-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 >From: brahms7108@aol.com (Brahms7108) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Lifespring >Date: 24 Jun 1995 17:01:50 -0400 >Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) >Lines: 10 >Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com >Message-ID: <3shufu$q05@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >Reply-To: brahms7108@aol.com (Brahms7108) >NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf02.mail.aol.com I have a friend who has gotten involved in a group called Lifespring. The goals seem wholesome - self-empowerment and dealing with ones problems. However, this individual is spending large amounts of time with Lifespring, has paid lots of money for courses, and seems to think of little else than Lifespring. She is now recruiting for them. I would say her devotion is cult-like. In addition there are cult-like behaviours instilled by the group - "This information you are receiving is confidential, not be shared with non-LIfespring people...and on and on". DO any of you have experience with this group? >From: Eric John Allen >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 25 Jun 1995 21:54:28 GMT >Organization: University of California, Los Angeles >Lines: 20 >Message-ID: <3skluk$10pc@saba.info.ucla.edu> >References: <3shufu$q05@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.97.232.82 brahms7108@aol.com (Brahms7108) wrote: > > I have a friend who has gotten involved in a group called Lifespring. > The goals seem wholesome - self-empowerment and dealing with > ones problems. However, this individual is spending large amounts of > time with Lifespring, has paid lots of money for courses, and seems > to think of little else than Lifespring. She is now recruiting for them. > I would say her devotion is cult-like. In addition there are cult-like > behaviours instilled by the group - "This information you are receiving > is confidential, not be shared with non-LIfespring people...and on and > on". DO any of you have experience with this group? > This is highly anecdotal, but a friend of mine's older sister was once involved in Lifespring. It is most likely a cult, since she behaved much in the same way as your friend: mass investment of time and money, as well as recruiting. I'm not quite sure how she left the group, but I know she joined while attending college. Eric John Allen (ERIC@BIOMED.MEDSCH.UCLA.EDU) There is no knowledge that is not power. >From: tbev@earthlink.net >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: Sun, 25 Jun 95 22:14:14 DT >Organization: Earthlink Network, Inc. >Lines: 26 >Message-ID: >References: <3shufu$q05@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: tbev.earthlink.net >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII >X-Newsreader: NEWTNews & Chameleon -- TCP/IP for MS Windows from NetManage > I have a friend who has gotten involved in a group called Lifespring. > The goals seem wholesome - self-empowerment and dealing with > ones problems. However, this individual is spending large amounts of > time with Lifespring, has paid lots of money for courses, and seems > to think of little else than Lifespring. She is now recruiting for them. > I would say her devotion is cult-like. In addition there are cult-like > behaviours instilled by the group - "This information you are receiving > is confidential, not be shared with non-LIfespring people...and on and > on". DO any of you have experience with this group? > I've heard of Lifespring from people who ran a similar (I think) though (no-charge/non-profit) organization called OMEGA based in Phoenix, AZ. My impressions (second hand) were that Lifespring was "too" rigid and somewhat "too" financial, for whatever that's worth. I have no problem with organizations charging money (in fact even lot's of it) for their services but I would think the quality of training should speak for itself in the lives of people OUTSIDE the training center. The Clannishness of many such organizations and the allegedly "proprietary" information that is not to be dispensed or trusted to the masses of the great unwashed is probably a strong sign Lifespring of cultishness. I think I even recall that John Denver had taken Lifespring training or was somehow involved. Again second hand. Regards, >From: carol2180@aol.com (Carol2180) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 27 Jun 1995 15:32:50 -0400 >Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) >Lines: 9 >Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com >Message-ID: <3spmd2$o7u@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >References: >Reply-To: carol2180@aol.com (Carol2180) >NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf02.mail.aol.com John Denver didn't do Lifespring, he did est. Lifespring uses thought reform techniques (mind control) and there have been a lot of people who left, calling their experiences cultic. Contact the Cult Awareness Network for a packet of information of Lifespring...