Please go to sleep

I don't know how broadly you define cult. We knew a man in the 1970's who got involved with a group called 'Lifespring'. He was a very shy, reticent but lovely young man about our same age... mid 20's. After he joined up with them, he had a real fervor for them and an almost glazed over appearance. He was really invested in us learning about it. I wasn't at all interested, (for myself, but was curious what he was experiencing) so I finally agreed to go to a meeting with him. He was so excited. I recall almost nothing about it but kind of remember that they were VERY loving toward each other in a way that would appeal to people wanting a community. And it seemed sort of a combo of very scripted and yet accepting. I don't think it harmed him but we moved away and lost track of him.

Another of my friends talks about having been in a cult when she was fresh out of high school and felt lucky to get away. We haven't talked too much about it, so I am unsure what all was involved.

I just thought to google Lifespring and it looks like it was pretty cult-like:

Link: Lifespring

Not sure if this counts but recently I'd noticed that one of the lady's I watch on youtube about makeup stuff, had suddenly stopped posting videos which was odd because she was very regular about it. So, I went to looking her up doing a google search and what I found was pretty crazy. I know she'd been talking about faith and religion here and there. I didn't realize she was so out of it though! They were saying on reddit that she's kind of lost it and she's recently realized her young daughter was deaf and instead of accepting that and treating it for what it is, she's taking to saying that her daughter is possessed by a demon and is now on something like tik tok or instagram praying for the demons to leave her daughter! Whatever?! I suppose that she now thinks that youtube is evil? She was on Instagram saying that Disney is evil. I feel like these sorts of religious organizations are really like Cults.

Petalique, were the Moonies the people that wore red? When I lived in San Francisco, there was a group that wore red and I met one guy though never really got to know him. He seemed very paranoid. Other than that, I have not had any contact with cults.

Oh, was Silva Mind Control a cult? I did go to one of their events but it did nothing for me.

I remember a nice woman I got to know when my older kids were running around the neighborhood playground. In other words, A looong time ago.

Very early on I learned…. don’t bring up anything even close to a topic about religion or philopsophy….. 😳😬

She was fun to talk to, and I still stop and chat if I see her but I avoid the topic.

It was very weird. I swear she’s a pleasant person otherwise. It’s really hard to understand. She became robotic. It was as if she wasn’t there anymore and a really pushy, longwinded spewer of nonsense had taken her place.

It can be difficult to know what groups are cults or cultish.It’s a topic that has interested me peripherally for a long while, but there are so many issues, events and personal tasks competing for my limited free attention.

I cannot recall if the moonies wore any particular attire. In those days there were also people dressed or oche garb.

Last night I did a bit of reading on some of the groups mentioned. I also recalled that in the mid to late 1970s (~‘76) I encountered someone (a roommate’s ex) who I seem to recall mentioning some group called ”John-Roger” or ”the Light”? I read a bit about them last night (late). Whew. Eye opening. The ”ex” was well educated — IIRC at least a MS in biochemistry of something, possibly from Harvard. But that doesn’t mean anything, really. Lot’s of people were then and probably will always be searching for meaning, answers and community.

I also remembered that I new a couple of people who were infatuated or magnetized by ”est” and ? Werner Erhardt (spelling). I don’t know if that organization is cultish, but the behavior of those two acquaintances seemed culty to me. They also could not stop proselytizing about that group and their experiences and often would go rant on in an a too transparent “I’ve see the light, you haven’t” sort of way. Obnoxious. ;)

They were trying to convince themselves. If they were confident, they would have no need to attempt to convince others.

Lars, that last group you mentioned sounds like the Heaven’s Gate group (fixated on something related to the Hale-Bopp comet. Sadly, most of them participated in some sort of group suicide.

➡️ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Heavens-Gate-religious-group

➡️ ➡️ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_group)

In September 1975, Applewhite and Nettles preached at a motel hall in Waldport, Oregon. After selling all "worldly" possessions and saying farewell to loved ones, around 20 people vanished from the public eye and joined the group.[2] Later that year, on CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite reported on the disappearances in one of the first national reports on the developing religious group: "A score of persons from a small Oregon town have disappeared. It's a mystery whether they've been taken on a so-called trip to eternity – or simply been taken."[19] In reality, Applewhite and Nettles had arranged for the group to go underground. From that point, "Do" and "Ti" (pronounced "doe" and "tee"), as the two now called themselves, led nearly one hundred members across the country, sleeping in tents and sleeping bags and begging in the streets. Evading detection by the authorities and media enabled the group to focus on Do and Ti's doctrine of helping members of the crew achieve a "higher evolutionary level" above human, which the leaders claimed to have already reached.[19][21]

When I was a kid, I remember a friend's older brother getting involved with something called the Divine Light Mission. It must have been early 70's, maybe? I don't know what ever happened with him, but the family was very upset.

