Bonnie: I know of divorce agreements that specifically restrict the cultmember parent from bringing the children to cult-related activitites. IMHO, the children will receive cult influence regardless just because of the cult-head parent's belief system and behaviors. I think the best protection is for the non-cult parent to gradually teach the children to think for themselves, and hav
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Glam: Thank you for the article suggestion. As to the two sub-groups... the worker bees vs the donors and public PR folks.. that is common in other cults. I saw the same. The worker bees receive the most abuse, but not until after they have been fully seduced/indoctrinated into the value of the group. They can never do enough, never live up to the living standards of the cult, no mat
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotemjr40Bonnie - Like you, I used to think that there was something about my hometown of NYC that drew cults here in high numbers. But now I have come to the conclusion that whether it is NYC or Sedona, the thing that attracts cults in high numbers is only one thing - money. You mean they're NOT attracted by the higher vibratory rate of the geogrpahical magnetic pulls on the planet?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

KIH: Check out this article from GQ in May 2005. As my grown son said "This would be really funny, it didn't destroy some people's lives"
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Oh yes, Sedona (don't even get me going). My cult mother retiring there next month. She has a degree from some Metaphysical University that is relocating there. (they gave her credit for her TM teaching for decades, and then work w/ various channelers.... ) Drive through Sedona and every other business is "mother-father earth goddess massage therapy and aura reading"
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

amwrites: Your sentiment is appreciated. However, for many cult kids.. 'holding' is NOT what is needed. Many were held just a little too much & inappropriately, quite frankly. They/We need to learn appropriate boundaries & trust. Had loads of unconditional 'love' already from well intentioned misdirected folks.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Abstract from presentation at 2005 ICSA conference in Madrid. Issues for those who were born or raised in cults, based on interviews with 10 people who were raised in cults, and comparing to various theories on developmental psychology Still, at least we're being studied, maybe someone will understand 'our issues' before we die. We know they're there, and wading through t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Social connections of long ago and far away... I continue to receive personal invitations for private gatherings w/ the Chicken Soup gang - various psychics, energy workers, spiritual teachers, more and more variations blah blah blah blah (stopped attending many moons ago). Oh, yes, they are still VERY hooked into the New Agey snakeoil salesmen world.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quotemidonov123 We are here on this Forum to make a difference and stop this kind of abuse aren't we? So when a real situation happens where someone could "act", I don't agree with running away. This makes our efforts worthless. AMEN!
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

:roll: Coz: Likewise, it took me years & persistence to be removed from cult mailing lists....!! I don't know how they'd tracked me though moves, divorce, whatever.. they ARE persistent. If I could remember what threat I'd finally used, I'd tell you. Sorry t :D
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

JM: Thank you for all that you shared about MOL. Your remarks provide further clarity for those who follow this thread. I honor your willingness to communicate about your MOL experiences and knowledge. Those of who have seen MOL at work close hand, are aware of how insidious and tempting the group is to their followers. Good that you have the common sense not to have "gone active&quo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There are other groups, besides Landmark, that infiltrate corporate and employee educational programs exhorting platitiudes and "feel good" enthusiasm- without practical work skills. The charisma and 'new age' themes have infiltrated so much of our media, that most merely accept all without questioning.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi "Mom": I suggest watching this DVD, and reading a few of the books that are suggested at the end of it. Very tough situation (I know that's an understatment) Good Luck!
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Oz: It's great to have you back onboard! You are one of the 'greats' around here! Your message was heartfelt and eloquent. Congratulations on supporting Jane through recovery, learning to add (2+2=4) again. While my cult related loss has a different ending than yours... you are right in that a change in me happened through losing a love to an LGAT cult (The Miracle of
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Mid: There is not sense to be made of that message. It's metaphysical hoolabaloo. (sounds like my parents, and years later my exboyfriend.... LOL & ouch..) The message is a backhanded insult to you, and exaltation of the person who wrote the message. The person who wrote the message is doing their hard work. While you are hindered, because you identitify with that pesky ego
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Sorry, I failed to track the link to this article. An old friend emailed it to me. The Fairfield Ledger is the hometown newspaper to a small farming community in SouthEast Iowa. Since 1974 or so, the town has become familiar with such cult-issues - amidst their reports about the highschool basketball team and the latest agricultural politics. This article is yet another example that th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

