If "Truth is a Pathless Land" as JK Krishnamurti said then there won't be any initiates on the right or the left hand side of a path. Krishnamurti was reacting to the Theosophists' notion of "the path", which was dogma that had been drummed into him from an early age. In Desteni they talk about "walking the process" which is not dissimilar to being on the p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Redfield seems to also be hooked into the Course In Miracles, which is a huge ready-made market. Back in 1997 Gary Smith appeared on the same page marketing Chicago Psychic Fairs, with James Redfield, but Redfield was a famous keynote speaker, Gary Smith was selling $40 vaporware. ------------------------------- Chicago Local Focus Classifieds October 1997 www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspec
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

From our newly registered member, Dr. Monasterio (Corboy-I organized this into paragraphs) QuoteSomebody was asking for some licensed psychoterapists to give their two cents over this most entertaining-and quite dangerous- subject. Here my review of of one of Katie's latest "pearls". This review is from Amazon: A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Somebody was asking for some licensed psychoterapists to give their two cents over this most entertaining-and quite dangerous- subject. Here my review of of one of Katie's latest "pearls". This review is from Amazon: A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are (Hardcover) If Byron Katie weren't the successful business woman that she is I will b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello All, I am a newbie and have read several responses on this particular thread. I feel the need to share my 2 cents worth. I have traveled many spiritual paths in my long journey. Some felt right to me atthe time and fed me and then I lost interest. Soon another path would come to me offering more and interesting me again with deeper insights. I have always paid attention to my intuition
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hmmm compare this from Wineguy "There is nothing about this philosophy that is any different than that of Christian Desert father mystics, Sufis, Taoists and some famous Zen Buddhists like Huang Po" with this Wikipedia article on Eck Tolle "InfluencesAt the age of fifteen Tolle read several books written by the German mystic Joseph Anton Schneiderfranken, also known as Bô
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think this is a very useful website. Whenever I hear of some new spiritual group one of my friends mentions I have done quick search here to see what is up with them. I think I have used this site to get ammo against IMPACT, Abraham-Hicks and The Secret. I never really need such info for myself as I am able to get a sense pretty quick who is legit, but often my friends will not just take my wo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotenewagesurvivorI'm not sure if this has already been linked to here, but Vinstonas Wu has written a piece called Debunking the Law of Attraction and "Thoughts Create Reality" Concept. The contents of the article are Introduction Common sense and ordinary examples that logically refute this teaching Beware: Whatever you expect to happen, will happen! And whatever you fear wil
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Brynhild, I understand what you're talking about. It sounds in your case that you weren't exactly in a 'cult' per se, but that you picked up a mixture of New Age beliefs over the years that have become an integral part of your own belief system. I think what you're experiencing is called 'cognitive dissonance'. In this belief system you're not suppose
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It's not just New Wagers who will shower you with attention in the early part of your association. Jews for Jesus were very attentive when they were hustling me for Jesus. One guy would call me regularly to stay in touch. He reminded me of a telemarketer because when I asked him questions it would throw him off and he would return to his script -- never answering my questions to my satis
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To the OP, I've had plenty of experience with alien/ascension/conspiracy theories, more than I want to know. Thanks to the good people on this board, I can now laugh at the utter ridiculousness of these things, half of which I actually used to believe! I often frequented the site www.salrachele.com There's a ten-part Earth History series in the channelings section. Think X-files meet
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"A major sentiment was forgiveness, which never applied to dissidents" Findhorn - an alternative view (tiny excerpt from this very interesting article which includes references to Grof and Holotrophic breath work) QuoteIn 1996, a book was published locally (in Forres) that documented the fate of several dissidents. The Foundation responded by suppressing the book to a notab
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicI don't find the attempts to get members to enter politics to be at all worrisome. Poolman has big ideas but the reality of politics is a savage business the world over and any Desteni member who has what it takes to succeed in that political world would be distancing themselves from Poolman and Desteni very quickly. Its just more grandiosity to pump up his profile amongst the fa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey Alyb45, Wow, Esther sounds like a fraud if she screwed up that bad! I don't mean to be argumentative, and I'm only asking out of curiosity, but if she is so fraudulent, how come hardly anyone's picked up on it? I mean, people have tried to spot inconsistencies so they could make the case of her being a fraud, but even they have trouble finding them because everything is so roc
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Pegasus, Wow, you're really making me think here... How have the teachings affected me? I was dependent on them, like I needed them, like a drug, like I would be doing my daily activities but my focus would be gone because my mind would be somewhere else, thinking about new-age stuff. Every problem or situation I had in my life, I'd rush home and constantly check to see if there
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Brynhild, That was so cool to read what you had to say about the contradictions in the different groups. I can really relate to that and I have also spent a lot of time feeling frustrated and upset by contradictions I could see which it seemed like no one else could see at the time. It seemed to me that these contradictions were everywhere - which is similar to what you are saying, you found
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuotecorboyACIM ... turns G-D and Jesus and the Holy Spirit Jesus into an ATM. ... I used to be Catholic and figure that Jesus didnt go through all that stuff just to be turned into a focus for wish fulfillment. Wanted to add a little focus on this one issue here because I feel it's a very good point. This is a good warning sign in general to look for when in doubt about a particular group,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotesunshineQuoteThe A Course in Miracles book, beyond the New Age "peace of mind" thing, is new Age Christ Consciousness stuff. That means they tell you that you can ultimately learn to have the miracle powers of Jesus, and all that kinda stuff, walk on water, materialize some fishes and loaves, heal the sick, raise the dead) How do you do it? Believe you can real hard! Doesn't w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

