I wonder, is Madonna/Esther "brainwashed" by these people and is now a True Believer, or is she and her people just continuing with a new Phase of media manipulation? Prince is now a Jehovah Witness as well. Something stinks about all this stuff to me. Coz ------------ (Reuters) -- Assuming a newly modest public image more in keeping with that of a nice Jewish girl than a
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

It pretty obvious that some folks come here and try to "bait" people by saying things to get people going, and probably have a good chuckle over it. On the other hand, some people could find the analysis of all these groups to be disturbing. Many people just want to BELIEVE in these types of groups, without analyzing their possible motives. This site has been a great education for
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Years ago i read the book, "The Way Of The Shaman" by Harner. I don't recall anything about the book, and i do not have it anymore, so i must have traded it in at a second hand store. From the website: "Shamans are a type of medicine man or woman especially distinguished by the use of journeys to hidden worlds otherwise mainly known through myth, dream, and near-death e
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

-The Cub Scouts -my Union Association (well, actually, they're not clean...and they do force me to give them money in many different ways, and they do control my life and are authoritarian...wait a minute...) Seriously, there are TONS of decent, harmless, helpful orgs out there, but no one talks about them, as no one is having their lives ruined by them. Also, look at the name of this
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi. Thx for sharing this info. It shows the process of how these cults work, and the damage they cause. First, i am NOT a professional, so don't follow my advice. But, if she is ADDICTED to pain-killers, she needs to go into drug rehab right away. She needs to get checked in, and cleared out. That is expensive, and difficult, but if she is addicted to drugs, she needs professional hel
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I said a while ago that our buddy dap10 was here on a mission. This must be a very disturbing website, for all of those folks out there trying to promote their cultic interests. Frankly, i see dpa10 as trying to draw out info from certain people on this board, perhaps to then figure out their actual identity. Also, dpa10 looks to "bait" people, and get them going, just to make troubl
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

If you want to get these sleazy weasels to stop calling you, send them a letter telling them to stop calling/contacting you. Use the words CEASE and DESIST in your letter, and DATE and SIGN it. Send the letter registered mail, with a returned receipt requested. They will stop contacting you then. But if anyone is foolish enough to contact you after that, call the cops for a restraining ord
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Yes, good point. The randomness and impersonality of Nature cry out for an explanation. In primitive times, people thought lightning was sent from angry Gods. So people tend to project their needs/fears onto the canvass of impersonal Nature. One could even make an argument that all of our mainstream religions have some similar weird aspects to them. So no question, us humans still have Pa
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

You know what's really funny? A few years ago, Tony Robbins came up with the idea of something called his "Platinum Partnership", where "100 exclusive" rich/in-debt suckers pay Tony Robbins $56,000.00US per year, to go on adventure vacations/seminars with Tony Robbins and his new girlfriend. (plus your own airfare, and expenses to get to these locations around the world)
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Briggs has experienced the TOTAL defeat of Landmark on this board. NOT ONE PERSON FROM LANDMARK has been able to defend Landmark AT ALL. So Briggs slips into Ad Hominem and name calling, and attempting to discredit those with valuable opinions. Why? Because the ideas put forward by those who are critical of Landmark are totally devastating for Landmark. There is no defense for a simple con-
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

What i mean is its part and parcel of its Ideology to RECRUIT people. Like SGI. I knew this one girl who was into it, and she was an ok person, just quite naive. SGI taught her it was good for her "karma" to bring people into "Buddhism", so she ALWAYS tried to get people to come to meetings, and meanwhile men would think she was coming onto them, but that's another stor
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, i am no expert in Falun Gong, but my guess is.... Recruiting, Recruiting, Recruiting... Coz
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am noticing that many people seem to be holding very bizarre and irrational ideas these days. For example, I was on a job ther other day and there was one guy who was telling me that the government is releasing chemicals into the atmosphere from the engines of unmarked jets, "Chemtrails", (those things you see in the sky from jets!). He was telling me the US Gov't is buil
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I evaluate all of these things by using the principles of Critical Thinking. Falon Gong does claim it can "cure cancer". A girl i knew had someone in her workplace, who claimed to be cured of breast cancer by Falon Gong practices, and would RELENTLESSLY try and recruit people through email, and posters, etc. The problem is this. There are many spontaneous remissions of cancer, t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think half of those has-been celebrities are there because for Robbins, Persuading people like that is like taking candy from a baby. A few other are there because they are promoting their own interests, and will do anything to be on tv. The rest of the "true believers" are something else. What Robbins does is "cherry pick" from his fans, to find those who have been suc
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Do a search on this forum for Tony Robbins. I have written a lot about him. Robbins is not some little "self-help guru". He is a Master Manipuator, doing NLP, Eriksonian Hypnosis, and many other "mind-control" methods. Search this forum for Robbins, and read those threads. Don't give Robbins any more of your money. Robbins is NOT on the level. Coz
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

