In a recent video by Poolman, Articulation & Presentation he says that in the presentation of his talks no articulation or presentation is involved. He says anything deliberately prepared is about knowledge and is therefore made to deceive. He encourages his listeners not to look at presentation or knowledge. Poolman articulates and presents all the time. In nearly all his videos he an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As regards the politics of Desteni, they have made clear statements to the effect that they oppose Socialism and Communism. Anyone in any doubt can look it up. Poolman's pathetic attempt to redeem Adolf Hitler, in his magnum opus, I Am Hitler, and his references to Hitler's economic policies as an example of 'equal money', is enough to show he is heavily influenced by Nazis
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicIn addition to Marcel the Maoist's critique of Desteni, there is a series of videos from 'Ordo Templi Aurora' (which doesn't seem to be an order at all according to google) making a decent critique of Bernard's brainchild. Its good to see more politically diverse people all speaking out against the travesty that is Desteni. Yes, there's 0rdoTempliAur
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicThat would be an interesting legal case, a claim for loss of earnings on a Ponzi scheme because someone publicised that the great deal on offer was in fact a Ponzi (pyramid) scheme, and therefore a scam. (Such a scam is fraud and therefore a criminal matter) That's more or less what Desteni are proposing. In Desteni Income, multi-level marketing, and pyramid schemes - points
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In these videos... 1. Criminal Investigations Involving Rick Ross and others 2. Recent US Copyright Law Adjustment 3. Collecting Information Prior to Laying Criminal Charges Poolman refers to the idea that he has a law degree and worked for the police, and that this helps him put together a case against those he says have defamed Desteni, stolen their material and lost them earnings
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's another list of unlisted Desteni videos on YouTube, none of which have previously been made public. Some of these links may be the same as in other posts here, and one or two of the videos may have been deleted. Process of Changing – Anna Purpose of the Equality Equation Emoto & the Water-Crystals Physical Alignment Support for Flu or Cold SRA When Seeing is Valid
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

breaktheggs: Thanks for your post. The article, Coping with Cult Members describes how friends or family of cult members can deal with the situation. Please feel free to add any further info on progress with your friend in Desteni or any other related matters. Continuing on from my posts beginning end of October last year... ... for anyone who's interested, here are the remaini
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's a curious video from Bernard Poolman: Process Support - Tithing He describes how the Desteni organization isn't generating enough revenue and if it carries on that way they will have to get rid of the farm. Apparently, a bank owns the farm. He claims that Desteni is a "political" organization but may have to become a non-profit religious organization and impl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Organic robots" in Desteni jargon are ordinary human beings supposedly "programmed" by "mind consciousness systems". Desteni cult member Anna Brix Thomsen on the movie, "I, Robot": "The movie is a cool picture of how some people have seen the Equal Money System as a totalitarian regime that is out to restrict and control people - instead of seei
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Evan Georgiades' showreel is on his MySpace page. Looking at that, Meta-Faith is somewhat in a similar style. If the material on the Meta-Faith website was presented as a TV show no-one would bat an eyelid, they wouldn't say "look out, it's a scam". They may or may not find it entertaining, but they'd accept it was just a satirical performance piece, a black comed
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultSomeone posted the link here, claiming money was taken. Its really not appropriate to say its a hoax yet, until there is some evidence of such, as the case above. It is not appropriate to say it's a functioning new age group or cult -- there is no evidence it is, but there is evidence it's a hoax: the videos, as I said already. The people in the videos are all actor
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Michael Ultra" as in MK-Ultra? "Ultrafication" meaning "spiritual enlightenment"? Yeah, right. Sure. He's a done a great performance but the act is just a little bit too blatant and silly to be taken literally. Notice he doesn't have any books or articles. Some of the videos have been shot in what looks like a studio theater and the people in them are
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultThe main website does not seem like a hoax. It is an excellent pastiche of a cult, a bit like a 21st Century, pared-down Frederick Lenz type cult. Very well done, congratulations to all concerned.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's a hoax. It's not serious! The people in the videos are all actors.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicI've used the examples of poker, con-games and marketing because those are the most familiar and obvious to me as being good illustrations of the point, I am not endorsing any of those practices. Bernard Poolman endorses online poker as a 'social and economic tool': Process Support - Mixing Work & Pleasure
