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In Reply to: Learning and mental illness posted by Observation on May 21, 2004 at 18:16:32:
I agree with what u are saying here. I further believe that Berg and Zerby were well aware of their using people for their own ends, even if they put a grandiose spin to it. I don't think "mental illness" deserves the bad wrap. Manipulation and control have been used by garden variety psychopaths for centuries. Often in the name of God. I believe the repetition is a tactic used to reinforce the control. It was used by Berg and now, even moreso by Zerby. Where Berg used Zerby to feign the role of Devil's advocate, Zerby now channels others to do that and has "Jesus" speaking over stupid shit like Tamar's plagierized "art" and day to day business. Berg used to say "Repetition is the Law of memory"..and repetition, reading lists, fear tactics etc are just all forms of control and manipulation imo. I believe that years of exposure to this crap cannot help but affect mental health. But I don't see the majority of people that join cults as being mentally ill.
The psyche can only stand so much crap before short-circuiting. Some people get out before the damage is too extensive. Some people leave and get help from support groups, qualified professionals, etc.
