Again, like i said, people can choose to carefully examine their Beliefs, or not. Usually not 99% of the time. In terms of cults, they often use "supernatural" beliefs to trick people, and most people think that way so it works. Ouija boards are the ideomotor response, as explained above. The easiest person to fool is our self. Coz
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't know if you are saying that the "spirit-ghost of your stepfather" was peeking into the crib? Of course, I know that most people will just believe whatever they WANT to believe with these types of things. If that would have happened to me, i would have called it a "dream". I have many half-waking dreams. Our imaginations can create anything, that is what a ha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have no opinion on this idea, except that it seems to me that the USA is awash in what i would call "military propaganda" of many kinds, and all kinds of covert mass persuasion. But I want to just make a more general point. When thinking about things of this nature, it is essential for us to reflect on our own perceptions and biases. For instance, there is something called a
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

You can overcome your Social Anxiety by using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. There are well trained therapists in many cities, and many good self-help books, and even some good online groups. Its a matter of FACING your fears, and doing "behavioral exposure therapy" and cognitive therapy. Stay away from Landmark at all costs. You do not need it. They will mess with your mind, and c
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Where is the link to Ricks DVD? Its about cults right? If so, if i can get the link, and the price and ordering info, and some 3rd party REVIEWS about it, then i will print that out and submit it to my library system. The library will go and buy resources if that info is provided, if they think its useful. They usually get a number of copies. People could do this in their cities, then whe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is my take on it. They made the show ambiguous at best. Why would they do this? Right now, reality shows are tanking, and some of these new "supernatural" TV shows seem to be the new wave. So the network puts out stories like this, to create some FASCINATION for the credulous unwashed masses. So its just cross-marketing for their supernatural TV shows. Also, advertisers LO
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ABC News did a fluff piece PROMOTING a health scammer "Miracle Man" from Brazil. James Randi exposes it here. Now the Networks are going to cash in on promoting these scammers. What's next?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am an Atheist, so it would seem logical for me to believe that many of these so-called "spiritual teachers" are scammers. Religion gives them tax-breaks, Power, Money, sex, etc. If i were a sociopath, i would start a New Age religion tomorrow, get the tax breaks, and get rich. But i am not a sociopath, and i have intellectual integrity. So yes, i would say that MORE scammers g
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I grew up a catholic, and i despise Catholicism, and my mother is now involved in a cultic wing of the catholic church. These people are fanatics. Worse, the famous M. Scott Peck, of The Road Less Travelled, is now claiming he is an EXORCIST! These guys know that fundamentalism is on the rise, and they can scare people back into religion, and cash in from the hysteria. What a disgrace. Co
Forum: Destructive Churches

Its because they are NOT legit "spiritual teachers"! These other people are not cultic abusers, but some abusers in those professions abuse their power. Power currupts. These folks are pathological cultic abusers, narcissists, sociopaths, con-artists, etc, so this is why they go into being a "Guru" in the first place. Easy money, sex, power, etc. That's why they do
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Check this one out... "the Advanced Instruments requiring a higher donation also consume much greater research, development, design and manufacturing costs...All Instruments can be upgraded and are guaranteed to work for at least 3 years." R & D costs for chanelling space aliens? I have never seen such a load of "hockey pucks" in my life!! So these things
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Boy, "Tubby" & Co are really having a heart attack over the Mighty Winds of change blowing their way these days. On their website they say... "There are NO MESSIAHS at The Gentle Wind Project and we have NEVER claimed that there were any... We are producers of a real healing technology and operate strategically in the same way that producers of auto mechanics tools, woo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Today US District Court Judge Gene Carter dismissed a lawsuit filed in Maine by the Gentle Wind Project (GWP) against Rick Ross and the Rick A. Ross Institute For The Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements (RI). The judge also denied the plaintiff’s motion for any further discovery, effectively ending the litigation in Maine entirely regarding both this “cult watche
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This post by DavidChicago is either someone who is still under the grip of Cohen, or is an attempt at post-hoc damage control. First, say his mother is crazy. Ad-Hominem. Then, admit the criticisms, but then say "its all part of the process". Spin Control. Then go into the warped psychobabble about the War of The Self. (which is an extremely dangerous concept). Lastly, encourag
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Odyssey Study Group Group Leaders Sharon Gans, Robert Klein Group Founders Alex Horn and Sharon Gans-Horn Other Names of the Group: OSG The Work The School Fourth Way School The Theatre of All Possibilities Description of the Group: This is a very secretive and elusive group. They claim to be a Fourth Way school with connections to other esoteric schools in history (especial
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If i were involved with somebody who was doing something so secretive, bizarre, and expensive, i would not put up with it for 2 weeks, never mind going further into the relationship. Firstly, relationships can't have that kind of secrecy. Next, i would never become involved with someone who is going to spend us into bankruptcy. I can't tell you what to do, but i would have an ope
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

