With regard to the current situation, my "hammer" is logic, so I see the problem as simply as a logical explanation (nail) of reality. Actually the current problem appears to be more of a fantasy/religious problem. If logic were the major force here, they probably wouldn't find themselves in the current situation, so any persuasion may be better provided from the biblical realm.
The things that the Bible addresses, is a "worldview" -- of which very importand and critical "parts" are completely outside of the realm that either logic or science has the ability to address. Science and logic are completely lost here, as to their ability and power.
NOW..., some people seem to think that anything that is outside of the ability of science or logic to address -- is not "really real" in the first place and is only some kind of "mental construct" of imagination and nothing more. And thus, these people say, since it is outside of the ability of science and logic to address, it has no bearing on a "rational person's life"... They would be sorely mistaken in that viewpoint.
The Bible, on the other hand, has made an "express point" of saying that God has not chosen the "way" of the "wisdom of the world" to understand these things. The wisdom of the world would be such things as logic and science and reason. Thus God has said He has chosen to make Himself known outside of the ability of logic and science to even know, address, perceive or be able to "comment on".
As I said, some people think that this mean that "it doesn't exist" if it can't be addressed or commented on by logic and reason and science. God, however, "has revealed it" and not through these means, but by His inerrant, infallible and authoritative Word. This way, He has chosen to bring "logic and science and reason" to a point of no consequence, in addressing what He says is "real".
God has brought mankind's endeavors to a very low status and His revealed Word to the highest status possible.
And the Word of God is clear that before "understanding" -- first comes knowing that God "is". Without that, no understanding comes.
And even then, though, God makes it clear that knowing that "God is" -- is not enough, because we see the following in that people suppress the knowledge of God and God gives them over to their silly and inconsequential ways and supposed "wisdom of the world" ...
Romans Chapter 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Possible Physical Side-Effects of Meditation I am assuming when one spends time doing so as often these groups do encourage volumes of time....so they can do their astro-projection, the danger is that these groups teach that these are “healthy” symptoms of the body ridding itslf of toxins from bad relationships or memories of their past when in fact it is the body resisting the rituals they are putting themselves thru that God never intented the body to do.....:
uncontrollable fatigue, sleeping during the day
insomnia and hypersomnia
withdrawal-like symptoms when stopping or missing meditation
sleep paralysis (often understood as one form of “witnessing sleep”)
night-time hallucinations (hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations, often understood as “visions”)
possibly narcolepsy (See Persinger’s research, referenced here)
eating disorders, including anorexia, binge eating, morbid obesity
stomach and bowel complaints
chronic neck and back pain (especially among “Yogic Flyers”)
chronic headaches
difficulty with the menstrual cycle
involuntary body movements (twitching, spasms, head shaking, etc. in, and out, of meditation)
serious health effects, including death, when TMers turn to Maharishi Ayurveda and ignore traditional medical treatment.
Possible Emotional Side-Effects:
anxiety or fear
obsessive ideas
pathological guilt
dissociation (trancing out, spacing out, staring into space, forgetting what one is doing, losing a space of time, feeling as if one is not real, inability to remember events or periods in one’s life, feeling separate from one’s body or mind)
pseudo-identity (possessing both cult and non-cult personalities, similar to multiple personality disorder)
unusual difficulty remembering names or words, frequently forgetting in mid-sentence what one is saying, being aware that others are speaking but not understanding what they are saying
suicidal ideation, gestures, or successful attempts
“nervous breakdowns” (lay term for depression or other mental illness that results in inability to function normally — or hospitalization)
identity confusion: rapid changes in core beliefs such as spirituality, sexuality, personal interests; inability to settle on a career; unstable interpersonal relations
psychosis (most likely an already-present tendency to this disease is triggered by excessive meditation)
depression
unusual avoidance of difficult people, situations, memories — frequently resorting to meditation or sleep to deal with them
derivative narcissism
delusional thinking
auditory and visual hallucinations
divorce, frequently multiple (frequently attributed to rapid spiritual growth and “outgrowing” one’s partner)
Possible Cognitive Side-Effects:
significant difficulty with memory and/or concentration
incessant jumping from one thought or action to another, constant activity without accomplishing a goal, distractibility
Possible Social Side-Effects:
significantly decreased job or educational performance
difficulty obtaining or maintaining a job, jumping from job to job
relocating frequently, to the detriment of the individual
Possible Spiritual Side-Effects:
conflict with birth religion (Judaism/Christianity/Islam: puja, use of graven images, mantras are names of Hindu gods, yagyas to Hindu deities; Buddhism: conflict with tenets such as anatta or no-self)
spiritual confusion
replacing birth religion with TM/Hinduism or other spiritual practices
INDEED.
WELL PUT.
THX.