Cults (pretty sure my friend is joining one)

[The Douche]

So I have this friend, weird girl, very bohemian, used to be into buddhism and social justice type shit, had a kid, got really into spiritualism and like, new age shit.

Anyways she moves a lot, she moved back here and now after about 8 months she's moving again, with another friend of mine who is also kind of weird, she's super hot and very sexualized (I guess is the right way to describe her), into punk and hardcore, and existential philosophy and shit.

So they decide they're gonna move to Salt Lake City together and the first girl found them an apartment. She described it to all of us as "a complex next to an art gallery where a bunch of hippies live", whatever.

Me and my girl go to her house the night she leaves to say goodbye and shit (the first girl is moving out there before the second one) and she tells me and my girl that the people who own the complex also run this spiritual group, and that everybody there is involved with it, and they want her to be involved as well, and be some sort of spiritual guide/counselor type deal.

So yeah... they all live together in an apartment complex, the person who owns it is a spiritual leader, they all follow him, they want my friend to join them.

I told her that it sounded a whole lot like a cult, like, to close to not call it a cult, and she just shrugged it off, and told me she was looking forward to doing wilderness retreats with.

The truly unsettling thing is that she (the first girl) didn't tell my other friend, who is moving with her, the nature of the people she's moving in with. All she said was the whole "bunch of hippies live there". I was talking to my friend who hasn't moved yet about it, and she had literally no idea of all this shit, I think only me and my girl were told, and now that my friend has moved in she said she's going to delete all her social networks, and not to bother calling her phone cause she never pays attention to it, and that if we want to talk to her we should email.



I'm a little worried.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Idk, sounds weird dude...

Is there anyone in Salt Lake City you can call and have them check up on the Complex and tell you a bit more about it objectively? Or at least check up on the girls every so often.

[The Douche]

Nah, I don't know anybody out there.

She also made a tumblr post today talking about how she was worried it was a cult after talking to me AND AFTER TALKING TO THE LANDLORD OF THE COMPLEX. Yet now that she's out there she doesn't think it is.

[Yuppie Grinder]

Sounds like a cult dude.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Idk man, I'd try and get some information about that place. Have her tell you the name/address of it and try and do some research on the thing yourself. If all else fails, and you are really that worried, call the fuzz and tell them that you think something weird is going on there.

[Grigori]

Just hire a friend to act interested in joining. Then set up a stake out.

[Charlie Watt]

If it smells like Jonestown....

[Nox]

That sounds very disturbing.

A bunch of hot, young girls in a 'spiritual' cult worshipping a male leader.

You don't have to use your imagination to realise something doesn't seem right there.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Isn't Commissar Rykov from Utah? Maybe he knows something about it.

[Rafiq]

It's a cult no doubt.

Landlords a prick too, probably.

[piet11111]

Maybe contact the FBI (i think they keep track of cults and shit) and local law enforcement.

They may be state thugs but it can not hurt you to just ask if you are really worried.

And perhaps a local church as they tend to know a lot about the community especially when its the competition.

[The Douche]

So my friend who hasn't moved yet posted this on her tumblr:


[my name] could talk me out of anything. He could talk a wall out of being a wall, despite the fact that it is an inanimate object.

Jesus Christ.

I don't want to stop her from moving, even though I think she wants to move for the wrong reasons, and I don't think she'll accomplish what she wants, but I really don't want her to end up in what seems like a cult. But I don't want my other friend and her young son stuck in that cult, because she is much more vulnerable to that shit I think.

[Manic Impressive]

could it be this place? http://www.summum.us/pyramid/

about
http://www.insolitology.com/organized/summum.htm
^^has address and phone number

[khad]

This is why organized lifestylism is so dangerous.

Is this person close to any family that you can work through? Because in situations like this they're not going to listen to just a random "friend."

[The Douche]

could it be this place? http://www.summum.us/pyramid/

about
http://www.insolitology.com/organized/summum.htm
^^has address and phone number

I don't think so. I don't see any mention of communal living or whatever there, though it does seem like the "art gallery" she mentioned. She didn't say anything about any "Corky" though, and that website says you're likely to encounter middle aged people, but she said its mostly young artists and philosophy students. The landlord's name was "Andy".

[The Douche]

Is this person close to any family that you can work through? Because in situations like this they're not going to listen to just a random "friend."