When I was in college I met a group of "Christian" cult members. They went around in a group selling a series of books that were supposed to enlighten you so you could start selling books and so on. They were mostly fairly young with an older minder guy , about 30,who would seal the deals they made. Very strange. Something or other over the world. I have since met two different cult leaders both of whom had had their cult melt on them. One of them had actually cribbed some followers off of Charles Manson no less. Both ruled by mental abuse.

patriciae

I've never known anyone in a cult, but certain religions reek cult ish to me.

If you look up the definition of cult, expand the sense of it and soften some of the harsher words you read, I think you'll find that most of us know many people in groups that closely resemble "cults". Many such groups demonstrate common characteristics of more extreme cults- distrust and ignorance of others, inwardly focused, based on dogma that's not subject to question, charismatic leadership, etc. I don't mean just religious groups but with some that's a start.

Is Scientology considered a cult? I had a friend once that was going through the process to get ”cleared”. He dropped out after a year.

Yes, not only is it a cult but people starting a cult will study scientology methods. The afore mentioned Charles Manson studied up on their techniques as did Paul Crockett, the guy I met. There is a sameness to the methods of cults and it is because they learn from each other. Occasionally you get a genuine crackpot who is not just interested in fleecing the flock but who actually believe themselves and their delusions. Just as dangerous and still a cult..

patriciae

Cult Education link

➡️ https://www.culteducation.com/information.html

I know a young woman who was raised in the Scient ology community. She left when she turned 18 and has undergone extensive therapy to cope with what she endured. She labeled it a cult.

I think the red robe wearing cult were followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. They were infamous on the west coast with a commune in Oregon:

"The Dalles, the largest city and seat of Wasco County, would soon become ground zero for crimes committed by the Indian guru’s followers — known variously as Rajneeshees, neo-sannyasins, or simply sannyasins — who had commandeered a 64,000-acre cattle ranch, just 100 miles away, to build an ambitious utopia for thousands of worshippers.

The most salacious of these, including widespread salad bar poisonings, are documented in Wild Wild Country, a six-part Netflix docuseries by the brothers Chapman and MacLain Way that charts the incredible rise and equally improbable fall of Rajneeshpuram, the city-commune that served as a flashpoint for debate about sexual mores, religious freedom, and land use legislation in 1980s rural Oregon."

No, but about ten years ago, I had a friend who joined a multi-level marketing company. She's a smart person but has zero business sense. I remember wanting to be supportive, but the cheapest thing they offered was an $18 tube of toothpaste. I think the "investment" in her "business" was a couple thousand dollars. Having no preservatives isn't really a plus when you're stuck with a lifetime supply of the stuff.

Yes, and I no longer talk to either of those people.

I’m a Pastafarian. I don’t think it is a cult, though.

Annie, I am unable to message you. please Message me or reword your last post.

Please do not get my thread pulled by inserting anything looking like a direct reference,

”…now a member of today’s political cult.”

I think you know how to speak less pointedly.

ed

roxsol - I looked up ”Pastafarian” - was too curious about the word so I had to do that. I wonder now - in the pics I saw only the older style metal colanders - would a colorful plastic one or a wire one work as well for accepted head / hat wear?

KW, most definitely. Pastafarianism really has no rules, just a list of eight ”you really shouldn’t” suggestions.

This is #3 in the 8 Suggestions:

3. I’d Really Rather You Didn’t Judge People For The Way They Look, Or How They Dress, Or The Way They Talk, Or, Well, Just Play Nice.

KW, so, have we lured you in? 🤠

roxsol - Maybe. The Pastafarian 8 Condiments are rules I already do try to follow and live by. I also think I’d more likely belong to the Reformed sect. That dressing like a Pirate though might be an issue for me. I like a more classic look & really, the eye patch is a no go for me! 🍝

Welcome, KW.

Well, petalique, I don't think what I said will get this thread pulled so I am not inclined to change it, but perhaps you'd make a suggestion that would be more to your liking, I'll consider it.

I do love a good pasta, but I wouldn't make it as a Rastafarian - so I think I'll have to stick with attending the Church of Ally De. We're nondenominational here and our tenets are Free Speech with Intelligent Discourse - and Adult Beverages.

No tithes required but bringing a good wine is a nice touch.

