A story has now just broken on about Landmark Education and the IRS. It seems high-ranking staffers at IRS in Seattle became involved with Landmark through taking the Forum and then started recruiting their subordinates. IRS employees were told "the government will pay for it." What do you think of taxpayer money being used to pay for Landmark Forum seminars? What do you think of emplo
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Amway also seems to generate fairly constant complaints from people who say they have lost money. It seems they end up buying products, working hard, but making little if anything. What do you think?
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

The LDS might be considered historically a "cult," during the time of Joseph Smith. See But today, more than a hundred years later, they have evolved far beyond their early beginnings, into a much more mainstream organization, which is not defined and/or focused upon one living individual. There are still serious problems caused by the LDS, most often by zealous missionaries,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

William Pierce, who wrote the book "The Turner Diaries," which became an obsession with Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, died recently. He led a group called the "National Alliance" in West Virginia. Can a group centered around a charismatic figure like Pierce survive a leader's death? Or will it fade away? Some experts say the group will fade away without Pierce. What d
Forum: Hate Groups

Leslie Van Houten is a convicted murderer. She has spent 30 years in prison for her role in the Manson Family murders. She says she has recovered and been rehabilitated from her cult mindset and deserves parole. What do you think? Should she be given some consideration as a cult victim of Charles Manson who was brainwashed? Or, should see spend the rest of her life in prison due to the horrific n
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

John Walker Lindh the "American Taliban" struck a deal with the government and received a 20 year sentence. Was that fair? Was he "brainwashed"? What do you think should have happened to Lindh? Life in prison, or some consideration as a kind of "cult member" that was somehow manipulated through undue influence? Was he a fanatic and terrorist or a brainwashed cultist?
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Some say Osama bin Laden must be dead, because he has not been heard from and a megalomaniac like him always wants to be seen and heard. Others claim he escaped Tora Bora to fight another day and is just laying low. What do you link? Bin Laden, Dead or alive?
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Looks like Jehovah's Witnesses are experiencing quite a scandal regarding sexual abuse within their congregations. The issue seems to be the way elders and leaders choose to handle complaints and situations. And the way in which they appear to crush any alternative views. See What do you think about the growing problem of sexual abuse within American religious organizations? What can
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

I am receiving a steady flow of complaints about Herbalife. It seems like quite a few people are losing money. Anyone else hear about this?
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Nic Cage just married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis. She is a life-long dedicated Scientologist. She ended her previous marriage to Michael Jackson when he apparently made it clear Scientology was not his thing. Now it's Cage's turn. It looks like he may become involved in Scientology now.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I keep receiving repeated complaints about Amway from people who have lost money through their involvement. What do you think? Anyone out there know people who are doing well, bad or what? Some say Amway is a scam, others defend it. What do you think?
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Yes. There is a section within this website with substantial information. See You also might want to review the "Recovery" section within the site. See There are also relevant books listed through the "Books" page.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

See the following links for a start and then you might check my Links and Books pages, which have additional resources.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Hi: All you need to know is just how to post, which you have done. There is also a back mail feature and you can send email to others who post. So just post away at the subject heading of your choice and disucss whatever you want. Or, share information with others about whatever subject you think would be helpful. There are some basic ground rules though, which you should have read through the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Silva Mind Control does seem to be controversial. You might look over some of the following links to get a better take on what it is and how it might be prolematic--
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Are there any websites that offer a critical analysis of the group?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

If you know of websites please post the links so everyone can read information about the group.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"A judge has denied a new trial for the Aryan Nations, a decision that allows the winners of a $6.3 million judgment to take control of the neo-Nazi group's rural compound. First District Judge Charles Hosack also declined Thursday to reduce the size of the judgment and rejected the defendants' contention that their right to hate was protected by the constitution. The defendants we
Forum: Hate Groups

"I was once told your website was a 'cult group,' but because I was warned to stay away I took a good look instead. As free individuals it's our right to become aware and help others to beware. I learned the very hard way about cults. Once I put my brain on a shelf and let others do my thinking for me." "I've always been fascinated with these types of organiz
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

"'A couple of years back I knew he entered a cult,' said Leon , who also kept in touch with the family after they moved. 'I know that because even his mom said it. He left the country. She was scared for him.' In the early 1990s, Padilla traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan, meeting with senior al-Qaida officials last year, Ashcroft said. While in those countries, Padilla
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

"The Archdiocese of Louisville, this heavily Catholic area has been shocked to see more than 90 men bring shame-steeped complaints against 14 priests, a deacon and a lay parochial school teacher. The complaints cover a 25-year period that crested in the mid-1980's." NY Times "At least 16 Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing children, including 12 priests in the Unit
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

"Cults may be large or small. What defines them is not their size but their behavior. The one-on-one cult is a deliberately manipulative and exploitative intimate relationship between two persons, often involving physical abuse of the subordinate partner. In the one-on-one cult, which we call a cultic relationship, there is a significant power imbalance between the two participants. The stro
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

"I am a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. I became a witness at the age of 14, and am now 44. I have been out for three years. I am the only one in my family has left the organization. I also left a 20-year marriage to an elder. Since leaving there have been long, lonely hours without any support at all, except for new friends. But after being on anti-depressants for almost twen
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, Roseanne and Marla Maples have all been involved with the Kaballah Center led by Philip Berg. Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Lisa Marie Presley, Kirstie Alley Jenna Elfman, the musician Beck, Jazz pianist Chick Corea, Anne Archer and Issac Hayes are all Scientologists. Gwyneth Paltrow's yoga teacher Eddie Stern has been compared to a "cult like" guru.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

"It seems to me that David Layne's 'Church of God Restoration' stretches the truth to suit its own needs and situations. This church may say it allows medical treatment, but there is a social stigma attached to this within the group. It is not viewed as a 'spiritually mature' for a person to seek medical care, and instead this is seen as a sign of 'weakness.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Landmark Education seems to have spent a lot of energy and money to prove that it does not fit the definition of a cult. The fact that they felt it was necessary to make such an effort should send red flags up! But what about an examination of how Landmark actually runs, its processes and principles? The function of a seminar leader should be to encourage critical thinking amongst participa
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"I was in Trek Alliance for almost a year. In Indianapolis, IN it is known as 'Midwest Alliance.' I was fairly successful, but began investigating and matched names with titles on their disclosure statement. I realized that only six to eight reps, out of the thousands that had purchased inventory, made six figures." "I can't believe how many people have just falle
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

"The community itself is made up of sincere, loving and devoted followers. My sister was a disciple for over 17 years. She gave Sri Chinmoy lots of money. My visits to my sister in New York had to be cleared through 'guru.' She died several years ago of cancer. When she developed cancer and told 'guru' about it, he told her she created this herself. When she became too we
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"