Landmark Education Program

Hi,
I could use some help.
I am wondering if anyone here has any experience or information regarding the Landmark Education Program or EST as it was formerly called, or "the Forum".

My boyfriend went to this 3 day seminar years ago with his ex. He didn't get sucked in (as far as I know, but I'm learning all sorts of new things it seems these days) but sometimes he uses phrases that they use and some psychobabble crap. Well, I suffer from manic depression and he has known this for the 5 years we've been together. Just last night, when I was talking to him about changing my medication, he blurted out that I should go to this Landmark Education Forum thing. And I asked him what it was about, he couldn't describe it to me. He just said it was like Fight Club. For no reason other than the fact that I'm extremely stubborn, I told him that I'm not interested in standing in front of a bunch of strangers and telling them my deepest darkest secrets (lol although I have no problem doing that here!) Anyway, he got mad that I didn't want to go after he even offered to pay for it for me. He said it could "change my way of thinking and in turn change my life for the better".

So, just to be fair and open minded, I looked it up on the internet today. I figure maybe it can't hurt. Well, come to find out it is apparently a cult. Some self-help crap that gets extremely expensive and kind of creepy. I read a lot of different articles, all that I could find on google anyway from 8 am til now. I read what they say about their own program and what others say and what doctors and clergy say. The only conclusion I can come to is that its a cult.

I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with this particular group.

 

Doesn't anyone ever come to this part of the forums.

 

landmark education is one of the good cults... stop thinking, give them all your money and do whatever they tell you to do

 

HA! well, I guess a smartass response is better than none at all. I just wasn't sure if it was a cult at all. You know how some people just start raving like a lunatic. LOL.

 

Stay away from it...

 

It's widely considered a cult.Perhaps not the most harmful one ever,but they will try to suck every dollar they can out of you,and if you start participating and change your mind,they will pester you with phone calls until the end of time.If you think you could use some therapy,find somebody with a good reputation that you can relate to.
"Talk therapy" along with medication is supposed to be better in a lot of cases than medication alone.
I was involved in EST almost 30 years ago,and not for very long.From what I gather about Landmark,it's a sort of EST-Lite.I can't paint it as all bad.It's a pastiche of self-help therapies,and at the time I was into it,I liked it.There's just some creepy elements to it,and the idea of charging big bucks and people getting rich from it is one of them.
If you've read ex-members' critical accounts of it online,I'd believe what they say.

 

dave is right, it can be dangerous... best to try dianetics

 

Dianetics (a front for Scientology) is worse.Way worse.

 

that's not true, scientology is saving earth from the theton invasion

 

LOL, thanks guys. I kind of figured it was cultish as soon as boyfriend said it was like $300. My only problem is believing in myself and he thought that would help me out. I have a lot of issues from my childhood and my dad (which I am seeing a therapist for), but supposedly this Landmark Educational Forum thing is supposed to help you get past your past. And that is what my boyfriend thinks I need. Honestly I think I might need another boyfriend, but that is a different topic entirely. Thanks again. And I think I'll stay away from Scientology too.

 

Stop acting like you know what your talking about. It's just stupid.

 

Do you even know what Scientology is? Don't let some stupid remarks deter your from something that may very well change your life.

 

Yeah,like George Bush saved Louisiana from the North Vietnamese invasion.Except the North Vietnamese actually existed.

 

Do you write your own material? What's funny is I've read all the rumors and the slander and that thing about "thetons" invading isn't even a rumor. A Thetan, is your spirit coming from the greek word Theta.

 

The thetans invading thing is a reference to "body thetans." Re-read the Xenu story--it's the secret OT lll level in the church you think is so cool.

 

I'll pass. OT 3 is something you must work for. Besides I'm sure that website distorts the OT 3, just like everything else.

 

Ok guys, ummm this was my thread right. Take it to PM if you aren't going to give me constructive info regarding my topic. Thanks!

 

I just finished the third day of my Landmark Forum and I recommend it to anyone who is intrested in the possibility of having the life you want for yourself. It is about personal transformation and living your life authentically. It is not a cult. Cults have only one leader and Landmark Education has over fifty leaders. While it is expensive, ($475) there are business and sales seminars that go for $5,000 and more. Over 2 million people have attended the Landmark Forum. Anyone who is interested should at least go to the free introduction. It is offered all over the world. If you can manage the tuition, why not spend three days in exchange for the rest of your life?

It's funny that your boyfriend compared Landmark to Fight Club because the movie Fight Club actually began as a project in a Landmark Education course. The artist, Alex Grey also attributes much of his success to Landmark. (alexgrey.com).

I would strongly consider all of these opinions and then check it out for yourself.

I wish you the best.

Damn, I just noticed that this thread is from 2005! ha!

 

Lol to you joe

 

That is ok, I still come back and check on most of my old threads. Thanks for the advice, but I really don't think it is for me. Too cult like. I have 2 friends who went to it, and like I said my boyfriend knows a little bit about it as he went to a seminar once.

And yes, I knew it was like fight club, we are from Delaware, that is where fight club was said to have started. Wilmington-A Place to be Somebody (who gets mugged).

But the fact that it has more than one leader doesn't mean it isn't still cult like. I don't think it is intended to be a cult like some others, however, anything that wants to modify the way I think, kinda gives me the creeps. I don't even like the Bible. And the fact that they FORCE you to call people and get them to join as well, is creepy too. But for the record, in the beginning it did have just one leader, Werner Erhard.