I accidentally started a new thread with this question, so am now re-posting it where intended: Does anyone know the relationship of the "Dream Centers" to Set Free? Is there more than one "dream center" in the U.S? Thanks.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Does anyone know the relationship of the "Dream Center" to Set Free? Is there more than one "dream center?" Thanks.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We've just learned that the Maine Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Gentle Wind Project -- the group that has been suing us and others since May 04, including Rick Ross who won his defense against them in federal court. We haven't seen a copy of the Attorney General's lawsuit yet and will provide a link here when we can. We also don't know how this will effec
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The latest in the Gentle Wind Project's: et al lawsuits against Judy Garvey, Jim Bergin, et al is scheduled for trial in October or November 2006 in York County (Maine State) Superior Court, Alfred, ME. This new Maine State lawsuit follows upon GWP / the Millers’ et al January 6, 2006 dismissal from Maine U.S. District Court where they filed their first lawsuit in May 2004. Gentle Wi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotenutrinoQuote One can only wonder about the effect this had on the other busy bees of nuisance litigation and their, ummmm, artful scribes. We love the way you put this -- especially the "artful scribes." That's why we chose to defend ourselves against Gentle Wind Project / the Millers, and we hope our RICO win in Federal Court will have an effect on slowing down litigat
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Gentle Wind Project (currently suing us and formerly suing others, including Rick Ross) claims that they have entered “mainstream," as well as "complementary medicine” with “healing instruments” that their leader, John “Tubby” Miller receives telepathically from the “spirit world.” They have followers who believe this too, and some who even lend their professional degrees to qu
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

We have had the experience of being sued for writing about a group we were involved with. You might want to consider telling your story anonymously, or a little at a time. There may be a way to do it that will allow the information to be shared, help you reach a degree of peace, AND remain clear of litigation. :) (This is just a thought, and not meant to discourage you!) Good wishes!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rick Ross is one of the VERY FEW willing to walk through incredible obstacles (and lawsuits!) rather than back down to intimidation. He is taking the shots for many people who are more fearful or anxious about protecting their money and reputations. In so doing, he is preserving our rights to express the opinions that are on this Forum and elsewhere. If that's an "agenda," it
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Following is a link to Stanford Law School's summary of the recent federal court decision dismissing John and Mary Miller et al / Gentle Wind Project's federal lawsuit. Stanford's article about the decision could be of interest to anyone who decides to write about a group they’ve been involved with. Stanford Law School Center for Internet & Society -- “Maine Distric
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Harvard Law School, announced last week that they had assisted Jim Bergin and Judy Garvey with their defense against Gentle Wind Project’s now-dismissed Federal lawsuit. (See 1-11-06, : "Court Rejects Online RICO Claims Based on Ex-Group Members’ Web Site" -- "An important victory for free expression on the Internet…." )
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another large victory in the GWP lawsuit against multiple defendants was granted by Federal Judge Gene Carter to Ian Mander of New Zealand Cult List – – one of our many co-defendants originally sued by GWP leaders. Judge Carter dismissed GWP’s claims against Mander and denied their motion for default judgment against him. Ian Mander won this judgment without spending a dime on defense. Read
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

