that applies, both to battering relationships and high-demand groups. Professor Janja Lalich, who was once a member of a political group centered on a charismatic leader, terms the process 'bounded choice.' Lalitch found that persons in these high demand groups usually remain highly intelligent, capable of rational, logical decisionmaking. But what happens in toxic relationship
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Some famous acting coaches and teachers use abusive methods to teach their students to weep. They may use intense, marathon group sessions, nag people to remember horrible things in their lives, yell at them until the student-victim breaks down and cries. Even excellent teachers may not realize they're being abusive--they'll often be from 'old style' backgrounds and assume
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

here are some speculations on what Sonnie describes, different models. See which one fits your situation: Inflicting shame by nagging people to feel responsible for things that are actually not within their control may take us back to the helplessness of childhood, induce regression. In a child's state of mind, we cannot access areas of adult logic. Its the same mechanism that causes eve
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is some stuff to read about Eckankar: I especially recommend the essay by Dodie Bellamy, who formerly believed in Eckankar. . Eckankar (and lots of other groups) value inner experiences of light and sound. But Lane reproted that with minimal prompting most people can be set up to have inner experiences. Lane has no pretensions to being a guru, and he found he could assist
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is worth asking whether physical exhaustion plays an important role in determining when people leave or fall out of abusive situations. People's physical constitutions differ tremendously. Some people thrive on a high adrenaline lifestyle (think of border collies), others dislike high adrenaline, rapidly becoming exhausted (think of basset hounds, slow, steady, get the job done, but th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

a man I knew went through a situation the opposite of Savernake's family. My pal X told me his mother was sadistic and whipped him brutally when he was a little boy. He told me he cried bitterly when his mother whipped him. Gradually, he realized his mother got a thrill by making him cry, that his suffering gratified her. So my friend discovered that the best way to make his mother sto
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

For further insights, take a look at this thread and see if any of the material rings a bell for you.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Humans have learned to manipulate and conceal emotion and have been doing this for centuries. I read somewhere that many gem dealers learned to wear dark glasses during transactions because they learned that if people desired an object, their pupils dilated ever so slightly--and perhaps they emitted other visual cues. An alert adversary would know to keep the price high. So--it was better to
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The purpose of the RR.com site is to provide consumer information for persons concerned about high-demand groups. RR.com doesnt have the expertise needed to monitor the stock market. For that you're better advised to contact the SEC or your congressional representative. If concerned about peace or nuclear proliferation issues, organizations like Pax Christi (Catholic), the Society of Fri
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

thread seems OK now. Occasionally the system 'hiccups' and a valid link will not work. Ive seen the same thing happen now and then on other sites. Thanks for letting us know.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

if you ever see someone on Craigslist.org asking questions about whether to attend any such group, write a post and describe what you went through. You can use your experience to educate other people. I wish something could be done, starting in middle school and high school to teach people to do the equivalent of consumer research on ANY growth program or religion, just as we customarily do
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Speculations Ive never been through an LGAT but from Concerned and Elena's descriptions I bet I learned blocking to cope with a stressful upbringing. Many of us may learn blocking to survive the stress of abusive families. If someone comes from such a background and later is persuaded to do a high pressure program the indoctrination may perhaps stimulate, and then rigidify an already
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I was betting he was alive even before he showed up on that latest Al Jazeera video. If we wanted to do a smart propaganda campaign against OBL, I'd suggest stressing the following points: 1) The man advocates sacred suicide, but has made sure to stay alive. Obviously he doesnt practice what he preaches. If OBL believed his own propaganda, he'd be dead. I know a man who retir
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Here is a link that can help you identify abusive churches: Here's a suggestion: your cousin probably has you pegged as skeptical. If there is someone else she cares about who is also concerned about her, work up a ploy to persuade her to send that pamphlet. Have the other person pretend to be in distress. Make noises about being at the end of his or her rope. People love to be helper
Forum: Destructive Churches

before your PM priviliges activate. If you can post material on the board from the e-mail that will enable our many readers to see it and increase the likelihood that someone can tell you more. I cant guarantee I'd be able to identify what the group is. This message board is set up so the community can help each other. Many heads are better than one!
Forum: Destructive Churches

