Newsletter: Will This Be Our Last Independence Day as a Free Nation?
Now is the time to exercise our rights - while we still have them
Dear friends,
I’ve landed safely in Barcelona and am looking forward to the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) conference starting tomorrow! This conference provides a platform for those in our field to exchange fascinating new ideas and important information; I and my team will be working to bring you the highlights as they happen. Later this month, I will be attending the conference of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health, also here in Barcelona.
I might be out of the country, but I am still deeply concerned with the political landscape at home; those who seek to limit our basic freedoms are mis-using the legislative system to stip democracy away from the people. I’ve collected a few past tweets and blogs below to illustrate just how deeply entrenched the authoritarian agenda has become.
If the above stresses you out, you’re not alone! But there is help: this week’s Influence Continuum features the amazing Dr. Eva Selhub, MD, who teaches the importance of resilience in the face of stress. You’ll want to listen to this podcast somewhere you can practice the easy and valuable stress management exercises she describes, so pull the car over to the side of the road, or better yet, find a comfortable chair and listen in!
This fascinating interview is with Dr. Eva Selhub who worked at Harvard with Herb Benson developing and understanding about the mind body connection to health. Dr. Selhub is an internationally recognized resiliency expert who has worked as a physician, author, executive coach, keynote speaker, and spiritual advisor.
Listen to the podcast below:
Democracy in Danger: Make These Posts Viral Again!
As many of you know, I was in the Moonies, a right-wing cult which worshipped a Korean millionaire as “better than Jesus.” What many people don’t know is that my former cult is still very active, especially in its mission to infiltrate, influence, and even destabilize our government. They are at the root of the climate denial movement as well as the push to replace democracy with a theocracy. Here are a few former tweets and blogposts that could bear some repetition (click on the Tweet images to read the full thread):
And some choice blog posts from our archives:
Right-wing Christian Movements Threatening our Democracy with Matthew D. Taylor, PhD
Dr. Robert Jay Lifton on Trump, Democracy, COVID-19, Climate Change Crisis and the Election
The Moon Cult: An Interview with former top American leader Allen Tate Wood
The Double-Edged Sword of Free Speech: Koch, FIRE, and Campus Disinformation
As always, please let us know what you think about these pieces or what you’d like to see us discuss in the future. Thanks so much!
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I've been following you online for a while. I'm always thoroughly amused by your pompous cloak of objectivity and righteousness. It's pretty obvious the wrong people fiance your position and opinions. If you had the slightest bit of integrity, you'd admit a left wing cult is far more fanatical and is often wrong.
Is indicting Trump over an accounting error not abuse of the legal system? How about the judgment against him from a woman that thinks "rape is sexy" and paints trees blue in her spare time? Did I also mention her cat is named vagina?
There's more, but I'm doubtful I could convince you to change your opinion when your paycheck depends on you attacking MAGA.
Ummm
You do know that there is a tremendous anti free speech push from the left too. How can you explain the current administration's DOJ decision to prosecute Eithan Haim, the whistleblower at Texas Children's Hospital? The same DOJ who called parents terrorists because they don't believe their children should be indoctrinated in school. Cults come in all sizes and I think it's safe to say we have just witnessed four years of a government run cult of pro gender ideology. Our nation will never be free until we can allow Independent candidates to run without the two party system doing everything possible, even illegal, to stop them. We aren't a free nation. Neither party can claim that they are for democracy. Both parties stand for who can give them the largest campaign donation. Like Big Pharma and Planned Parenthood. I am surprised by this substack piece.