Boonetahoe, >>I promise: I'm way, WAY out of the "program." << >>LGATs, including the one I am involved with. . . << OK, which is it? What LGAT are you involved with? And how can you claim to be WAY out of the program if you are still involved with one? Also, as EXImpact's experience is far more rece
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotearmy-of-me If I get any replies I feel the need to share here, can post exerpts I as long as I don't include any identifying info about the person who sent it to me?HECK YEAH :D Quotearmy-of-meI would NEVER, EVER tolerate an exercise like that any other time or place, and it's frustrating that I let it happen. I am frustrated that one of my best friends would recommend that I go
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteCosmophilospherBut if you leave the "religious" component out of the definition, thus broadening the word's usage, it becomes clear that Objectivism was (and is) a cult, as are many other, non-religious groups. In this context, then, a cult may be characterized by: Veneration of the Leader: Excessive glorification to the point of virtual sainthood or divinity. Inerrancy o
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

QuoteGulab JamonAs luck would have it, I met someone last Wednesday who used to be heavily involved with the Objectivists. Apparently there is a schism between The Ayn Rand Institute in Marina Del Rey, California, (the group led by Leonard Peikoff) and the Objectivists, who are based in NYC. One group is very much into preserving Rand's legacy and ideas with no room for reinterpretatio
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Does this John Galt have anything to do with Ayn Rand's famous book, Atlas Shrugged?
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteBrad69I agree, Skeptic. So often people who have been through LGATs might do something that is generally regarded as poor manners. But now, to get past taking responsibility for their poor behaviour, they use what they are taught in the LGATS: "That's your interpretation". They say we must change how we interpret the behaviour and then there is no problem. What simplisti
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteGulab JamonApparently there is a schism between The Ayn Rand Institute in Marina Del Rey, California, (the group led by Leonard Peikoff) and the Objectivists, who are based in NYC. One group is very much into preserving Rand's legacy and ideas with no room for reinterpretation, whereas the other group is more into using Rand's philosophy to interpret modern-day events. Unfort
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I met with a couple of their people once. I was considering joining because a friend of mine loved it and I have a deep found respect for Ayn Rand, BUT I had some serious issues about people who have nothing bad to say about someone. I mean, I love my parents, but I can name all their shortcomings and everybody has them, and I mean EVERYBODY. As for Ayn Rand, that man is not true to her. He ha
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

That's okay. I don't mind even if someone is flaming. I read a couple of articles on Ayn Rand and narcissism. Quite interesting. Some similarities with LGAT/scientology ways.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

One of my acquaintances is very involved in this. He's also involved in a lot of MLM-type stuff and used to be involved with the Church of Satan. Not sure if they're all connected, but I think Neo-Tek and Church of Satan are somehow connected. Neo-Tek also borrows a lot of their ideas from Ayn Rand, although they have no official connection to her organization.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As luck would have it, I met someone last Wednesday who used to be heavily involved with the Objectivists. Apparently there is a schism between The Ayn Rand Institute in Marina Del Rey, California, (the group led by Leonard Peikoff) and the Objectivists, who are based in NYC. One group is very much into preserving Rand's legacy and ideas with no room for reinterpretation, whereas the o
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

QuoteMy philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute." —Ayn Rand I pulled this off her site's main page. What is "productive achievement" supposed to mean? To my way of thinking, an "achiev
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I remember being perplexed by the way some students carried Atlas Shrugged around the same way Campus Crusade For Christ carried their Bibles. I tried to read the book and did not find it at all interesting or significant. Now I understand, seeing that there was a larger org built around her books, that these students were responding to a sense of membership in a group, not to the author herse
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Quoteemaline Ayn Rand wrote about architecture as if it is a religion, didn't she? And have you read about Robert Moses in New York? Actually, the main character in "The Fountainhead" is based on FLW. Apparently he was not flattered by it. When Hollywood was doing the film version of the book, FLW was hired to do the architectural drawings. If memory serves me correctly,
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Often it is someone in later life who profits off the artist's reputation, because as the artist nears the end, many know that the work will increase in value afer death. I am not kidding! It can be hard for people who knew an artist as a human being, to see these opportunists flock around. I think some of them are art-groupies who are looking for someone to play the role for them. But
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

If you want to read a good book on the Ayn Rand "cult", read "Two Girls, Fat and Thin" by Mary Gaitskill. It's fiction, but it's obviously based on the later years of Ayn Rand and her circle. I love Ayn Rand's books and some of her ideas, but I don't like what I've read about her as a person.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

The Exoteric and the Esoteric ******************* A religious cult has two sets of creeds, the exoteric and the esoteric. The exoteric creed is the one offered to the public and is used to attract new members. The esoteric, hidden creed is known only by full-fledged cult members. This is the hidden agenda of the cult. When the two are in co
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Having known a couple of rabid Randians, I found them among the most insufferable, arrogant, loud-mouthed blowhards I've ever met! They make the Landmark folk seem like pussycats by comparison.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Isnt Raniere (Vanguard of Nxivm) big into her too?
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Want to date a Randist? More information on Rand: And an intersting article on "the Ayn Rand Cult" by someone who used ot be in her circle:
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

There are many ideas in Rand that I have incorporated into my own thinking. She is one of the sharpest defenders of freedom that I have ever read. I have learned a lot from erading her. But you have to be able to evaluate her philosophy piece by piece. Certain things, such sa those that are outlined in the post at the top of this thread, are just nutty.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

The Randists have their own organization, the Ayn Rand Institute:
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

ok, i reviewed The Quimby Manuscripts. If anyone wants to check out the origin of this Christian Mind Healing, then reading Quimby is a must. He started as a Mesmerizer doing stage shows, and then moved into flat out "mental healing". The guy had a pathological hatred of doctors, and this started this whole "anti-doctor" insanity. He did treat Mary Baker Eddy, and its obv
Forum: Destructive Churches

There's very cult-y behavior with Randists. I hadn't heard of the sexual part yet.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

My neighbor has a bumper sticker that reads.... " Teach Ayn Rand". The first time my Husband saw this he laughed and said....Teach her what, she already knows everything.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

One of the closest to Rand was Nathaniel Branden, a young philosophy student who joined the Collective in the early days before Atlas Shrugged was published. In his autobiographical memoirs entitled Judgment Day (1989), Branden recalled: "There were implicit premises in our world to which everyone in our circle subscribed, and which we transmitted to our students at NBI." Incredibly
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Scary lookin dude, ey? Didn't know Covey was a mormon. Interesting how he details all the other "influences" then skips Landmark. He's not the first LGAT grad I've seen spouting Ayn Rand. She had her very own cult too. Love the phrase "my first best seller...to be released 2004". HA. Narcissist? Maybe? Beware the "Wealth Warrior 3 day bo
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"