One of the closest to Rand was Nathaniel Branden, a young philosophy student who joined the Collective in the early days before Atlas Shrugged was published. In his autobiographical memoirs entitled Judgment Day (1989), Branden recalled: "There were implicit premises in our world to which everyone in our circle subscribed, and which we transmitted to our students at NBI." Incredibly
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

The Ouija board is based on the Ideomotor effect. Instead the theorizing, one just has to do an EXPERIMENT. Blindfold the people using the Ouija board, and then have 2 objective 3rd parties record what is being pointed at, and install a video camera above the board as well. Ensure the blindfolds cannot be seen through, and actually cover the lower parts of the eyes, so folks can't pee
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Obviously, this guy just wants to try and get a flame war going. The thread area about this is called HATE GROUPS. For anyone else who is interested, there is a terrific book called "Prisoners of Hate" by Aaron Beck, which gives a cognitive perspective on this serious mental illness. Could you imagine trying to have a discussion with a card-carrying racist? The abject ignora
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I found this to be a dated puff-piece about Chopra. He is running a huge money-making racket, preaching pseudoscience, and getting people to believe prescientific ideas about "ancient medicine", while selling them potions. Its a personality cult. He is doing the same schtick as the Maharishi. If he really believed in exploring the effect of Belief on human health, he would set
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

James Randi has a little piece about another scam-artist named TOBY ALEXANDER involved in the Indigo Children psychological child abuse ring. (This bogus anti-scientific "activate-your-DNA" delusion seems to be the latest New Age fad. Sadly i have personal friends who have talked about it). Coz My favorite part of this site is all about someone the owner calls "Indigo Chi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oprah rabidly promotes Cruise, Travolta, Kirstey Alley, all of who are rabid Scientologist progagandists. She literally WORSHIPS Travolta, saying he is this amazing person, she just goes on and on about the guy. This is astounding propaganda for Scientology, which they then use on countless people when they recruit them, mainly young people, and young women. Its totally evil. Oprah knows d
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

That is truly an excellent article. I read it long ago, but the second reading was better. I myself used to believe in "New Thought" ideas for a number of years, and went through a process of Skeptical awakening as well. I think i will write out all the details of how i went from a "New Thought believing Tony Robbinite", to exploring the skills of Critical Thinking. Coz
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More ideas would be to contact local and national Investigative Journalism shows. These reporters might jump on this, due to the fact children are being used and deceived in this way. Also, one could also send a package of info to the Dr. Phil show. Dr. Phil is far from perfect, but he has gone after a few other cult leaders, and fraudsters, and would see through this fraud in about 10 second
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This Twyman is very bad news. It seems to me he is doing some type of bizarre "experiment" on children, which would amount to systematic psychological child abuse. Telling children these types of bizarre things about themselved can be extremely harmful. When i say the term child abuse, i really mean it. Also, he uses the word "Experiment" a lot himself. YOU DO NOT CONDUCT
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I found some photos online of ANOTHER horribly rundown Scientology building!!! It is a horrifying thought to think of the horrible abuse that goes on inside of these evil Scientology buildings. (from the website...) "Lisa died needlessly at the hands of Scientology. Hubbard Tech produced the death of a young vibrant woman." http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/pix/tororg2.jpg
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Walked past the main Scientology building today, and they had several folks out front, AGGRESSIVELY trying to get people to go into the building for a 5 minutes "Stress Test". They made the error of getting in my face as i walked by, so i stopped, and looked at the girl, and said loudly so others could hear, "PRETTY AGGRESSIVE CULT RECRUITING going on here!!". The two youn
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't know if Elliot's work is helpful or not. It might be... It was interesting to see that only 2 white-folks came back for a follow-up session. My general point was that even though people knew what was going to happen... it still worked on them. She had people in tears in a short period of time. But i do think that the idea that these intense experiential seminars create c
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

PBS Frontline Salafist jihadism is the name European scholars and counterterrorism officials have given to the prevailing ideology that inspires Al Qaeda and other Islamic radicals in Europe and elsewhere. Salafists, also known as Salafis, are Islamic fundamentalists who believe that Islam should be restored to its most pure origins as written in the Quran. The majority of Salafists are
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Jane Elliot runs a "seminar" about racism. I turned it on, and i thought i was watching a confrontational, bullying and abusive Landmarkian LGAT. By making people wait in a room, and dividing them up, making them sit on the floor, using social pressure, social shaming, yelling, arguing, yelling, treating them like children, etc, etc. In a very short time she has brought them to tears
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"