| Author | Message | ||
     gottapost2 Member Username: gottapost2 Post Number: 52 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 206.212.241.245 |
Checkout the video INSIDE THE CULT : http://youtube.com/watch?v=rD9bCdHqU3s or download the FLV format This video is about an undercover documentary about Scientology. Many phrases from the script stand out to me: long sessions of staring into each others eyes; subjects not allowed to be alone ... even to go to the bathroom (this happened to me in the CII group) revelations made in counseling sessions are used to blackmail Scientology members You know a tree by its actions and not only its words. | ||
| lauramarie Member Username: lauramarie Post Number: 85 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 75.177.94.213 |
that was powerful. what caught my eye was the "freedom of belief" and how it "improves life" that this cult teaches. But there was no freedom, only cost. Cost monetarily, emotionally and spiritually. I can see why they went after people like the wealthy movie stars. Lots of money there they won't miss! The first group that left on the boat....we can see some similiarities. Also the undercover reporter was told how bad she was. She didn't think she was so bad, but they tried to point out all her flaws. I had a flashback of a brief encounter with one of the CII upper crusts. And again, I was only a visitor!! But I was made to feel really bad, that I was bad, and I had to see things their way....or I was bad. I was told that satan comes in to divide us....guess I didn't learn it right. Something really divided my whole family from the CII family members! | ||
| lauramarie Member Username: lauramarie Post Number: 86 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 75.177.94.213 |
did any of you that have been fortunate enough to get out of Indy put CII in your will that if anything happened to you, THEY get your children (as their manifesto requests)? Hopefully if you did, you have changed that. Who would actually get your children to raise them in this cult? How does that work? just wondering. Also, those who have "left" but still want to go back (and we know a few are still trying to get back in) do their legal documents still allow mike to raise their children in case something happens to them? doesn't this all seem macabre? | ||
| cult_fighter Intermediate Member Username: cult_fighter Post Number: 190 Registered: 4-2006 Posted From: 40.0.40.10 |
Not to change the subject, Lauramarie, but I want to return to the original points of this chain -- the similarities between the Peterites and a known cult (Scientology). While I see these obvious similarities, I think the Mike P and his group are MUCH more similar to the Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple. Here's an updated list of 10 similarities: MIKE PETERS & JIM JONES: 10 Similarities 1. Both Mike and Jim established themselves and their first main "church" in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2. Both Mike and Jim are/were untrained preachers from similar denominations, Mike from the Church of Christ, Jim from the Disciples of Christ. 3. Both Mike and Jim initially STARTED their churches with a genuine interest in sharing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. 4. Both Mike and Jim are/were motivated by acquiring personal power over their followers. 5. Both Mike and Jim put a great emphasis on forcing their followers to openly confess their sins. In both groups, these confessed sins are/were then used to punish followers whenever they get out of line. 6. Both Mike and Jim have/had unquestioned authority over their followers. Among their followers, criticizing Mike or Jim is equated with blaspheming Jesus or God Himself. 7. Both Mike and Jim have shown tendencies to have closer relationships with their female followers than with their male followers. Jones was having sex with many of his female followers. (No such evidence against Mike.) 8. Both Mike and Jim claim(ed) to be prophets of God, personally receiving God's unique commands for their followers. 9. Both Mike and Jim claim(ed) persecution whenever criticized by outsiders. Jones called his media critics "hatemongers", while Peters calls his critics a "hate group". 10. Both Mike and Jim have moved their groups geographically. Jones moved his group from Indianapolis to San Francisco, while Peters moved his first followers from Vermont to Indianapolis. Of course, when the media scrutiny got too much for Jones, he and his group left the country, moving to Guyana, South America (and tragedy). While Peters has not yet made such an exodus, in the past he has warned his followers to have updated passports for their entire families "in case they need to move fast". Another less clear similarity -- both groups are or were considered "scary". After Jonestown, no one disputes that Jones & his group were scary. Now, of course, the Peterites have been correctly labelled as scary in the July, 2007 issue of Indianapolis Monthly, in the article entitled "Indy's Scariest Group". Hey, Peterites: If the above list of similarities is incorrect, I INVITE you to point out -- HOW are MP and JJ any different? There's not too many ways, are there?? (OK, Jones didn't have a beard!) | ||
| lauramarie Member Username: lauramarie Post Number: 88 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 75.177.94.213 |
A friend e-mailed me today and stated something that I am in agreement with as I study cults.... "I am seeing more and more that cults all function the same: control, mental manipulation, guilt, fear, isolation, and information control. What's weird is I don't think they strategically do these things on purpose, but they all seem to go down the same road." It is sad, but seems to be true. I just wonder how we can pray for those that get caught up in this control. It is a daily battle now. Thanks for all this continued encouragement from those of you who have been delivered from CII. | ||
| cult_fighter Intermediate Member Username: cult_fighter Post Number: 191 Registered: 4-2006 Posted From: 40.0.40.10 |
The key word is CONTROL. Cults are almost always built out of one man's (Jones, Koresh, Peters) desire to have CONTROL over other people. | ||
| baxter Intermediate Member Username: baxter Post Number: 198 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 67.159.45.91 |
I was reading the reviews and comments over at Amazon.com in regard to Meetings in his kingdom and I was reading this one by "changedbygrace" http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1L087CHN47KNC/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort%5Fby=MostRecentReview. I really appreciate this review because whoever wrote it put the quote from "chapter 33: A Request". It just really jumped off the page at me. "In keeping with that heart, please remember that none of this was written so that a new generation of fault-finders, revolutionaries, and 'experts' in "how to have a church" might arise. It was written to give a Vision and Hope to God's true-hearted People. It was written to 'divide between soul and Spirit'…to expose the motives, contend with the flesh that lingers in each of us, and to allow the folly of Jannes and Jambres, Korah, Ichabod, Nicholas, and Diotrophes to be 'evident to all'." WOW! Meetings in his kingdom was written to "divide between soul and Spirit"! Isn't that equating this book with GOD's WORD? (Heb. 4:12) "…to expose the motives,"? Where have I read that before? Oh, wait, I know! I Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." If I am not mistaken, THAT is supposed to happen when the Lord comes. | ||
| joythruchrist Intermediate Member Username: joythruchrist Post Number: 178 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 64.127.144.7 |
Excellent points! The last time I read stuff like that was on the back of The Purposelessness Driven Life. That book was elevated on par with the Bible too. The Indy group sure does like to "expose motives" don't they? At least they claim to. Funny thing though -- they can't read hearts and minds. And something I noticed in Meetings and Day of Small Beginnings is that they are written in such a way that if you don't agree, suddenly you're Jannes and Jambres, Korah, Ichabod, Nicholas, and Diotrophes. I guess they can't handle criticism, so they apparently label their critics before they even speak. joythruChrist@gmail.com (Message edited by joythruchrist on December 03, 2007) | ||
| lauramarie Member Username: lauramarie Post Number: 89 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 75.177.94.213 |
I wonder who is selling it for $21.00 plus $4.00 S/H. Someone is making money from his books! Sorry, but we have seen the fruit of his message and "way of life" and it's not pretty. | ||
| cult_fighter Intermediate Member Username: cult_fighter Post Number: 192 Registered: 4-2006 Posted From: 134.68.144.162 |
It's ironic that Rick Warren and his book(s) are coming up, because Mike is very frequent in his criticism of Warren. One thing he often criticizes is that Warren is making money, while (supposedly) Mike is not -- at least not off of his books. I honestly know very little about Rick Warren or his book, so I can neither defend nor criticize him. I will say one thing in his defense -- at least in contrast to the Peterites (and most other CULTS). At least if you criticize Warren or his book, Rick isn't out there claiming you are a "pagan", or an "adulterer", "wife abuser", or even a "Muslim". This is what CULTS do! And this is what Mike (and his clones) does! This is one thing that makes the Peterites a cult, and why I don't think Rick Warren is cultic. He may be wrong, but not cultic. Mike is both -- wrong and CULTIC. | ||
| cult_fighter Intermediate Member Username: cult_fighter Post Number: 193 Registered: 4-2006 Posted From: 134.68.144.162 |
It's ironic that Rick Warren and his book(s) are coming up, because Mike is very frequent in his criticism of Warren. One thing he often criticizes is that Warren is making money, while (supposedly) Mike is not -- at least not off of his books. I honestly know very little about Rick Warren or his book, so I can neither defend nor criticize him. I will say one thing in his defense -- at least in contrast to the Peterites (and most other CULTS). At least if you criticize Warren or his book, Rick isn't out there claiming you are a "pagan", or an "adulterer", "wife abuser", or even a "Muslim". This is what CULTS do! And this is what Mike (and his clones) does! This is one thing that makes the Peterites a cult, and why I don't think Rick Warren is cultic. He may be wrong, but not cultic. Mike is both -- wrong and CULTIC. | ||
| joythruchrist Intermediate Member Username: joythruchrist Post Number: 179 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 64.127.144.7 |
I know this board is not about Warren, but the reality is that he also has people who attack his detractors. He may not do it himself, but he's definitely covered in that area by watchdogs. And he doesn't label people Muslims because he embraces Muslims and wants Christians to be at peace with them. He cries "Peace, peace!" where there is no peace. | ||
| saygoodnightgracie Intermediate Member Username: saygoodnightgracie Post Number: 362 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 96.228.213.29 |
does anyone have video footage of Peter's teaching? or talking? or doing anything for that matter? also was there ever a followup to the magazine article or letters for or against in the following month's issue? Formerly GAG | ||
| baxter Intermediate Member Username: baxter Post Number: 199 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 67.159.45.99 |
sgng, Mike has created a video over at youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVr8Jelobs4 They are short excerpts from his six hour video created in the early 90's. And yes, there was a followup by Tim S's ex-wife (supposedly) in the letter to the editor's section the following month. I'll try to get a scan of it soon and post it. |
