I have thrown myself into another cult. I started volunteering for one of the presidential campaigns here in the US. The campaign organization is SO similar to NSA/SGI!!!!! My husband and I are always laughing about the similarities. There is a huge organization at the top. A whole leadership hierarchy. My city is divided into two groups, and there's a lot of competition going on.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hitch, I just watched the clip on your post of The Last Detail. OMG, DID I REALLY DO THAT???? I sat with my mouth opened as I watched as those 3 guys attend the meeting. Too funny!!!!!!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuotetsukimotoFrom www.fraughtwithperil.com, "Diary of a Chapter Leader" blog by Nancy Thomsen, "Presto Chango" essay Thomsen is writing about recent organizational changes in SGI: ----------------------------Beginning of quote----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For about a year, the top leaders in
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitchQuoteRothaus@ Hitch Its funny that you should mention the education issue. While skipping through the talk pages in Wikipedia I noticed that some in SGI are quite willing to condemn academics critical of SGI as being mislead by tabloids while those speaking in favour are best next to sliced bread. Looking at the edits and propaganda going with it … some in SGI have not the faintest ide
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteHitch Let's hope some can make it out and grow up, like we all have managed to do. The other night I was talking to some friends who are also ex-members. We were noting that the members of SGI are in a box. They can't see outside the box that they're in, and so they find it very difficult to grow and change. Once in a while, someone becomes uncomfortable in this box. It
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@ Rothaus...As I was leaving SGI, I guessed that many people felt like me, but just did not know what to do since SGI had become their whole world. There's always been people who come and go, but if too many long-time members leave it could be a problem. SGI never seems to grow. It just shrinks. @ Hitch...so true. About the complete lack of democracy in SGI.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi, everyone. I haven't written for quite a while, and was very surprised to see that there's now 452 pages! SGI has left their mark on so many. For those of you who don't know me, I was a 33 year member. Joined when I was in my early 20's, and then finally had enough in my mid-fifties. The reasons? Every reason that has been discussed here. I was so enmeshed in the SG
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@bobze39: I liked your "experience", too!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotetsukimotoShavoy, KR, Anticult, These posts make me think of a discussion that I had with a friend over the Christmas holidays. She and I had been SGI members together in our hometown, some years ago. She moved to another state a few years ago, and is still involved in an SGI group there. We talked about SGI...and this thread. I asked her, "Do you really believe all the hy
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteThe AnticultIkeda is far far richer than Oprah! Again, you have to wonder, its impossible for all of those SGI billions to have come from mere "donations". Sure, many many millions were collected in donations. But there seems to be mysterious billions which have flowed into SGI, and then were repeatedly moved all over the world, as the money was put through the washing machine.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi, Ithomas. So glad to hear that everything is well and that you have been doing such interesting things!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteJackie_FlashHi, everyone. I need to ask a question. Did any of you have a problem with getting scatterbrained after leaving SGI? I've been having problems with misplacing things like car keys, etc. I also left the lights on to my car twice. I've been meditating to try and calm myself, but I still occasionally misplace important stuff. Last Friday, I couldn't find my car
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotewakatta1@Anticult I wonder. Given the size of SGI's cash holdings and the returns it enjoys from the financial advantages they provide (i.e. interest, turnover of "community centers", etc.) is it reasonable to assume that there will come a day when collecting the money from the membership will simply represent gathering "chump change"? I suppose that is the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteTibbsAfter I had just lost my job I gave a thousand dollars to the SGI in hopes of "changing my karma". The "friends" that took the check from me knew my situation, knew how little money I had to live on and did nothing to dissuade me. And now if you have free time that isn't devoted to SGI activites you can volunteer at their thrift stores - awesome! Wow, Tibb
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteShavoyQuoteTibbsI just don't understand the whole Ikeda-as-Mentor concept. Your mentor is someone you try to emulate, isn't that right? How exactly am I supposed to pattern my life like Daisaku Ikeda? Start my own muti-billion dollar religious empire? Dupe good people into giving me their money? I'm a 45 year old white woman, so transforming myself into an elderly Japanese Bil
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@ScoobyDoody, I'm afraid I was one of those people that you're describing. :) I carried cards and LOVED to give them out. Also I bought little introduction books for $1 and kept a couple with me for emergencies!!!! Was never very good or effective at it, though.......... @backnforth, I can relate to everything you're saying. I too don't spend my time regretting my 33 years
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@tsukimoto You don't have to bow before any god? What about Mr. Ikeda? The organization of SGI tries to be a god, too. You need to give them money or your life will be a disaster. You don't have to give up the way you live? Oh, really? I sure did. My whole life became NSA/SGI. All of my friends and social contacts were SGI. All of the things that I did were SGI. The way I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

