More on Chris Hitchens and cults
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My follow-up letter Re: More on Chris Hitchens and cults -- Jim over here Top of thread Archive Posted by: Jim over here ® 04/18/2004, 05:32:08 Hi again,   I just sent you a letter regarding the Maharaji cult's mention of Chris Hitchens as an enemy of truth (in reference to his article about Ralph Nader).   I thought there was something a little funny about the section I quoted you.  Didn't they actually name Hitchens on their website?  I could have sworn they did. Well, it turns out they did.  This is the original page on their website which I saved when it first came online:   Search   Contact us Home i. Hate group harasses EV and Maharaji's students Why do people become part of a hate group? Why do people become part of a hate group? Sociologists and mental health experts have speculated about the reasons for Internet-based hate. Understanding the motives that lead obsessive hate-mongering is difficult. Historically, most voices for peace have been targets of violent reactions. Gandhi and Martin Luther King were assassinated. Even Mother Teresa was attacked by British journalist Christopher Hitchens as a "self-serving egotist" engaged in money laundering. Elan Vital supports free speech and welcomes constructive criticism. Knowledge was given freely to these people. Everyone is entitled to change his or her mind, and those who don't like Maharaji's message are encouraged to move on—without recrimination or ill feeling. However, when people employ any means, including unethical and unlawful activities to achieve hateful ends, it suggests a degree of anti-social behaviour that goes well beyond the acceptable boundaries of protected speech. A number of these opponents, who have posted thousands of pages of criticism about Maharaji on the Internet, exhibit behaviour that psychologists diagnose as obsessive/compulsive disorder. See Time To Log Off: New Diagnostic Criteria For Problematic Internet Use, Dawn Heron, MD, University of Florida, Gainesville, published in Current Psychology, April 2003, at (identifying incessant posting in chat rooms as emotional disorder). See also a sociological study of self-described "anti-cult" crusaders abusing the Internet. Email Print Related Articles Are the people in this hate group credible? Of the 15-20 people posting as various anonymous personae on the hate site, it has been documented that: One has been hospitalised for hallucinatory paranoia. One has acknowledged suffering from multiple personality disorder. One... Who are the people who form this hate group? Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people have been shown the techniques of Knowledge. Some people found it was not for them and moved on. Sadly, not all people are able to take responsibility for their own life choices. A few years ago, a... About the John Macgregor situation Copies of the Elan Vital press release providing an overview of the case, as well as PDFs of court documents are available on this site in the John Macgregor section     Home | Elan Vital | Maharaji | Knowledge FAQ | Materials | Events | Terms & Conditions       Now, though, they've replaced Hitchens' name with the words "British journalist".   All the same effect, of course.   Really, if there was any way you could get a copy of this to Chris, I'd love to discuss this with him.  I'm a criminal lawyer living in Canada who, as I said, was once a member of this cult.    Again, I can be reached either at this email address or by phone at (250) 360-1040.   Thanks again,   Jim Heller | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original Top of thread Previous | Next | Current page That's interesting, Jim, and good catch... Re: My follow-up letter -- Jim over here Top of thread Archive Posted by: Cynthia ® 04/18/2004, 22:09:14 Jim, I guess that EV doesn't want to answer to a "real journalist" so they removed Chris Hitchens name from the FAQs!  Of course, John M. isn't a real journalist -- EV's already explained all that on their FAQs.  But, PWKs don't at all mind conducting smear campaigns against vocal cult defectors.  That brings me back to the Media Section of the FAQs where it's stated that Rawat will "grant" interviews to those sincerely interested in his message!  How interesting and telling!  Cowards!  Or should I say:  Rawat is a coward!  Can you imagine an expose about Rawat by Hitchens in a publication such as Vanity Fair??? Cynth | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original Top of thread Previous |   | Current page I subscribe to Vanity Fair, great letter Re: More on Chris Hitchens and cults -- Jim over here Top of thread Archive Posted by: Susan ® 04/18/2004, 06:03:19 I will look forward to reading it. Great posts lately too. | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original Top of thread Previous | Next | Current page Starting to get pissed off... Re: More on Chris Hitchens and cults -- Jim over here Top of thread Archive Posted by: koeeaddi ® 04/18/2004, 10:31:25 Comparing Prem to MLK or Gandhi is really getting me pissed off. What has Prem done to merit this comparison?  He has never done anything except run his mouth. He has never stood for anything or stood up for anything. He has never challenged the status quo or taken a risk. Could you imagine Prem spending a night in jail for anything other than a DUI? Dr King and Gandhi opposed the status quo; they took a stance that threatened ideologies and institutions. That's why they faced opposition. Prem's only opposition comes from his former followers! Very curious! Prem telling world leaders that they need inner peace has all the force of Bill and Ted telling them to "mellow out, dudes." Could you imagine him saying "It's not OK to kill Iraqi citizens, irrespective of your political goals; maybe violence is the evil." Jeez - even the Pope has spoken out about the US invasion of Iraq. But that might cost him some dough by generating controversy. His self-knowledge is above all that! The world's all an illusion - there's no personal responsibility, no relationship, no relevant activity other than "appreciating the Master." Prem's inane, narcissistic, "enjoying life" philosophy as the answer to the world's problems is repulsive and sick. It is debilitating on every level - emotional, spiritual, psychological, to any of his followers who take it seriously. Sorry for the rant, but this really has me pissed off. The only positive side of it is that any person other than a cult member will think "Why is this schmoe comparing himself to Gandhi and King?" Modified by koeeaddi at Sun, Apr 18, 2004, 10:33:50 | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original Top of thread Previous | Next | Current page Re: Starting to get pissed off... Re: Starting to get pissed off... -- koeeaddi Top of thread Archive Posted by: Marianne ® 04/18/2004, 12:03:18 Hi koeeaddi. So you don't think that Rawat and Gandhi and Dr. King belong in the same category? Me either. Why do you think EV has chosen to make such a comparison? And what do you think about the Australian EV FAQ's which have recently been made public? Marianne | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original Top of thread Previous | Next | Current page Re: Starting to get pissed off... Re: Starting to get pissed off... -- koeeaddi Top of thread Archive Posted by: Bima ® 04/18/2004, 12:14:19 Don't let it get to you bro it's just a completely ludicrous statement that has no validity with anyone anywhere except the indoctrinated fools that keep him on there pedistal and do the drwaback every time he farts. He would be more suited to be in the company of Bill and Ben Fower Pot Men, or maybe the Simpsons although that would be an insult to Homer too although I could see him as Mr Burns if he lost some lard ! Modified by Bima at Sun, Apr 18, 2004, 12:17:23 | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original Top of thread Previous |   | Current page