₦airaland Forum

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! <> - 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