Re: Deciding what's a cult and what's not
No.Thought reform is the second characteristic used to define a cult in Lifton's paper "Cult Formation."My book "Cults Inside Out" cites "Cult Formation" as the nucleus for a definition of a...
View ArticleRe: Karen Berg's Kabbalah Center Sex Scandals
Is this what the sex scandals are about--encouraging wealthy members to leave their spouse as a way of gaining control of someone's money, or is there harassment of single members, as well? Is it...
View ArticleRe: Karen Berg's Kabbalah Center Sex Scandals
These particular scandals are about sexual harassment of Kabbalah Center students by their so-called "spiritual" leaders. It happened in the USA and Russia.Yehuda Berg was sued in LA by a woman he...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Okay, I will quickly consider these. Really it's clear to me that Mooji is an open-ended spiritual group/New Age/new-religion, but not a cult.1. Milieu Control. This involves the control of...
View ArticleThe Crafting of a Paper Guru - Laurens van der Post
Laurens van der Post -- fantasist extraordinaire[www.google.com]*[www.nytimes.com](Excerpts)QuoteBut according to a new biography, ''Teller of Many Tales: The Lives of Laurens van der Post,'' by the...
View ArticleRe: Karen Berg's Kabbalah Center Sex Scandals
The terms you're using: "abused", "harassed" are vague, which is why I inquired about the nature of the behavior or incidents. I looked up that LA case, and it said Berg plied a follower with alcohol...
View ArticleRe: The Crafting of a Paper Guru - Laurens van der Post
I actually have that book, but it's so thick, I've never read he whole thing. The info I've gotten from book reviews such as what you posted was enough. It's outrageous that Van der Post raped the...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Thanks - that Captive Minds video was very interesting. There definitely seemed to be parallels between Osho and the Mooji place. There is a big picture of Osho in the church hall that Mooji uses for...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Mooji talks about his meeting with Papaji from around 12:55 here:[www.youtube.com]
View ArticleSome articles on social influence from Cracked dot com
6 Brainwashing Techniques They're Using On You Right Now[webcache.googleusercontent.com]Here is one that is devastatingly effective. Most of us are scared to be laughed at, especially if we have come...
View ArticleRe: Karen Berg's Kabbalah Center Sex Scandals
Sexual scandals are only a part of how Kabbalah Center abuses its followers.Abuses happen every day at each level of their operation since Kabbalah Center's real goal is not the spiritual awakening of...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Okay, I will quickly consider these. Really it's clear to me that Mooji is an open-ended spiritual group/New Age/new-religion, but not a cult.It’s important clearly define each word here I think. But...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Thanks for your comments. I don't feel qualified to evaluate this scene in the terms of this forum. I think though that there's a risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and dismissing any...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
The Papaji clip is from 1994, so I doubt it can be said to relate to Mooji who I don't believe was giving satsangs at that point.Ramana didn't name Papaji as his descendent, and Papaji didn't name...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
There is no evidence to suggest Papaji would support the way in which Mooji is behaving. And of course you're right, Papaji also set himself up without any sense of being legitimised. "Surely...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
I still don't see anything bad about it, or accept what you say about there being a threatened inner circle. If someone 'kicked out of 'heaven' had come forward and posted about this, maybe there...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Incidentally this morning I went with a relative to a Catholic Charismatic Renewal mass. It was an interesting contrast after a year of satsang!The prayers we read asked God to forgive us if we had...
View ArticleRe: Karen Berg's Kabbalah Center Sex Scandals
I spent many years in Kabbalah Center. Lost a lot of time and money. Lost relationship with a person I loved. I left this place and very sad that I didn't do it earlier. Unfortunately, it took too...
View ArticleRe: Mooji a cult?
Agreed. The important thing to note is whether the process of "heart opening up" etc is in some way specific to the group and the person, or whether it is a natural by-product of intense relaxation...
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