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSimulacronXThis is just amazing. It really is amazing. Other groups discussed at this forum are pretty wacky and out there and extremely manipulative, but few are as ridiculous as Desteni. This is to a large extent why it's interesting: the comedy element. QuoteSimulacronXWhy do we here for instance consider us to be impervious to such coercive manipulation? Because the Desteni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSimulacronXI don't know if it really is a deliberate decision or intention of the victims wanting to get rid of their thoughts, feelings and emotions. If you take the first step into the fold, which can happen for various reasons, like interest in the supposed charity, or in the intention of changing oneself, I think you very quickly and subtly become suggestible to typical manipulat
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicIs there any clear exposition in Desteni-world of exactly what form 'self-forgiveness' takes, as it certainly doesn't correspond to any standard definition of forgiveness or self-acceptance if it produces demonic-type entities like Anu. Here's an e-book which describes the Desteni "tool" of "self-forgiveness" and how it's supposed to work:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicI don't find the attempts to get members to enter politics to be at all worrisome. Poolman has big ideas but the reality of politics is a savage business the world over and any Desteni member who has what it takes to succeed in that political world would be distancing themselves from Poolman and Desteni very quickly. Its just more grandiosity to pump up his profile amongst the fa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've received another email message from my contact in Desteni. Even though they clearly gave me permission to refer to them and post links they'd sent me here, it appears they are refusing to continue any further dialog; although I was under the impression they were planning on posting at this forum. It is not clear whether they have left the group or been thrown out due to me having p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Laura Knight-Jadczyk is one of the top trend-setters for combining hard-core paranoid conspiracy theories with bizarre science fictional new ageism, while denouncing conventional new ageism. Another person whose ideas fall into a similar category is A'shayana Deane. In Who is Anna Hayes? the author compares the ideologies of Laura Knight-Jadczyk and A'shayana Deane (Anna Hayes).
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultAnyone know how many people are at Destenitown? As far as I know, there are maybe around twenty or thirty people on the farm at any given time, and several are there on a long term or permanent basis. QuoteThe AnticultSo they force people to commit to 4 years? (or is that what they want to do?) They are promoting 4 years of "equal labor" conscription as "be
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultIs there going to be a Desteni work-camp set-up? A rural secluded Destenitown? There already is, on the Mountain View Farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands... which is the Desteni Farm or Ranch. Google kibbutz desteni. Poolman recommends these "kibbutzes" as a solution for all the suffering in the world, beginning on the Desteni farm and any other property they
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There's hardly an exponential increase, even Poolman admits there is rather a Slow Movement of People Joining Desteni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultDesteni work camps? Oh yes, and 'Equal Conscripted Labor'. But before that happens there will be the most advanced computer game the world has ever seen, based on the heavenly revelation of Structural Resonance Alignment ... Project Virtual Gaming & The Future of Education As regards research into Donald Herman's connections with the group here'
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicI think he is drawing on that knowledge in the way he has presented Desteni to his prospects. He wasn't a teacher, apparently, but a salesman-- so the normal responsibility that a teacher might feel towards the most useful education of his students is absent, whilst the salesman's imperative to close the deal and clinch the sale is paramount. In terms of sales, Poolman is ma
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicAs to Poolman himself having no opinions or beliefs and being perfectly self-realised as "equal and one" with heaven and earth---why then does he feel the compulsion to be all over YouTube, expounding his very personal opinions and beliefs to anyone who will listen and exhorting those listeners to proselytise and spread those very same personal opinions and beliefs? People i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some intriguing ideas there, Stoic. In PART 1 - The History of Desteni - THE ALMIGHTINESS OF GOD Darryl Thomas begins by saying to Bernard Poolman: "I suppose you were like a light worker type of uh philosophy, and up to the point where uh you confronted a demon." In Darryl Visit Desteni Cult Farm Thomas explains how he had also been, like Poolman, a disenchanted "lightwo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicIs the formation of Desteni Bernard's revenge on the world of his earlier newage lightworker illusions? That's an interesting question. There are countless recordings of Poolman railing against "lightworkers" with real venom. He has it in for them, big-style. It's as though he imagines he's the first person to ever discover that the New Age is a load of b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Recently I have been in contact with someone who has been involved in Desteni for quite some time. They have become disillusioned with the group and with Bernard Poolman. This person is known and respected within the Desteni community but at this stage does not wish to be identified. They have provided links to unlisted Desteni YouTube videos which have not been made public before and suggested t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"