Anyone heard of 'Landmark Education'? aka: Landmark Forum. Cult?

[merwin]

There seems to be some controversy over whether or not they are a cult...

Here's some history behind it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmark_Forum

Basically, my wife has attended their 3 day 'landmark forum'. It's 9am to 12am (yes, midnight) for 3 days... with 2 half hour breaks and 1 meal (that you have to spend discussing things).

Anyways, should I be worried?

[pinniped]

1. I think it's a cult.

My friend went to a few of those things. I did some reading about them and they sound like a cult to me. I think they try to break you down and make you rely on them for support and $$.

Try this site:

http://www.rickross.com/groups/landmark.html

[merwin]

3. The first couple days she was weirded out by it.

Today, though, she seemed to be enjoying it...

[frylock]

2. my old roommate got involved with them..

he tried to get me to go, just as your wife will when they do their followup on Wednesday. I had done some research, and graciously declined his offer. IMHO, they are very cultish. They are HUGE on recruitment, and your wife will be encouraged (pressured) to recruit her friends. They are sort of the poor man's Scientologists, but it ain't cheap.

[merwin]

4. She's already asked me to attend, along with her parents.

[frylock]

8. you may want to read some of the articles and testimonials..

in the link provided by pinniped. It may not effect everyone in the same manner, but it didn't help my friend out at all. There was a definite change in him, but it wasn't for the good. Mind you, this dude had (has) a lot of issues anyway, but still...

[merwin]

11. My wife went in without really any major issues. Her boss makes all of

the new employees in the company take the Landmark Forum. I guess she used to work for them at one point.

[R. A. Fuqua]

5. in grad school

a guy tried to get me to join--I declined.

I read a great book on the founder--can't think of the name off hand--try to find it--it tells all the dirt on the organization etc.

It is basically a pyramid scheme type of money-making organization.

[Cassandra]

6. Yes and no

I did the Forum when it was still owned by Werner Erhard. It's not a cult in that there is no one to worship. They do, however, attract people who want to be in a cult. Those feelings are discouraged. They are heavy on recruitment because it is a large organization with many locations and they want to keep it running. When I got overly involved, they told me to go away and do more of my life before coming back. When I left for good, they were perfectly pleasant about it and wished me well. I learned quite a bit which I still find valuable but I found, as an organization, they were not for me. I can't speak for any course beyond the Forum because I don't know what changes have occurred since it became Landmark.
Did your wife enjoy the experience?

[merwin]

7. Not sure yet. The last night is tonight and she hasn't come home yet.

It seems to me more of a pyramid scheme than a religion/cult to me. While they may teach useful ideas, I don't quite agree with their methodology or recruitment tactics.

[Cassandra]

9. There aren't any signing bonuses for the participants.

If someone wants you to take the course it's because they see some value in it for you. Basically, the Forum leader(s) show you how you've made assumptions and decisions about yourself that may be holding you back or restricting your options. Perhaps you think you're the kind of person who never does X or always thinks Y. You might find out in the Forum that you've made up those "truths" about yourself and when you see that you made it up you are free to make up something more effective. That really is what it is but experiencing it is very different than just reading about it. One of my Forum leaders used to say that the course came with a shit back guarantee; you could always get your shit back if you wanted it.

[merwin]

12. The big thing I'm worried about is that she's going to pressure me to go

to the Tuesday night meeting. That's something I'm REALLY looking forward to :-)

[Cassandra]

15. I guarantee she's going to ask you.

Ask her to tell you what she thinks you would get out of it and why. BTW, going to Tuesday night doesn't sign you up; their enrollment percentages aren't THAT high. You can feel free to go, listen and if you don't hear anything for yourself, don't sign up. Just to let you know, after the initial presentation, there will be another presentation in a smaller room without your wife there (she'll be finishing up her course). Ask all the questions you want, even if you think you're being rude. I thought the woman who led my small group was a jerk and too good to be true (and have since told her that) but I signed up anyway because my best friend thought there would be something useful for me in it. Remember, it's your decision, either way.

[AntiCoup2K4]

10. Just my opinion, but.....

Had some friends who got involved with "The Forum", and it changed them, but not for the better. Cult-like is exactly the word I would use to describe it. Everything was "Forum" this and "Forum" that, and it was costing them ridiculous amounts of money. I went to a couple of meetings, but once I made it obvious that I didn't have the cash to buy in, the "leaders" quickly lost interest in me. I consider myself open-minded about people following whatever religion and/or philosophies they like as long as they aren't hurting anyone, but this one just reeked of a scam, as far as I'm concerned.

[Cassandra]

13. One could also consider...

"The Legend of Zelda" cult-like in that it is rather addictive and it takes a while before you are not obsessing about it. Everything exciting and new has that feeling of wanting to talk about it all the time to everyone.
Some people do only the one course and it's enough. Other people substitute taking courses for living and take way too many. Werner referred to it as neither a religion nor a philosophy but rather a technology.
Admittedly, it's also a business and they can't afford to be charitable about it. There are a great many things in life that you can't have without the money to pay for them. Unfortunate but true.

[merwin]

14. True. I do know many members of the Cult of Zelda...

most of whom have spent upwards of $1000 on it :-)

[Cassandra]

16. Well, I wasn't quite that obsessed.

:-)