"Idealistic and open-minded, he was 19 when he saw an advertisement for a free workshop on out-of-body experiences in Sydney. There he met a captivating, charismatic teacher who was thought to be able to read minds. As a leader in gnosticism, the man believed thoughts and feelings smothered true consciousness and, as such, were sinful."
"Every waking moment he monitored his thoughts and urges, trying to destroy his sin. By night he meditated and, wearing a cloak, embarked on rituals and attempts at group astral projection. Lying together, 10 to 15 core followers would intentionally cycle in and out of sleep with the hope of entering higher dimensions and connecting with eternal beings."
"They're subtle, they creep up on you and all of a sudden you don't trust yourself at all,' Mullins says of cult dogmas. Mullins became accustomed to being racked by guilt and self-criticism, set against a backdrop of urgency: these were end times and this was their last shot at redemption."
Dave Mullins joined a gnosticism-based cult at age 19 after attending a workshop on out-of-body experiences in Sydney. Led by a charismatic teacher claiming mind-reading abilities, the group believed thoughts and feelings were sinful and prohibited members from drugs, nightclubs, and sexual pleasure. Followers engaged in nightly meditation, rituals, and attempted group astral projection to access higher dimensions. The cult used false prophecies, guilt manipulation, and end-times urgency to maintain control. Members labored on projects only to have them repurposed for the leader's benefit. After 10 years, including establishing the sect in Toronto, Mullins eventually left. Now 48 and a psychologist, he reflects on how cult dogmas subtly erode self-trust and personal judgment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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