Gurus and cults in general

New Zealand's own Gloriavale in the news again :

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/west-coast/90924638/gloriavale-nine-questions-we-can-answer-and-one-we-cant

I wound up by their gates on the West Coast of the South Island a couple of years ago -

(wrong turn)

- a spooky, isolated, rainy and sandfly-ridden place.

It was horrible...!

Never heard of that Gloriavale place before. (I suppose I wouldn't living 12,000 miles away). Just read a bit more on Wiki.

A weird and strange set up then.

Sort of reminds me of a film I watched again not so long back called The Village.

Me neither, Andrew.

I'll read up about it at my leisure.

Many years ago a cult tried to drag me in but, not having much of a brain to wash, I escaped! Not a joke, it did happen. I can understand how vulnerable people get entangled with cults.

What a coincidence. I had a very similar experience on CMoMM as well.

I think it was a bit easier to escape their clutches than a mob in the real world!

Alarm bells started ringing with the lot I was with when they disapproved of outside activities in which they weren't involved and, without being asked, arranged a sitter for my son so that I could attend their meetings.

It doesn't sound entirely unlike this.

This seems to be the way to do it properly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Findhorn_Foundation

I first heard if it in the film My Dinner With Andre, which I would recommend to anybody, although I should warn you that absolutely nothing at all happens in it, except a lengthy conversation between two blokes. On the plus side one of them is the dinosaur out of Toy Story, which can be a bit disconcerting if you've got kids.

Freedom wrote:Me neither, Andrew.

I'll read up about it at my leisure.

Many years ago a cult tried to drag me in but, not having much of a brain to wash, I escaped! Not a joke, it did happen. I can understand how vulnerable people get entangled with cults.

Same here Freedom - I nearly got lured into Scientology - dreadful people.  I attended one of their annual meetings at Saint Hill and it was sooooooooo creepy - there weren`t any rituals or anything like that, but it was the utter gullibility of the audience of thousands that had bought into it (literally), hanging onto and cheering every word of the speakers.  It made me and my friend shudder and get out quickly.

I won't mention the name of my lot but they had mostly left recognised Christian denominations to set up their own groups.

They didn't have a fixed place of worship; instead meeting in school halls and the like. At first the meetings were very informal, with tea and biscuits served and it was a nice friendly atmosphere.

It may sound trivial but they suddenly stopped the tea and biscuits and it was then that the atmosphere changed, becoming much more what I'd call hard sell.

When I eventually saw the light (not of course in the way they wanted) and left, it was with the worlds "you'll go to hell" ringing in my ears. It was like something out of the Middle Ages.

I've been reading about the cult in New Zealand - shudder!

unreorganised wrote:This seems to be the way to do it properly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Findhorn_Foundation

I first heard if it in the film My Dinner With Andre, which I would recommend to anybody, although I should warn you that absolutely nothing at all happens in it, except a lengthy conversation between two blokes. On the plus side one of them is the dinosaur out of Toy Story, which can be a bit disconcerting if you've got kids.

Never heard of that one either. Was just having a quick read of the link.

Sounds alright to me. Might sign up (for a week).

Back in the 80s/90s and probably `looking for meaning` I must have studied nearly all religions plus Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Qabalah, Meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga and goodness knows what else plus different forms of psychology and therapy. And the only religion that comes nearest to my own thinking is Buddhism with a touch of Theosophy and Astrology (which, whatever anyone says, I know works). And you don`t have to believe in a god for any of them - it`s all down to you being your own god.

"Part" of God, I'd say ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/were-no-cult-says-british-expats-group-1285145.html

An old, but interesting read.

Has anyone been following this Singh fellow`s conviction and the rampaging hoards of followers?

Following cult gurus is creepy IMO

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/25/fears-unrest-indian-guru-convicted-rape-ram-rahim-singh-panchkula

I haven't heard about this one before.

I don't think that you need to add that it's your opinion that following cult gurus is creepy!

A made for TV movie (so with probably a bit of artistic licence) about David Koresh and the Waco siege in 1993.

If OT remove my post but had a little chuckle when I saw the topic name as my friend took me along to the local spritulist church tonight as I expressed an interest, I may go again. My son swears i've been "culted" in his words and asked me if we did any healing, I said no but i'll go to a healing service Thursday night.

No problem for me with your post, coppernob.

I've been to spiritualist meetings on a few occasions. I wanted to think that there could be something in it and that people from my past might want to pass messages on - other than **** off which they did when they were alive!

I probably have told the story of how in the 1980s a cult tried to lure me in so I won't go into the details again, just to say that, when I told them I was outta there, I left with "you'll go straight to hell" ringing in my ears. It was like something out of the Dark Ages.

I understand how cults attract lonely and vulnerable people.

Ditto for me too, although I`ve only been to one spiritualist meeting which was pretty tame.

I nearly got lured into Scientology - my goodness what a creepy lot they are. You have to be willing to pay out a lot of dosh to them as well which I`ve never had.  It`s true they get you at low times in your life. My friend had joined and gave me one of their questionnaires to fill in.  And of course, whatever you answer, it always comes to the conclusion that you are repressed or something and that you can be cured.

It was the money plus the creepy meeting attended by thousands at their headquarters in East Grinstead that gave me the shivers - it was like the crowd were mesmerised by David whateverhisnameis, plus all the speakers giving their accounts of healing and the robotic applause from the attendees.  I was there with my friend who had also given it a go - we both agreed `no more thank you`.

Scientology isn't exactly a religion is it? I know that it's classed as such because of benefits like tax perks and charity status but have I understood correctly that there's no mention of any sort of divine being?

I've been in a few situations in my life where I've been told that, if I walk out, I'll go to hell / never make a success of anything / be completely worthless.

I suppose it's common really when people want to keep control other others.

No divine being but beings who have lived for millions of years supposedly - Thetans or some similar name - very science fiction type of beliefs - all imagined by Ron Hubbard. I`ve forgotten a lot of it - I was asked to watch a video about RH and these beings and the organisation`s credibility was sinking fast by me at that point. I suppose you were supposed to work your way up until you were at Thetan level. I can truly see why that film star`s wife left him - they are robotic people.

Oh yes -

This is the Indian cult leader causing all the havoc - thousands of police have been drafted in to try and calm the followers. 38 followers have been killed already by police.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-28/who-is-the-indian-guru-of-bling-gurmeet-ram-rahim-singh/8847722

Got to go out now - will watch Tom Cruise later - the dickhead.

A hundred times a dickhead.

I think SPs are supposed to be Suppressed Persons.

I note he says he`s `cancelled that one out` that`s when you go through the dianetics programming and any unhelpful emotions are cancelled out.  Yes, truly

They also keep recordings of all dianetics sessions (where your darkest secrets are revealed - you have to reveal stuff because you are wired up to this meter thingey and if it moves slightly the auditor will make you go over and over that bit until it`s revealed).  So you can forever be blackmailed by them because there will be large dossiers on each person.