(312) 267-7777. Also, read the book *Cults In Our Midst* by Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, Jossey-Bass Publ., 1995. She talks about large group awareness trainings like est/Forum/Lifespring -- and she defines very clearly what thought reform is -- and how groups like this use Ericksonian hypnosis. >From: annonymous >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 27 Jun 1995 17:36:15 GMT >Organization: Internet Direct, Inc. >Lines: 32 >Message-ID: <3spfif$ltu@stud.Direct.CA> >References: <3shufu$q05@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >Reply-To: Please Do Not >NNTP-Posting-Host: dyn-159.direct.ca In article <3shufu$q05@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, brahms7108@aol.com (Brahms7108) says: You said: >I have a friend who has gotten involved in a group called Lifespring. > >DO any of you have experience with this group? My thoughts and experience; I thought they were dead (TOO BAD). Yes, I survived this group, just barely. Yes, it is a cult. THE BEST YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR FRIEND IS DO NOT JOIN! ! ! People despised me because I never agreed with this group. I joined because of my ex-husband and his mother. I was, to use there terminology (unless it has changed) a 'Silent Resister' and a 'Taker'. Hope this helps. Yes, Yes, Yes. I believe this is a CULT!!!!! This group was first started by an EST owner/leader (whatever) who was charged, convicted? of child molestation. (Werner Eirhert- excuse the spelling). Does TEXAS ring a bell for you? (Maybe thats a poor comparison. Lifespring was very careful not to even mention the bible.) >From: (a survivor) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 28 Jun 1995 16:16:46 GMT >Organization: Internet Direct Inc. >Lines: 27 >Message-ID: <3srv9e$cjl@stud.Direct.CA> >References: <3spmd2$o7u@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: dyn-189.direct.ca In article <3spmd2$o7u@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, carol2180@aol.com (Carol2180) says: > >John Denver didn't do Lifespring, he did est. >Lifespring uses thought reform techniques (mind control) and there have >been a lot of people who left, calling their experiences cultic. Contact >the Cult Awareness Network for a packet of information of >Lifespring...(312) 267-7777. Also, read the book *Cults In Our Midst* by >Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, Jossey-Bass Publ., 1995. She >talks about large group awareness trainings like est/Forum/Lifespring -- >and she defines very clearly what thought reform is -- and how groups like >this use Ericksonian hypnosis. Does it really matter if John Denver did EST? What remains is a group called Lifespring started by a man called John Hanley who was a partner of Werner Ehert who did start EST and who was convicted of child molestation. I'm fairly certain that the techniques used may differ with a similar end result. A cult. (Maybe Cult is too strong for this group. At least it is as you say a group attempting to gain control, through mind control, of a mass of people.) And then are we as a group to excuse this behavior? Lifespring also mixes religion in with it as they like to use the Unitarian Church which has its own bag to contend with. (New Agers). I appreciate your comment about Ericksonain hypnosis. I had my questions about that. >From: tjl9@konichiwa.cc.columbia.edu (Thomas J Lee) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: The anti-anti-cult movement >Date: 29 Jun 1995 03:46:49 GMT >Organization: Columbia University >Lines: 45 >Message-ID: <3st7n9$c4a@apakabar.cc.columbia.edu> >References: <3sru9a$cem@stud.direct.ca> >NNTP-Posting-Host: konichiwa.cc.columbia.edu GM&NI wrote: >plmlp@mail.bris.ac.uk (Martin Poulter) wrote: >> >>.... Unification Church .... > > >My question is this: Is this Church the same as the Unitarian >Church? LIFESPRING uses the Unitarian Church. The Unification Church is short for the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, led by Sun Myung Moon and hence known as the Moonies. Quite a different bunch from the Unitarians. >I will not underestimate the damage that this group is able to >inflict. I also will not minimize what I believe about these types >of people who call themselves leaders, trainers, or whatever. Which group? I haven't heard much that's bad about the Unitarians. Just because Lifespring uses their teachings, that doesn't make the Unitarians bad. They could be doing it without the knowledge or approval of the Unitarian Church. I've heard both good things and bad things about Lifespring. One friend went through all the seminars, had a good experience, and was done with it. On the other hand, some friends told me about someone they knew who gave all her money to Lifespring and felt extremely pressured to come back for more and more seminars. It ruined her life. Now these seminars were in different cities, so it could be that the local organizations ran them differently. It could also be that different people react to the seminars differently. Lastly, it could be that the first person I mentioned never ran out of money or otherwise tried to stop taking the seminars until they were over. When it was over, though, he didn't seem to feel any pressure to go into teaching them or anything. Take care, | The opinions in this post are my Tom Lee (tjl9@columbia.edu) | own and do not reflect the official Audiovisual and Computer Lab Support | opinions of Columbia University, if Columbia University Law Library | indeed it has any. "Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor." -- James Baldwin >Message-ID: <030309Z30061995@anon.penet.fi> >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >From: an279809@anon.penet.fi (Scientology is both immoral and socially abnoxious - High Court 1984.) >X-Anonymously-To: alt.support.ex-cult >Organization: Anonymous forwarding service >Reply-To: an279809@anon.penet.fi >Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 02:57:35 UTC >Subject: Lifespring >Lines: 31 This was started by John Hanley in the early seventies. He used to work for MIND DYNAMICS (MD) in California before it collapsed admist a California state investigation into MD and several lawsuits against the group. Lifespring is a therapy cult that has a basis in MD and is very similar to Lifestream, Est/Landmark Education, PSI World, PSI Mind Development Institute Ltd, and several other notorious groups. It normally offers a course billed as a self improvement course over three or four days costing several hundred US dollars. Participants leave on a high singing the praises and usually describing it as a most wonderful experience. This however is the result of a highly sophisticated and very intense programming of the victim. Techniques include: Food and sleep deprivation Hypnosis disguised as meditation or relaxation A restriction of bathroom breaks And many others...you can't even speak to the people next to you. The average victim of this sort of course will not only be on a high but will be unable to critically evaluate the course, the group, the leader's questionable background, or any other information that might be deemed by the group to be 'negative'. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To find out more about the anon service, send mail to help@anon.penet.fi. If you reply to this message, your message WILL be *automatically* anonymized and you are allocated an anon id. Read the help file to prevent this. Please report any problems, inappropriate use etc. to admin@anon.penet.fi. >From: GM&NI >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 10 Jul 1995 15:58:06 GMT >Organization: Internet Direct, Inc. >Lines: 20 >Message-ID: <3trime$bh8@stud.Direct.CA> >References: <3srv9e$cjl@stud.Direct.CA> <3tpnhp$d8j@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: dyn-199.direct.ca carol2180@aol.com (Carol2180) wrote: > > The techniques are similar. However I offered the c orrections because > it's important that we not over generalize or not correct false > information (NOT lies). I don't call these groups a cult and neither does > Margaret Singer. However, that doesn't mean they can be destructive to > the individual, the family and society at large. Thankyou for clarification. I new that this group was in part a sprout of EST, ( John Hanleys Brain Child) but did not know where the similarities started and ended. I know however, that Werner Erhart (sp?) was charged with Child Molestation. A charge of this nature in this day is in itself a minor miracle. Who-ever would defend this type of group over and over must have made a good living from them? >From: RUTHJ@news.delphi.com (RUTHJ@DELPHI.COM) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 20 Jul 1995 00:42:13 -0400 >Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation >Lines: 41 >Message-ID: <3ukmr5$eg4@news2.delphi.com> >References: <3srv9e$cjl@stud.Direct.CA> <3tpnhp$d8j@newsbf02.news.aol.com> <3trime$bh8@stud.Direct.CA> <3udrkj$nfr@kaiwan009.kaiwan.