On January 3, 2006 we received the great news that Senior District Judge Gene Carter granted our Motion for Summary Judgment on the Gentle Wind Project’s RICO (racketeering) claim -- the only Federal claim that remained in GWP’s lawsuit against us. (Plaintiffs filing the lawsuit were GWP leaders: John “Tubby” Miller, Mary “Moe” Miller, Carol “Max” Miller, and Shelbourne “Shelly” Miller; Pam Ra
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This posting shook out a memory of someone from a former group who was teaching an adult education course. At the time we saw it as a potential recruiting vehicle and thought it was a great idea. Seekers and yearners can read these kinds of course descriptions -- as in "buddhaguy's" course -- and the words "transformation" or, for some others, "world healing,"
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We've learned that a trial -- if there is one -- for the remaining Federal claim in the Millers/Ranheim/Carreiro/gwp lawsuit against us won't take place until February or April of 2006. Previously scheduled for December, the case has now been taken off the Court's schedule while the Judge rules on our Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ). The MSJ ruling is expected in mid-October
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We have completed the "discovery" phase in Gentle Wind Project's lawsuit against us. This included depositions (questioning, under oath), in respective attorneys’ offices, of the six gwp plaintiffs and us. Our attorney also deposed a non-plaintiff who has been a long-time gwp "instrument keeper"/staff person. For each deposition we traveled to Portland, ME (three h
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Friends, We've received a number of requests for the "Expert Witness Disclosure Statements" that have been filed as part of our defense against Gentle Wind Project's lawsuit. While the Experts' Reports are of great interest, we aren't distributing them now, as we're not litigating in the press or on the Internet. To anyone who is interested in these r
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Gentle Wind Project's (and the individual Plaintiffs: John “Tubby” Miller, Mary “Moe” Miller, Carol Miller, Shelly Miller, Joan Carreiro, and Pam Ranheim’s) lawsuit against us continues. . . Latest events: Our attorney has filed an Expert Witness Report, addressing points that GWP’s leaders (the Millers et al) find disagreeable about our personal stories of 17 years with their group.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteWith these points in mind, Unitarians suggest that human differences of opinion and lifestyle should be seen as potentially creative and enriching, rather than necessarily destructive. In my opinion, Unitarians and Unitarian/Universalists are caring and generally very accepting people, and the first group to turn to for assistance with any community need. However, we became exposed, i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Things may have seemed quiet lately regarding GWP’s lawsuit, but we're managing to keep busy. The current status of their litigation is: -- Plaintiffs (GWP, John Miller, Mary Miller, Carol Miller, Shelly Miller, Pam Ranheim, and Joan Carreiro) have issued, as part of "discovery" a request for "production of documents" from Defendants (Jim Bergin and Judy Garvey). --
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteI am lucky as in New Zealand the only phonies who come here are Native American wanna be's. And the Kiwi's really dig them as then they can be genuine Medicine men and women. Regarding the above quote, there are those in New Zealand who might respectfully disagree. Ian Mander, editor of the New Zealand Cult List ( ) is one of the co-defendants named by Gentle Wind Project,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

APOLOGETICS INDEX has added a well-researched entry on Gentle Wind Project: This is excellent overall coverage of the GWP group and its leaders' lawsuit against former members and others. Widely scattered reports about the group have been gathered together in an easily accessed format -- covering the essential information in an interesting progression. There are numerous pages to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Greetings, On Monday we filed -- in U.S. Maine District Court -- the "Answer, Counterclaims and Demand for Jury Trial" in response to Gentle Wind Project's lawsuit. Our "Counterclaims" may be of particular interest, as they include the GWP leaders' descriptive and colorful list of defamatory statements against us. Examples can be easily accessed on the Wind of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Friends, We have a new announcement (please see below) about our "Protect Free Speech Legal Defense Fund." As many of you may know, we were sued by Gentle Wind Project and the GWP core group in May 2004. Since then we've been working toward dismissals of GWP's Federal charges and were successful with that on GWP's first claim. Then GWP filed an amended claim an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We wrote the following letter to the Portland (ME) Press Herald in response to two letters to the editor from Gentle Wind Project followers. The GWP followers’ letters are just after ours below. The newspaper article they refer to is already posted on this topic thread (see 1-16-05 posting). We’ve removed the GWP names here; however, they are still available online at the newspaper website: __
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

According to a Gentle Wind Project Victims' Board posting: Maine's Attorney General is accepting testimonies from individuals who paid "donations" to Gentle Wind Project for "healing instruments" or "contributions," and/or were refused refunds, or were told about physical, medical, or psychological benefits of the "healing instruments," or who
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Most of the newspaper articles about the gentle wind project leaders and their lawsuit are on the first page of -- the website started by ex-members of gwp. Some of the lawsuit documents are there too, in PDF format. Another link will take you to most of the lawsuit documents, which have been posted for easy access on another site. Counter suits, if filed, would probably need to wait until
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some of Corboy's information might still be available under the Forum topic, "Group Sex in Cults." Gentle Wind Project's "energy work" was mentioned in this also. If more has been written, we would like to see it again. Wind of Changes
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For anyone interested in the ongoing Gentle Wind Project (GWP) lawsuit against former GWP members and others: We learned this summer that an independent "browsing directory" web page of most documents in the Gentle Wind Project lawsuit had been set up, along with a "docket sheet" page (outline of court filings in the lawsuit). These documents are public information. We&#
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The following message from "Health Care Workers in Support of Gentle Wind" is being posted on message boards that have included information about Gentle Wind Project and their lawsuit against former members and others. This one (below) was posted on FactNet.org. We wonder what to make of this? Former members of Gentle Wind Project Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 10
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Friends, Those of us defending ourselves as former members named by the Gentle Wind Project leaders’ lawsuit are currently waiting for the Judge’s decision on our “Motion to Dismiss” the Federal charges. The Motions, as well as the GWP lawsuit, can be read on our website, www.windofchanges.org Others being sued by GWP are at varying stages of defense. There has been some good publ
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"