Guest guest Posted April 24, 2008 Report Share Posted April 24, 2008 Michael Travesser says he's the Messiah and that God has told him the world will end with an apocalyptic event at midnight on 31 October 2007. As leader of a cult in a remote corner of New Mexico called Strong City, this 66-year-old former sailor, previously called Wayne Bent, has spent nearly 20 years preparing his 56 unquestioning and devoted followers for Doomsday. They say they are all preparing for death, to go to a better place. In this Channel 4 programme, filmmaker Ben Anthony goes into the heart of the cult to discover how Michael exerts his influence. He hears teenage girls talking about desiring sex with their leader, discovers that this sexual activity extended to Travesser's own daughter-in-law, and meets parents who have left the cult and are desperately trying to prise their children from his grip. Strong City has come to the attention of the FBI, who are keeping a watchful eye on the group. Our world did not come to an end on 31 October 2007 – but did theirs? ====================================================== Nope........their " world " did not come to an end. They all traipsed back to the compound and eagerly awaited their leader's next prophecy. So.....what does that show us? Many still think that Mother Teresa should be canonized? Many flaunt the cheap watches that Sai Baba manifested for them out of thin air. Many that were molested by priests cried at the feet of the new pope (who sought to cover up the scandal) when they were granted an audience. Many drank koolaid in that beautiful African forest. Many beautiful babies were turned to ashes in Waco. Many still wait for the cargo planes to arrive with their bounty. So: Should we make fun of them and their beliefs? Should we see them as pitiful little creatures so eager to make sense of their lonely little lives that they fall under to spell of a charismatic manipulator? Or should their behavior be an insight into the true nature of our own mind. Conceptual mind is the same phenomena no matter who it infests. If we fall into the trap of thinking that we are somehow better or smarter than they are........we become machinery.....kicking the machinery. If we, however, can see how futile and painful their attempts are....perhaps we can get a glimpse into the mechanism of mind and break the seeker's somnambulism. toombaru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 In a message dated 4/24/2008 10:48:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, lastrain writes: Michael Travesser says he's the Messiah and that God has told him the world willend withan apocalyptic event at midnight on 31 October 2007. As leader of a cult in aremotecorner of New Mexico called Strong City, this 66-year-old former sailor,previously calledWayne Bent, has spent nearly 20 years preparing his 56 unquestioning and devotedfollowers for Doomsday. They say they are all preparing for death, to go to abetter place.In this Channel 4 programme, filmmaker Ben Anthony goes into the heart of thecult todiscover how Michael exerts his influence. He hears teenage girls talking aboutdesiringsex with their leader, discovers that this sexual activity extended toTravesser's owndaughter-in-law, and meets parents who have left the cult and are desperatelytrying toprise their children from his grip. Strong City has come to the attention of theFBI, who arekeeping a watchful eye on the group.Our world did not come to an end on 31 October 2007 – but did theirs?======================================================Nope........their "world" did not come to an end.They all traipsed back to the compound and eagerly awaited their leader's nextprophecy.So.....what does that show us?Many still think that Mother Teresa should be canonized?Many flaunt the cheap watches that Sai Baba manifested for them out of thin air.Many that were molested by priests cried at the feet of the new pope (who soughtto coverup the scandal) when they were granted an audience.Many drank koolaid in that beautiful African forest.Many beautiful babies were turned to ashes in Waco.Many still wait for the cargo planes to arrive with their bounty.So:Should we make fun of them and their beliefs?Should we see them as pitiful little creatures so eager to make sense of theirlonely littlelives that they fall under to spell of a charismatic manipulator?Or should their behavior be an insight into the true nature of our own mind.Conceptual mind is the same phenomena no matter who it infests.If we fall into the trap of thinking that we are somehow better or smarter thantheyare........we become machinery.....kicking the machinery.If we, however, can see how futile and painful their attempts are....perhapswe can geta glimpse into the mechanism of mind and break the seeker's somnambulism.toombaru Yes, the mirror of life is useful for many reasons, not the least of which is being able to notice the pit covered over with brush. Once it is seen clearly, then there is no need to fall into it ourselves. Walking around the pit is both more expedient and less painful that trying to crawl out of one. This is why ego has always been watched closely with fascination at its inventiveness. As I walk the forest path, others will show me where the dangers lie as I approach; as I begin to align with what has befallen them. There need be no judgment for these demonstrations, there is only gratitude. It is