It's been a while since I read the thread or posted. Just kinda felt the need this morning. I left the SGI officially about 6 months ago after the huge campaign last summer...Rock the Era. I was actually in Chicago. My SGI sponsor is apparently trying to get me to come back. I have decided I will never go back to the SGI. There were a lot of lingering doubts in my mind for a while th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@ doubtful I think me and you agree that we can be grateful to the SGI for bringing us Buddhism, but are happy that we realized SGI is practicing a strange form of Buddhism. It's not really up to me to judge if it's Buddhism or not. I am so much more at peace with everything in my life now after going through the SGI experience and knowing that I can stand up for what I believe is
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I haven't been to any SGI meetings or done toban duty since I came back from the Central Territory RTE and it's interesting that since I stopped attending SGI, my life has actually gotten better. Don't believe what they tell you about your karma. On the other hand, I am grateful to some of the people I met in the SGI who introduced me to the organization that helped me through a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I guess the reason I think that the SGI abuses people is that they feed off of people's hopes and dreams for something better in their lives. They promise a great way to overcome your challenges and be happy, but then turn around and skillfully take advantage of people's efforts and willingness to dedicate their lives to the organization. And it just feels to me like it's all so
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

wow, I just got back from Rock the Era. Yeah, I know, signed up for that right before I found this forum. I can't believe how totally over the top the whole thing was. I'm sure all of you who've been to these things probably already know what it's like, but for me it was a bit of a shock and bizarre experience. It makes me really sad, especially after reading Wakatta&
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I grew up in a Mormon community as a non-Mormon, which I think has really helped me to see what the SGI is all about. Some similarities I noticed that bothered me were the activities that take up all of the member's time. Also, giving experiences in SGI is just like the Mormons "bearing their testimony." It was all too weird for me, the Mormons and the SGI. This is another
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Another thing that scared me away from SGI is the similarities with the Mormon (LDS) church. Growing up in a Mormon community I always knew something was wrong, and to see the same things in the SGI was just another warning sign for me. Very strange indeed.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One thing that I really found disturbing and strange is how much pressure the WD and MD have been putting on new youth to go to Rock the Era. I feel like they were really just hammering away at some of these people until they finally gave in and said Yes. Probably just so people would leave them alone. Geez, what's the point of forcing all of these young people into doing something they
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you Nichijew and DrJesusEsq. The day I got my Gohonzon was actually one of the happiest in my life. I felt as if everything in my life was going to get better from that day forward. I was always up early to do Gongyo, just like you DrJesus. At the time, I was going through so much emotional distress that I chanted with the goal of simply making it through my day. I spent many teary e
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Something that horrifies me is the Elementary School Division experiences in the World Tribune. It just seems creepy to me now, especially after reading many, many pages of this thread. How odd to have your kid chanting to get a new Playstation or video games (etc...) The experiences in the WT are also bizarre sounding to me now that I understand what the SGI is all about. The Mentor/Disc
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Ok, another thing that scares me about SGI is how they can really get into your head after a short period of time. After my four month stint with the SGI, I found myself thinking some of the same things that people who have been in SGI for many years describe. Such as..if things don't seem to be happening even though I've been chanting, maybe something is wrong with me. If I start
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I recently joined SGI believing that the intentions of the organization were of the highest good. Reading this thread has really got me thinking that I might be better off just getting out now, after a 4 month period, rather than getting sucked in. During my brief encounter with the SGI, I have already witnessed many of the things those of you who were members for many years have come forward
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

These people are truly evil. I don't use that word very often. How do they get away with this stuff?
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Hi Shellyleigh, I have to think I agree with you. Although I haven't long been a member of SGI, it does seem like the SGI is full of dysfunctional folks. Maybe I happen to feel that way because I am one of those people myself, and I can spot it a mile away! Lonely people looking for a place to turn to give them hope in their life. People looking for refuge in a group. People looki
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

No, none of this is stupid. In fact, I appreciate your insight as a person who apparently gets sucked into these cults rather easily. In a way, I feel that it was all in my best interest, though, as now I see it as just a part of my search for the truth. Now I know which direction NOT to look! I appreciate your help very much. I also appreciate this forum very much. Thanks to all of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for the response. I am currently in the process of leaving the SGI, and I am vary wary of getting heavily involved in any other cult-like group. After doing some objective research of NKT, I feel a great amount of trepidation. Unfortunately, I believe that the fear I'm experiencing right now will definately impede any spiritual progress I hope to make at this point. I guess I fe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I haven't finished reading this whole thread yet, because I happen to still be engrossed with the Former SGI member thread concurrently. After discovering this forum and quickly becoming disillusioned with the SGI, I determined to try to find another school of Buddhism. Well, I was hoping that perhaps I had found something that I could follow after checking out the NKT center in my town.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"