Abigail 1977, One last thing. The cult you were in was wrong. If God exists, then God loves you...period. The only party that didn't love you was the cult that chose to pass judgement upon you for leaving.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Abigail 1977, If there really is a God (my opinion aside), then that god loves you and all of us and would not torture or punish us with illnesses, disease, or other misfortunes. Whatever is out there is a loving, caring presence - not some mean-spirited, jealous, vengeful entity. What happens to us in life is just stuff that randomly happens, nothing personal or intentional. If there is any
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Oh, and if there is any lingering doubt, there is no connection between HAI and the Miracle of Love cult. Having been a member of the Miracle of Love in the Marin county area for almost three years, I know without a doubt there is no connection between the two groups.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Given the nature of the "work" done at HAI workshops and the problems or concerns that participants bring to those workshops, it's entirely possible that even satisfied customers would not want to speak or post openly about their experiences. Sex is a touchy and delicate subject for a lot of people, particularly those with embarrassing problems. It is also likely that HAI doesn&#
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Interesting. I read through the sites posted, the one anti opinion is voiced by an obviously opinionated, stubborn, demanding, and possibly unbalanced, and unhappy customer. The responding HAI emails he /she printed on the site sound like reasonable concerned responses to try and genuinely resolve this customer's issues with HAI. Unfortunately, said customer would have none of it without
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It has been my observation that many do, although some like myself don't. I was raised Catholic, converted to the Mormon church and then left when I realized I no longer believed or wanted to believe. I tried out eastern mysticism and meditation in two cults, Miracle of Love and Osho/Rajneesh. After leaving them, I no longer wanted anything to do with religion. I still believe in some
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

This is not meant as criticism, just an observation. It is not God that divides people, it is people ostensibly acting or speaking for God that do the dividing. God is responsible for concepts such as "judge not, lest ye be judged" and "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". It is the people claiming they know God's will that add on things like "unles
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kath, I sympathize with your predicament, people still in the group you left largely can't be trusted or be sympathetic to your leaving and people without that experience on the outside treat you like you're nuts. I've been there, done that. A forum like this can be very helpful in finding people with similar experience and a sympathetic manner to help you unload and talk a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I have been reading this thread from the beginning and am really amazed at the near hysterical usage of innuendo, indignation, exaggeration, etc. to what I see as reasonable responses/explanations about HAI by blueridgebaby and Siofra. I assume everyone who has contributed to this thread is an adult. What is so strange about an organization (HAI) that explores human sexuality using nudity, sexu
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I am not interested in overturning the core teachings of Jesus either, however, I am interested in the discovery of physical evidence which either confirms the existence of people (such as Jesus and Mary Magdalene) and sheds light on their true lives and relationships. If they serve to confirm long-standing religious belief or legend (such as the existence of Troy and the Trojan War) or cast dou
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If there is really anything to it (and I hope there is), the discovery of this tomb and authentication of who may be interred there could create a huge stir and considerable upset in the Christian world. It would be as important as the discovery of the Nag Hammadi (Dead Sea) scrolls on what has been considered the "truth" about Jesus and the early Christian church. Even now, the autho
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As you said, Vigilant, money is the key. The mainstream orgs. and churches know what side their bread is buttered on, they will largely stay silent and hold on to their share of the pie, hoping not to draw criticism themselves and consequently lose tithe-paying members. sametanner
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Siofra / Nan, I have been reading this thread from the beginning and I believe you have been honest, objective, and honorable. I have a personal interest in HAI and would like to converse with you away from this forum about HAI and if it can help me with some issues. We should both be able to do personal messages, I think. Would you be willing to email me? Sincerely, Sametanner
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

