dostfez: There is no such thing as "an 'anti cult CULTIST'". It seems like your only purpose here is to argue. And the post corboy commented about comes across as carefully crafted and cryptic "victim bashing". Have you heard of the description "Internet troll"?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy, The words I said that you quoted above are my personal thoughts on what an individual should seriously think about before joining ANY group. They have nothing to do with any 4th way philosophy or ideas. I have no doubt people have been hurt, used or abused by those claiming to be 4th way, and that is tragic. As I have already said it's tragic when anyone who searches in good fa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteAnyone getting involved in any teaching 4th way included, should be "together" IMO. That is to say if you are hurting badly in some manner and see any teaching as a "cure", it will likely lead to poor results and sadly in many cases outright exploitation. Before joining any group it is my opinion one should very seriously answer 2 questions for oneself as best as
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy, As I stated several times, I do not belong nor endorse any participation in ANY 4th way group. The fact you state I am is WRONG, and VERY offensive. Is this the kind of "reasonable" response I can expect here? I state what is my understanding. (again). Anyone joining ANY group (4th way or not) when they are hurting from some life trauma of any sort, will often lea
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ifi you are happy with your Fourth Way studies, fine. You have plenty of company to discuss them with. This website is for persons who had less than happy exposure to the scene. Some were born into the Fourth Way because their parents were in it. Webbydeb describes the joy of it all. Resources for further reading Again, if you are happy with your practice path, fine an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy, Anyone getting involved in any teaching 4th way included, should be "together" IMO. That is to say if you are hurting badly in some manner and see any teaching as a "cure", it will likely lead to poor results and sadly in many cases outright exploitation. Before joining any group it is my opinion one should very seriously answer 2 questions for oneself as best
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

IMO anything Gurdy said that was true was part of a larger lie. He stayed in Paris during World War II and had a well filled pantry full of gourmet food and an account at Hedier, one of the best delicatessens in the city. A Russian exile who managed to stay in his own apartment in occuppied Paris while humbler persons without papers or important patrons were rounded up and left to starve an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

After reading a bunch of threads here on the topic, I thought I would post. First off I am NOT a member of any 4th way group nor do I condone joining one of any kind. THAT must be clear. I was a member of a Sufi group for several years that had many long time Gurdjeffians there, and have studied Gurdjieff texts for many years. I am highly sympathetic to those that in good faith searched
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Mythomania Many of the New Age bunco types begin with a story. On another venue, someone wrote about pathological liars and devised a catagory called 'Mythomaniac'. I made some slight modifications. ·... “mythomaniacs,” may be suffering from histrionic personality disorder or narcissistic behavior disorder. The following comments basically reflect a pathological liar who
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

On another venue, someone wrote about pathological liars and devised a catagory called 'Mythomaniac'. This fits Castaneda very well. I made some slight modifications. ·... “mythomaniacs,” may be suffering from histrionic personality disorder or narcissistic behavior disorder. The following comments basically reflect a pathological liar who has the characteristics of histrionic pe
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

We have recently had new information on who NOTM2 s, the person who manipulatively reacted to the NOTM post! James told one of his ex-members that he would not put something out on the web anonymously. He said it was his follower Steve. It that's even true at all, since it still sounds like James. We are trying to expose James on all his little lies and tricks, even if they seem trivial, i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