@doubtful You've made some great points. We certainly did become arrogant, didn't we? Thinking that we were so superior to every one else. Thinking that they had no control over their lives like we did. Thinking that they couldn't really handle the bad things in their lives like we could. I also really like what you said about it being a relief to be released from the ide
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteScoobyDoobyYou know, I used to enjoy reading and ocassionally participating in this forum. I have a very difficult situation at home for which the SGI is at the forefront. Many of the people who have posted here since I joined have given me a great deal of insight into the organization and its destructive ways. They don't appear to be around much anymore. Recently, it seems most of the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteShavoyQuotequiet oneQuotetsukimotoQuotebobze39There is another aspect of SGI, that has been discussed here before. Did you ever have a feeling, when you came to SGI meetings, that you are in a looney bin and surrounded by a bunch of loonies? It's easier to convince people who are in a mentally vulnerable state to work for free and to give donations. So, SGI targets people, who are a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotetsukimotoQuotebobze39There is another aspect of SGI, that has been discussed here before. Did you ever have a feeling, when you came to SGI meetings, that you are in a looney bin and surrounded by a bunch of loonies? It's easier to convince people who are in a mentally vulnerable state to work for free and to give donations. So, SGI targets people, who are alone, depressed, in a men
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotebobze39Morgaine, you are lucky you didn't become SGI member. I wasn't so lucky. I actually joined SGI and received Gohonzon and I did my share of free labor at SGI warehouse. In fact I personally know SGI-USA leader Danny Nagashima, I met with him on several occasions and talked to him. That was not because I was a leader, no, I simply happened to practice in the same district, whe
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A group is not necessary at all to practice a religion. Religious practice should be a personal, spiritual experience. However, most people enjoy the "fellowship" that they feel when they practice with others, whatever the religion it is. The interaction with others can be fun, meaningful, and a source of learning. On the other hand, one has to be careful because as we all know pract
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Rothaus, I can think of many instances. A while ago, I was being "home visited' (which I still occasionally am, BTW, after leaving SGI nearly 2 years ago) by a "senior" leader and some other leaders. She and the others were at my house for a couple of hours. Before she left, she admitted that her husband was home alone as he was often. Another visitor admitted the same. T
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

We had 4 hour tozos here each month for a while. That was hard enough. Can't imagine 10 hours!!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Here's wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year! Any one care to share their ups and downs in 2010 without SGI? I would be interested in what you all have experienced! One thing that has happened to me is that I lost nearly 30 pounds. :-) Now I'm not saying that SGI is responsible for weight gain, but in my case I really think that the lifestyle promoted by SGI contributed to my
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

newbud, when I was a member I heard that too. It was explained to me that the reason for the MD push is that we are all supposed to strive to be like the mentor, and when he passes away, then EVERYONE will become a mentor. We will therefore not have a reason to replace the mentor. Strange logic!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Chooselife, I can really understand how you are feeling. It is so hard to leave when SGI has been so much of your life for years and years. I too really miss the social aspect of SGI. I am aware that there are some members who are not truly your friends, although they may act like they are at times. But many of the people are great. I really miss some of the friends that I had in SGI. I mis
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Great points, Rothaus.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Dear Chrider, Several months ago I was watching a show on the history channel about the rise of the nazi movemment. So many similarities!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families