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The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) - Religion - Nairaland

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The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by BTigress: 12:37am On Jul 04, 2006
Hello Everyone -

I just arrived here because the cult Eckankar was mentioned by someone, along with a few other cults.

I'm a former member of this cult, in America. I was a member for almost 15 years, but thanks to the internet, I found out the truth about it and got out. Now I "work" on the internet trying to help others to get out, or not join to begin with.

I'd like to learn more about the *facts* of e-kult's growing presence in Africa in general, and specifically, in Nigeria. When I was a member, I read in one of the cult books that over 10,000 Africans showed up for a cult seminar being held in a facility that was meant to hold only 5,000. I think this was back in the early 90's - and I don't know if the cult's "temple" in Isolo was built at that time. Even though I was a true-blue-believing member, I wondered about that statistic, and if perhaps it was being exaggerated. Especially after I had the opportunity to attend a big cult seminar here in the US and saw for myself that the people who were actually there were much less than the cult said were there!!

Now, the cult books tell stories about how e-kult is "taking over" Africa but they never mention a specific country, except once a member of the cult's "clergy" said that eckankar was almost the "official religion" of Nigeria. African "chelas" are frequently held up as shining examples for American eckists. There's another story written about how an African "high initiate" makes the "lowbies" study and memorize the "teachings" and learn them so well that they can spew a nice "propaganda" speech on any cult subject without even thinking about it!! This is a bit ironic when you consider that when former members point out all the "plagiarism" and other objectionable material in the cult's books and "secret" members-only discourses, cult officials will pull out an eckquote that says you can't find truth in books, the books aren't important, and what's important are the "inner" teachings.

Well, if there's no truth in books, including theirs, you'd think they wouldn't work so hard selling them, wouldn't you? Especially when you consider they "recycle" the same material, and most of it is simply repeats of the cult's "master's" seminar speeches. The same material, word for word, can be found in both the "public" books and the "secret" discourses.

And, the cult's "inner" is simply what results from the self-hypnotic "spiritual exercises" which, rather than connect one to God/Spirit (through the cult's leader - you can't connect without him! <>wink - members don't realize the "spex" are simply how the cult gets people to brainwash themselves!

I've been "speaking out" on the internet since '98, and over the years, I've heard from several African eckists who woke up and got out, and also from some concerned friends and family members. And just like the stories I've heard from all over the world, there are often cases of abusive and controlling "high initiates" which show absolutely *nothing* to do with love of God/Spirit/Whatever, but *everything* about how many cult leaders all over the world are more interested in personal power and profit than God/Spirit/Whatever, and they take advantage of naive and gullible people.

So, I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who knows anything first-hand about this cult in Nigeria specifically, or anywhere else in Africa.

I read the rules for this group and there was something about no "advertising" or something - so I'm not exactly sure if it's permissible to post a links where people can find out more about the "dark side" of this cult. So, if I'm out of line here - Moderator, feel free to remove any objectionable material from this post! Anyway, if anyone's interested, there's a short video about the cult at Google videos, shortcut URL: http:///hw7p7

It's bad enough in America, the way e-kult and so many other of these pseudo-spiritual "protection rackets" using lies and deception to suck people in - but it seems to me it's worse in places like Africa, where it might not be as easy for people to find good information to protect themselves.

The cult even officially admits that a big attraction for Africans is because there's a lot more superstition and belief in black magic, etc. And the way ekult gets people there is by its claims that the "Living ECK Master" is more powerful than African witch doctors, etc. They use that tactic on Americans, too, of course. The "teachings" are filled with horror stories about psychic invasions, and how black magicians can even kill you while you're sleeping, unless you have the "protection" of the LEM, and the official cult membership ID card!! <> There's one funny story the current LEM tells about a haunted European hotel where, even though he and his trusty band of "high initiates" spent the night battling those darned pesky witches & warlocks on the "inner planes" and trying to rescue the captured souls, the "vibes" were so bad they had to check out the next day!! Well, this is pretty funny because you'd think the "Master of the Universe" wouldn't known beforehand, and booked the seminar at a hotel that wasn't so haunted!! Plus, if he's so all-powerful, why did he have to check out?

I think perhaps many Africans are even less likely to ask questions than Americans, and it just makes me sad to think of so many innocent people getting sucked in, people who most likely aren't on the internet.

Well, I'd appreciate any help from anyone who might know a bit more about what's *really* going on with e-kult in Africa.

Thanks!!

Sharon
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Seun(m): 1:03am On Jul 04, 2006
We've been led to believe that these cults have true power, and that their higher ranking members carry out specific 'spiritual operations' on behalf of the devil himself. That "Satan is real, but God is greater"

As a religious skeptic, I'm happy to learn that it's just another religious scam. I'm relieved!