One of the funniest lines i heard from a KKK was, "I am not a racist, i am a racialist". Its never ceases to amaze me, that those who are involved in extreme right Christian groups and have this intense fundamentalist belief in Jesus, seem to be the most judgemental, divisive, and hateful people out there! Whatever happened to "judge not" and "love your enemies"?
Forum: Hate Groups

Most cults consider themselves to be anti-cults. Coz
Forum: Hate Groups

People are greatly impressed by open displays of wealth. Look at The Donald Trump. People LOVE they guy, because he shows off a bunch of expensive stuff, and advertisies his company on tv. After all, if he has money, then he must know what he's talking about, right? Believe me, that stuff WORKS. Tony Robbins ENTIRE SCHTICK is based on how much money, and stuff he has, and how he got it.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Those Landmark photos look like stock photos to me, you can just buy them and use them. I doubt if the models know how their images are being used. But the images are pretty funny. Bicycle for two in the sunset, happy girlfriends, the up and coming cool black guy, the yoga chic, and yes, the glossy eyed middle aged white guy losing his hair and staring off into space in a trance who is so ch
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Just a quick note on Robbins, he has courses and products that cost well over 50K a year. Basically, if you have money, he has a 'service" to take it from you, with no limit. EVERY WORD AND MOVEMENT BY ROBBINS IN THAT INFOMERCIAL is very carefully designed. Every edit, voice-over, celebrity, and type of person he shows are very carefully designed for effect. When he is talking with t
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Tricky, i think you are right on in your analysis of the confidence man's mind. A related example, that has been shown in many studies, is that people who commit violent crimes against others, actually SEE THEMSELVES AS THE VICTIM, and that they were somehow defending themselves from the other person. They are able to turn everything totally backasswards in their mind. So they perceive th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Well, if you can resist that person's recruitment, you are a very strong individual. That guy sounds like he could be recruiting an amazing amount of people, due to his wealth and status and aggressiveness. (People figure if you APPEAR to be rich, then you must know what you are talking about). That guy could very well have "sociopathic" tendencies. Many folks who are successful i
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

If you look at specific fields like Show-Biz, those could almost be classified as the "Narcissist Olympics". And the amazing thing is, millions of people find the Narcissists in the entertainment business endlessly fascinating. A MASSIVE multimultibillion dollar industry is built entirely around Narcissists! There seems to be something about people who are totally self-absorbed that
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Hi there, i used to subscribe to your email list, and found it educational and fascinating! But i unsubscribed, as i felt there were too many emails a day, and i couldn't read them all, but was loath to delete them, as i wanted to read them! (just some customer feedback for you). I will resubscribe again, and see if i can keep up!! Malignant narcissism is truly at the root of so much of
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Factnet is a good resource. I want to take this opportunity to make an very important point. Certain parts of factnet contain some pretty tough talk. That is the nature of free speech. You will see links right on their pages saying STOP INTERNET CENSORSHIP to in defense of free speech. It seems to me that they will only remove extreme abusive and obscene messages, not just sarcastic or ob
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

hey, i missed that daily links page. Too bad it couldn't be done with an RSS feed though. That way, all the links would appear in my blog aggregator. Coz
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sometimes messages disappear on any webboard. What i do, is write the messages in a document software, and then cut and paste them into the browser. This way you don't write a nice message and then lose it! You have the total right to harshly criticize ANY groups methods and tactics. That's called freedom of speech. Refuse to be intimidated. Tell the truth as you see it. For in
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yikes! These UnGentleWindProject people, (A Mighty Wind :D) seem to be somewhat bizarre! Its a foul smelling wind to me. They are trying a strategy of discrediting their critics, by calling them "con-men". Also, they are now offering "new free cult deprogramming". THIS IS CALLED PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION. Its basically the pot calling the kettle black. How scary
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In a "mens group" i belong to, some guy just made this post, here is an excerpt. Its about an older man chasing after a young woman, and taking 9 Landmark courses, to be close to her. She will only meet him for a "Landmark group breakfast". Is this a typical Landmark technique as well? If it is, its totally brilliant. Coz -------- Thanks for the feedback. I have n
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"