@Ally De - Rastafarians are a very diffferent group than Pastafarians! They are a ’real’ religious & political group with origins in Jamaica. Pastafarians are a social movement which, if I’m not mistaken, is really nondenominational. I bet their ”8 Condiments” / I’d really rather you didn’ts would align well with the Church of Ally De tenets. 😁

Understood. I am just being silly. 😊

@Ally De -got it! color me 🫢- I’m often a much too serious person! I need more adult beverages.😊

Petilique - you are actually telling people what they are allowed to post on the board now? WOW! Just ... wow!

HU-892091917

3 days ago

"Please go to sleep"

Love this!

There are varieties and categories of cults which can be cult-ish to different degrees. They usually have features in common. There are, of course, the ones which grab headlines, there are some serious cults that most have never heard of. There are also pipsqueak cults.

There is a church here that seems very cultish - I had family members involved who did finally realize that there was too much emphasis on control and only associating with other congregants. They (and their children) got out before they were in too deep.

Raee, interesting. I’ve been reading about cults and what you describe is reflected in one of the accounts.

People are instructed to stay within the group. A lot of rules and control and peer pressure.

➡️ https://www.culteducation.com/information.html

Roxsol, my family was winter camping many years ago, and our kids were guided by His Noodly Appendage to create His likeness in the snow.

AnnKH! That is wonderful. I bet your kids had a great time. There is so much that I love about that picture and your comment.

Now I get @AnnKH pic & note after reading @roxsolid note! Pastafarians are everywhere! 🍜 Snow Angels don’t always have wings……

I feel Re-Born❣️

I was unaware that my people had organized and published our dogma. But I must confess -

I too Am a Pastafarian 💜 Just knowing that I can become ordained warms my heart 💜

I knew a woman who 'enrolled' herself and her young children in a religious group with very strict rules about fraternizing only with people within the religion. When I knew her, she was middle-aged had left the religion. She said she'd joined because she knew she had been making ruinous life decisions and needed a controling structure to reform.

Fortunately, the religion was benign, and it served its purpose for her. Other 'cults' easily prey upon people who feel lost or out of control.

I admired my friend. it's quite something to own up to your weakness and do something about it! She was also driven to change by her love for her kids.

I am not sure that a strict religious group really qualifies as a cult. If it did pretty much all religions are cults. While there is some truth in that because it is a rare religion that doesnt discourage interactions outside of their belief system it isnt normally abusive. Cults mostly exist to exploit their members. They can be pretty imaginative in how they go about that.

Sad to say, yes. She was one of my best and longest term friends. She was always super cool and more adventurous. She had a few long-ish relationships, but never married. We kept in touch regularly and even did get together a few times a year. She would come for Thanksgiving, and sometimes New Year's , and another few times. She lived in Manhattan and I had moved to suburbia with kids and all. Anyway- about 20 years ago she somehow got very involved with Falun Gong. She was still herself, with a great sense of humor, but was spending more time with them. We were not in touch as much.

One time I recall she said there was some talk being given at Princeton U and invited us ( DH and moi) to join her since we lived nearby. We went, as it was a chance to see her, and try to understand what she was doing with this group. She kept saying she was being followed, and was taking pix of people she said were following her. It was unclear if she thought it was FBI or Chinese Agents. (really- this was crazy). Anyway, we were in touch less and less. I remember realizing that I had not heard from her in months, and I tried calling and left a voicemail.

Somehow we connected, and she said she had not been well, had stomach cancer and she sounded terrible.

Apparently she had been having pains, but her "friends" in this group told her she needed to pray for healing more diligently. When the pain became unbearable, she did go to a Dr and it seems it was too far along. She passed away about 15 years ago.

She really was one of my best friends, and I have a lot of guilt for not being there at the end. I am pretty sure she would not have listened, but I don't know.

I remember seeing articles about this group though lately they seem to have kind of vanished.

anyone familiar with them?

If you've seen ads for performances of Shen Yun, they're part of Falun Gong, and apparently the performers are very ill-treated. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/nyregion/shen-yun-nyt-falun-gong.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1U4.dbam.Sghq3y3o0VxJ

salon, I am sorry about your friend. Who knows if you friend would have listened to you.

I do not know anything much about that group. I am still reading a lot of the cult education org articles, but had to slow down. Busy day out of town yesterday.

Bookwoman, I will take a look at the article. Thanks.

Re cults versus (conventional) organized religions. There are some noteable differences.

" There are some noteable diffenrence. "

And many significant similarities. An "eyes-open", no preconceived notions review of too many established sects or persuasions while being mindful of the definition of what a cult is turns up more resemblances than most people will admit to.

When I was in Switzerland the Protestant church sign read ”culte”. And the time. We figured out it meant service time but it still struck us kids as kind of odd,