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by mirimir 2349 days ago
Some do claim that it's a cult. But that's not my experience. Course leaders are generally highly charismatic, but are not typically authoritarian.

There is a heavy emphasis on participants sharing experience with the group, and being coached to see their machinery. But it's a stretch to call that "public shaming and gaslighting".

However, people are sometimes very attached to their interpretations, and it can get very intense. But you can leave, at any time. And if you leave early enough, they'll refund your payment.

Edit: This is representative, based on my experience: https://praxis.fortelabs.co/a-skeptic-goes-to-the-landmark-f...
2 comments
1propionyl 2349 days ago
I don't know anything about this particular case, but superficially what you're describing is not atypical of well-established cults, rather it is typical.

The authoritarianism increases as one moves up levels and more "secrets" are revealed. At the ground floor, it's welcoming and communal, but as you are further inculcated the number of "secrets" or "mysteries" revealed, the amount of potential personal exposure (read: blackmail and/or punishment for treachery) and the amount of authoritarianism rises steeply.

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mirimir 2349 days ago
What you're describing sounds a lot like what I've read about Scientology.

But not at all like what I experienced in Landmark. Seriously, there are no "secrets" or "mysteries". It's all basically laid out in the Forum. The rest is all practice.

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mindgam3 2349 days ago
If by “some” you mean the government of France, then yeah.

Another little known fact: Landmark was based on the IP from Werner Erhard’s Est seminars in the 70s, which in turn incorporated specific techniques from Scientology [1]. Some of these fun Scientology influences still exist in today’s forum trainings.

1. http://www.skepdic.com/est.html

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mirimir 2349 days ago
Of course it's based on est. I first did the Forum just after the name change. And the Six Day was still 100% est.

And yes, Werner did take some stuff from Scientology. But not the bits about ghosts of aliens nuked on Earth, millions of years ago ;)

Scientology is still probably behind many attacks on Landmark. And I wouldn't be surprised if they were part of the mess in France.

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