Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.
In a 10 month investigation, Sunday Night (TV Programme) infiltrated one of the world’s most worrying new cults.
This cult is in Australia and it’s spreading, it has been described as “worse than WACO”.
Investigators have gone inside the cult’s headquarters to meet the leaders and their followers who claim their lives have been changed forever.
You can see how vulnerable men, women, and children are brought to breaking point by the cults teachings. Most seem on the edge of a mental breakdown.
The members seen mostly convinced that their leader is Jesus and that others in their community are Mary or other individuals mentioned in the gospels. They are encouraged to leave their families and spouses and find their true soul mates.
What I noticed that caused most thought for me was the marked difference between the cults leader and his followers, his big smiles and their emotional despondency.
That was to nauseating to watch. That guy may be a loon or just a slick con man but I blame the idiots who lineup crying for someone who says he’s god.
That was to nauseating to watch. That guy may be a loon or just a slick con man but I blame the idiots who lineup crying for someone who says he’s god.
He seems to force them into the darkest recess of their own minds and then tells them that he is the only one who can help them.
Be he a loon or just slick , he has them all just where he wants them.
It’s frightening !
That was too nauseating to watch. That guy may be a loon or just a slick con man but I blame the idiots who lineup crying for someone who says he’s god.
You seem a bit short on empathy for suffering, man. You don’t seem to understand heavy emotional trauma very well at all. Quite frankly it seems as if you’d eagerly and enthusiastically and uncritically victimize victims when they’re so thoughtless as to be victimized by your personal hobby horse.
Jeebus, there, is what I call a niche’ manipulator. He preys on broken people. They’re broken by the vagaries of life before he gets a hold of them, so they’re easy prey. His talent as a manipulator is in stalking his prey and stocking his game preserve. Most people, healthy people, have far too much empathy to rub salt into others’ wounds with a freakin’ grinder. He thrives on it.
I didn’t find that nauseating. I found it very sad.
I agree with Martin. This is sick. I am tempted to say that I am sorry it is happening in my country. But then, people are the same the world over. Countries don’t matter. This sort of crap knows no borders except the boundaries of reason but reason seems to be on the wane in the world today. The candle of the enlightenment is guttering low.
This guy is another Waco and Jonestown in the making. The whole of the southern United States is a Jonestown in the making and much of the muslim world is a Jonestown already. All of them are waiting for the rapture whereby the only work they have to do is believe. People hate work - especially if they don’t even understand what work they would need to do on themselves to make the world better. They especially dislike having to think - thinking is the hardest work of all. Cult leaders like the creep in this video certainly do not want them to understand such things. They, and all religions, thrive on, depend on, the ignorance and emotional vulnerability of such people.
I agree with skep. Those people in the video are victims, they are the perplexed, and GAD can laugh and scoff at their stupidity and say “serves them right… I do not believe he is so dense as to not be able to see the plight of,and feel pity for, these people. He knows he is not superior and that there, but for his particular circumstances, goes he. It’s all macho bravure from behind the fortress. He needs to think more.
And what that Australian Jesus creep needs is locking up. Failing that, one hopes for a fortunate and very serious accident.
Not Australia, or the U.S., or anywhere in particular; there are people everywhere eager to subsume themselves under someone’s claimed mantle of wisdom and foresight. Countless examples, large and small, are available. Most who do so are “damaged goods” themselves, with a history of abuse and neglect, of having been dominated by others in the past and having found that domination of some comfort.
Yeah, maybe so, Dennis. But comfort is not reality. Humans are not built for comfort. They seek it but it is a chimera. They do not want to know this. But until they know it and accept it they will always try make life a misery for the rest of us who seem to be getting on. Why should we enjoy life, despite its discomfortures, when they cannot? They want life but, joys notwithstanding, do not want to accpet the pain that goes ith it. Their position is unreasonable, irrational. It is this that leaves room for religon and preachers.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 24 September 2011 12:11 PM
Yeah, maybe so, Dennis. But comfort is not reality. Humans are not built for comfort. They seek it but it is a chimera. They do not want to know this. But until they know it and accept it they will always try make life a misery for the rest of us who seem to be getting on. Why should we enjoy life, despite its discomfortures, when they cannot? They want life but, joys notwithstanding, do not want to accpet the pain that goes ith it. Their position is unreasonable, irrational. It is this that leaves room for religon and preachers.
Not sure if you’re describing humans as they are, or as you’d like therm to be. Comfort is a reality and people as I know them seek it with great enthusiasm.
That was too nauseating to watch. That guy may be a loon or just a slick con man but I blame the idiots who lineup crying for someone who says he’s god.
You seem a bit short on empathy for suffering, man. You don’t seem to understand heavy emotional trauma very well at all. Quite frankly it seems as if you’d eagerly and enthusiastically and uncritically victimize victims when they’re so thoughtless as to be victimized by your personal hobby horse.
