Category Archives: cult and occult

From the Cult Files: Guest Feature–“Lockdowns vs Albert Biderman’s chart of coercion” (excerpt)

Posted on June 5, 2021 by pbn

By the time I worked for an ex-(religious) cultist counseling and recovery ministry in the eighties, it was already well known that certain coercion techniques used on POWs during the Korean War and in Communist China were adapted and used … Continue reading →

Posted in cult and occult, GUEST and EMBEDDED FEATURES, most recent posts | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On the Riots and the Trauma Bonding: Why They Stay; Why We Resist

Posted on September 19, 2020 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila The Riots The use of destructive, illegal rioting in a political push (some would argue “putsch”) is, by use of common sense and logic, not a good way to get folks on your side. You can only … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, abuse, Commentaries, cult and occult, encouragement in hard times, end times news, most recent posts, survival tools | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

UPDATE 9/19: “On Self Efficacy, Spiritual Efficacy, and Another Danger of ‘Male Headship’”

Posted on September 10, 2019 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV) UPDATE: Back in 2014 … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, cult and occult, most recent posts, salvation by grace | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Part 3, Why Many Catholics Still Won’t Leave: Signs and Wonders

Posted on September 20, 2018 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila Part 1, “Introduction”       Part 2, “Family and Institution Grooming” Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Contemplative/Mysticism, cult and occult, end times spiritual survival, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Roman Catholic sex abuse, spiritual survival, survival tools | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

On Discerning the Difference Between Religious Phenomena from Upgraded Old Catholic “Mystical Experiences” and Truth

Posted on August 16, 2018 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Contemplative/Mysticism, cult and occult, education and teaching, end times spiritual survival, Ex-Roman Catholic/Catholicism, most recent posts, Out of the Fire: On Leaving Roman Catholicism, Postmodern/Emergent Church, spiritual survival, survival tools | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mind Control, Part 2: “History and Applications” (article, quotes, comments)

Posted on August 14, 2018 by pbn

My Introduction: What follows is an extensive and detailed article on the history and applications of mind control. I have copied the article’s own introductory quotes as my own (shocking) lead-in to the entire article itself, which is linked here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, cult and occult, devotionals and commentaries featuring technology, most recent posts, technology | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hallmarks of Spiritual Abuse and Sally’s Story (© 2018, Sally Richardson)

Posted on July 20, 2018 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila Introduction: Today’s post is a contribution from a reader in the UK who shares her story of spiritual abuse in several churches. She also presents a list of the hallmarks of such churches, which aligns with the … Continue reading →

Posted in abuse, cult and occult, encouragement in hard times, most recent posts, Postmodern/Emergent Church | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

“Responding to Spiritual Abuse at Authoritarian Churches” by Dale Rudiger

Posted on July 10, 2018 by pbn

Below is another excellent article in a series by Dale Rudiger who blogs at The Ex-Catholic Journal. It is an important read, I believe, not just for ex-Catholics, but for anyone in churches who, by way of false doctrines, desire to … Continue reading →

Posted in abuse, Commentaries, cult and occult, most recent posts, Patriarchy/Complementarianism | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Is It REALLY “God Talking” or Commanding? Three Ways To Know–and What Jesus Said

Posted on April 9, 2017 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila SHORT ANSWER Note–the 3 verses below are taken from the Interlinear Bible, thus, the unfamiliar syntax  and (lack of) punctuation. For three there are bearing testimony in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, cult and occult, Discerning your "spiritual gut", encouragement in hard times, end times spiritual survival, most recent posts, salvation by grace, spiritual survival, spiritual transformation, survival tools | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Power of God’s Word versus the Powers of the Hegelian Dialectic and Synchronized Brainwaves. What?

Posted on March 11, 2017 by pbn

Phyllis Beveridge Nissila And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. (Mark 4:24 KJV). Hear, as in “to … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentaries, Contemplative/Mysticism, cult and occult, encouragement in hard times, end times spiritual survival, most recent posts, spiritual survival, survival tools | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments