Comments on: Identifying the BKWSU as a Cult

By: jase

jase — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:07:48 +0000

Anyone who tries to act saintly and holier than thou must be treated with caution and skepticism!
I have just had an encounter with someone from the BK who I feel is trying to manipulate a friend into subtle coercion and hope the person comes to realisation pretty soon.
I sensed the deception only because of my own experience with such type of cults and saved myself. There have been long term ramifications though.
So thank you for your website. It is quite a revelation!

Jase

By: fred

fred — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:19:24 +0000

are you distresed look at these two web sites
they will help you

http://www.creationists.org/cults-new-revelations.html#enemy
http://www.familysurvivaltrust.org/Cult_information.html

By: Wayne

Wayne — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:38:20 +0000

I stumbled on this web site, after watching Dada Janki on U Tube. And, yes, I was impressed. She seemed to embody an authetic relaxation into the self. Rather than the apparent constant opposites, bangs and clash. Sometimes there seems no end to this, prehaps there lies my gulibilty to beleive she is true. I put forward my own case as example, can be sure! Conflict in my mind and the fixing of it is my central occupation.

Sad to see this site. My blessing to all of You!

By: TS

TS — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:32:10 +0000

good point editor..!

By: editor

editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:44:03 +0000

Yes it is very possible that the damage done to families and individuals through their association with the BKs may have happened somewhere else and at some other time. As it is human nature to believe whatever they need or want to believe it can be a case of “if not this cult then that cult/religion/society/association/whatever. BUT, the fact is that in these cases it did happen at the BKWSU and the BKs did nothing to help – which is contrary to their core promises of peace, love and happiness – putting it politely. Again and again it comes back to duty of care. The BKWSU is responsible to have a reasonable duty of care policy and practise that does look out for the people that come to them. But they deny their share of responsibility in these matters and that is the core of the problem.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:07:27 +0000

What is so difficult to understand about the phrase: “I was… drafted…”?

Granted, I received benefits from my time serving my rich uncle, but it’s the criteria anti-cultists use to define a group as a cult that I was commenting on. If they apply, then they apply, simple and straight-forward. If they don’t apply to certain organizations (Army, etc), then maybe the anti-cultists are in error in applying them to groups they deem are cults. It could be a personal proclivity of the examiner and nothing more.

re: “nor cares 2 cents for any of the families that are torn to pieces”. Family dynamics being what they are, chances are that if the family in question wasn’t “torn to pieces” by the “cult”, then it would have been torn to pieces by some other arrangement of life. The “cult” may just be a convenient scapegoat for their own inadequacies. A person’s destructive tendencies follow a person no matter where he/she goes in life. It’s always easy to blame others for our failures.

I’ve spent my entire life fighting against prejudice and bigotry. I’ve seen it in both camps: religious and secular.

When I ask side “A” a serious and potentially damaging question, they think I belong to side “B”. When I ask the same question to side “B” they think I’m part of side “A”. If by some miracle I convince both sides I’m not a plant for the other side, then they think I’m part of some covert operation of some side “C”. Sort of like a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don’t situation.

Lastly… I knew “Jack Shit”. He was an asshole.

By: another one suckered

another one suckered — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:28:21 +0000

Thomas, were you “taken” or did you sign up for a wage?

There is two big difference between the Army and basically all cults;

• Firstly, you get paid … if you are lucky, they will even throw in a professional or university education and a pension.
• Secondly, what it says on the label you get what … you know what you are in for before you do.

One specific difference between the US Army and the Shiv Shakti Army (BKWSU), is at least in the Army you a day a week off, paid holidays and some R&R. With the BKWSU, its 24/7/365 … and no “love you long time” or the rest of your life!!!

But, my friend, your ‘edukashun’ is kind of incomplete. There are a lot more sides to the debate than “culties” versus “anti-culties” … and one set of excesses do not excuse another.

Equally, there are a number of “cult apologists” who try and put down and discredit ex-members for being ‘apostates’ when, in fact, the apologists know Jack Shit about the religion in question that they are sucking up to, nor cares 2 cents for any of the families that are torn to pieces by these groups. The likes of Eileen Barker rings out as being one of them.

So, take care what tar you are throwing around at the end of that broad brush of yours … it might be someone in your family next.

By: editor

editor — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:35:56 +0000

Yes – the sociologists quest for objectivity rings clearly here. I agree with you. The purpose of this site is to put an argument out into the public domain in order to create a counter point of view to the singularly one sided, subjective position that exists at the moment. Hopefully this will get people to think more for themselves or at least be a little better informed.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:56:25 +0000

Once, when I was very young, I was taken from my home and sent to a place surrounded by high fences and guards. I was forced to have my head shaved, forced to wear the same clothes as all the others in the camp, deprived of sleep, forced to work long 14 hour days, and made to watch indoctrination filmss depicting those who took me away as the only right-and-good way while vilifying all other groups.

I was, of course, drafted into the Army. If this isn’t the definition of a cult, I don’t know what is.

I say this because I’ve spent my entire life looking into various religious groups – some classified as cults, and have read a lot of liturature by anti-cult groups. In addition to this I’ve completed a masters degree in Education where my thesis’ focus was on why we learn what we learn – not on what we learn, but why. The conclusion of my thesis was that we’re all brainwashed from birth to think a certain way – first by our parents and immediate family, then our extended family, then community, then religious leaders, then our country and it’s leaders.

Very few of us ever begin to think for ourselves. Most of us just go along with the herd mentality – doing and saying what we’ve heard others say and do. That, too, is a cult.

So take care how you define a cult. Asking anti-cult groups to define appropriate religion is a little like asking the KKK to define humanity. Their opinion is based on a predisposed point of view.

Just my thoughts.

By: editor

editor — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:00:34 +0000

Yes, as a BK this information is very disturbing. When one puts ones heart and soul into their spiritual life it is a matter of grief to even think that one may have been misled or deceived. This is why typically exBks feel so betrayed and let down. The reality that the organisation that you have committed everything to is a cult is overwhelming.

However, denial is not any kind of protection against reality. Facts are facts and these are different to beliefs that pass as facts to a believer.

Our wish is that the BKWSU management would overcome its own egocentric agendas and just practise openness and transparency. Is it right that so many secrets are kept from the students? For example, why is it not okay to know what happens to the money you put in the donation box?

Is it right that there is no duty of care?