Almost no empathy at all for people like that. Unlike so many people I don’t need to save other people from themselves to feel good about myself.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 24 September 2011 11:10 AM
I agree with skep. Those people in the video are victims, they are the perplexed, and GAD can laugh and scoff at their stupidity and say “serves them right… I do not believe he is so dense as to not be able to see the plight of,and feel pity for, these people. He knows he is not superior and that there, but for his particular circumstances, goes he. It’s all macho bravure from behind the fortress. He needs to think more.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 24 September 2011 12:11 PM
Yeah, maybe so, Dennis. But comfort is not reality. Humans are not built for comfort. They seek it but it is a chimera. They do not want to know this. But until they know it and accept it they will always try make life a misery for the rest of us who seem to be getting on. Why should we enjoy life, despite its discomfortures, when they cannot? They want life but, joys notwithstanding, do not want to accpet the pain that goes ith it. Their position is unreasonable, irrational. It is this that leaves room for religon and preachers.
Not sure if you’re describing humans as they are, or as you’d like therm to be. Comfort is a reality and people as I know them seek it with great enthusiasm.
I think Rob’s saying the beliefs in which people find comfort are often false (specifically the religious beliefs in which people find comfort are false).
That was too nauseating to watch. That guy may be a loon or just a slick con man but I blame the idiots who lineup crying for someone who says he’s god.
You seem a bit short on empathy for suffering, man. You don’t seem to understand heavy emotional trauma very well at all. Quite frankly it seems as if you’d eagerly and enthusiastically and uncritically victimize victims when they’re so thoughtless as to be victimized by your personal hobby horse.
Almost no empathy at all for people like that. Unlike so many people I don’t need to save other people from themselves to feel good about myself.
It’s telling that you attack even though it requires unwarranted presumption. That’s just like the ugly side of fundamentalism—tends to indicate insecurity.
That was too nauseating to watch. That guy may be a loon or just a slick con man but I blame the idiots who lineup crying for someone who says he’s god.
You seem a bit short on empathy for suffering, man. You don’t seem to understand heavy emotional trauma very well at all. Quite frankly it seems as if you’d eagerly and enthusiastically and uncritically victimize victims when they’re so thoughtless as to be victimized by your personal hobby horse.
Almost no empathy at all for people like that. Unlike so many people I don’t need to save other people from themselves to feel good about myself.
It’s telling that you attack even though it requires unwarranted presumption. That’s just like the ugly side of fundamentalism—tends to indicate insecurity.
What these guys suffer from is low standards. If you are going to follow someone who claims to be Jesus, you should demand 1) that he have super powers; 2) that he not be Australian; and 3) that he must sing and play the guitar better than this guy. If they are smart enough to even know who Jesus was, they should know that Jesus had super powers and that when he returns, he will have even greater powers. That would include playing the guitar and singing much better than this dude. And Jesus would show up in Jerusalem, not some remote corner of Queensland. After reviewing all the evidence, I’m more in GAD’s corner on this one.
... they should know that Jesus had super powers and that when he returns, he will have even greater powers. That would include playing the guitar and singing much better than this dude…..
This is so funny….your right !! Jesus would definitely be a better guitarist and singer ....mind, Jimmy Page was god and his singing never matched up to his guitar playing, so it could be a genetic thing.
Of course these people are victims of this Jesus guy, but it’s hard to arouse sympathy for them. When I hear a ‘gathering of the faithful from around the world’ it scares me. It should be a wake-up call to anyone who associates him/herself with religious faith. (Yeah you, Bruce). It’s like, I’m only a little bit alcoholic, those others are the ones that need it. Or how about the thousands in the Muslim faith who go walk around that thingy in a circle and get trampled to death every year. I mean like ... don’t go there. Look under P in the yellow pages and get psychiatric help, don’t give up your life and travel to Australia to visit some snake-oil salesman who’s buying up property with your money and will probably sexually molest your little girls. The sad part is all you have to do is say here I am, print a few pamphlets and they will come. Angry and scared, that’s what I feel. You don’t see me running off to Australia. I want to break into a fucking fit just like those idiots ... speaking of which, how many of those people are acting and in on it with the Jesus Freak? Those are promotional videos, you know. (Not those regular people like the lady who was married for 30 years and can’t figure out that if she’s been with the guy for 30 years that’s about as soul-matey as it gets). Sad, alright. Faith, Jesus ... tell us Bruce, what is the real difference? You have your wits about you and they don’t? Does that mean you’re Christian lite, or Christian right? So you’re righter than them, and we’re righter than you. Wouldn’t you rather be alright? Where is Jesus/God? That’s what he does for them? He’s the one who’s supposed to look out for them and be compassionate. No, leave it up to people. God wants people to help people who believe in God with all they’ve got? And he wants Atheists here to hand out compassion and reason for his failure while letting the rest of you believe we Atheists are scum and going to hell? How about those quiverfull people? They have support groups now. After the damage is done, of course. This one woman almost killed herself having like 9 kids, talked to an Atheist uncle, and ended up divorcing her husband and becoming Atheist. Be a None, Bruce. That’s all I’ve got to say. Consider that my intervention duty for the day.