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by diddy4(m): 1:44am On Jul 04, 2006
this is a nice article man, wish i cud help but i aint in naija. i hope someone else comes to your aide. i wonder what people gain in joining all this pseudo-spiritual society. first of all, nothing works greater than the power of the Almighty. now, dey join and some turn up dead and stuff.

they risk their life protecting this non-sense knowledge and their master is somewhere safe directing and controling them like toy cars. it makes no sense at all.
i will like to know what they actually gain from all this gabage. dont get any power, they dont get any proper education cuzz they feel they own the world. they end up dead or disabled one way or the other.

people really need to think before they join certain organiztion and i think it is lack of education dat lead some people into this mess.

it is only when it is too late that their eyes go open like cray fish own.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by gem87(f): 1:48am On Jul 04, 2006
i had a friend, we were not too close but seeing her mks u think
she's way too pretty dat guys r scared of goin out wiv her
anyway in her family (5 girls and a boy) she's more into it dan the others
goes wiv her dad to all d conventions and seminar no matter where it is
and she can be weird attimes
like goin still in d middle of a conversation and being really quiet like she's meditating or something
and there's this thing in their family, they don't discuss their dreams wiv any1, wen dey wake up they have to write it in a book and no1 else must read it
then in their living room, are two seat more like thrones
dunno wht purpose they serve but looks more like a traditional thing, u know igbo people wiv the chief and lolo stuff
and d big 1 is d picture of this white man who i'm not sure what he is or who anyway
but they sure do pay too much respect to him
so generally people are kinda scared of them and r cautious about really mixing up especially wiv the girls - all 5 of them well except 4 d last 1 who's pretty much not bothered
they are all pretty dunno how cum but there's d rumour dat they got richer after their parents joined d sect cuz d older sisters kinda refer back to d days wen things were hard for them
dunno much about it cuz they obviously don't discuss it in publice
plus pple are pretty scared about what they don't know so they don't ask
i'ld like 2 know more though but i'm spooked to click on the link lol.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by alheri(f): 9:01am On Jul 04, 2006
WOW! Are you guys serious! I never saw the eck people as cultist oh! I just thot they were just another new "religion". Infact, I used to watch there hourly programme every sundays when I was in Abuja. I would just turn off the volume when they start humming that there HUE song cos I dont want to be possessed. But I never thot they were a cult cos I dont think they do thier things in secret.

@gem97, The white guy in the picture is someone they call the "mahanta" or something like that, he's the the founder of the group.

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by sergio(m): 10:31am On Jul 04, 2006
That's some weird stuff, now i get it, my lecturer in school then used to give us some really scary gist, ranging from metaphysical, to black magic, white magic, spiritual realms and stuff, we didn't really understand then, but now i know that he is an Eckist, and he did't hide it. he has this big sticker on his wind shield written eckankar,  he made us really scared

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 11:11am On Jul 04, 2006
Does anyone have anything to say about AMORC (The [b]A[/b]ncient [b]M[/b]ystical [b]O[/b]rder of the [b]R[/b]osae [b]C[/b]rucis]?

Rosae Crucis means 'Rosy Cross.'
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by 4getme1(m): 12:34pm On Jul 04, 2006
@BTigress,

It all depends on what is a 'cult' - and with the evolution of language and culture, the word has become generally accepted to mean a secret society with shady dealings; and just about anybody who does not fit into our own ideologies could be termed a 'cultist' - in some circles even within Christianity, denominations use it on others (thus, the idea of 'Christian/pseudo-Christian cult'), so that it becomes more a matter of us against them (did you notice the first four letters of 'culture' spell our word 'C.U.L.T'? So, next time you send an sms or mobile/cell phone text, be careful not to abbreviate 'culture' to mean 'cult u're!' Aight, just kidding).

The one thing you notice about most cults and cultists is that they are bold and don't even try to hide their commitment to their ideology. As far as I know, of all the eckists I've met, not one of them has pretended anything about their beliefs.

Well, most other cultists would rather not be so open about their fraternity (like the ROSICRUCIANS). Believe it or not, my late grandfather was a rosicrucian and he teased me once in my youth by having me watch him lift a flame off a candle without touching it in any way. I'd heard of magic, so I thought, yeah. . . he's just an apprentice Prof. Pela with his abracadabra! Not until a few months later when a neighbour got miffed at him (heaven knows what about) and was spoiling for a big fight. Grandpa just looked at him, smiled and turned away from him. The man froze like a mallet hit him; he was dumb for two days without being able to say a word! Of course, we had to move because grandpa was arrested; but he was later released as the neighbours who witnessed the incident testified that GP didn't touch the man. For a few years, I didn't get to spend time with GP; but when I later found myself drawn to him towards the end of my undergraduate days, I was delighted to know that he'd been born again.

