www.ourvirtualchurch.org Here's a segment from the home page. "We're glad you're here. Most of us at some point in our lives feel the need to stop and rethink where we're going. We need to consider new directions and new approaches. We wonder if there are better answers to the big questions in our lives. Whether you're interested in new religious
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Strangely enough I have noticed some new and unusual billboards on the side of the I-95 interstate in my area (and I do not live in the "bible belt"). It rekindled an uncomfortable feeling I had when vacationing in Tennessee a few years ago where the roadways were inundated with religious (primarily christian) billboards. The advertisement on the billboard in my area states
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Coz stated: QuoteI was tricked by reading "Autobiography of a Yogi" when I was a lot younger, and naive. This book is one of the half a dozen or so recommended "classics" on Buddhism 101. So may sources consider it a classic. Perhaps a classic in indoctrination, i do not know. So much to digest in this thread. I have purchased only one of the recommended classics
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What an extreme notion... "Your life is on hold until you go to a Tony Robbin's seminar"!! "you won't find out how to live the life of your dreams unless you go to a seminar"!! What BS.... such a mind set really seems to foster some sort of dependency. That can't be healthy, can it? I had noticed that particular saleswoman plant throws the term &q
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Someone suggested utilizing brainwave entrainment (BWE) as a way to heal/relax or self-induce trance. Is this really a science I wonder and is it safe? This website below describes it a bit but I am skeptical. Should I be?
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I am slowly coming to the realization I have a tendency to disassociate from my environment or circumstances very routinely. (Is it possible to actually realize that one is disassociating?? ). Anyway, I am finding this quite disturbing in that I probably spend half my day on average in a disassociative state. They may be simply moments of it---relaxation techniques, stress reduction, meditati
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Thanks for the links TBO---coincidentially I have been researching a bit on hypnosis and trance but haven't found many scientific references. Although there are certifications to become a hypnotherapist- I find within my profession many counselors take hypnosis and trance induction techniques very casually when in fact the effects could be profoundly disasterous especially if the side
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotenon-cult-freighted words and phrases like "tricked," "scammed," "fooled," "misled," "psychologically manipulated," or "taken advantage of?" All these descriptors could be considered "cult-freighted" words IMO-- I do not have a cult dictionary/thesaurus. My intention is to try and be helpful while at the same time hopefu
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

TBO, Obviously disclosure is voluntary but was wondering if you have been victimized by a particular cult like group and if so what method of indoctrination pulled you into the fold so to speak? Thankfully you avoided LGATs and like almost any person diagnosed with a psychaitric disorder I beleive it is good to employ healthy skepticism and seek second, third opinions as needed from a var
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I tend to agree with you here---that the goal of many LGAT facilitators is to produce the side effects of a Manic episode in participants - because that translates into more business. It is dangerous as you may think you are the wiser one going in having educated yourself on these possibilities---and yet still fall victim to the manipulations. But statistically, I would venture to guess th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteAre you talking about something healthy, or are you talking about Mania? I think a distinction can be made between the two. And I also believe someone can get a natural high from an LGAT experience as well as some may suffer a manic episode from that same LGAT. Manic episodes are by definition of a duration at least a week and typically necessitate either hospitalization/psychotherapy
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

