Eric's page on Cults

I was involved in The Way International during 1975-1977. I felt I got something out of it, but was glad I didn't buy in like they wanted me to. It seemed to have a pretty high turn over rate. The miracles they claimed did not seem genuine to me. I've since totally lost track of fellow members. Luckily it was not the total mind control group like moonies or hare krishna and it was a lot cheaper than scientology.

The following entry is by Fred Mitchell, who resents past involvement with Church of Bible Understanding

I didn't know you were in a cult at one time -- or maybe I did. I dimly seem to remember us talking about it at MHN -- can't be sure. I was in a cult for 3 or 4 years, from age 18. Church of Bible Understanding -- you've might have heard about them. They are still around. I should probably do a page on them, except I am not too keen on the whole world knowing I was a member of a cult (even if it was 15 years ago). If it weren't for them I probably would've gone on to college. When I got out I spent the next 3 or 4 years just clearing my head. This was the time I decided to throw out everything I'd learned from age 0 and re-think everything. It was a rough time for me. I suppose it was my "Kolinar" -- the time I chose to base my very being totally on logic and reason, and to reject emotionalism as a reliable guide for anything. Anyway, COBU doesn't have a web page up, but boy there are a lot of references to them all over the place. They try to scare you about not leaving -- that you'll be 7 times worse than when you began, and of course, in those cases where the deserters were NOT seven times worse, they would then try to say that it was hidden in some way... I could probably right a book on the "mind-control" techniques. In COBU's case, at least, "mind-control" is probably the wrong word -- "strong persuasion" would be more accurate. There were several things that "drew" me to COBU, as I sure it was in your case. Their apparent honesty, seeing participants from many cultures and backgrounds involved (which was probably the number one factor that got my attention), and their insistence on sticking strictly to what the Bible had to say, as opposed to some religious doctrine. A combination of all these factors convinced my 18-year-old mind that there were "RIGHT" and "TRUE", because by my own reasoning that is exactly how I imagine a group "on the right path" should be like. Once in, they get you to (in subtle and not so subtle ways) to cast off the reasoning mechanism, replacing it with the "word of God". In COBU's case, they were all convinced (including the leader Stewart Traill) that they were following "God's Will as shown in the Bible". Everything was derived from the Bible, and the Bible was heavily emphasized as the basis for our life. We all read EVERY DAY a chapter from the bible as standard regimen, from both the "old" and "new" testaments, though there was special emphasis on the new. It was very subtle, and the only way I could shake their hold on my mind was to denounce the Bible itself. Now, being older and wiser, I recognize the Bible as being nothing more than just tales of legend, anyway. And being exposed to the Jewish experience (Wife's influence), I see the Bible with even a more jaundiced eye. The Christians literally stole the Jewish teachings and re-interpreted them for their own purposes. Well, its a little more complicated than that, but in short the Bible is not this sacroscant, pure source of Truth that I was told about while growing up. And having the intimate knowledge of the Bible that I have, I see this with clear alacrity. Oh well, I'd better stop ranting so I can get some work done... -Fred

The following is from a former Forever Family leader ( COBU)

Feel free to leave my name as someone other previous members of the COBU can contact in the future. I was one of the first 75 members in the New York Region. If anyone asks, I was in New Brunswick first, Then Hoboken, Scranton, and Reading, Also Atlantic City with Stewart Traill and his family and then New York City where I left for good. I did have some contact with the Way, International in Ewing, NJ back in the early 80's but not much to speak off. Seems like the COBU with bug eyes among the people meeting.....

>-------- REPLY, Original message follows -------- > >Date: Saturday, 05-Apr-97 09:40 PM > >From: Scott Neuman \ Internet: (sneuman@autoboard.com)

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