Quote If you’re a private organization, unless somebody complains, you can be as secretive as you want, especially with policies and trade secrets; but, if you’re fully or partly funded by taxpayers’ money, you have a social obligation to answer to public inquiries. Tax-exempted religious organizations are considered partly funded by taxpayers' money. In an open society, inquiry is king.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotePeople in the Terasem community upload details of their daily lives and thoughts in hopes of recreating themselves one day, or just leave a lasting legacy in the future digital world. A few hundred people have mindfiles, and their information is kept securely on servers at Terasem, and backed up elsewhere around the world. Funny, so they want to build a robot which has the same thoughts an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote waiver/release of liability form What is that thing ? QuoteIf a guru or human potential group requires its members to keep its methods secret and states that newbies never be told what is done at retreats and seminars, beware. I think there can be good reasons for secrecy: 1. If you started on the topic of employment, companies will try to secure valuable know-how. 2. A psy
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dialogue works equally well, if not better for manipulation, but the technique employed is certainly different. And of course, the feedback is an essential manipulation tool.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't know, I'm not a lawyer, but I'm wondering if Mr. Rick Ross doesn't have a moral and / or legal duty himself in the context of the misinformed forum posts. I haven't followed this huge thread, but from what you're saying, seems anybody in good faith will recognize there are wrong accusations made in a case of mistaken identity. I understand there is a foru
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To be in the spirit of "the expression of all viewpoints": Some people are more concerned about potential abuse from state agencies than about a bunch of people getting high in the middle of nowhere.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Maybe it makes sense to bypass the parents, if the child was abused while under their care. As for the letter... So they are acting as middleman for the kid to send a letter to the school. And possibly shock the school board. Of course, there is the matter of joining their mailing list.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's not that it's wrong, it's just that the result is often unsatifactory. Meaning that often the matter is pushed to a no-return point by forcing the choice: "Choose between family and your life" And by life, it can mean the job we don't agree with or the wife we don't dig or the guru we don't like. And often the young son or daughter will ch
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have no clue where this comes from (maybe somebody has a link). But are you complaining about your posts being edited or blocked ? If the moderator isn't abusing his powers, he's just stating his oppinion and you are overreacting. If you can prove a point, do that and people will see.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote“Suggestion” in mantras and meditations is existential, beyond the grasp of the rational mind, unalloyed and absolute, that you may have to choose between that and your family and loved ones and your values. Not only it demands “attention”, it calls for a life-changing shift in your life. You’re comparing apples and the Universe. I'm worried we lost track ... Let's go back to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote You don’t even need a scientific study to conclude that a calmer mind is more vulnerable to “suggestion”, especially when the mantra being chanted is from and may include the name of a guru. Not that meditation is without a merit — it does calm the mind; it is the “suggestion” that comes with it that is the red flag. I think that you do and that maybe it doesn't work that way. TV
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote Repetitive speech elicits widespread deactivation in the human cortex: the "Mantra" effect? Heavy dosage of mantra, hours - long chant sessions may compromise one's mind. And one's boundaries. It may be preferable to have a reserved approach when drawing unproved "scientific" conclusions from a research. What the article says, more or less is that ma
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote I'm the only person who truly would know, and I know what I know and I felt what I felt. Well, there is knowing ... and believing ... and wanting to believe. Quote"YES, THIS IS IT! THIS IS THE ANSWER!!!", truly ask yourself - would you ever believe me? It would not spawn of my desire to NEED you to believe me, but my desire to WANT you to believe me Well, I would believ
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey, take care and try to keep a cool head, like a spiritual teacher used to say. It may help to research what enlightment is, because you seem to be describing a different experience. Why would you even want to become enligthened, if you don't know what that is ? If you already know what it is, you are there right now as we speak and there is no need to do anything. Also, by wanting
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Hindu" is not a "thing". It is a very vague term, describing "stuff" which comes from the general indian geographical area. Hinduism isn't a monolithic religion. Some hindus are atheist, others venerate a deity or another, and I think some may be monotheist. But I agree, it would be very interesting to find out what people in India think about export
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, how bad is it? Has your tenant caused any trouble, maybe disturbed the other neighbors or otherwise exhibited bad behavior towards you ? If you feel concerned for their wellbeing, just try to be nice to them, as possible. I don't know, maybe bake some cookies and send them through your husband. Or flowers or whatever. I think it's important to show somebody that you are not
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteWhy is it that everytime yoga is featured, it's always a picture of a tight-fitting, young, beautiful woman at a scenic spot? There's the manipulation there. A lot of avdertisments for almost all kind of products are centered around atractive women (or sometimes men). Apparently it's good for marketing. And it's scientifically proven. I'm not sure if actual
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ok, so if we have for example 100 refugees in a camp, the "right" way to allocate the sponsorship money would be to feed the 30 to 50 of them which happen to fit the Wikipedia definition of "orphan" on that particular day. (I'm saying 30 to 50, because Wikipedia is regularly edited so the actual number may vary from one day to another). Besides, the "defined&qu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteIs this unique to Eastern religion or can this occur during periods of Christian meditation as well, such as when praying rosaries? I heard about this in christian environements aswell. Not sure about this, but I think the apparitions of Virgin Mary are sometimes linked to praying rosaries ? Somebody told me about visiting a prayer group and they wondered how come everybody else see
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Wasn't sure what Real Love is, until I found this: Seems to me like a business, selling expensive "entertainment" services. It may help if you can provide more background. Is your friend spending too much of money for seminars/coaches ? Some thoughts: 1. Learn and understand (without judging) what this "cult" means for your friend and in what ways is he ge
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Since many of us , who left the community in the early 1980's after their "spilling of the seed" came to light by some of the community members confronting Jack on what he was doing with young boys, I like many others, thought that basically the community was dead. After finding this Rick Ross forum, and finding out that it is still in full swing, I started to read the blogs of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"