One of the "alternative" paths I am exploring more fully is Buddhism. Currently, I am beginning to go thru Dan Millman's Everyday Enlightenment (the 12 gateways to personal growth). What a refreshing comment he makes at the beginning of the book: "Take what is useful and discard the rest. Read with healthy skepticism. Test these ideas against your own experience. My
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Great posts Oz and corboy re: LGATs One question that comes to mind is: can an LGAT maintain/support someone's individuality as the nature of the experience has a large group orientation? Any examples of an ethically sound or "good" LGAT? I was thinking perhaps a bereavement group but they typically have a much smaller number of participants so that the experience c
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteThis is the point in my LGAT process where either participants had psychotic breaks or experienced the emotional high "transformation" from abnormal serotonin production caused by lack of sleep and cognitive confusion. I have been thinking about this "emotional high" concept as an orgasm of sorts. It is systemic and short lived. For instance, when I listen to a good
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Someone of Robbins forum posted this link Here's an excerpt from www.anthonyrobbinsny.com "What You Will Master: *How to grab your prospects attention in 60 seconds (or less). *How to overcome complacency and procrastination and motivate yourself to take massive action. *How to ask powerful questions to control your prospects focus and attention. *How to get a blueprin
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I know this may sound like over-simplistic comparison... but I feel hurt and betrayed. I really would like this all not to be a con too. But it is. It like that feeling you get when it really "sunk in" - there is no Santa Claus. And you keep asking yourself why did they do that to me and to everyone? What was the purpose? Its a strange analogy maybe but why did my parents or my so
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I wonder if these other AR seminars utilize the LGAT strategies? Imagine a corporate LGAT? These are for the most part not advertised on the AR website. I just found them thru a link from www.skepdic.com
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I have been a "passive participant" in several cult-like groups primarily during my comparative religious studies about a decade ago. (eg., Eckankar, protestant radical groups, mystical christian orders/secret societies, Wicca - just to name a few). I knew with them "going in" I had no plans on truly joining as I have always been a skeptic when it came to any organized relig
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I have wanted to go to UPW only to see what it is all about---I have ellicited many opinions on it and have heard many mixed reviews... I would like to have an outline of its curriculum but apparently that does not exist or it will not be made public. I have absolutely no fear of firewalking (although I do have some other phobias that are alive and well). I abhor hard sell marketing tactic
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I have to funnel the anger, contempt and disgust I have for the AR organization in a healthier direction. Thanks for the direction, Oz.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I found this bit of information on the Anthony Robbins Community forum under FAQ's. I don't know what to think of it. Any comments or insights? (Scroll to bottom of page or see exerpt below) QuoteWhat are referrals? The administrator may have enabled referrals, which allows you to be credited for any new users you invite to the forum. You gain referrals by promoting Anthon
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Coz and others, I am in the early stages of re-programming myself back to a more independent state of mind and was wondering how one goes about losing the mind control jargon? (for me it's TonyTalk). While I definitely quote AR(Anthony Robbins) less- I suspect his jargon has been imprinted in my routine vocabulary and hence my routine thought processes :oops: Thankfully I was n
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Wow, Sagan's Baloney detection kit takes me way back to some undergraduate philosophy classes I took around the mid to late 1980's. Some of the philosophy class course content I had really "screwed" with the mind - or at least that was the common consensus among the student group. At least it seemed like conscious influence. One class- titled Critical Thinking- got in
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

John- Is this really the appropriate thread to dissect and critique the qualities of a forum moderator? Let's try not to divert the topic--- this one is about LGAT and Anthony Robbins
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

test post
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Several AR forum members (some of them pioneeers of that forum and past event crew members) have decided to make a "statement" by removing many if not all of their posts there- especially ones in the multi media section that give a compliment to AR/RRI (Robbins Research International) An interesting twist on that would be to keep the post but delete all the text in it so its a "
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteIf he stays in the enema business, he's at risk of a liability lawsuit if someone gets a colon rupture or some other catastrophe Yes... I bet there are so many "CYA" clauses in those colonic contracts... the consumer will be up craps's creek without keaopectate. :shock: It's beyond me why anyone would knowingly pay thousands of dollars at LM to have their l
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Best Wishes, B&D A lawyer utilizing the various NLP techniques could be more persuasive and manipulative than a sales person. Getting the run around from the head of AR coaching/customer service... hum..... Why do I not find that surprising? Great references, corboy....like has been said...."this is not about Coz"
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Profit? ...ahem.....Greed? Perhaps that billion dollar goal he has set for himself for year 2012? I would have some respect for this company if the underhanded sales techniques and fine print double talk in contracts did not exist. These two components create doubt and skepticism about its foundational ethics and integrity. Actually the techniques of "unconscious influence" can
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"