by proplog2 32 Replies latest jw friends
Readers will note that as usual, proplog has entirely failed to defend whatever vague position he holds, and instead engages in his usual brainless diatribes.
You're an intellectual coward, proplog -- and a true mentula flaccidus. You were presented with many facts and solid arguments in the last thread you started, but you ignored almost all of them.
AlanF
well I started reading the piece you posted. read quite a lot of it in fact. As a researcher Joseph E Davis was rather biased to begin with and he doesn't hide it very well. He starts with a theory and then finds any and all information he can to back himself up. This is NOT how to do critical research. He needed to gather all the info and then come to a conclusion.
Sorry I will not cut and paste to dissect his article. Quite frankly I don't have the time or patience or desire for that matter.
The reality is that mind control exists. It hurts people. And there are many groups who use it. I have yet to read anything by reputable anti-cults that wants to declare that all NRM are cultic. That simply isn't true and no responsible researcher would make that assertion.
Rejoice in the healing and not in the pain.
Rejoice in the challenge overcome and not in the past hurts.
Rejoice in the present - full of love and joy.
Rejoice in the future for it is filled with new horizons yet to be explored. - Lee Marsh 2002
Question,
Is good parenting an example of mind control?
all religion are cults
All MLM's are cults.
All restrictive belief systems are cult-like.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." --Groucho Marx
AlanF:
I don't want to discuss this with YOU. You get off on verbally "abusing" people.
I have the same weakness. And I know where the discussion will end up.
I have accomplished my purpose if I get a few here to see that there IS another viewpoint that is legitimate. They can decide for themselves which view deserves their belief.
Lady Lee:
I appreciate your position. It is a rather long article. And like you I don't have a lot of time to argue this point. That's what experts are for.
However, you ought to leave it at that instead of offering empty criticism. By "empty" I mean you admit you didn't read it all and you offered no examples to illustrate how you arrived at your position.
larc:
I think it is impossible for parents good or bad to avoid having an influence on their children.
I have raised my children with continuous discussions about what they like and don't like. At least once each week I talk with my kids (4 of them 12-27) about what they want to do with their life.
No I don't tell any of them to pioneer. I'm afraid my youngest might do that just to rebel against me.
Hi Proplog2: I have not taken time yet to review the site you linked. I will try to do that.
You said,
"I have no problem with people who point out the fallacies of religions. To me the foundation of all god-based religion is false. That's my oppinion and it is shared by about 10% of the American Population."My own position is that I can not prove God-based religions one way or the other. So we are not too far apart on that issue.
"There is no need for the concept of "cult". Its purpose is to scare people into hiring exit managers. In fact the motive behind a lot of the cult scare is the idea that "cults" are "satanic". In fact you will often hear people combine those terms "satanic cult"."No. I must disagree. People generally understand that not all cults are the same, and that not all are satanic. The media give attention to the more extreme groups because: 1. These extreme Groups merit more attention, 2. They do things often more sensational such as suicide ... ref. Heaven's Gate, or the Branch Davidian stand-off with the authorities. etc., 3. These groups are far more dangerous and justify the puiblic being warned.
Most people I talk to understand that groiups like the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses are cults ... but they understand the that these latter groups are less harmful ... I find that my years as an ex-JW that most people are smarter and better educated than I once believed.
"The cult scare doesn't sharpen peoples critical thinking abilities. It is a big hopper to throw "garbage". Once again people rely on others to do the thinking for them."Not really. The average person does not have time or interest to go into great detailed study of Jehovah's Witnesses, or Moonies, or Mormons, or other more exotic groups. They will take more interest when a family memebr is about to be sucked into the cult vacuum. They will seek out and rely on resources such as ex-JWs ... but they are sharp enough to do their own thinking ... after all ... they avoided being JWs in the first place.
"The checklists give you the illusion that you are thinking."Maybe ... checklists can be very useful as quick reference guides ... saving time ... but the average person who needs to deal with a loved one who is alcoholic, or drug abuser, or getting into a cult will go beyond simple checklists ... I find many apply very remarkable skills ... no, they do not "Fully" comprehend the cult mentality because they have not walked in those shoes ... but they are adaptable and astute ... and I find it rather condescending to berate the average person who really is far smarter than they are given credit.
"I've been in sales."Haven't we all! From House to House and Door to Door, la la la la la ... and since leaving engineering, I am in real estate ... and that means selling. All those Service (sales) Meetings have coem in handy afterall.
"And I've done scientific research. I know the difference between the two."Then write a detailed scientific paper and post it here and enlighten the rest of us on the specific issues and problems you believe we are misunderstanding.
Amazing:
Please read the link before any futher comments please.
There you will find stuff like:
"The response of the anticult movement to the receding visibility and size of the NRMs that sparked the initial controversy has been to expand the number of groups considered to be cults (or to manifest cultic tendencies) and to tie new themes to the cult controversy, such as child abuse, in order to rekindle public and media interest.13
Hmmmmm. Sounds like the resident Shepherd - Bill Bowen.
