Yelm's Ramtha school welcomes in outsiders, 500 get peek inside reclusive neighbor is a headline in my local paper today, and I don't know where to begin with my critique of the article. First I'll have to get through this general reaction of depression and anger to it. Anyone who wants to can respond to this article, can email through the link on the newspaper web page
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A writer for the Colorado Springs Independent, Kenneth Cleaver, has sent round requests for proposals to various cult, mlm, and lgat groups, offering his soul for sale. So far, only Amway has responded.
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

I don't know specifics of this particular church, but I have some reasonable research skills, perhaps I can help with that. If I was researching a church, I'd run a google search on any names of folks I knew in this particular church, I'd also pay attention to location, where the church is located. Since this group rejects medical treatment, I'd also read up on any rela
Forum: Destructive Churches

The following is taken from an article in the Antifa Info-Bulletin, posted on a Google Group: 7 TFP, well financed by Latin American landowners opposing reforms, has been actively involved for nearly 40 years in every right-wing cause around the world, from the Brazilian coup in 1964 to the Chileno one in 1973. Its militants worked in close touch with the South African government duri
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't see much mention of TFP either on this site. Off site, I found this: TFP A Dangerous Cult, by John T. Armour. And a site for the group itself The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) With a bit more poking round I find a link from Rick Ross's site leads to this article with more indepth analysis of TFP: Ed, do you ha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Info on this group at: I'm noticing more NESARA themed bumper stickers around town, here in Olympia. Also the group is purposefully taking advantage of peace and anti-war gatherings, they had an information table set up today at our local anti-war rally, stocked with flyers and quite a few avid volunteers. Dove, in one of her recent Dove Reports to "Friends and White Knights
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotestill exploring the forum - maybe I am way off the mark, but I seem to be dectecting that there is a tendency to hold on to past bad experience, to constantly relive it, to continue to live in it, rather than to let go and move forward? what could be more terrifying than moving forward after a nasty cult experience? just cannot get my head around this and not sure why Some thoughts on this
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

First read Rick Ross's excellent article Bobby Kennedy Jr. featured speaker inside controversial New Age guru’s compound at www.cultnews.com. I've not seen any mention of this yet in our local paper here in Olympia, we are the largest city closest to Yelm, Washington. I quickly passed Rick Ross's article on via email to The Olympian newspaper, hopefully they will send a reporter o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More information on this case.
Forum: Hate Groups

QuoteBut that being said, my general point was that these LGAT techniques are being used everywhere, and of course those that use them think and say they are useful. But i don't think they are. I don't see the evidence that they produce any long term change in people. Good point, and I'm rethinking my perspective on both Elliott's work and other uses of LGAT techniques.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I watched the recent documentary on Jane Elliott's work in Canada, I also recall seeing long ago her work with children in the States and then the reunion when that group were adults. My perspective on this I think differs here from Coz's, let's see if I can get this into words. Elliott's confrontational work has an upfront purpose, to demonstrate the experience of ta
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteI guess my question is, does anyone here have any insight? Online games are relatively new, so I'm guessing there isn't any literature out there about online guild personality cults. I've experienced destructive groups online, posted about this briefly on in the past. The fact that they exist is a good reminder to focus on the behavior of a group and to not be side tracked
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Worth looking over what Phil has listed as the ten life laws, that first law is especially familiar to any of us with experience in LGATs: QuoteLife Law #1: You either get it or you don't. Two articles on unpleasant experiences various audience members have had. (Some links in articles do not work.)
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

One key to all this might be in how exhausting such maneuvers are. It may appear that the person using such techniques is exhilarated or somehow in control, charged up, but in my experience, all this comes with a great cost. When I was under that influence, I saw my exhaustion and confusion as mistakes and failures. Those experiences meant supposedly I was doing "it" wrong. I wa
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here's a link to the excellent article Corboy spoke of.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteShe recently commented to me on an altercation she had with someone where she said: "My staring and smiling at her while she was talking to me seemed to make her more angry." She went home that night and cried herself to sleep as the person accused her of being rude, (since LE, she really can be). She told me that she should have been stronger by: "blocking it out".
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Might be worth finding out if he belongs to any official dance organization, such as the NDCA, National Dance Council of America Inc. If so, the organization may very well have a formal code of ethics and perhaps a system of reporting abuses. For instance, this dance group lists the NDCA's ethical policy on their webpage: Policy lays out in detail the need for appropriateness, fair
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Holidays are an ideal time to amp up recruiting efforts. People may be more stressed, more vulnerable, and more likely to be seduced by glittering promises of transformation. Along with Tony Robbins' holiday greetings discussed on the Robbins thread, thought it could be informative to keep watch on how various groups promote themselves over the holiday season, how they make use of the ho
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Tony says on the audio that along with food baskets "we also bring them books and tapes and things to trigger them.". Trigger them? Ouch.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Some thoughts, these of course simply my own opinion: Folks who want to find something to dislike in Rick Ross's work and in these forums will find it, words and motivations can be twisted. If a reader decides that one disliked post is enought to color their opinion of the entire forum and also of Rick Ross's work, and even of the entire theme of evaulating destructive groups, they c
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteHello Sarah, I never agreed or disagreed with what Oz wrote, I was just wondering what the connection was, seeing that there are so many links, showing people using simultaneously the services of Landmark Education & Toastmasters and/or PMI & Toastmasters. Hello Madison, I just was pleased that Toastmasters responded so clearly, I did not mean to aim my post at any of u
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteWhat I am trying to say is that there is a clear distinction between an organisation promoting an organisation as policy, compared with that of its members promoting an organisation. I was pretty sure that Oz was right on this in regards to Landmark and Toastmasters, checked out Toastmasters website but didn't find a mission statement that would clarify, so emailed them and asked. Go
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

What is the name of the television program?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Came across this article while doing some research on Yogananda, fascinating example of what devotees claim concerning meditating on the eyes of their gurus and other people considered saints.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Elizabeth Hamilton (1904 - 1991), known as Reverend Mother Yogacharya M. Hamilton, said to be the only woman that Yogananda made a Yogacharya, spoke often of going through a "mystical crucifixion" and of not being able to sleep at night because of processing her devotee's energy. I am especially puzzling over something I often heard her speak on, something she also wrote about in:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some information on John Eldredge from an interview on John Eldredge is the best-selling author of Wild at Heart, The Sacred Romance, and a new book, Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive. He is the founder of Ransomed Heart Ministries, which describes itself as part monastery, part military outpost, and part Red Cross unit for the soul. It hosts boot camps and retreats for men an
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The destructive group The Church of Immortal Consciousness in Mesa and Tonto Village, Arizona is now quite active in the chess world. Steven Kamp, co-leader of COIC, is a coach, quite a few group members are involved. They also run the 915 Club in Mesa, chess club in one of their group houses. They attracted the interest of a chess grand master, Alex Yermolinsky, not sure if he has joi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I cannot resist passing on this link from a few years back about Christmas with J.Z. Knight: Seemingly innocent quotes take on a whole new meaning in light of the reality of this destructive group: "What I'm doing with this house is to never let that feeling of magic and awe and really mystical feelings die," she says. "I want you to feel like you're 5 years old
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteIn the areas of celibacy and pedophilia: There is no evidence to suggest that celibacy and pedophilia are causally linked. Further, it is not the celibacy of the priest that results in interpersonal sexual conflict and manifests in this horrid form of abuse. That is a very important point, one often not understood. In reading further on the issue of child abuse in the Catholic Churc
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

www.google.com research will locate lots of info on A.L. Williams, now called Primerica. This site a good start, includes history and details deceptive business practices:
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes