Allan Miller- "Jesus"

Here's an Australian cult, based in Queensland, run by this man AJ Miller. Believes he is the second coming of Jesus; his followers thoroughly convinced they were the same people there at the time of his crucifixion. He works on people's emotions, helping them to pull apart their own psyches, thread by thread, and totally trust him as the saviour, thus, of their souls, since he stands by, smiles, and guides their complete submission to their most painful cores. He uses very nice demonstrative diagrams, makes assumptions about people's mental states and life situations to prompt them to plomb the depths further. He makes no apologies and stands firm that he IS Jesus. Note: his parents wanted to commit him to a psychiatric ward when he was younger, and he got rejected from the Jehovah's Witnesses. THE JEHOVAH'S FREAKING WITNESSES REJECTED THIS GUY.

I will make no apologies; these particular methods of cult brainwashing and servitude sicken me most especially because of the likeness they have to the methods of the group I grew up with. If you want to know more, please inbox me. This group, the Neocatechumenal Way, disguise heavy handed psychological dependency developing tactics, and methods of identity breakdown, as love-based, God-guided and community-supportive religious psychotherapy. I was called a monster in front of the community, regarding my judgmental personality; brought to many episodes of sobbing and absolute despair in my teenage and younger adult years, that I am a hopeless human being. That I needed the forgiveness of people who had been abusive. That I needed salvation, but I could never in my wildest dreams attain it. That I was a sinner, and Christ's death had saved me from that punishment, but I may as well have got over it- my suffering would never cease, because THE DEVIL had me in his grasp. No one was spared of despair in that setting; the idea of the community being the true saviour, Kiko being the true leader standing beside Jesus.

Shame to all those who have perpetrated this high-level bullying and psychological abuse.

a comment on SBS' video about JMS/Providence, youtube:

"How CAN he be a rapist? Being one is one of the worst sins out there; and if he were one no one would respect him. His words would be a low level (his word as in setting up a condition of prayer to obtain the Trinity's message). No one would follow him. No one would feel inspired and be moved by his message if he was. We respect and honor him; not worship. He has done the impossible. He has cured thousands. Sadly, no one knows the truth...until he/she dies.
And that's the sad part.
BTW, we're not HIS spiritual brides. You got that wrong.
No, not if he was. He is NEVER one.
He was always sharing. Even when he had nothing. "

teens from The Family International (David Berg's cult) sing to their leader.

What happens when someone from OUTSIDE asks horrible questions about what your leaders do!

Classic reaction of a thoroughly brainwashed, bullied child who's been taught that outsiders are to be feared and mistrusted. They won't understand the goodness of what you guys do, unless the join the group! Bloody infuriating business this is...

I remember having reactions like this to people criticising our movement. And now, I see what a load of bullcrap it was; because if the adults weren't basing their faith on fear, then telling strangers exactly what you do from now to eternity wouldn't be an issue. Instead, every step is hidden from those who haven't done it, and what is said inside the place is to be kept quiet unless it's for actual evangelisation purposes.

on The First Scrutiny- the Neocatechumenal Way

Problems with the first scrutiny... click here.

If only churches were spaces like this...

I know the song has nothing to do with a church experience actually, but I find the combined imagery of the dancer, Polunin, his style, which is both joyful and terribly painful, with the empty church, to be very poignant. This is a representation of how I felt during my growing up and adolescence. I used to dance in my room instead.

It seems he's dealing with his demons, and having moments of sheer joy, followed by plummeting despair and angst. A great depiction, in my mind, of what it is like, mentally, in a sect or cult- like a rollercoaster on repeat!