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In Reply to: Re: Who are the five? posted by excog on June 03, 2006 at 18:36:38:
Everything you are saying makes perfect sense to me.
In the real world there are ethical considerations about accepting money, and for what purpose. But, in my personal opinion, this cult world is so unreal, sometimes normal ethics may not apply.
I've mentioned often over the years about my involvement with the LGAT known as est, which was at least very cultish if not a cult. Over the last several weeks, I've been writing a detailed account of my experience in this group on the NDN Recovery Forum. When I was asked to write about it, I felt a bit embarassed because as bizzarre as it was, it in no way compares to what people endured in The Family. But, I think that people who have read it understand that it at least gives me a feel for how core values can become compromised when we get sucked into that kind of environment.
I'm not finished yet, but I've been archiving the chapters about this here:
http://resource.newdaynews.com/est/
Looking back on that period of my life, it seems unbelievable to me that I made so many ethical compromises. I certainly have no high moral ground to stand on as far as my past compared to any of yours.
I guess, in a way, that's what makes JLM stick out so much in all of this. Most of us participate in this environment in a spirit of honesty about our pasts. When we aren't honest, we get called on it. It appears as if JLM really does believe he has higher moral ground than other former members of the cult. Based on the way he has behaved, and what people who knew him have said, I just don't see it that way.
One of the things that bugs me the most is that I really do thing that eventually, JLM will make money off all of this. Ethically, would that put him on higher ground than a person who took money from the cult itself?
Sorry for rambling, but as you point out, these issues are complex.