:?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

If, in fact, the founder of the Ishayas is Vaughn Abrams - here's the little historical information that I know about him (his face on the Ishaya website looked vaguely familiar) If my memory serves me right, (I claim protection of perimenopausal memory lapses) In about 1980 or so, Vaughn and Del Abrams, with I think 2 young children, built a home south of Fairfield Iowa (TM mecca) on Gl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteMartin Maharishi Sadashiva Isham (MSI) is Vaughan Abrams. That's Vaughan??!! Omigosh, yes, I knew Vaughn forever ago! I was on friendly terms w him, his first wife and young children. He always was a little odd. However, I have no current information. Haven't seen Vaughn and his 1st wife (oh jeez, I don't remember her name even.. maybe it was Del?). I still re
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Mid: As usual, very well stated. Thank you :!:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuotePeyton_PlaceI don't have a solid understanding of some of the Eastern-influenced cults Singer's book "Cults in our Midst" has a chapter about TM titled something like "Hindu based meditation cult" If Ishaya is structured similarly to TM, you might find some useful information there. As outsider, you may not be able to rescue your friends who are diving in
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Having being raised in the early daze of the TM movement, and still with family connections, I know so many TM spin-offs. Not worth my time to list them all. I don't remember hearing of Ishayas. But I left TM almost 20 yrs ago. If that group is a more recent spinoff, I would not know. Besides the spinoffs, many former TMers just cult-hop (for the rest of their lives sometimes!). T
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rather than quoting your entire post, Savernake, I'll just add my 2cents that IMHO you are completely correct. USA culture is very fractured and individualistic. This can create lonely people. Homo Sapiens are a social mammalian species. When we are in a vulnerable time of life, easy group answers can be appealing.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

GOD AND COUNTRY by HANNA ROSIN A college that trains young Christians to be politicians. Issue of 2005-06-27 Posted 2005-06-20 In the last days before the 2004 Presidential election, Patrick Henry College, in Purcellville, Virginia, excused all its students from classes, because so many of them were working on campaigns or wanted to go to the swing states to get out the vote for Ge
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What an interesing day... (Coz, tx for update on Robbin's trial) Today was at a typical multi-generational 4th of July BBQ. The hostess introduced me to her son's 25 y.o. GF. "You two need to talk, about your cult-stuff, Toni". I asked Bonnie (fictitous name) "Were you raised in a cult?" "I think so." She nodded. The conversation continued
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteBalkanBoy.........and I've had my sense of good honest humor surgically removed from me long time ago (maybe that's why my wife hates it too ;). QuoteBalkanBoy BalkanBoy: Maybe your wife would glean some value from the section on "Abusive and Controlling Relationships"?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Jaded : Good job posting the info. FYI, I've had mixed responses to a couple of police reports that I filed. Still, at least it's on record. As more information comes forth, there will be a history of suspicion (and harrassment, in my case) If something terrible happens to one of those children in the future, at least you'd know that you had spoken up way-back-when. G
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

and Germany, and Argentina, and Iceland and Costa Rica Just gotta keep that LOVE spreading around (with those pillows carefully sprayed with bleachy water, then individually wrapped by gloved volunteers, to send to the cleaners after each Intensive day ... hmmm...)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yup, Sorry, confusing sexual messages are common in cults. Adults, raised in cults, have a lot to sort out. Margaret Singer addressed post-cult sexual issues in her writings.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

GREAT job on exposing the group! I still get harrassed for expose on this message board. I haven't even done anything as forthright as you. Groups that control by manipulation will harrass by manipulation. The group probably won't take legal action against you, if you are correct in your postings! They can harrass and annoy you to no end (ugh). It's about as fun as living
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"