Avatar: Scientology-Style Sect Causes Concern In Netherlands

[Tribble]

Reports of a Scientology-style sect infiltrating schools have aroused concern in the Netherlands.

A television investigation claimed to have found at least six private schools governed by "Avatar wizards" and guided by the principles of the Avatar ideology.

...

Avatar's self-proclaimed goal is to create an "enlightened planetary society".

Some members believe Earth was colonised by aliens, and Avatar explores controversial practices such as exorcism.

It was created in 1986 by the former Scientology leader Harry Palmer.

...

Avatar shares much of its philosophy with Scientology.

It offers self-development programmes that borrow elements from Scientology, Shamanism, Hinduism and New Age philosophy.

Many of the original course materials incorporated Scientology terminology.

In 1984, the Church of Scientology won a copyright infringement case against Harry Palmer, who launched Avatar shortly afterwards.

It has retained some of the same terms such as "rundown" and course names like "integrity" and "professional".

Scientologists deny that they are part of a cult and reject accusations of abuse and scamming members. Followers describe it as providing spiritual support.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43584884

 

[ramonmercado]

Reports of a Scientology-style sect infiltrating schools have aroused concern in the Netherlands.

A television investigation claimed to have found at least six private schools governed by "Avatar wizards" and guided by the principles of the Avatar ideology.

...

Avatar's self-proclaimed goal is to create an "enlightened planetary society".

Some members believe Earth was colonised by aliens, and Avatar explores controversial practices such as exorcism.

It was created in 1986 by the former Scientology leader Harry Palmer.

...

Avatar shares much of its philosophy with Scientology.

It offers self-development programmes that borrow elements from Scientology, Shamanism, Hinduism and New Age philosophy.

Many of the original course materials incorporated Scientology terminology.

In 1984, the Church of Scientology won a copyright infringement case against Harry Palmer, who launched Avatar shortly afterwards.

It has retained some of the same terms such as "rundown" and course names like "integrity" and "professional".

Scientologists deny that they are part of a cult and reject accusations of abuse and scamming members. Followers describe it as providing spiritual support.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43584884

"So even if Scientology exists across the road, everyone should be free to choose. And anyway, it's just a few kids, right? It's not like they have an army or anything."


Yet...

 

[Mythopoeika]

It was created in 1986 by the former Scientology leader Harry Palmer.

 

[Spudrick68]

Scientology linked organisation claiming to free people of addiction in UK accused of abuse:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...hab-centre-left-vulnerable-people-traumatised

 

[Frideswide]

Can you remember what this was @Mythopoeika ?

 

[Erinaceus]

Maybe a picture of Michael Caine?

Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in three films based on published novels featuring this character: The Ipcress File (1965), Funeral in Berlin (1966) and Billion Dollar Brain (1967).

 

[Mythopoeika]

Maybe a picture of Michael Caine?

I think it was. This'll do as a replacement:

 

[Mr Bleak]

I am certainly concerned by what I have read about the activities of such organisations as 'Avatar' in the OP, but wonder if any definition of what constitutes a 'cult' or 'sect' has been devised? Any leading pointers ?
I am now a sceptic but in the course of my life have met people who have joined occult/ spiritual groups, and was involved in a couple myself.
There are pitfalls: Sometimes people involved start blindly following someone they think is some authority figure without questioning what they are being taught. Said members can start losing ability to engage with people outside their group and will only socialise with other members, losing contact with outsiders. Demands get made for money. A sort of crass elitism can take place whereby the group insist that they are somehow unique and they are performing 'the great work'. When someone leaves they are ostracised and stories are spread that the individual leaving was not really that committed anyway.
But ultimately if someone wants to join an alternative religion / or spiritual sect, shouldn't they be free to make that choice?

 

[brownmane]

I am certainly concerned by what I have read about the activities of such organisations as 'Avatar' in the OP, but wonder if any definition of what constitutes a 'cult' or 'sect' has been devised? Any leading pointers ?
I am now a sceptic but in the course of my life have met people who have joined occult/ spiritual groups, and was involved in a couple myself.
There are pitfalls: Sometimes people involved start blindly following someone they think is some authority figure without questioning what they are being taught. Said members can start losing ability to engage with people outside their group and will only socialise with other members, losing contact with outsiders. Demands get made for money. A sort of crass elitism can take place whereby the group insist that they are somehow unique and they are performing 'the great work'. When someone leaves they are ostracised and stories are spread that the individual leaving was not really that committed anyway.
But ultimately if someone wants to join an alternative religion / or spiritual sect, shouldn't they be free to make that choice?

You've pretty much described what the definition of cult. Your "pitfalls" are the exact criteria used when determining if something is a cult.

People can make a choice, but it is a question of what freedom they have after joining a group.

There is an interesting podcast "Was I in a Cult" in which the two hosts were in cults in their past. They interview people who have been in cults and have left. Not every cult is a spiritual based one.

 

[JamesWhitehead]

There are a number of definitions used to define a "cult" - a few of them are careful to avoid implicating some established, if marginal, religions.

Given that a key cult-indicator is the estrangement of the candidate from mainstream life and relationships, there must be exemptions, evidently, if the candidate was born into it and never had a mainstream life to start with!

Especially in America, there has been a strong financial incentive to labelling your enterprises as a religion. Consequently, there have been several concerted publicity-drives to create absurd religions for information or for the tax-breaks.

Wikipedia delves into them, here.



My favourite parody-religion is definitely The Landover Baptist Church I have not visited the site for years. It seemed dead but I see there is some new(ish) content, well the latest is actually 2020 . . . Ah yes, the humour is as flavoursome as ever and still quite likely to be mistaken for genuine bigotry. NSFW

 

[Shady]

Avatar was a crap film, start taxing them and see how fast they leave the UK. I despise scientology, how can sane people believe in this rubbish.

 

[Mythopoeika]

Avatar was a crap film, start taxing them and see how fast they leave the UK. I despise scientology, how can sane people believe in this rubbish.