I regard all early states of a religion as basically a cult, from the word meaning to culture, non-mainstream beliefs compared to what is usual for a locale. Mental entrapment does not necessarily mean one is forced to do another's bidding, as the human mind is greatly susceptible to its own entrapment depending on the range of scepticism or gullibility it has, so we can shut the door to knowledge by being too critical or open it too much if we are too easily influenced by what others say to us. I regard the TMO as a cult, and I did work for this org for a time. I think it is more like a cult today than it was in the early years, and it is showing the definite signs of becoming a religion. After all early on Maharishi indicated he wanted to start 'a new religion'. I am using the word with a certain leeway. I am using the word primarily in the following senses:
1. a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister. 2. a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing. I simply stated that I thought all of us here had been part of or influenced by cults, so I was not singling you out. You on the other hand single out Turq as the only person so influenced that way, which hardly seems accurate to me. I am not saying here anything beyond what we both have been involved in, though I was never part of a UFO cult. ------------------------- ---In [email protected], <nablusoss1008, yahoogroups.com> wrote : Since you accuse me of being a cultmember I am looking forward to your definition of said. And you better come up with something better than "mental entrapment". If not you better STFU. ---In [email protected], <anartaxius@...> wrote : Nabby, all of as here have been members of a cult, or at least associated with one except among regular posters, Emily whose daughter had a brush with one. You yourself are associated with rather non-typical beliefs in general. It does not help to accuse one of being party to the same kind of mental entrapment that one oneself is involved in. All of us show some kind of mental entrapment of which we are typically unaware. Maybe it would be valuable if first we ask ourselves 'Am I the one who is crazy?' ---In [email protected], <[email protected]> wrote : Indeed. The Turq is the only known person here to have been a member of a cult, so his expertize in this field is quite valuable, if you are interested in that sort of thing. Having been part of a mass-hypnosis act is quite something for your "life CV"
