Please tell me if you have heard of this group!! My best friend, who is 50 and "sort of" Christian, has just written me to say "I think an appropriate church for my kind of faith may have found me." My defenses were up as soon as she said 'a church found me,' because of course I want to make sure no one I know joins a cult. (I was in the ICOC for 14 years.) It
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just read this excellent article today:
Forum: Destructive Churches

Here is a paper I wrote about cults; it's the culmination of a few years of study on cults and recovery from a cult and what I learned in the process. http://forums.delphiforums.com/sarecovery/messages/?msg=212.1
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I was a member from 1990-2004. There were some surface reforms made after a high-up leader released a letter of scathing rebuke to the leaders and it 'leaked' to the members. But the changes did not go nearly deep enough (which is why I finally left). And his statement that "The people leading the Church at the time, are no longer members"... I have NO idea where he got that f
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's his website - Of course the very first sentence is "Life is not meant to be a struggle... Life is God in Action." Anytime someone claims life shouldn't be hard, it's time to run the other direction!! LOL However, I love this prayer - it made me tear up a bit:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Has anyone heard of Jay D. Allen and his "Evolve to Love Teachings"? I've watched a couple of these videos and I like what the message seems to be. Not all spiritual teachers are cult leaders, of course -but, "once bitten, twice shy," so before I listen to him further I'd like to find out if there's a known evil underbelly to this guy's stuff.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better! And I agree; the same day it happened I "unliked" the group.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I grew up Christian and had never questioned my beliefs. While I was still a member of the bible-based cult I joined at age 18, I started reading The One Year Chronological Bible. It was full of inconsistencies and contradictions that I had never noticed before because they usually aren't directly side by side like that. So while still a member, a couple of years before I left, I started que
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I left the ICOC cult in 2005. I spent 2 years in counseling and doing intensive work to recover from the PTSD I had as a result of my 15 year membership. I have no doubt that my character has been permanently changed as a result of my membership, and of course I'm not too happy about that! I don't want to be self-righteous, judgmental, and all those things. I posted on here extensiv
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Thanks Nadine... I'm proud of being idealistic (my Myers-Briggs type is "Idealist"!) but not so much of being naive, i.e. easily tricked. I know cults frequently get people who are NOT easily tricked and their tactics can work on anyone. But for me personally (just speaking for myself, not EVERY ex-cult member), I know that I'm too ready to believe everything I hear and it
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

If you feel strongly that it's wrong, then change it - anyone can. If the volunteer editors that 'monitor' Wikipedia believe your changes violate Wikipedia rules for objectivity they will revert it back to the way it was or change it some other way. It's important to understand what Wikipedia is good for and what it isn't good for. I personally wouldn't use Wikip
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

GO ST. PETERSBURG TIMES!!! Makes me proud to be a native Floridian...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More evidence of the way Scientology views children:
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

I was in a cult for 15 years and after leaving I did extensive research on cults and mind control. I am very firmly convinced that Scientology is the most evil, depraved organization out there that falls under this category. I get cold chills reading about it, even just this one post above. It has been stamped out elsewhere in the world but has a Mafia-like hold on the US to the point that even F
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Doesn't it seem like every cult is based on something that's a good idea or a benign belief, and then takes that idea or belief to a ridiculous and ultimately harmful extreme? QuoteThe AnticultBUT BUT BUT, The Secret goes 100x farther than that, and claims you ATTRACT EVERYTHING in your life. There are posts on the Oprah forum, where some of The Secret fanatics are literally telling
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

ROFLOL!! Here's a link:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultI saw the Oprah show on this, and she supported The Secret 100%, without any questions or doubt at all. I have loved O magazine for several years, but after finding out (starting with Byron Katie) how much harmful New Age junk she promotes just out of naive over-enthusiasm, I just don't respect her like I used to. Who knows what her magazine might be promoting next? Last
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Just for fun, without going to any of those links you gave (thank you!!) I'm going to try to make an educated guess as to what "The Secret" is about. If I get it right it will be a nice little jab at gurus. ;) Here's my conjecture. Rhonda Byrne singlehandedly discovered this amazing truth that everything that happens to you, and every aspect of your life, is a result of you
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I keep seeing The Secret mentioned on other threads here but can't find any threads dedicated to it. I found the official website, which of course tells me nothing. Can anyone point me to some REAL info?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Browsing other threads I found this one on Oprah: "the billionaire entertainer has been fighting off persistent allegations this year that her media empire provides a platform to questionable self-help gurus who promote ideas that many experts consider dangerous." BINGO.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yea, it looks like it's mostly creditable stuff, except for those ET quotes... like: “Thinking cuts reality up into lifeless fragments” Ugh!!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm still confused... the sentence doesn't presume to know what the definition of 'correct' is; it's just saying some people think there is a 'correct principle' (using THEIR definition of 'correct') by which actions are compared and determined to be evil or good... and some people don't. In any case, even if the sentence was stating that there
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Is this the sentence you're referring to? "There is no agreement about whether evil is a matter of social custom or correct principle that overrides custom." The sentence seems unbiased to me. Can you explain in more detail why you think that the word 'correct' indicates a bias? Maybe if "a matter of" was changed to "is defined by" would that
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultByron Katies so-called "Four Questions" are about as harmless as a spiderweb is to a fly. Its a trick. And Byron Katie even says...come into my parlor...said the spider to the fly...then she laughs... Byron Katie (the Work) and The Work on The Web, The Spider and the Fly Hey Anticult - I hadn't read that link to your post on the other thread till now.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think it's fine. I've done a lot of Wikipedia editing and I also know what is required for a page to be added; it goes through a pretty rigorous testing by many volunteer editors. If it doesn't meet requirements it is quickly deleted or highly edited. Every subject is required to be presented objectively and without bias, which it seems to me this one is. Even the word "evil
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hear hear!! Happy birthday and a HUGE thanks to the forum and the USA! And a toast of gratitude to the French and the RRI! July 4 is my favorite holiday... I love the patriotism and it's my birthday too :) I'm a Yankee Doodle Gal!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

When the modern concept of mind control/thought reform was developed by Robert J. Lifton, it was based on his research into the methods used to brainwash Chinese prisoners of war. They are virtually the same as what modern cult groups (religious, political, etc) use. It's eery and yes very evil. QuotebrucebannerTo me it sounds like Byron Katie is using elements of psychological torture at
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Very very true. We all rock. LOL
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

HM2X, I only put a candle on top of YOUR excellent cake! :)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ROFLOL!! They make about as much sense as BK, but are a LOT funnier. Just like the wonderful quotes from MY guru, the Sleep Talking Man: Some of the insults he comes up with in his sleep are priceless and highly appropriate for use on old culties. Oooo like this one from just last night!! "Christ, I'd rather be afflicted with permanently infected hairy arse grapes than be
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"