James Parkinson of Solid Rock Vista is an emotional manipulator and destroys lives for his own gain. Totally oblivious to the pain he causes others, he does what he wants and when he wants it. He has affairs, takes peoples money, lies to people, uses confidential information you give him to influence others, he back-stabs and insults. All in the name of Gurdjieff and God. If you try and make him
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To add to our portfolio, get and read a book review published a couple of weeks in the Wall Street Journal. UC Berkeley Professor Thomas Laqueur was right--the One Taste people are rehashing material that has already been peddled out before--except they are tarting it up with a glaze of rhetorical feminism. Its only appealing to people who have enough money and free time to fret about this
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is an old posting, but very similar in thread to what a a friend of mine in the Denver area seems to be going through. She and a fellow Gurdjieff member started a math tutoring program on weekends. Her aim is to follow a more spiritual life, but having worked professionally with her for several years, I suspect she has somehow become "brained-washed". We entered into a reguar bu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Watch out for 'Export Gurus'--the kind who go after Westerners. . In the old days, an enterprising guru would learn a lot by reading the kinds of books that people on the Hippie Trail habitually read--Search for Secret India by Brunton, Autobiography of a Yogi, Alexandra David-Neel, Magic and Mystery in Tibet, Lobsang Rampas The Third Eye, Castaneda's early books, the old bandi
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Watch out for 'Export Gurus'--the kind who go after Westerners. . In the old days, an enterprising guru would learn a lot by reading the kinds of books that people on the Hippie Trail habitually read--Search for Secret India by Brunton, Autobiography of a Yogi, Alexandra David-Neel, Magic and Mystery in Tibet, Lobsang Rampas The Third Eye, Castaneda's early books, the old band
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Since Mahalinga mentioned Wolfgang Bernard, here is an article/interview QuoteWolfgang Bernard proposes to use the techniques of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to explode our belief in a personal identity. He calls this the uncovering of the "Original Belief". I have never met the man (he lives in France), but have read his book NLP And Beyond - The Original Belief Process. H
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Reading Beelzebub's Tales would also be a good way to induce confusion--which in turn would induce or maintain an already existing trance state. Gurdjieff reportedly practiced early forms of medical hypnosis while still in Russia, treating people for alcoholism and experimenting on them. Gurdjieff told stories about himself and about others. Many stories about himself were resis
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

'I really think the book is one of his practical jokes!' That's a really telling remark. I think that what happens with a lot of these jokers is that when they see how absurdly easy it is to take a percentage of people in they become intrigued and 'push the envelope' to see how far they can take the absurdity. The difference of course is that the people taken in ar
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Apologies for an inaccuracy of my previous post. The attendee claimed to be the nephew of Gurdjieff ( not the brother). This was disputed by other attendees. Whether it was true or not it was certainly a cause of great friction to the hierarchy of the group, ie who had seniority. All grist to the mill I suppose.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

My father has been involved with Gurdjieff groups for many years so I am aware of much of the free labour he has given. I am also aware of his struggle with the intellectual nature of the work as he is not an intellectual. I do believe he has been exploited for his skilled labour. His stories of the retreats he has attended confirm to me that he has suffered abuse in the guise of attempts to &quo
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

The things he does are sickening. He must get away with it because it is on such a small scale... but who is really to know how many people he messes with? His facebook is private, and there's no longer a solid rock facebook. Maybe he is trying to cover his tracks now? I hope the word is spread to those who need help. Fp
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Just as I suspected! Other people know too!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My hunch and it is personal opinion, is that Gurdjieff was a highly gifted hypnotist, had learned ways to induce trance through covert means, and his expertise was far in advance of those practicing medical hypnosis at that time. He probably learned that inducing confusion by every possible means and by making himself and his own story a massive tangle of contradictions was a way to induce tra
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuoteConfusion is a deliberate technique. Search Google for: "the confusion technique" Of course, that technique has long been abused by sects and cults, as it destabilizes people. They want to destabilize all your beliefs, so they install their beliefs. If you believe what they want you to believe, then they control your behavior, and even control your mind. That is the essence
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Finally...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello everyone, I am a newbee at this, but this is important. I found you because there had to be some kind of evidence on the internet concerning James Parkinson. DO NOT GET INVOLVED IN ANY WAY. HE WILL MESS WITH YOUR HEAD AND TAKE YOUR MONEY, YOUR ASSETS, YOUR LIFE!!! He flew across the ocean to Europe and has completely destroyed my family. He will let you believe anything! All tho
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

i think you meant well, but pubically posting eugene's e-mail may not have been a good move. now anybody who wants to talk to you privately may feel afraid, thinking you might post their emails if you don't believe their story. i realize it's hard to trust eugene but if somebody wants to contact you and sees this thread, what will they think? i don't mean to be hard on you bec
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Look at:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteWhen I was first invited to School, the bigest question on my mind was "Is this a cult?" I firmly belive that that should remain a question for every student, whether it's their 1st year in School or their 30th year. QuoteAnd the second question that every new student has needs to be asked, too -- "Where does the money go?" Right on--and for both questions. H
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families