Anytime people open themselves and deal with sensitive issues, people on boards need to have a lot of respect. I was disturbed by your first response to me, so I haven't signed in for a month. I'm going to report your behavior to the administrators here because I think it's uncalled for in a public forum like this. You know, it doesn't matter that you are a senior mem
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'm sorry your post doesn't make very much sense to me, and in fact it's not even true (the part I can understand).
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I have been to several of these groups. They are very split politically. Each of them tend to say the other is a false group, although some of them seem to be getting better at overcoming this problem, perhaps making themselves look a bit ridiculous with having done it for so long to each other in the past. You have the Gurdjieff Foundation groups, which are probably the most psychologic
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Steiner is one of the New Age teachers that purports to have direct access to other worlds, as in, astral sight. Like Swedenborg and some Theosophists like Leadbeater, he has written a book describing what takes place on other worlds. I am not sure if he goes into as much details as the others about this. A lot of the channeling material of the last fifty years also has this kind of thing, and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The question is, is this teaching common in Islam or is it just a fringe sect's view?
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Quote"rachel1965"Here's the crux of the problem: how do you argue with someone who is vehement that God has told him to eradicate all those who don't believe a certain faith? Teach them the value of humility. Being humble allows us to fully see the world around us, to accept the wisdom of others, and is directly what a just God would want for us. If we can ge
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

I am wondering if anyone has had any negative experience with a Christian recovery group? While I am not doubting that good ones can exist, it seems the perfect opportunity for abusive people to use those who trust them thinking that they are finally involved again with a more legitimate organization. Lines can be blurred -- one may be helped while still having abusive overtones by individual l
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

There are definitely two sides to this issue, and each side has the right to their opinion. There is no scientific evidence that will ever decide the issue, and there is no more humane side to it. Some people see people who are in cults in exactly the same way as someone who is kidnapped and held for ransom. Others try to draw from more psychological insight. I remember this was brought u
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I have had personal experience with both Subud and the J.G. Bennett people. I was in for a short time the J.G. Bennett cult, although it was through one of his students, who was also a student of Gurdjieff, Ouspensky and a few others. I met Elizabeth Bennett and had a private session with her, and her demeanor in that session was unlike anything I have ever witnessed before. The only way t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families