No, if you read the ACIM and start to believe it, you will get more and more passive, and spaced-out. Most people can't read the dang thing, it just puts you in a trance from page one, and its a huge book, designed to look like a bible in some publications. Of course, the Miracles stuff is somewhat concealed, they do a lot of dancing around it. But its better to just cut to the chase.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe A Course in Miracles book, beyond the New Age "peace of mind" thing, is new Age Christ Consciousness stuff. That means they tell you that you can ultimately learn to have the miracle powers of Jesus, and all that kinda stuff, walk on water, materialize some fishes and loaves, heal the sick, raise the dead) How do you do it? Believe you can real hard! Doesn't work? Then tak
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The A Course in Miracles book, beyond the New Age "peace of mind" thing, is new Age Christ Consciousness stuff. That means they tell you that you can ultimately learn to have the miracle powers of Jesus, and all that kinda stuff, walk on water, materialize some fishes and loaves, heal the sick, raise the dead) How do you do it? Believe you can real hard! Doesn't work? Then ta
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As rrmoderator noted earlier in the discussion here, most ACIM groups appear to be fairly benign. I'd like to add here though, that on the individual level, I personally feel that there are some psychological concerns worth noting for those that jump head first into a deep study of the text. First off, what is A Course in Miracles? It's a book that was a combined project of Helen Sch
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A Course in Miracles--a book with a history Copyright disputes and What I find of the utmost interest is the the person who reportedly 'channelled' the text that was to become known as A Course in Miracles (ACIM), Helen Schuchman, was a psychologist on faculty at Columbia University. The ACIM own website states QuoteDr. Schucman held various prestigious positions thr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

THIS IS IN NO WAY CORBOYS ENDORSEMENT OF COURSE IN MIRACLES --note-this is written by a member of the RR.com discussion board and is strictly my personal opinion as a private citizen who tries to be well informed. QuoteOprah, Lupus and Carol Myss The post I wrote was to emphasize the troubles with certain persons who are invited by Oprah to blab on her show. I am careful with
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

THIS IS IN NO WAY CORBOYS ENDORSEMENT OF COURSE IN MIRACLES --note-this is written by a member of the RR.com discussion board and is strictly my personal opinion as a private citizen who tries to be well informed. QuoteOprah, Lupus and Carol Myss and The post I wrote was to emphasize the troubles with certain persons who are invited by Oprah to blab on her show. I am c
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I didn't think that anything would ever induce me to read 'A Course in Miracles', (particularly after learning that the author was assistant to one of the leading psychiatrists working for the MK-Ultra project and may have been hypnotised by him prior to 'channeling' her opus,) but my copy of the original text is ordered.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Marvin, You are so right about cult leaders taking a kernel of truth. Back when we were in the cult Judaism was really popular and trendy and I think that's why it was a ''kernel'' that worked so well for JH. I realized that when you talked about the secret teachings being ''cool''. Remember ''kabalah'' teachings. Talk
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

There are a couple on interesting posts by a username of "Antara" at the Janaki blog. Now allegedly the username "Antara" might connnect to a therapist at the halfway-house where BK supposedly had her cosmic Roach Motel metamorphosis. Have any of the BK former-Lifers heard that name before? But even a supposed BK insider, who says they were there at the time, is say
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteConfused7609What about the "Course in Miracles"? Is this a type of brainwashing? There is a church that requires a year long class in this book in order to become a member. Some of the excersises in the workbook section are similar to Scientolgy, in that they are intended to "clear" your mind of thoughts and reality. It is scary, as are those scientology excerises. I
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

What about the "Course in Miracles"? Is this a type of brainwashing? There is a church that requires a year long class in this book in order to become a member. Some of the excersises in the workbook section are similar to Scientolgy, in that they are intended to "clear" your mind of thoughts and reality. It is scary, as are those scientology excerises. I have this book b
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence