Jaded : Please acknowledge yourself for your strength and determination to take your children away, deal with the issues (they are ongoing, my family too), and take care of life. Good for you! Regarding your group information "if anyone is interested." IMHO, it would be helpful to provide the group's name and concrete information as much as possible. You could begin a threa
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wouldn't it be lovely? Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) cannot be treated with medication, nor can cult indoctrination. Yes, hanging around as supportive noncult friend is important for the cult member. I remained friendly for a few years. But sometimes we (outsiders) have to protect our own sanity too. We each make our individual decisions in that regard. I stay
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

check out www.bpdcentral.com Life w/ a cult member is very similar to life with someone with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Tks for that reference, corboy, it's been helpful.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Reyedge, I share your concern about those who are ruled by cults. IMHO, if we truly cared about a person, we never stop caring about them on some level - regardless of their loss to a cult, and the related mind-screwing to us. Singer wrote that many post-cultists never fully recover to have normal intimate relationships, even after extensive exit counseling. :( Couldn't
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

IMHO, Researcher's web site makes some interesting points. There are some references on his web site to early research in office design. No disregard for Rick's expertise here. I agree, more references on Researchers website would be invaluable. Still, given the topic of this thread, the basic points on his site are intriguing. I think the basic point, and relevance here, i
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Coz is right, Medical Doctors are merely expensively educated humans. That does not mean they are broadly read. In fact many have rather narrow life experience. I'm a Nurse Practitioner; I work with physicians and have many friends who are medical doctors, PhD scientists, etc. I also precept young doctors. Most of them are naive about cult phenomenon (at best). I know some who belong
Forum: Destructive Churches

Midonov: Please don't "jump"... We know you won't. Those who think they are going insane, really are NOT going insane. When mentally ill, the person themself does not experience it as illness. So, your sense of going crazy means you are normal. :shock: Cultic mind control puts you into a totally upside down psychological world. Your letter was fine, appropr
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Right, Sonnie Dee, exactly. and it did hurt like friggin' hell ..... (being inadvertant 2nd-hand cult member) toni :D now
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Perhaps Timmer has motivation to discount this message board? Could that person belong to a group currently under scrutiny? Perhaps a thread that is frequently visited? Just a thought. :wink:
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

There have been a few postings about Sterling. If you look at the top of this page, click onto "Search" enter "Sterling" You will find the scattered postings. I once-upon-a-time knew a few aquaintances who are REALLY into Sterling (at least for a while). They were cult-hopper types anyway, so I didn't pay much attention. I heard something about men's
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Ellen : Excellent points about nature vs. nurture. Just received this link. It's about a gene related to ethical indescretions. Looks bogus to me. Anyone else know of this web site?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

P.S. Hamilton's Book "God vs the Gavel; Religion and the Rule of Law" can be found on amazon.com already; it's just not available for shipping yet. I hope this helps. It should be an interesting read.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Bonnie: Private Schools, even those that are acredited, have different regulatory guidelines than public schools in most states. For example, in a California public school, a teacher must have a teaching credential. Private school teachers are not required to have teaching credentials. Amish teachers have the mandatory 6th grade education that all Amish have. Watch for book soon to b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For those considering responding about child sexual abuse in cults, for a presentation to US Congress... Her book is available on amazon: God vs. the Gavel : Religion and the Rule of Law (Hardcover) Following is the response from Marci Hamilton, regarding her qualifications for this task. Please be in contact with her if you want to support her work. Marci Hamilton wrote: I a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yes, Bonnie, You are correct in your assumption. There are many advantages for a business to function under the guise of religion. Cosmophilosopher wrote more about that on another thread. You could search his postings.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing your pondering. I've had similar musings today. So, what IS wrong with these groups? WHY did I post what I know? It is deeper than finanical abuse. And yes, concern about children's issues. As a society, we speak up about other social issues. This cult phenomenon likewise should be addressed. In my ponderings today, about "WHY did I pos
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

general notice FYI A researcher named Marci Hamilton is trying to bring the problem of cult child abuse to public attention in the U.S. Congress. She needs one page statements from people who were sexually abused in cults. If you would like more information, or if you would like to contribute a one-page story, please contact her. She is working under a deadline, so please give your
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Ok.... you're probably going anyway.... See the new Star Wars installment. If you read this message board, you'll recognize the syndrome - the highlights of coercive persuasion, in a mainstream flick.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The "investment opportunity" associated with MOL, for their devout followers is Broad Street Capital, Inc According to an investigating attorney, no one seems to know what REALLY happens to funds once 'invested'. Funds do not returns to the investor. Some MOL members appear to have been fleeced by this group. The following attorney is investigating on behalf of clie
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am sorry, mindonov, I don't have the reference for where I read about Landmark in France. I just remember it.... hmmm... The Italian parliment's debate is in one of the 2004 issues of Cultic Studies Journal. I'll dig around for the issue, then edit this message and post that link. Corboy, do you know about Landmark's status in France?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Tks Lilly! Rick posted the articles that came out recently. My guess is that more are to come, as the investigations go "deeper and deeper" as they say in MOL "just peeling the onion". Maybe now they'll leave me alone? Bigger fish for them to fry... or their own butts to cover. Whew! I'm tired of being of being 'the little red hen' screaming abo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have read that Landmark is outlawed in France, Scientology outlawed in Germany. A prior issue of the Cultic Studies Journal wrote that the Italian parliment was debating the definition of thought reform groups in order to outlaw them. USA law rarely, if ever, takes international laws into consideration.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

My former partner, very involved with MOL, did not live in an MOL house. RT: Others would probably appreciate if you shared what you've seen. Posting is about sharing, and helping one another. In Lalich's "Bounded Choice" - the group dynamics described from Heaven's Gate are similar to MOL... various Levels, an emphasis to come Home, the leader's divinity, p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

maidynfall: I don't think your question is absurd at all! Sounds like an honest & healthy self reflection to me. Those of us who've been exposed to thought reform methods had to ask ourselves those very questions ---- MANY times over! From what I've read, every human has a point at which the thought reform/ brainwashing sinks in. That 'set point' is dif
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Interesting history on Prophet's group... so I had it backwards. Sorry. IMHO, your neighborhood children should be fine. Cultic groups generally stick w/ their own folks; that is the definition of cultic.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you, Rick, for the suggestion! GQ May 2005 p. 138 "Defending Your Life" by James O'Brien "The Landmark Forum is a self-help program that offers to make you a new, more powerful dude. The catch? Try three days of scant sleep, humiliating revelations, and verbal abuse. So why are people signing up by the thousands?" The author explains in detail his exp
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I don't know anything about the individual founders of Melaleuca, Inc. Melaleuca is a MLM. The founders are Mormons. One branch of their organization is built on TM folks. A friend of mine finally stopped trying to recruit me; I still buy a product or two from her (good products, IMO).
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

They are either affiliated with, or a spin off, from Elizabeth Claire Prophet. She claimes (is she still alive?) to be a prophet of God, reincarnation of Guenivere from King Arthur days. At one time she had her group build a retreat center in Montana, with quite a stash of hidden firearms.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

M: Glad they're off your back. Long story, my harrassment continues in insidious ways (just like their slow thought reform). Attorneys adviced me not to file a Cease and Desist , since I could not PROVE it's them. Another shaningans to untangle today related to fraudulent use of an online account. Yes, I have protections filed w/ various credit agencies. As Cosmo wrote, cult bus
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

mjr40: Thank you for the link. Fascinating article. Does your local Opus Dei group leave you alone now?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"