nydahl discussion as you requested. I continue to read with interest corboy's experiences with Diamond Way, as I've heard so much about these people but not experienced them directly.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have long been interested in the definition of "cult," having been raised (fourth generation) Seventh Day Adventist and eventually leaving the church. I'm not sure labeling is always helpful - if something "is" or "isn't" a cult, would it matter, as far as the members' experiences? But I remain interested in exploring the issue. From rickross FA
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotecorboyIf you are for human rights in Tibet, why deny human rights of female students to study Dharma and not be used as sex toys by lamas, eh? Or are they excluded from the Compassion Bandwagon? My previous posts have not shown up, so I don't know if this one will. I guess I'm going to go back to the Seventh-Day Adventist and Chinese forums, where oddly enough, less censors
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterrmoderatorSile: NKT is not the subject of this thread. You said you thought I was here to be an apologist - I was showing that I'm not here to be an apologist. I have good and bad things to say about the cult I was in, for example. Will I be called an apologist if I say Seventh Day Advetism was loving in many ways? Will someone here who mentions something positive about Ole N
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterrmoderatorSile: You "don't have experience with Ole Nydahl"? Why are you here? Just to argue? No...I've been reading the posts in several of the threads. When corboy mentioned not observing the teacher, I felt compelled to respond. I know what it feels like to be in a cult. I'm familiar with the dangers, the delusions, the difficult ties; it's d
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Also, please notice that in the NKT thread I was not apologizing for NKT, and in fact posted my personal observations debunking the myth that the NKT survivors group "doesn't allow positive posts about NKT."
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am here as an ex-member of Seventh Day Adventism. I'm sorry I posted in the Ole Nydahl thread--you are correct, I don't have experience with Ole Nydahl. However, the poster previous to mine had mentioned that "observing the teacher" (I'm assuming he said this in reference to Nydahl?) was not a good way to protect oneself from abuse, because one could become socialized
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

However, I will be glad to move general abuse comments to some other thread, although I'm curious why corboy wasn't warned as I was, especially given the length of his post.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"