I want to make it clear that this small article is not an exercise in tracing conspiracies. I consider conspiracy theories a waste of time because they cannot be disproved. So if anyone is interested in conspiracy theories, please take your interests to another place. This said... What I propose to examine in this small article is a suggestion on how to trace the routes by which ideas and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'Stoic, The moderator has made it clear that personal attacks on other posters will not be tolerated,' Thank you, Blackhat, for your kind concern. I will wait for the moderator to make comment on what you have selectively perceived as 'personal attacks'. And, because I am a person of my word, I will abide by the decision, whatever that is. Regarding your perceived &#
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

One of the wealth builders for Chinmoy were the veggie restaurants run with donated or cheaply paid labor from his followers. The food was and is often excellent and an added attraction are the affordable prices. A cheap labor pool provided by eager disciples made this possible. It is worth noting that vegetarian and vegan restaurants can be part of what has been termed the cultic milieu and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tell it to the Navy The US Navy recognizes there is a such a thing as unacceptable cruelty- --Why cant Andrew Cohen's apologists and enablers recognize it? Here is yet another question about the New Age/Culture of Integral Abuse/Guru Adulation/Dharma Lite/Spiritual Celebrity/Cultic Milieu Scene Why is it that someone with a long record as a verbally vicious guru still out t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Learn to fact-check the background on anything you consider participating in, even if so much as a volunteer group. Here is a true story, told by a person who learned to do this after having been in a very destructive cult. The person now sees running background checks as a form of self inquiry. Here is the story: Confidential to "s": I want to thank you for a comment you re
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuoteBe careful not to fall into the same "moralizing, judgmental, reactive" view you accuse them of. It is easy to mistake one's preferred conventional views for the profound view if one perceives them to be of an equivalent class. That is a very old and tired way to attempt deflecting any outside scrutiny of a greedy guru or group. Persons discussing another guru (adi da) c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Exactly. Doctors and psychotherapists, attorneys and CPAs are all high value recruits for LGATs and scamster human potential types, just as celebrities are high value recruits. High value recruits will not be told a true and accurate history of the set up, and they will be petted, coddled, flattered, and will never be allowed to witness the guru screaming in a tantrum--until they've been
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

In this interesting piece the author, Tana Dineen, posits an even more widespread milieu than the new age or cultic milieu, one she terms the 'Psychocracy': which would suggest not that we should be striving to recover from new age mumbo jumbo, but that we are currently mired in an all-pervasive psychological milieu which in turn gives rise to our susceptability to new age and cu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is a link to an association for parasychological research. I have no experience with them and am passing on the link in case it is of use to anyone. In case this is of help, there is a very haunting autobiography by Mary Garden, entitled Serpent Rising. Ms Garden spent many years in India and was in physical and emotional bondage to a guru through whom she had what seemed a most remar
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteI't is amazing how big that movie was. You bet that movie was big. I was shocked when I attended a lecture at our Zen practice center and a seemingly reputable teacher referred to What the Bleep as tying in with Zen practice. Folks, any movie or guru that is a product of mass marketing is something that is part of a process (in this case marketing) that is designed to massage a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

THIS IS IN NO WAY CORBOYS ENDORSEMENT OF COURSE IN MIRACLES --note-this is written by a member of the RR.com discussion board and is strictly my personal opinion as a private citizen who tries to be well informed. QuoteOprah, Lupus and Carol Myss The post I wrote was to emphasize the troubles with certain persons who are invited by Oprah to blab on her show. I am careful with
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

THIS IS IN NO WAY CORBOYS ENDORSEMENT OF COURSE IN MIRACLES --note-this is written by a member of the RR.com discussion board and is strictly my personal opinion as a private citizen who tries to be well informed. QuoteOprah, Lupus and Carol Myss and The post I wrote was to emphasize the troubles with certain persons who are invited by Oprah to blab on her show. I am c
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Dude, that URL led to a JOKE about The Secret, not an actual factual story about life in prison. That story was meant to be experienced as a joke, as a spoof of The Secret and how inadequate magical thinking is when all your social support taken away and you're without resources in prison. The bit about the guy saying he was a serial offender because he habitually pooped in mailboxes?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you want a great parody of this power of positive thinking (cultic milieu) stuff, go read this essay, The Secret Saved My Life. If positive thinking by enough people got the desired longed for results, everyone would be rich and we'd have cures for the heart breaking diseases out there. The people we love would be alive and healthy and with us. The heat wave on the East Co
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Margarets wrote: QuoteHowever, I have DEFINITELY come across these BK/ET ideas and principles in everyday life. I suppose they are part of the general mix of pop psychology in our culture, along with The Secret et al. What I find scary is that people actually believe it. They may not have taken the courses or read the books but the meme has gotten into their minds. I am about to read an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is a chapter on Goths in a book edited by Jeffrey Kaplan entitled Cultic Milieu: Oppositional Subcultures in an Age of Globalization. He suggests that in come cases, this interest in vampires can be part of age related rite of passage and an attempt to grapple with the realities of life and death. If one grows up in nicey-nice suburbia amid American positive thinking, success driven
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteI feel like my mind has completely changed because of this idiot. I hope over time this will vanish and I will be able to reconnect with my old life. Tolle was the focus. But its not only Tolle--its the sophisticated marketing apparatus and social setting in which you head about and were given or massaged into curiosity about his book and materials. Get Tolle out of your head. But also
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A possible recovery technique: Find a picture of whoever has loused up your head. Put it in a place where you can have a pee. Or, if you or a buddy owns a shredder, place picture of X in shredder. Or visualize doing so. Shred away. Use material as compost---or as loo paper. Urinal targets with pictures of despised persons are available so use some inspiration here. (google "urinal
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi. This is something of a stake in the ground. (I'm brand-new to posting on the boards, so if I've put this in the wrong section, moderators, please point me in the right direction.) I've been voraciously reading the RR forums for a couple weeks now, after stumbling upon them in researching some sketchy psychological games that had been hitting me hard in my personal li
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Yes to rainbarrels, no to cults, I like that. Ha---I can make my own yogurt, can even make my own fermented cottage cheese, make kick ass bread and do cult education. Yes to fermentation, yes to science, no to secrecy. Anything in the culture that has a bandwagon effect or that promises to meet a social need (child care, elder care) does risk being co-opted by enterprising types as a poi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Aleister Crowley was not a helpful role model. He ran through a large inherited fortune, left many followers ruined and crazy, and ended in a boarding house, old, living on donations from followers, and heavily addicted to drugs. So much for 'Do what thou wilt is the whole of the law.' Referring to Anticults post previous page This matter of Hitler is a way to separate tho
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In most cases, the citations indicate lists where books, TV programs or workshops by BK or facilitators occur side by side, at different times, at the same center or on a list of resources. This google search "nonviolent communication" "byron katie" This list of citations included two citations for books on nonviolent communication, one by Marshall B Rosenber
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The cultic milieu in another persons words--part of a longer article [74.125.113.132] Nicole Bretencourt alleges: QuoteThis group which I had infiltrated may be considered as a typical group of all those which propose the ayahuasca in Europe....Many direct victims do not wish to call victims' associations to testify for fear of reprisals by the leaders who have actually managed to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Lancet formally retracted the 1998 Wakefield article. But unfortunately, this has entrenched itself deep into the lucrative cultic milieu. More people remember a charismatic TV personality than do a careful and mannered retraction by a British medical journal. That is why folks like Oprah carry a responsiblity to use their media influence wisely and carefully. We need to DEMAND that it beco
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

More material quoted from the bully site. This refers to the secular world, not to the diseased world of New Age fascism that celebrates abusive gurus and writes off those who disapprove as having mean green meme mentality. Quote 3) Personal qualities that bullies find irresistible (excerpt from a longer list) *high expectations of those in authority and a dislike of incompetent people i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Abstention from any sort of guru, teacher or charismatic type for five years seems a wise plan. And that should include even dead gurus, like Ramana Maharshi. Often, newly divorced or separated persons are advised to take time between relationships. And on the dating scene we are told to be careful about dating when 'on the rebound.' The problem with implimenting this wise adv
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hear that folks? The New Wage/Dharma Lite cultic milieu is, too often, a community of consumption. A community whose 'BUY' triggers can be mapped with great precision and then pressed by anyone who understands this community and wants to make some money off of it. Poverty Porn Dilettante Charity and a Holiday in Cambodia. (Corboy's RX: Get and read Stephen Asma's
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

First there were Hunza Superfoods--Heres the Inside Dope on Tibetan Gojiberry . Regarding Hunza apricots and raisins and other such imports--I'd say, by all means if you want to support NGOs fostering local projects in Hunza, thats a fine reason to buy and eat them. Or if you have an interest in Pakistani mountain people's cuisine, using Hunza grown dried fruits and nuts would le
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Larree, I cannot even remember what pattern of internet searching led me to Mr Shepherds site. Yeah, its a gold mine. He provides yet more information on how Esalen was a very important venue during which many people touched contact. It all fits in with that sociologists concept of 'cultic milieu'--a social venue in which people explore alternatives to mainstream ideas and treatm
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Swampseer wrote: QuoteFrom time to time, throughout the experience, I cursed my own skeptical tendencies and the comparative hardness of my heart for not letting me be like them. Of course, the part of me that was hardhearted was also hardheaded...and, in retrospect and in the light of the "Spiritual Warrior" story, it saved me and I'm grateful. Swampseer, you are not the only
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"