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You were saying ...

This is being posted on the behalf of a fellow FReeper who has a family member deeply involved in this. If anyone has any personal experience with these cults and has any insight on how to deal with them, it would be appreciated if you could share your knowledge.

Ummmm..., a call for a bit of clarification here ... :-)

First, "deeply involved in this" ... exactly what is "this" ... (maybe it's obvious to some, but not exactly obvious to me... so I'm asking).

And then, secondly, you ask if anyone has had any "personal experience with these cults" -- again exactly what cult are we talking about here?

For example, if you're talking about the "New Agers" -- that would be typically a "worldview" and not so much a "cult". There may be a cult that has the "worldview" of "New Agers" but "New Agers", strictly speaking, are not necessarily a cult.

But, if someone is directly involved in Raelian Movement, then they would be directly involved in a cult. BUT, if someone simply "thought like the Raelians" but were not directly involved with them -- then they are typically exhibiting a "worldview" that matches the Raelians, but they are not "in a cult".

So, what you're asking needs to be "pinned down" more, with more of an explanation here...

Sorry for the confusion but the cult is listed in the title of the article “UFO Cults are Flourishing...”. And being deeply involved in, also meant to be being heavily persuaded/influenced. I’ve never been involved in a cult but have read ‘some’ and could use a ‘Jim Jones’ as an example or even ‘The Heaven’s gate’ situation to show the damage they can do to a belief system. Hope that clarifies the intent. Thanks.

I disagree that New agers are involved in anything less than a cult...the history of new agers goes back to Alexander the Great until Christianity stomped it out....they ALL are based on paganism practices.

Some like to believe, because practicing todays new age means you can pick from a pot of many eastern beliefs to fit your own idea, that it's somehow acceptable or not New Age, However their basic principles and practices remain the same...and they do lead people away from Christ in time.

The title mentions “Ufo New Age” which these are definately cult. Similar to the Heaven's Gate group. Believing humans have taken the form of aliens etc. The Ralien movement is one of many from Pledians to Starseeds...etc.etc. The galactic federation etc. They also wrap themselves in many of the government conspiracy issues.

The dangers are the transcendental meditations and the strong arm of internet “teachers” who spoonfed this junk...