Her family is very modern a liberal, they don't particularly care what she does. And I don't mean to imply that they don't care about her, but that they believe in letting her do what she wants/needs.

I mean, we're friends, she trusts me, talks to me, comes to me for advice and shit. But she doesn't think it is a cult, even though she had suspicion that it might be. You've got to understand that she is really into this new age type shit, so any talking to her (from anyone) would probably be like talking to a wall.

To explain further her commitment to new age stuff, she refers to herself as "Luna", she has a "third eye tattoo", and her latest fascination has been tarot card reading. She also told us the night before she left that she was interested in scientology (what the fuck?!), me, my girlfriend, and her brother all tried to explain to her how absurd it is, what a scam it is, and how horrible they treat people, but she insisted that she was "interested in learning about it". Then she told us that she had once had them do a "reading" or whatever (you know, they always have those dianetics tables in subway stations and shit), and that it was "really accurate". This was a shock to all of us, and we tried to show her how dumb that shit is, and how its just a scam, but we were more interested in trying to convince her not to live with a cult.

Obviously she has some sort of predisposition to nutty religious ideas, which worries me, since if she really did move in with a cult, there's a big chance she could end up as part of it.

[ВАЛТЕР]

The landlord's name was "Andy".

:sneaky: Andy eh? Sounds like a cult leader name to me...

[piet11111]

Now it sounds more like a cry for attention i doubt its physically possible to believe in so much bullshit.

[The Douche]

Now it sounds more like a cry for attention i doubt its physically possible to believe in so much bullshit.

You've never met any of these new age "spiritual" types?


Some people really need somewhere to belong and fit in, while being "kooky" expressing their "individuality" and shit.

[ВАЛТЕР]

You've never met any of these new age "spiritual" types?


Some people really need somewhere to belong and fit in, while being "kooky" expressing their "individuality" and shit.

Shit, if she wants something to belong to it would be a better idea to join a street gang than one of these cult-like organizations.

I would suggest the crips...their reputation is great.

[Manic Impressive]

I don't think so. I don't see any mention of communal living or whatever there, though it does seem like the "art gallery" she mentioned. She didn't say anything about any "Corky" though, and that website says you're likely to encounter middle aged people, but she said its mostly young artists and philosophy students. The landlord's name was "Andy".
lets hope not because they sound really whacko. But I think Corky is the name of the guy criticizing them. The Summum guy is called Amon Ra (someone's been watching too much stargate)

[the Left™]

If you ever have to argue that what you are doing isnt a cult, you might be in a cult

[Patagonia]

She also made a tumblr post today talking about how she was worried it was a cult after talking to me AND AFTER TALKING TO THE LANDLORD OF THE COMPLEX. Yet now that she's out there she doesn't think it is.

I think this is a really important detail to be sure about this shits nature, bro. I mean, brainwash, anyone?

[Yuppie Grinder]

This has nothing to do with lifestyle politics
just dirty hippies

[Tablo]

Now it sounds more like a cry for attention i doubt its physically possible to believe in so much bullshit.
My ex is into all the new age bs. There is no talking her out of it because she is incapable of understanding logic and common sense.

[Pioneers_Violin]

Cult, Schmult!

Builds Character.

If the cult members, including your friend, are supposedly responsible adults, it's their choice. Would you want them dictating your life? As in: keep away from that RevLeft... It's Satanic!

You'll find no shortage of people willing to believe that RevLeft is a Cult, that we all run around in Red (Army) Choir robes brandishing little plastic busts of Stalin and Hitler while worshipping Comrade Obama himself personally in the White House basement, probably in Russian.

I didn't say they were were very smart or observant people did I? But an awful lot of people make silly judgements based on rumor and hearsay all the time.

Don't be like that with your friends.
They need to live their own life, and if that means making their own mistakes, that too.
Worrying about them because they may or may not have joined a "Cult" ....ooooo scary!.... is pointless.
If you're a friend, be there if and when she needs you.

By the way, the Catholic Church once believed that ANY other religion or even sects within X-anity was a "Cult" . Haha, they are the biggest Cult of all!

Personally, I feel that most religions are Cults. Certainly the Abrahamic ones are in my view.
I would never advise anyone to join a church, any church for the same reasons you have misgivings over a possible "Cult". I'd probably actively advise against it, but worry after they made their choice? No point.