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: news2.delphi.com tommyc@kaiwan009.kaiwan.com (Tom Collins) writes: >As I have said before in this newsgroup, there is no connection between >Lifespring and est. There is no formal connection, though Werner Erhardt and John Hanley both used to work for Holiday Magic, a cosmetics sales company, and an affiliated company, Mind Dynamics. In 1988, Charles J. Ingrasci was Director of Corporate Affairs for Lifespring. According to an associate of mine, Mr. Ingrasci has also worked for The Hunger Project, an est affiliated organization. Again, no formal association, but I'm sure some "cross-pollination" has occurred, as happens when people move from company to company within any industry. > I don't know who John Hanley is, He's the founder of Lifespring. I've done the trainings, so I'm positive about this point. I've also just learned that his son is now conducting trainings. > but the person who >is associated wtih Lifespring and who founded it and promotes it is >John-Roger aka John-Roger Hinkins. John-Roger is the founder of Insight and M.S.I.A. I have been told that J-R used to be a Lifespring trainer and/or that other former Lifespring trainers and staff are now working for Insight and M.S.I.A. I have no original source material to confirm or deny any Lifespring-Insight connection. Can anyone provide some? - -- Jon Ruth [ ruthj@delphi.com ] ** "I think men are most afraid of being ... in direct communication with the world at large. They fear reprisals, the most profound of which is that they `won't be understood.' Yet every time God's children have thrown away fear in pursuit of honesty -- trying to communicate themselves, understood or not -- miracles have happened." - Duke Ellington ** >From: _ ( ) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: John Hanley - John >Date: 25 Jul 1995 18:43:52 GMT >Organization: Booz-Allen & Hamilton >Lines: 23 >Message-ID: <_-2507951442590001@netb22.bah.com> >References: <3udvvb$76h@stud.Direct.CA> >NNTP-Posting-Host: netb22.bah.com A bit of clarification here - The person who founded and, to my knowledge, still runs Lifespring, is John Hanley. Hanley is, I believe, a graduate of est and/or some other Ernhardt class. There are tons of fun facts about Mr. Hanley, and his personal relationship with the judicial system - try a NEXIS search on Hanley or Lifespring. John-Roger, according to MacWilliams, borrowed/modified/adopted much of the Lifespring stuff for his own group. Many of the ideas found in Life 101 can also be found in the Lifespring Basic course. In article , drogers@primenet.com (David D. Rogers) wrote: > In article <3udvvb$76h@stud.Direct.CA>, None wrote: > > :. . . "As I have said before in this newsgroup, there is no connection > :between Lifespring and est. I don't know who John Hanley is, but the > :person who is associated wtih Lifespring and who founded > :it and promotes it is John-Roger aka John-Roger Hinkins." > : >From: anima@io.com (Anima) >Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >Subject: Re: Lifespring >Date: 24 Jul 1995 03:38:58 -0500 >Organization: Illuminati Online >Lines: 28 >Message-ID: >References: <3srv9e$cjl@stud.Direct.CA> <3tpnhp$d8j@newsbf02.news.aol.com> <3trime$bh8@stud.Direct.CA> <3udrkj$nfr@kaiwan009.kaiwan.com> <3umn48$i7@nnrp2.primenet.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: pentagon.io.com drogers@primenet.com (David Dobbs Rogers) writes: >Tom Collins (tommyc@kaiwan009.kaiwan.com) wrote: >: As I have said before in this newsgroup, there is no connection between >: Lifespring and est. I don't know who John Hanley is, but the person who >: is associated wtih Lifespring and who founded it and promotes it is >: John-Roger aka John-Roger Hinkins. >That's not quite right. John-Roger Hinkins is associated with Insight >Transformational Seminars, a offshoot of est, and Insight is associated >with John-Roger's Movement of Inner Spiritual Awareness (MSIA, or >"Messiah"). I can't think of the name of the former Lifespring trainer >that developed it for John-Roger (I named him in an earlier post). One >former MSIA initiate said that J-R (as he is affectionately known) called >Insight such things as "est with a heart," and "my money machine," >according to professor David Lane at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, >CA, and (I believe) the Washingon (D.C.) City Paper, in that order. Mebbe so, but J-R was holding regular meetings in the Bay Area in the late 60s, long before est got started. - -- anima@io.com When making public policy decisions about new technologies for the Government, I think one should ask oneself which technologies would best strengthen the hand of a police state. Then, do not allow the Government to deploy those technologies. --Philip Zimmermann -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use iQA/AwUBOrOYtTL5APkWv2amEQLQ9wCfXIgrkgCjT4FRlYeJkuJO3+WjHwoAoKn7 DMpEdUORwhnhgbfIIaBaBk4s =9iVc -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----