Correct Amos. Having been an avid Sci-fi reader most of my life, I encountered L. Ron early on. He was a so-so writer and I always say to myself, "Surely he couldn't have REALLY started believing his own fiction." But I've heard the spin around on that too, genetic memory and all. If he did believe it then, man without a country he became, he became his own Messiah too.

Excellent piece Alice. It pretty much agrees with most of what I have learned about cults, harmful and otherwise. There is almost always a re-defining of terms or "new" terminology that is exclusive to the group. Isolation is also a key element which is almost always associated with some form of abuse. This is especially true of wife-beaters and child abuse. Confession is tricky because it is thereapeutic when 1) made to yourself alone 2)made between you and your God alone 3) made within a sealed confessional, that is, one that is legally kept silent. Anything beyond better be between you and your attorney.