BTW, I'm not in Nigeria presently; but up until when I left, Eckankar was not the "Official Religion" of my beloeved country. I'm happy for you that you took the initiative to leave when you could.

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by ontop(m): 1:10pm On Jul 04, 2006
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes unto the father but through him"
There are many ways that seems right unto a man, but at the en leads to destruction.
The love of money is the root of all evil.
The devil doesnt give any free gift.
If he gives you once, he takes from you twice.
Let's open our eyes wide and say NO to ekult of any kind.
I am strongly against cult.
For those who are already involved indirectly, i endeavour you to embrace God and invite the Lord Jesus into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour.
Jesu said: Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hears my voice and open the door of his heart, i will come in and stay.

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by zarah(f): 3:40pm On Jul 04, 2006
shut up!!
say something about Eckankar, if you have something to say, or else just shut the f**k up, or do you think you are the only christian here? angry
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by diddy4(m): 3:41pm On Jul 04, 2006
please zarah, what did he say wrong?

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by zarah(f): 3:55pm On Jul 04, 2006
If he wants to preach let him do it elsewhere, don't have a problem with it i just don't like it when people try to impose their beliefs on others. as far as am concerned that's wat he is doing.

if the thread had said preaching i would have had a choice of boycoting it, but since it says eckankar and i entered willingly i should be reading wat am here to read.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 4:00pm On Jul 04, 2006
4get_me:

Well, most other cultists would rather not be so open about their fraternity (like the ROSICRUCIANS). Believe it or not, my late grandfather was a rosicrucian and he teased me once in my youth by having me watch him lift a flame off a candle without touching it in any way. I'd heard of magic, so I thought, yeah. . . he's just an apprentice Prof. Pela with his abracadabra! Not until a few months later when a neighbour got miffed at him (heaven knows what about) and was spoiling for a big fight. Grandpa just looked at him, smiled and turned away from him. The man froze like a mallet hit him; he was dumb for two days without being able to say a word! Of course, we had to move because grandpa was arrested; but he was later released as the neighbours who witnessed the incident testified that GP didn't touch the man. For a few years, I didn't get to spend time with GP; but when I later found myself drawn to him towards the end of my undergraduate days, I was delighted to know that he'd been born again.

I think your Grandpa might have been practising something else on the side. I've mixed with a great many Rosicrucians and while they do not tell you, they'll reply in the affirmative if you ask them about their Rosicrucianism. Most o fthe time, they believe in passive resistance and will most likely move away if you bring the attack to their own soil.

This is what I've seen. I may of course, be wrong.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by 4getme1(m): 4:24pm On Jul 04, 2006
You may not be wrong. However, I knew that my Grandpa was a Rosicrucian - not simply because he admitted it, but he was one of the few who was rather taciturn about it until asked. I don't know how far this is true, but before I had to go off to school, he told me sort of playfully that not many rosicrucians 'dabbled' into other 'mysteries' or other cultic practices. For him, his was deeply 'Rosicrucian' with a peripheral interest in shamanism. Apart from those two incidents (the candle flame and the dumbing of the irate neighbour), I didn't witness first-hand any other stuff he performed. On the whole, some Rosicrucians and cultists are taciturn about their fraternity until asked. But I was greatly relieved to know that he was a Christian before he passed into glory.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 4:27pm On Jul 04, 2006
I think in Nigeria mainly, they don't like to talk until asked -- do you know about the ECWA -- AMORC case?

I've never seen any perform any magic -- they only believe a candle should be snuffed out by one's fingers and not by blowing air.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by zarah(f): 4:32pm On Jul 04, 2006
You people are not talking to me oooh!
tell me where to find this people so that i can go join them, experience this magic first hand, and bring back first class imfo to you.

I have always been thrilled about cultism, cos iv never experienced it, so dont blame me.
Damn how i would love to appear to some people & make them wee in their pants. grin

2 Likes

Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 4:39pm On Jul 04, 2006
I don't think these guys practise that. ECK, AMORC, Freemasons and others practice what's called White Magic. You might be interested in Black Magic -- but it also involves not a little blood and evil.