seen that there, but for the grace of God, go I. Phil Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Nisargadatta , " toombaru2006 " <lastrain wrote: > > > Michael Travesser says he's the Messiah and that God has told him the world will > end with > an apocalyptic event at midnight on 31 October 2007. As leader of a cult in a > remote > corner of New Mexico called Strong City, this 66-year-old former sailor, > previously called > Wayne Bent, has spent nearly 20 years preparing his 56 unquestioning and devoted > followers for Doomsday. They say they are all preparing for death, to go to a > better place. > > In this Channel 4 programme, filmmaker Ben Anthony goes into the heart of the > cult to > discover how Michael exerts his influence. He hears teenage girls talking about > desiring > sex with their leader, discovers that this sexual activity extended to > Travesser's own > daughter-in-law, and meets parents who have left the cult and are desperately > trying to > prise their children from his grip. Strong City has come to the attention of the > FBI, who are > keeping a watchful eye on the group. > > Our world did not come to an end on 31 October 2007 – but did theirs? > > ====================================================== > > > Nope........their " world " did not come to an end. > > They all traipsed back to the compound and eagerly awaited their leader's next > prophecy. > > So.....what does that show us? > > Many still think that Mother Teresa should be canonized? > > Many flaunt the cheap watches that Sai Baba manifested for them out of thin air. > > Many that were molested by priests cried at the feet of the new pope (who sought > to cover > up the scandal) when they were granted an audience. > > Many drank koolaid in that beautiful African forest. > > Many beautiful babies were turned to ashes in Waco. > > Many still wait for the cargo planes to arrive with their bounty. > > So: > > Should we make fun of them and their beliefs? > > Should we see them as pitiful little creatures so eager to make sense of their > lonely little > lives that they fall under to spell of a charismatic manipulator? > > Or should their behavior be an insight into the true nature of our own mind. > > Conceptual mind is the same phenomena no matter who it infests. > > If we fall into the trap of thinking that we are somehow better or smarter than > they > are........we become machinery.....kicking the machinery. > > > If we, however, can see how futile and painful their attempts are....perhaps > we can get > a glimpse into the mechanism of mind and break the seeker's somnambulism. toombaru just " kick " them out.....that's all.... Marc > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Nisargadatta , " toombaru2006 " <lastrain wrote: > > > Michael Travesser says he's the Messiah and that God has told him the world will > end with > an apocalyptic event at midnight on 31 October 2007. As leader of a cult in a > remote > corner of New Mexico called Strong City, this 66-year-old former sailor, > previously called > Wayne Bent, has spent nearly 20 years preparing his 56 unquestioning and devoted > followers for Doomsday. They say they are all preparing for death, to go to a > better place. > > In this Channel 4 programme, filmmaker Ben Anthony goes into the heart of the > cult to > discover how Michael exerts his influence. He hears teenage girls talking about > desiring > sex with their leader, discovers that this sexual activity extended to > Travesser's own > daughter-in-law, and meets parents who have left the cult and are desperately > trying to > prise their children from his grip. Strong City has come to the attention of the > FBI, who are > keeping a watchful eye on the group. > > Our world did not come to an end on 31 October 2007 – but did theirs? > > ====================================================== > > > Nope........their " world " did not come to an end. > > They all traipsed back to the compound and eagerly awaited their leader's next > prophecy. > > So.....what does that show us? > > Many still think that Mother Teresa should be canonized? > > Many flaunt the cheap watches that Sai Baba manifested for them out of thin air. > > Many that were molested by priests cried at the feet of the new pope (who sought > to cover > up the scandal) when they were granted an audience. > > Many drank koolaid in that beautiful African forest. > > Many beautiful babies were turned to ashes in Waco. > > Many still wait for the cargo planes to arrive with their bounty. > > So: > > Should we make fun of them and their beliefs? > > Should we see them as pitiful little creatures so eager to make sense of their > lonely little > lives that they fall under to spell of a charismatic manipulator? > > Or should their behavior be an insight into the true nature of our own mind. > > Conceptual mind is the same phenomena no matter who it infests. > > If we fall into the trap of thinking that we are somehow better or smarter than > they > are........we become machinery.....kicking the machinery. > > > If we, however, can see how futile and painful their attempts are....perhaps > we can get > a glimpse into the mechanism of mind and break the seeker's somnambulism. toombaru > Indeed, here we go again. Is this really what you fill your time with? Speaking of habits... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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