Landmark Education, a privately owned for-profit company that sells controversial large group awareness training programs to the public, has sued the Rick A. Ross Institute (RRI) for more than one million dollars. The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey and is currently moving forward within the court of federal Judge John Lifland (Civil Action No. […]
Landmark Education originated by Werner Erhard and once called Erhard Seminar Training (EST) has had a troubled history filled with lawsuits, bad press and serious allegations made by mental health professionals regarding its programs. However, a press release posted on Business Wire this week gushes that the for-profit privately owned company is today “a worldwide […]
By Brian Birmingham A group called “Rise of the Moors,” founded by Jahmal Latimer, received quite a bit of media attention recently. On July 3rd Latimer led ten followers on a march through Wakefield, Massachusetts. The group was heavily armed. After a standoff with local police, which lasted for several hours, Latimer and his men […]
The domain name culteducation.com is now for sale at the GoDaddy Auction Domain Name Aftermarket Web site.
culteducation.com was originally purchased in 1996 and is owned by well-known cult expert and intervention specialist Rick Ross. The Web site known as Rick Ross.com was launched in 1996 and is a primary resource on the World Wide Web for information about destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. In 2001 the site officially became known as the Rick A. Ross Institute for Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements (RI) and was granted nonprofit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) charitable status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States.
RI is devoted to public education and is an institutional member of the New Jersey Library Association.
culteducation.com today is the gateway to a vast archive that has been under continuous construction for 17 years. This ever expanding online library includes thousands of individual documents, articles, reports and studies divided into hundreds of subsections by topic such as Scientology, Landmark Education and “brainwashing.”
A wealth of information is contained witnin the public message board attached to the RI Web site, which has more than 100,000 entries. The posts at this open forum include comments from former cult members, affected families and others concerned and represents a wealth of information.
Introduction
I am writing this article as a previous member of the Order of Christ Sophia (OCS) and the Center of Light (COL). When I first encountered the OCS in 1999 I found it to be a supportive and empowering organization. Over time however, I feel that the nature of the group has changed dramatically and I would now describe it as extremely destructive and dangerous. I am gravely concerned for the welfare of anyone currently involved with or considering involvement with the group and it is my hope that what I describe here will bring clarity and insight to others.
Background
I was a “student” in the OCS for several years beginning in 1999 when the organization was first founded. I later trained for the ministry and functioned as a “deacon” for 2 years, a “priest” for 8 years and then a “shepherd” (the highest level of OCS training) for 2 years. I was also a member of the board of directors for 4 years. During my time with the group I had extensive contact with its leaders and became intimately acquainted with its internal dynamics and politics. Because of my familiarity with the OCS I feel that I am in a position to offer credible testimony about the nature of the organization.
Associated Press reports that the conviction of self-help seminar leader James Arthur Ray came quickly, after less than 10 hours of deliberation following four months of testimony and hundreds of exhibits. The jury concluded that the man, who once was a guest on “Oprah” and interviewed by Larry King, was ultimately guilty of “negligent homicide” in the deaths of three people, who sought enlightenment through his programs.
Instead of discovering the meaning of life, Ray’s victims lost their lives in his version of a “sweat lodge.”
This is not a new story.
Ray’s seminar format fits well within what is often called “large group awareness training” (LGAT), though its proponents would prefer to generically include it within what is euphemistically referred to as the “human potential movement”.
Since beginning my work in the early 1980s I have received persistent complaints about LGATs like the one Ray led from affected families, former participants and others concerned.
The Ross Institute Internet Archives includes news reports, articles, court documents and research material about LGATs.
The Ross Institute of New Jersey (RI) has been a pioneer regarding free speech on the Internet and has faced legal challenges over the years, which have set significant precedents.
But before discussing the specific lawsuits filed against RI by controversial groups, some general historical background seems appropriate, to better understand the inception, purpose and function of RI (sponsor of CultNews) and its Internet archives.
Background
In 1995 I launched the Web site, culteducation.com. This was initially a personal effort to share collected files with the general public gathered about controversial groups and movements, some that have been called “cults.”
That Web site grew and evolved to become one of the largest and most comprehensive online sources of information about destructive cults, controversial groups and movements on the Internet.
Today RI contains thousands of articles and documents organized within hundreds of individual group and subject subsections.
RI also features a virtual library with hundreds of books made available online through Amazon.com and a public message board that contains the personal comments and recollections of thousands of people affected by controversial groups and movements.
By Jim Bergin, M.A., Gentle Wind Project Cult former member
A book review
Here they go again “ “Caught in the Act of Helping: How a government official destroyed 23 years of effort aimed at producing revolutionary, new stress relief technology” by Mary Miller (aka Moe Miller, Claudia Panuthos, Mary Elizabeth Carreiro, etc. of Gentle Wind Project (GWP): aka GW Retreat, Brothers & Sisters of the Spirit World, Family Systems Research Group, FSRG-I Ching Systems, and on and on) is a sadly predictable diatribe whose only redeeming value is as a pitiful example of cult post-apocalyptic strategy, whereby cult leaders display typical delusions of persecution and distorted reality when they are exposed and “caught in the act of manipulating.”
These delusory responses, as expressed in Miller’s book, arise due to the inevitable conflicts the cult has with reality. When cults, such as GWP, are exposed by former followers, as well as prosecuted by the justice system, the group and leaders must devise strategies to recreate their prevarications. Typically, these self-induced perceptions are ones of being surrounded by “peril” whereby the proclaimed enemy seeks to destroy the cult’s and its hapless followers’ path to “save the planet.” The cult, as usual, attempts to evade all blame, deflecting it to the outside world, as cited on every page of Miller’s missive.
What could possibly be more generous than selling your house and giving away half of the money you make to help the poor?
That’s exactly what the Salwen family (photo left) decided to do, so their 6,000 square foot home near downtown Atlanta is on the block.
The Salwens have been featured on CNN and the Today Show, for their seemingly selfless generosity.
This philanthropic family of four has a history of charitable works, which includes supporting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and community food banks.
But the charity the Salwens have chosen as the recipient for what may become their biggest gift, might be just a bit suspect.
The Salwens have announced from their Web site, “Through Hannah’s Lunchbox, we are selling our house in Atlanta, moving to one half the size (and price) and investing the difference in the ‘Hunger Project,'”
CultNews has reported about the Hunger Project (HP) before.
HP is the brainchild of former encyclopedia and used car salesman turned “human potential” guru Werner Erhard, previously known as “Jack” Rosenberg.
Mahesh Prasad Varma, better known as “Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,” was born near the Indian town of Jabalpur, into a scribe caste family. He died last night at the age of 91.
At times referred to as a “cult leader,” one BBC website called him a “Rasputinesque” figure.
The Indian guru promoted “Transcendental meditation,” known as TM to its fans and followers. This practice involves reciting a mantra over and over again to still the mind.
However, TM critics saw the technique as little more than self-hypnosis or trance induction.
Classes to learn TM don’t come cheap. The current list price is $2,500 for a five-day session.
Mahrishi launched his public career as the “Beatles guru.” In 1968 the British group journeyed to his Himalayan ashram to study.
But it wasn’t long before the popular band dumped their would-be teacher.
John Lennon felt that the Maharishi’s claim to celibacy was a lie. Lennon said in interviews that the Beatles song “Sexy Sadie,” which includes the lyrics “Sexy Sadie, what have you done, you made a fool of everyone” was originally called Maharishi.