You might grow two fangs in front like a stereotypical witch -- do post a pic for us will you? grin grin
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by zarah(f): 5:42pm On Jul 04, 2006
sure meen!!
just hook me up first.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by lordimpaq(m): 7:18pm On Jul 04, 2006
zarah, u r out of your mind,

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 7:26pm On Jul 04, 2006
lordimpaq:

zarah, you're out of your mind,

She really is. Even the white magic get as e be -- na black magic she wan' do. . .
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by mrmayor(m): 7:27pm On Jul 04, 2006
When I was about 12 or 13 years old I attended my first ECk meeting,I was fascinated by the claims of an Eckist in my school so I decided to give it a try.Mind you I didn't attend the meetings  without cruel intentions.
I was really fancied the idea of Astral or Soul Travel.I could do Soul travel to WAEC office,check  exam papers and be prepared if you can call it that.
I did the Hu chatting so many times than I care to remember and nothing happened,then I knew its all a load of Bollocks.I have being to meeting of even the GRAIL MASSAGE and I'm so disappointed,by the claims of these people.

I don't care what people claim their believes,sects or cults,if it can't be proven its a load Bull Sh-It

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 7:28pm On Jul 04, 2006
Funny account. grin grin grin
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by lordimpaq(m): 7:35pm On Jul 04, 2006
real funny account,

because he could not travel astrally, wat about those that astral travelled and still renounced,
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 7:40pm On Jul 04, 2006
lordimpaq:

real funny account,

because he could not travel astrally, what about those that astral travelled and still renounced,

What's making me laugh is the chanting. . .
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by mrmayor(m): 7:41pm On Jul 04, 2006
lordimpaq:

because he could not travel astrally, what about those that astral travelled and still renounced,
If Soul travel really exist then it can be proven empirically,borrowing a quote from

Carl Segan,
"extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"

Can anyone proved they have Soul Travelled?
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by lordimpaq(m): 7:50pm On Jul 04, 2006
u asking me, ?


ask the guy that wanted to travel to WAEC office to spy exam papers!!

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by Zahymaka(m): 7:53pm On Jul 04, 2006
lordimpaq:

u asking me, ?


ask the guy that wanted to travel to WAEC office to spy exam papers!!

One thing they maintain is that soul travel cannot be done if you have evil in mind. SO travelling to view exam papers or to see naked girls would be evil.

I'm not defendng them, but I'm a bit of an expert on esoteric teachings wink.
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by lordimpaq(m): 7:55pm On Jul 04, 2006
esoteric teachings, yeah rite,
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by grafikdon: 8:41pm On Jul 04, 2006
mrmayor:

When I was about 12 or 13 years old I attended my first ECk meeting,I was fascinated by the claims of an Eckist in my school so I decided to give it a try.Mind you I didn't attend the meetings without cruel intentions.
I was really fancied the idea of Astral or Soul Travel.I could do Soul travel to WEAC office,check exam papers and be prepared if you can call it that.
I did the Hu chatting so many times than I care to remember and nothing happened,then I knew its all a load of Bollocks.I have being to meeting of even the GRAIL MASSAGE and I'm so disappointed,by the claims of these people.

I don't care what people claim their believes,sects or cults,if it can't be proven its a load Bull Sh-It


It makes a great deal of sense not to bash something we do not know without at least making the effort to find out what it really is. One can easily sit in his world and disregard things beyond his reach. The Grail Movement is not a cult and do not 'claim' anything as you have in written in your post.

Living your live in accordance with the will of the Almighty God, spiritual accent and upliftment as well as the genuine love that involves the sacrifice of one's safety and comfort for the benefit of others doesn't look like a claim neither does it sound 'satanic'. There is absolutely no extraordinary claims involved. Please do your research very well and don't always believe what you hear from people.

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Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by gem87(f): 10:05pm On Jul 04, 2006
i wanna try d soul travel thing



oh and did any1 click on d link
i'm scared to
Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by 4getme1(m): 9:34am On Jul 05, 2006
Scared about what? My dear, no need to be - if you really mean business to try 'the soul travel thing', you've got to have real guts! I clicked on the links and I was really disappointed - it wasn't scary enough! First, my PC froze for about half an hour; then turned completely dark and blank. The next thing, there was this sinister laughter softly oozing from under the wires, the table got hot, my chair started rising and shaking. . . and as if that was not enough, as I smiled, a face appeared on the screen and said: "Booo!! You passed the test!" Then I saw my score - 0%! Can you beat that??

Okay, by now you know that's a ridiculous story. Don't laugh. This is the real one - the links are harmless and will take you to a Google video page for a 5 minutes documentary exposé on the Eckankar cult. Summary: Eckankar has some questionable claims.

1 Like

Re: The Eckankar Cult In Nigeria (Africa) by alheri(f): 9:58am On Jul 05, 2006
Well for those asking, the AMORC HQTRS is on T.Y Danjuma street, off Ligali Ayorinde, V.I ,Lagos. Its a few blocks from ARK towers- where Virgin Atlantic/Nigeria Office is. Am not an AMORC or whateva, I just know cos its around where I stay!

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