Go here and see what matches up with what you've seen of your cousin's situation. The 'cults on campus' section, 'influence and persuasion' and 'general groups' section have info about warning signs. It is atypical for a Christian group to instruct members to with hold information when asked questions by relatives and friends--members of Christian
Forum: Destructive Churches

I cannot remember who set the poll up and designed the questions. (My personal take) The feature that I would disagree with is the last question--and only the manner in which it was written: 'Are you stupid? Why would you do this to yourself?' That question implies that anyone taking an LGAT is stupid--which, IMO is a form of victim bashing, even if the person who framed the
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

has a fine track record. Among other things, they're renowned for thier commitment to healthy living, and they pioneered warnings about tobacco use and the benefits of well balanced vegetarian diets decades before such information reached the mainstream. The Adventists have been dedicated missionaries and operate many of the best hospitals and clinics in Third World countries. They have an e
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 27 (3): 215-223, Fall 1997 Treatment with Unethical Practitioners; Caveat Emptors Robert S. Pepper Abstract (*The author discusses dysfunctional psychoanalytic institutes, but his observations also apply to situations in which student therapists receive inadequate training from charismatic leaders of psychotherapy cults) Therapists who are t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, a situation of the type you describe (dance coach, dance studio) could become a venue in which a controlling relationship develops. Aspiring artists and athletes can be vulnerable to exploitation. The social context in which artists and elite athletes seek training is a very special type of social context, one in which people push themselves past mental and physicial limits. Very intense
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

A list of articles published in the Greek-American press and other sources can be read here. This website was created by and for Orthodox Christians.
Forum: Destructive Churches

For that reason anyone considering appearing on your program needs to be assured that every possible measure will be taken to safeguard their confidentiality. (quote) Berg's Use of "Libel Chill" Berg has literally millions of dollars at his disposal. The net assets of his New York branch in 1990, according to IRS-returns, are close to 10 million dollars. Using the princip
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There can be two reasons: 1) Followers desperately need to believe their leader is more than human, so they refuse to accept that the person is human enough to get sick for ordinary reasons. They take it on themselves to see the leader's illness as having cosmic significance, or like scared kids in a divorce, blame themselves. All too often leaders fail to see that their followers ar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteWe need to examine our need for cosmic super-parents if we wish to truly recover from our cult involvement. We may become disillusioned with our particular cult, but if our need is still there, we'll just find another Here is an excerpt from article that examines exactly the process Yellowbeard describes: QuoteSo we are left with a pressing questions, "How can one separate
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

and (This second item is especially interesting--one of the physicists who was interviewed states that he spent 4 or 5 hours teaching quantum physics to the producers of What the Bleep only to have them mis--represent what he told them.) What the Bleep was produced by people involved with the Ramtha School of Enlightenment. Here are links with info about this group if you're e
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

You can learn more here: For PSI, try a Google search, both on www.google.com and the google discussion groups. To search the groups, go to www.google.com and click the 'groups' tab.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

'Formerly when you did not know God you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods, but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggerly elemental spirits whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.' (Galatians, 4: 8-1
Forum: Destructive Churches

leave a message for this person that he can pick up the materials at a neutral drop-off point, not your house. Write out a receipt itemizing the materials and leave instructions that he's to sign it and date it before he can take the materials with him. That way you have proof that you didnt steal anything from them but gave it back. I'd advise against letting him visit you at hom
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

He wrote this after crossing paths with and getting entangled for ten years with a very charismatic individual who triggered remarkable experiences in many people but abused his powers. And this person also had a remarkable gaze.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An article written by a former disciple who came to the conclusion that Rajneesh did have special abilities but that his many gifts were vitiated by just one thing: Rajneesh was willing to lie. 'Rajneesh never lost the ultimate existential truth of being. He only lost the ordinary concept of truth that any normal adult can understand. He rationalized his constant lying as "lefthan
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"