Another thing I've just checked into... actress Jenny McCarthy and "The Work". Recently we discussed an article about two women attending a Byron Katie event: ""Fast(ing) friends meet for detoxifying treat". In the article, the author said she thought she saw the actress Jenny McCarthy in attendance, wearing sunglasses. It likely WAS her, because here is Je
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This morning I read an item at imdb.com about the actor Michael O'Keefe ("The Great Santini", "Caddyshack", the TV show "Roseann"). It says he's penned a novel about Batman. As I read the item, I vaguely recalled that Michael had been involved in a cult way back, so I checked out his bio. QuoteJoined a sect called The Way when he was 15. Is a Z
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotequackdaveThanks for your comment, free@last. I know exactly what you mean about the 'knee-jerk' reactions that we built into ourselves, albeit with the help of the purveyors of the newage stuff we fed on for so long. I guess I'm kinda lucky, right now, in that I'm enjoying the shit out of being at the pissed-off stage of my 'recovery'. qd I'm enjoying
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I also appreciate all the research Corboy has been sharing, in this thread and elsewhere. Thank you so much, C!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The two-fingered peace sign flashed in the U.S. is used in England to mean "up yours". :-P
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There's an article just out in the L.A. Times on Stephen Mitchell and his latest publication, "The Second Book of the Tao". [The Stillness Within Stephen Mitchell] QuoteAsked to elaborate, he says: "I have no pretensions to scholarship. I just love to play with the Taoist masters. For them, nothing is sacred. The best tribute is contradiction." Nonetheless, Mit
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for the info, Cruz. When this forum began pointing out impossible claims that the Byron Katie website was making, such as "eliminates depression", rather soon after that we noticed they had changed the claim to "alleviates depression". I believe other changes were made as well. We are definitely being watched.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultA comment in the LA Times by a Stuart Resnick RandomStu...on drugs and "morality". There is also a ridiculous thread, with some guy trying to say Adi Da was great when in fact that guy was an blatant criminal. RandomStu chimes in, in that thread, its obvious he knows what these people are doing to other people, in terms of manipulation of mental concepts, and also
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotePilotThanks for saying no offense to Shih-Tzus!! They too expect to be adored, but are worthy. When I think about how much these schools of hers cost-and the number of people who go time after time-and can afford it!! Ugh, I wish they would put their money somewhere else. The Businesswoman Katie vs. the on-stage honey baby darlin Katie that people have described is a huge red flag an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteJay CruiseIt appears to me that The Work is the meal ticket. Arienariadne said she loves the work, despite her bad experience with Byron Katie, and it seems Katie supporters praise the questions and turnaround as a last line of defense against criticism. Look at jgf75 and Susan. There is a lot of money to be made by "therapists" who use these questions as a hook. In fact no one eve
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe Anticultbut, she has already bitten! Good point. A "bite me!" stance doesn't seem strong enough for the likes of BK. BK is a lot like the word "bark". One could imagine her as a little Shih-tzu, yapping away. (No offense to Shih-tzu's.)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteswampseerOkay, this is seriously confusing. As I read BK's philosophy, she says we are all "innocent." And we are, therefore, being aged. But we are also "aging ourselves." I assume we are also "paining" ourselves and "sickening" ourselves. Is she "cancering" herself? is she basal-cell-ing herself? Didn't I read she got a fac
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSusanI have found both of these authors to be extremely helpful but I wouldn't dream of attending their seminars because I've learned after being involved with a group of people once you do that then you then get caught up in a scene, and spiritual growth is ultimately personal. I found that Tolle's work is so close to the quick, in terms of showing us our ego, that he draws a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultOne might even use the word for a female canine, in "this dog bites"...starts with a "B". Warning Sign: Byron Katie BITES Very helpful, thanks. How about a sort of turnaround on this: Beeyotch Katie? Bite me!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteMeadowI heard from someone who recently staffed several schools with bk. This is about the gift giving. Apart from wedding bands and stuff, guess what most people these days seem to regard as their most valuable possession? Their laptop of course!! Apparently the BKI offices and staff are now equiped with laptops that came from participants tricked into practicing detachment. I wonder if the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Excellent find, Christa. Thanks. I feel encouraged to know that the info critical of BK is getting around. I really hope the woman on the fence is able to cease getting pulled deeper into the BKI Machine.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteChristaI've known about Karla for several years. She wrote an essay that appeared in one of the skeptic magazines. I deeply admire her. I think she's a great example of the sort of person who could make it as a guru, yet decides not to; she's obviously intelligent, perceptive, and possessed of a conscience and a strong moral sense. Says something about those who decide to s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hmmmm. BK's newsletter has announced a new event. "Guess what? The Five-Day No-Body Intensive is about to happen in Ojai, California, Stephen's home town ("I" live with Stephen)." May 24 - 29, 2009 No-Body Intensive Location: The Center for The Work 213 N. Montgomery Street Ojai, CA Description: If you are interested in the end of suffering, if
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteswampseerNew here. Coupla questions, not meant to be critical, just wondering how things work. Looks like most of this thread is quotes from other message boards, is that right? Why not just post a link and be done? Do these people quoted here contribute to this message board? Someone in the big thread on Byron Katie (Byron Katie (the Work) and Eckhart Tolle Legit??) suggested starting a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteJay CruiseRoss Robinson says he mostly uses Byron Katie's method when producing songs, so they are designed specifically in line with her philosophy. Even the title of the Korn album "Take a look in the mirror" is a Katie concept. So Byron Katie's Work has infected the music industry, via her sadistic, egomaniacal son, Ross Robinson. Apple doesn't fall far from the t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just found my way to this thread and read through most of it. Boy, can I relate to the concept of "recovering from new age mumbo jumbo"! Earlier in the thread, the former "energy healer" Karla McLaren got mentioned. In 2004, McLaren had written a widely circulated article, Bridging The Gap Between Two Cultures, detailing her disillusionment with the new age and attem
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"I'll go so far as to say that, to me, true 'enlightenment' is seeing the salesmen of all this newage crap for the dangerous phonies that they are." Qd, I think you have something there! :-)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteVera CityQuotenewagesurvivorQuotenewagesurvivor There's first 30 minutes of Religulous to be seen in Google video. Sorry, that link went to the trailer. Anyhow, there's 30:53 min Religulous (2008) by Bill Maher to be seen at least in my country in Europe. It's in the list if you can see it in your country. Hi NAS, There are lots of interviews with Bill Maher on You Tube. T
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

UH HUH!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You're welcome, Jay. :-) So get this... In the midst of reading a couple of guru-critical blogs, I came upon an entry by the wonderful Steve Salerno at his "Shamblog" site. The piece mentioned the "actress" Jenny McCarthy and the latest bandwagon she's hopped on in protest. In the comments section, a couple of people asked Steve if a piece on Byron Katie was fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteJay CruiseIt upsets me more that Jody Radzik would offer endorsements to friends giving credence to these cult apologists, than Stuart Resnik thinking he is a covert ninja of the mind. I just posted about both Stuart and Jody in the Seung Sahn thread, will say something about it here as well... Just the other day I was reading a blog entry on Eckhart Tolle at the Guruphiliac blog and was
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultRandomStu Stuart Resnick, is at it again. Right after a few thoughtful people were intelligently discussing what happened at the Byron Katie School for Decompensation... RandomStu arrives, and seems to have succeeded in his objective, to disrupt the conversation to such a degree, as to destroy it. Yes, and fortunately they have gotten wind of it at the Guruphiliac forum.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultStephen Mitchell has to be one of the biggest _______ in _______.(insert your own thought!) Thoughts weaken the mind? No. His wife Byron Katie putting her subjects on low-calorie low-protein diets, and sleep-deprivation...that weakens the mind. So it can be reshaped by the Queen. Someone at the Guruphiliac forum shared this very recently re Stephen Mitchell: "Her husban
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi qd, Thanks for bumping this thread up. I agree it's "very necessary". I say that because the Advaita aka nonduality "path" is rife with supposed "teachers" - and swarms of followers behind them. Well, maybe some of the "teachers" are sincere people who've had some sort deep experience they want to share. (I sure have had moments of feeli
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This was reported by the Guruphiliac blog on 4/18/08. It's entitled "Byron Katie Poisoned By Success?" Someone I know who was recently at the "Certification" workshop told me that one of the workshop participants did a "worksheet", that's one of tools of The Work, on Katie asking her to stop talking about all the money that the TurnAround Houses will be
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"