P.S. Cautions and warnings made about meditation should be taken seriously. As part of a tantra course I took 13 years ago, I participated in dynamic meditation and had a very bad reaction to it. I was lucky to be brought out of it without harm. BE VEWY, VEWY CAREFUL! Sametannner
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Driver, You and anyone else who found this useful are very welcome. I am happy to have been some help. Sametanner
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Humaniversity is accredited only in the Netherlands and their standards for accreditation are very lax to say the least. In my opinion, such accreditation is a joke. The Humaniversity, Veeresh, and the rest are not accredited anywhere else and should not be considered legitimate or professional (my opinion). They use the Dutch accreditation to give themselves credibility they do not deserv
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sris, I am a former member of the Mormon (officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints). I converted to it when I was 18 while attending Brigham Young University in Utah - I ended my membership 20 years later. Although many other Christian churches may disagree, the Mormon religion is generally christian and, as Questionlady said, it is a matter of opinion as to wheth
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have no experience or knowledge of this group, but 2 things you mentioned I would say suggest they are a cult or cultish sect at the very least. You say your daughter now always walks behind her husband. As an ex-Mormon, this tells me they consider women lesser beings than men and are required to always be submissive to their husbands and other male church "authorities". That is de
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have to admit he's got the right attitude, but I really think he's not that smart. He's getting off on goading responses and just regurgitating stuff he's heard elsewhere. Re-read his comments - nothing original there.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

When I first read FreedomfromChains' comments, I was sorely tempted to respond - but I figured "Nah, not worth it!" Well, old son, now it's worth it. Freedom from Chains, I really don't care how well educated you are or think you are - your opinions are ignorant and arrogant. Just wait until it happens to you, and in one way or another, it will. You can't avoid
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

There is a saying, I can't remember who authored it, "there is no reasoning with a fool". I'd say that applies to the aforementioned landmark leader. Landmark, like a lot of other groups and cults, uses bits and pieces of actually useful stuff and philosophies as part of their "schtik". If everything they said or taught sounded like nonsense, they likely wouldn
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

For what it's worth, I agree with the RRmoderator or other party that said posting about a cult or cult leader is compassion for those who may yet be caught unawares by the cult. Vengeance is putting a bullet in the cult leader's head. Ratting them out on the internet via this site or another web site is being smart and responsible.
Forum: Destructive Churches

Whether or not moving away is a desperate measure or sensible really depends on you and your family and how difficult (or not) it may be to do that. IMO it's a sensible thing to do for your family's peace of mind and may accelerate the healing process for you. I am in a similar situation with a long - time abusive family member who just doesn't get it (my mother). I am tired o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Kactus, The Dream Center may be the same group mentioned in the thread, "What kind of cult is this?? How can I save my daughter??. It is here under the same category, "Cults", Sects, and "New Religious Movements". In any case, you need to re-establish contact with your daughter right away, as many cults recruit very aggressively and try to move the new recr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In the smaller context of Dr. Phil's world, the use of LGATs may seem funny, but in the larger context of wholesale usage by the entertainment and advertising industries, this is not the least bit funny. Regardless of whatever positives Dr. Phil or others like him may have contributed, he is not sufficiently credentialed or educated to be using LGATs, for tv entertainment or for "legit
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This idea of establishing or gaining credibility, just because you "met" with some personality, or because some famous personality offered an QuoteOne Landmarkian I spoke with talked of his leader as a saint-like figure who "Even met with the Dalai Lama." opinion on any particular subject - How does anyone really know that they even know what they're talking abou
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I took Landmark's Forum course back in 1995 while I was a member of another cult, the Miracle of Love. Compared to the MOL's then 9 day intensive, I found the Forum to be pretty lightweight - but that's comparing apples with oranges. In both cults, I found some useful ideas and concepts to help me work out problems in my life, but there's no way I could recommend either to a
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The key phrase that you should pay attention to is "...the AUM meditation is an intensive and interactive process...." This means intense, deep meditation for a couple of hours, probably including mind stopping techniques involving breathing "exercises" (hyperventilation) and chanting, all done in a group venue. This can be very harmful for some people, and it does invoke a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You all make interesting and at least somewhat valid arguments about the efficacy of government regulation and accomplishing anything useful. And many people will continue to behave like sheep, feeling incomplete without a shepherd to guide them by the nose. However, you don't really know what the results will be until you try - if you don't try, you don't get. As for servin
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Reactivating trauma, research into shell - shocked troop, PTSD, etc. were all subjects researched in the late 50's and into the 60's, along with methods of though reform (commonly called "brainwashing") by the Soviets, Communist Chinese, North Koreans, etc. The results of this research, which was done for both military and theraputic reasons produced the methods currently cal
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"