Sorry about the new subject, I meant to reply to your current thread. Deal with this ASAP. If you're still within your drop/add period, get out that way. Otherwise, it sounds like the professor is using classic indoctrination techniques that cult people use at seminars. Take careful notes of when the teacher does the "wrong thing", and take note of what he says. If he says outra
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I graduated from college, and I've seen my fair share of wacky professors. And YES, sometimes I've had to go to the head of the subject department. And when THAT didn't work, I went to the dean. Usually the buck stops at the Dean. If your professor is a follower or supporter of Scientology, I don't see how he could possibly teaching psychology. If I were you, I'd ma
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

And in the East, when gurus abuse power, they are rarely confronted. The basic belief held is that each spiritual seeker has a guru designated for them, based on not so much karma, but spiritual credits earned by the seeker over the course of multiple lifetimes, which translate to "punya" or "skriti". A sincere, humble seeker will find a corresponding guru of good chara
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

And Guru' is not a protected title in India. Traditionally a man never called himself a guru. He aquired a reputation slowly, over many years and eventually, by informal consensus, his community agreed that he was a guru. Bharati calls this 'ascription.' I'm probably stating the obvious, but to those not familiar with eastern religion, the complication here is that somebo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I played several online games, including the first MMORPG Shadow of Yserbius, but also Ultima Online and now "Star Wars Galaxies" when I have spare time. In the past, I've noticed several groups that were a bit on the vulgar side, and dealt with rated R topics and spoke rated R language. People would throw nasty insults back and forth, make "real life" attacks on peopl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A friend of a friend has someone close to them in an abusive, cult relationship. They want to have an intervention. Is there a guide out there that deals specifically with these types of interventions?
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Anyone ever heard of cults adopting kids? I'm not even talking about a cult adopting kids for the purpose of physical or sexual abuse, but even having lower members taking in foster children, and then indoctrinating those foster children into their cult? I've seen this before, but I'm not 100% sure. It appears they have a 2 fold purpose; 1) Making foster child money; and 2
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Corboy, did you see Sarlo's long essay on MOL? In a nutshell, she and her husband "David Swanson" (1950-1995) were running this jointly, until his passing in 1995. They profess that their God Lord "Gourasana" inhabited the body of Swanson from 1987-1995. It seems they are very cult savvy and have made a nice brainwashing circle complete with various immersion metho
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It appears that Miracle of Love used to be The Church of Exodus and the leader, Kalindi is a former Hare Krishna. Do you know if her HK name was Kalindi, and do you know who her guru was when she was with them? If you have backrgound information on her from those days, it may provide a great deal of insight toward what sort of cultish or brainwashing techniques she's using.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Please consider writing a journal to reflect on your experiences. It may be also be something your children and grandchildren will appreciate." Heck, I bet if he could put enough information together, and make it a smooth read, you could make it into an actual book. It would be very difficult, but I don't think there's ever been an ex-Amish account of what the lifestyle is
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

"The smartest hustlers never have to ask for money directly. They stage manage a situation where you end up begging to them to accept your money. We had an alcoholic shyster in one of our peace groups who'd really mastered this technique." The IGVS group I mentioned in my first post on this thread is JUST LIKE THIS!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ex-Krishna, Actually, I took no offense to your forum name, or anything else for that matter. I don't think anyone should take offense to those things. Unfortunately, what I read from you on this thread and on the recovery forum are common stories that I've heard about and seen with my own eyes in some of those groups I mentioned. Women devotees, encouraged never to get an educ
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey Hope, I find your post very interesting. Very little is known about SIF, and I've never seen an ex-member before (and I have met many who are or were Krishna devotees). Let me tell you what I know. I used to live in Hawaii, and I loved going to their health food store Down to Earth (DTE). They have hot vegetarian food there, and very good selection of organic produce. As I was goin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey Hope, I find your post very interesting. Very little is known about SIF, and I've never seen an ex-member before (and I have met many who are or were Krishna devotees). Let me tell you what I know. I used to live in Hawaii, and I loved going to their health food store Down to Earth (DTE). They have hot vegetarian food there, and very good selection of organic produce. As I was goin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Although I NEVER joined ISKCON, nor did I ever have any such intention (Thank God!), I did attend several of their programs in various temples (I probably could count the occassions on one hand). I also read various texts about the history of ISKCON (read "Betrayal of the Soul" by Nori Muster if you haven't already. It should help you). It appears you joined them on the tail end of
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

ISKCON is the primary group in the west. There are also several offshoot groups: ISKCON Revival Movement (IRM) - Ritvik offshoot. They don't believe in living gurus. They have had several fights with ISKCON, and their philosophy is banned from ISKCON. Prabhupada anti-defamation (PADA) - Another Ritvik group, more fanatical than IRM. Leader is "Kapindra swami". Science of I
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Moonies have twice tried to preach to me. Once in the western United States, once in New York. In the first case, I was a lonely new student at a public University, and I think they sensed that, and invited me to some holiday dinner. When I did not respond, they left numerous messages on my answering machine. I'm surprised the university allowed them to preach on campus! Another time,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'It's ruined us' Sessions can't easily say what the last two years cost him. Between selling his investments, running up credit-card bills, depleting savings and borrowing against his house, the total comes to about $320,000. Most of that is new debt. Retired for a decade, Sessions is scrambling for work and putting his prized 1967 Cadillac convertible up for sale. An
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

I realize I should post this on the cultnews.net, but I'm still awaiting my confirmation e-mail. ---- Notorious e-mail scam snares Volusia retiree's nest egg By Jim Stratton Sentinel Staff Writer Posted December 23 2003 In a windowless room, in a nondescript house on the other side of the world, Rupert Sessions glimpsed his fortune. It was a metal suitcase, choke
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

"Dan, the two of us need look no more We both found what we were looking for With a friend to call my own I'll never be alone And you my friend will see You've got a friend in me (You've got a friend in me)" /satire Hehehe ... It's rather strange that when a washed-up celebrity is accused of a horrible crime, cults are flocking to win his favor
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I've not been involved in Sahaja Yoga, but I've seen Indian based cults where they say they dont want money, but later on, you'll notice the wealthier congregation members get some preferential treatment. They might even start hounding you for money that you don't have. I've seen all this. But there are also some very sincere religious missions in India, so you can't
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I honestly had no idea where to put this article, but it seems to me that the Governor of Connecticuit is trying to establish some cult-like relationship with his constituents. The recent news of the governor giving away millions of dollars in state funds to overpriced contracts, in return for favors was shocking. The Governor and his wife's replies however, were even more shoking. Appare
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

That would be interesting. Is he still a scientologist? Can you imagine Scientologists and NOI fighting over Jacko? Not a pretty sight. Two cults ... battling for ... A CELEBRITY!
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

What kind of cult is this? Do people follow AC everywhere with this glassy, googly eye look on their face? Or is it more like a "self-help" cult?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"