[Tablo]

Cult, Schmult!

Builds Character.

If the cult members, including your friend, are supposedly responsible adults, it's their choice. Would you want them dictating your life? As in: keep away from that RevLeft... It's Satanic!

You'll find no shortage of people willing to believe that RevLeft is a Cult, that we all run around in Red (Army) Choir robes brandishing little plastic busts of Stalin and Hitler while worshipping Comrade Obama himself personally in the White House basement.

I didn't say they were were very smart or observant people did I? But an awful lot of people make silly judgements based on rumor and hearsay all the time.

Don't be like that with your friends.
They need to live their own life, and if that means making their own mistakes, that too.
Worrying about them because hay may or may not have joined a "Cult" ....ooooo scary!.... is pointless.
If you're a friend, be there if and when she needs you.

By the way, the Catholic Church once believed that ANY other religion or even sects within X-anity was a "Cult" . Haha, they are the biggest Cult of all!

Personally, I feel that most religions are Cults. Certainly the Abrahamic ones are in my view.
I would never advise anyone to join a church, any church for the same reasons you have misgivings over a possible "Cult". I'd probably actively advise against it, but worry after they made their choice? No point.
Stfu. If she were just living her life or joined some weird religion, cmoney would shrug it off. He is scared she is joining a cult that will take advantage of her and hurt her. Any good friend would want to protect her from being taken advantage of.

[Pioneers_Violin]

Stfu. If she were just living her life or joined some weird religion, cmoney would shrug it off. He is scared she is joining a cult that will take advantage of her and hurt her. Any good friend would want to protect her from being taken advantage of.

S.T.F.U. yourself.
I can see you managed to copy and paste my post without reading it.

You can't save adults from themselves!

Don't be part of the Nanny State.

How would you propose protectting her? Kidnap? Call the cops on the Evil Cult?

[Tablo]

S.T.F.U. yourself.
I can see you managed to copy and paste my post without reading it.

You can't save adults from themselves!

Don't be part of the Nanny State.
What nanny state? He is trying to help a friend. He isn't trying to enforce views over them, just trying to make sure they are ok. Fuck you.

[Pioneers_Violin]

What nanny state? He is trying to help a friend. He isn't trying to enforce views over them, just trying to make sure they are ok. Fuck you.

It sounds very much like he IS trying to force his views on her, or would very much like to. "all for her own good", of course!

Though it is probably hard for someone of your literary talent to understand, I am not being completely Heartless here.

I am trying to get the point across to cmoney that he has done what he could, which is Advice.
Feeling that his friend is making a serious mistake, he's worried about it. People do that.

There is nothing else he can do. There is no point in him wearing himself out with worry over something he can have no positive effect on.
I have friends like that. Worriers. It's not healthy for themselves or those around them.

Life itself is short, mean and brutal. Evil, bad things happen to nice people all the time. It would be a tragedy if his worst fears are realized here. But what can he do to change it?
She's an adult. Pestering her will probably have an opposite effect and drive her further into this so-called Cult.

Commiserating here won't help her in the slightest, though cmoney might benefit from discussion. I was offering the only differing opinion that tries to lead away from self-destructive worry.

And a very pleasant Fuck You to you too. Enjoy! Really. Life is too short not to.

[The Douche]

Pioneer's Violin, go troll somewhere else.

[khad]

Cult, Schmult!

Builds Character.
Seriously, comments like this aren't helping, and you are understating the pathological nature of cult ideologies. Unlike "normal" religions, which have been adapted to the routines of everyday life, cults typically seek to isolate people from the social environment and can do irreparable harm to a person's psyche.


Don't be part of the Nanny State. I should be, but I'm not surprised by disgustingly neoliberal attitudes towards social responsibility on revleft. I suppose next you want to say that society ought to let crack addicts die because they're "adults who made their choice."

People like you should be on mises.org.

Consider yourself warned.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Sounds like a difficult situation, Cmoney. I wouldn't want any of my friends entering into a bind that they didn't have full understanding of and becoming taken advantage of in the process but as Pioneers_Violin said (although he did come across as a douche in the process) there's very little you can do beyond offering advice that won't come across as domineering.

Is there any chance you can travel up to Salt Lake to visit your friend to see how she's going on? That's the sort of thing that comes across as genuinely supportive rather than overly controlling and therefore won't drive her further away from you. Good luck to you.