I'm surprised nobody posted this here yet. McCain's VP pick, Alaska governor Sarah Palin, is a "former" member of a dominionist Pentecostal church called Wasilla Assembly of God. This church is very extremist and cult-like and has some scary beliefs, like Jew-hating, for one thing: And an exerpt about her pastor: "Pastor Kalnins has also preached that critics o
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Quotemindconcern She wants me to go to a seminar with her. The seminars are 1000 or so for a weekend. Are you serious? The weekend Sedona Method seminar I went to in NY was only a few hundred $. And that was only 3 or 4 years ago. Why $1000? Is the seminar with Lester himself?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my Netflix queue.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quoteonlymewho's Randi? James Randi is a noted Skeptic who enjoys debunking claims of the paranormal.
Forum: Destructive Churches

DinaM2, not all cults are Christian cults, so your question may not be applicable to all of us here.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I went to see a therapist, and I also started associating with different people who were not part of my cult.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

There is another thread already started on Hay House in the "multi-level marketing" forum too, so check that one out also.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultHi guys, there is already a large thread going about The Secret here. The Secret (a movie) In my opinion, its best to keep all the posts to one main thread on a topic, as over time Google really gives the threads a very high ranking. If there are a bunch of small threads, they vanish. So perhaps you would consider re-posting your messages in the Secret mega-thread? F
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteThe AnticultBelow are some of the comments made on the Oprah message board, by the "Christian lady" who was on the Oprah Secret show, who was questioning the Secret on religious grounds. Notice how this woman was "sandbagged" in almost the identical way as the token skeptic in the Psychic Oprah show. That woman was the single most annoying part of that second "
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I doubt it had anything to do with a cult. Probably just a whim. Or maybe she's trying to emulate Sinead O'Connor.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

LONG article from Newsweek:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Anticult, thanks for posting that article! I will be forwarding it. I was "lucky" enough to see The Secret last summer when Esther Hicks was still in it.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Kath, I imagine if you are talking to people who are still involved in the organization or group, they are very likely to be disturbed and offended by your criticisms of the group. Because of their continuing involvement in the group, they are not going to be open to any dissent. (Yes, I speak from experience!) If you feel the need to say anything to them (such as responding to a question li
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There was an article on Herbalife in the Wall Street Journal on 2/23/07. I can't post the link because it's subscription-only though. Sorry!
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

QuoteemntkAnswer to poll: Not quickly enough. Ditto! I was cynical and cautious going in to the first group, but I wasn't looking for the right signs. I naively thought that since the group was so cliquish and hard to join, that it could not possibly be a cult. Then when I left that one because I thought the guru was a lying egomaniac who played favorites, I joined the Advaita path. I
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rajneesh/Osho's teachings focused on sexuality much more than other gurus. Most gurus teach celibacy or don't talk about sexuality at all, but Rajneesh/Osho addressed the topic quite often. Tantra has its roots in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Since it sounds like most of the Tantra teachers you've found so far are from the Hindu/Osho tradition, maybe you can focus your search
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteskepticQuoteThe Anticult 90% of people don't read the books anyway...how many books did we buy that we never read? Lots! Haha! Very true, good point!!! Sad but true! I went to an Abraham-Hicks/LoA meeting in my town and was shocked at the number of people there who were whining about how they hate to read, and how the A-H book, "Ask and it Shall Be Given" is "
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteavesraggianaI've googled "gangaji" and I'm happily surprised that there's very little dirt on herself and her organization. Looks like we spoke too soon:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultI will cheer both of you up. I wasted thousands of dollars on books on exactly this kind of tripe in the late 1980's-early 90's until I woke up. :lol: Well, if we are going to count our new age spiritual books, that's a whole new ballgame! :D :lol:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"Prussian Blue", are you connected to those little singing neo-Nazi white power twins? Interesting that you chose that name. I am wondering if your purpose here it to stir up racist sentiments.
Forum: Hate Groups

QuoteclaudiaI am embarrassed to say that I actually payed the 5 bucks to watch the online version of the secret. If it makes you feel any better, I paid $10 to see it in a movie theater at a private screening!
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotekathwhat do you think that is all about? :shock: It's very carefully worded. Publishing royalties is my guess. I think Jerry & Esther are under contract with a certain publisher and there might be some contractual and financial issues surrounding that. From what I am guessing, they thought they were being interviewed for an Australian TV show and didn't realize "Th
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

QuotefireflyI was just wondering if other people still go on with religion after leaving a cult, or am i a rarity? Very good question. I am still spiritual despite my cultic experiences, but I am a bit more cynical and I did lose faith for a while. I still dabble a bit in new age stuff and Eastern religion (Hinduism, Buddhism), but not nearly as much as I used to. I do feel conflicted, because
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuoteupsidedownnewspaperOh yes! The rock bizo. That's right. There was this cheesy reconstruction in the movie to justify the selling of ordinary rocks for $40 a piece. You've just got to believe, remember. I didn't get that from the movie AT ALL. As I remember, they were actually joking about the fact that the guy wanted to buy an ordinary rock that had come from a creek.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteskepticAnyone hear of it, know anything? A friend told me about it today, it was on Oprah. Sounds like "you create your reality". This crap is EVERYWHERE!!!! skeptic There are threads on this already. I'm surpised you haven't seen them yet. Check the Abraham-Hicks thread in the MLM forum. I believe it's also mentioned in the Millionnaire Minds thread in
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotequestion ladyI can understand your puzzlement about my financial status. We live in a community property state. My husband inherited his money. I did not inherit money. Under the law, if we divorce, all is his money remains his, and one-half of all money I earn while we are married is also his. I have student loans to pay and I haven't' yet put away anthing for retirement. My husba
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteThe AnticultEverything else aside, this Sedona business of ignoring one's emotions is just idiotic, and does not work. There was no talk of "ignoring one's emotions" in the Sedona workshop I attended. On the contrary: the whole releasing technique is about addressing emotions you are having, welcoming them, and allowing them to leave.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Sounds like an interesting book; thanks for posting! Reminds me of a friend of mine who called a psychic hotline and got really freaked out because the man told her that she either was or would be pregnant within the year! She did not have a boyfriend at the time (and none on the horizon), but nevertheless took this prediction very seriously. She called the psychic hotline and talked to a dif
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Quotequestion lady he would need to check with Larry to see if it would be okay for me to use the materials or if I would need to buy my own. I was shocked. (My husband is a fairly wealthy man, while I am a struggling working woman.) Forgive me if this is a bit off-topic, but I'm a bit puzzled by this statement. If you are married, then aren't you both either rich or poor? How can
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is where I found this: According to the person who posted it, it is no longer on the abraham-hicks.com site.
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes