Looks like pretty standard attachment parenting stuff to me. I'm not sure how up you are modern baby raising guides, but Dr. Sears writes on attachment parenting pretty extensively. Here's the Wiki on it: and here's Dr. Sears directly:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"But it must be very bizarre to grow up in a CS house." It is. You're taught this nearly irreconciliable combination of superiority complex (we're so much better then everyone else because we know the Truth and they don't) and complete self loathing (everything that is wrong is all my fault because I have failed to know the Truth and if I only work harder/study mo
Forum: Destructive Churches

Dervish, It sounds like ceremonial magick stuff. I'm not really well versed in it, but I do know that the Tetragrammaton refers to the secret name of the God of Abraham, which is what the following four word phrase would be (roughly taken from the Hebrew). I think it would be help ful to know more about the site, and how these things were marked there. If it was a largely isol
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've run into a similiar problem, Lonz, although it was some time ago. The solution I found was to get a referral to someone considered reputable by the local university's psych department. I think that many devout people have trouble seeing and thinking outside of the values of their religion - I know that was a great challenge for me to overcome, and is something I still str
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Me, I started to get suspicious when a person claiming to be in medical research -- a field renowned for multiple author papers -- couldn't spell the word collaborate. Penny
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Just a little ad hominem comment on Laslow's posting. Did anyone else notice the classic poor spelling and grammar that seem to characterize Landmark grads? I wonder if there is a connection between having difficulty with language and being exposed to the Landmark tech. Penny
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

If the teachings of a church are inherently harmful (such as refusal of medical care in Christian Science), then certainly you can blame the structure. While the basic concept 'church' -- a bunch of people who share a common religious faith and are organized enough to get together regularly and have designated spiritual leaders -- is in and of it self pretty harmless (imo), within
Forum: Destructive Churches

I worked for a traveling soap/accessories sales company for several months, and I've spoken with a number of young people with various traveling magazine companies. Usually because they come knocking at my door trying to sell the mags, and since I know the set up, we get to talking about it. They all seem to work roughly the same way. Enticing job ad offers good pay and free travel
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Rand would seem to be referring to the NCETMB, the exam offered by the National Certification Board for Theraputic Massage and Bodywork. The NCETMB is the only test that appears to be broadly used by states as part of their licensure requirements for massage therapists. Rand, if I am incorrect, and you are referring to some other exam, please tell us. It's hard to evaluate something fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Random, In which state were you licensed? I'd like to take a look at this licensure exam. Thanks a bunch, Penny
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Nice to see Isaac's ABCDEF getting some notice here -- it's one of the main useful anti-cult tools that can be found in the neo-pagan community. Doesn't get as much spread around as it should, in my opinion. Isaac Bonewits = old time BNP*, with a reputation as a slightly friendly curmudgeon, or was that slightly curmudgeonly friend? Less flaky then most, in my opinion.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I've known several people who are Baha'i. I never once was preached too or encouraged to investigate their faith in any pressuring or impolite fashion. It is the *only* religion whose practitioners have not done that, which I find rather impressive. They all seemed to be very nice, responsible, mature people. Rather conservative, but quite tolerant. Penny
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You should probably keep in mind that classical satanism and LaVeyan satanism are two totally different beasts (pardon the pun).
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't know if you are interested in classical or LaVeyan satanism, but here is a link to a LaVeyan website -- the folks on the message board there might be able to help you out.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

While my background is with a destructive religion, and not a cult per se, I quite relate to what you are saying. For me it's a little different -- very often I run up against some fairly normal situation that involves medicine or medical science in some way, and have to explain my total ignorance of it. I also often have to talk about my background with medical care providers, be
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Wicked, Guy, wicked *laughing out loud*. Penny.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I had been studiously avoiding replying to this , since I don't really have more to say than what I already have, but I must comment now. Corboy - thank you for such a clear and succinct explanation of the ethics of responsible BDSM. I hope that it may cool some of the heated exchanges that have been occuring. On a personal note, it is heartening to hear this from someone not involve
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Christian Science community strongly encourages adoption. It's not a money issue, so much as it a way of sustaining membership when couples that haven't been able to have children can't/won't look at medical causes of infertility. Penny
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

QuoteOriginally posted by corboy Privacy is negotiated within and helps maintain peer relationships where power is shared and in balance. Secrecy is imposed within the context of a power imbalance and maintains that imbalance. In my opinion a healthy BDSM relationship is both private, in that the partners are open about their preference only within mutually agreed parameters, and secret
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Kico, I think you are right on target with your theory about 'anti-establishment and alternative culture types'. While my experience with Human potential cults is limited, I can certainly speak to the fact that those involved with BDSM are almost invariably involved with other types of alternative belief/behaviour systems. I believe that this ties into what Coz says about D/s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I"ll start with my general comments first. I don't think that one can categorize the BDSM lifestyle as a cult. There is no central leadership or organization of any kind. It is just a choice about how to behave - like vegetarianism. BDSM relationships, on the other hand, certainly have cultic features, and probably many of the organized groups within the BDSM community have
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Templar, not really. Deaf people just use different cues. Physical expressions, how one is gesturing, posture. For example -- signing close to the body comes across as 'quiet'. Sign farther from the body and you seem more 'forward' or 'loud'. You can sign with small hand motions, or with larger ones -- 'shyness' or 'shouting'
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm not involved with Landmark personally, though I have a friend who is. I'd say, speaking only from personal opinion here, that there are probably smart folks doing landmark because they get something out of it, who won't and don't defend it because they know it is a dangerous mess. And that while those people may be able to take some benefit from it and
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

He is entertaining, isn't he? I'd give him a pass on the spelling stuff, and some of the language problems though --- I think, from his syntax, that he is working in English as a second language. Still, that leaves one the content to stunned and amazed by. ;) Penny
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

*laughing* Steven, I judgest thou to be whacky and thy math nonsensical. May your life bring as much joy and amusement as the few minutes I have spent reading your stuff has brought me. Live well, be happy! Penny
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Actually, there's some quite decent scholarship that suggests a natal date in 12 bc for Jesus. See James and Thorpe's 'Ancient Mysteries' for a nice summary of it. Of course, that still leaves the rest of your numbers in need of justification. Penny
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm well aware. :( What I am looking for is some way to explore/heal some memory issues I have without falling into this kind of trap. Penny
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Does anyone know of good resources for self help for dealing with memory issues? Penny
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Kico, Thanks for the book references -- they're on my 'read this sometime' list. I have a few other comments, but I'll not hijack the thread for them. Penny
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"" In simple terms I was once Steve living his life but now I am the experience of Steve living his life"" This reminds me of something I read once. My apologies, I cannot recall the source. "Before I sought enlightenment, I thought a mountain was just a mountain. When I believed I was enlightened, I realized a mountain is not a mountain. When I was truly enl
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"