My friend is being blinded by a cult?
440410
Pray. And don't stop praying.\n\nGod is the only one who knows who can help him. He might tell you what to do or it might take some time for you to see that something is happening, but pray that he will be protected above all else.
228738
First of all, it's nice to hear from Christians that you should respect another's faith.  Secondly, to hear from some of you that your way was is the TRUTH, is nothing new to me.  I understand it is how your faith operates.  Also, I just wanted to point out being brainwashed must involve a collective group of people who believe exactly the same thing.  This is not what you will find in the Wiccan faith.  As 100 Wiccans who or what is "GOD" and you will get 100 different answers.\n\nNow for the real question at hand.  I am distressed to hear that one from our faith of respect and tolerance is trying to "convert" you.  Obviously this person has not done much reading on the actual basic principals of Wicca.  One of these being that we do not convert, we only educate when asked.  This faith is one, which should be sought out and found.  To offer it up freely would be an insult to those who really wish to spend time deciding for themselves where their spiritual path takes them.\n\nAs for how to deal with this, I feel you should be blunt.  Tell her that you are not interested in participating in any rituals with her.  If this is all she has to offer in your time together then apparently you two don't have much in common.  You don't have to be rude, but don't beat around the bush either.  Make it clear what your intentions are as friends.  If one day you decide to walk in this path then you already have a point of contact.\n\nI would like to also say, that I am sorry some of the people who have posted answer have not been very supportive.  No matter what you decide to believe, always know that not one person has the right to make or persuade you to believe otherwise.
368783
Yes, it is possible to pass out from shock and have hallucinations.  Your friend could also be mentally ill.
996276
blindman? idiot? facist?
923964
He's BRAINWASHED her.  Scientologists BRAINWASH.  http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/faq.html#mind
361748
Mormon heresy? OK c'mon now trask, y'know you'll full of it! someone, especially Mormon missionaries, listening to you?\nmy advise, avoid the queen of hearts\n(i.e. brainwashing=bad mojo man)
305868
Visions and hallucinations do not come from God- they come from a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Not knowing the exact circumstances, I'm going to throw out a few ways to get this person help (I appreciate the confidentiality issue).\n\nThe first thing is, has this person ever been diagnosed?  If he/she has, then he/she probably has a diagnosis of a formal thought disorder, such as schizophrenia, or bipolar or depression with psychotic features.  As such, they should have been proscribed an antipsychotic drug of some sort.  As they are not on any pharmacological agent, then I must assume they have either stopped taking the medication or, have never been to a psychiatrist.\n\nIf they have never been to a psychiatrist, then they need to go.  If they have stopped taking their meds, they need to start again.\n\nThis is easier said than done.  See if you can't reason with them.  Try to get them to either go to the doctor or taking their meds (whatever the case may be) as a favor to you.  Or to God.  Or whatever.\n\nWhatever you do, do not challenge the hallucinatiions.  This is only going to put the person on the defensive, and push them even farther into delusional thinking.  Instead, listen to what they are saying, but don't respond to the literel or logical content, respond to the emotion.  Empathize with the emotional content of the hallucination.  Try to "get inside their world," and find whatever reality based bit you can, and work off of that to help lead them back into the real world.\n\nThis is going to be near impossible without meds.\n\nYou mentioned "brain-washing."  If this person is in a destructive cult, then the best thing to do would be to be supportive of that person.  Let them know that you are there for them.  Depending on what has happened with this person, you may be able to take legal action - check with a lawyer or the police.  However, do not call a "deprogrammer"- they are as bad as the cultists they try to "save" people from.  Plus, it's basically kidnapping.  Whatever the type of religion this person is involved in, you're right, you can not restrict their ability to practice that religion.\n\nIf the person is a danger to themselves or others, you may have no other recourse but to put them into a mental institution.  This can be done, against their will, in most states.  It may be the best thing you can do.
137515
You can't see what doesn't exist.  Only the blind faithful "see" anything and that is part of hysterical visions.  That or being drunk or drugged.
543837
The typical Jehovah's Witness knocks on hundreds of doors every year. He has seen almost everything, including naked people and self-proclaimed "Satanists".\n\nThe only embarassing thing you could really say to him (if he has a partner which they usually do):\n"Hey, where have you been? Six months ago we discussed your Watchtower magazine and I told you I needed a ride to the Kingdom Hall and a bible study. You never came back!"\n\nGuaranteed he will turn purple making excuses in front of his partner. If you want to be kind, after a few seconds you should say, oh I'm just messing with you.
269998
All religions are "cults".  They all use very similar tactics in acquiring and retaining members.  There is no difference.  I was raised Catholic.  How did I break free?  I love to read and I read about other religions.  I learned how to use logic and rational thought.  The only help I had were things like books on skepticism & philosophy.  \n\nI have no religious belief now.\n\nIf a friend of yours is involved in a cult... is there anything you can do?  Forceful kidnapping and counter brainwashing frequently doesn't work.  It could also get you arrested.  No fooling.  Still, separation from their group is the best way, just don't force it.  Invite them to a weekend getaway... and then take them somewhere secluded.  Let them relax and get some decent sleep.  Be non-judgemental.  Ask questions about their faith that will make them think, yet don't make fun of it.  Hopefully, without people reinforcing your friends beliefs, they can start to see holes in the belief structure.  Have information about why their religion is a cult or universal cult tactics lying around.\n\nAt the end of your "vacation", let your friend know your concerns and that you are there for them if they ever decide to break free.  That's about all you can do.
498514
I've actually met 2 false prophets myself, and these are your possibilities..\n1) probably a liar wanting attention\n2) schizophrenic\n3) demon-possessed \n\nYour solutions are as following\n1) tell her shes a liar\n2) recommend for counseling either to a pastor/psychologist\n\nBest compromise may be to ask her to see a christian counsoler. Pray about it see what happens.
121247
your friend is crazy, she/he might be looking to increase member to their dwindling religious denomination. i was a practicing catholic; not anymore, i understand to a degree what you are saying. my dear if you feel enlightened by going to different churches than continue to do so. do not listen to your friend, this is exactly what I have said in the past. think for yourself and do what make you happy. think about it what's next your friend is going to say yo uare going to hell for buying the wrong brand of milk?
836496
No!  Not all guys are that blind!  I am lucky to be surrounded with good men who wouldn't give that girl the time of day.  Your friend is indeed blind.  I'm guessing he's also young.
525800
Hi Tari,\nI met the ChristopherBetchel once, a few weekends ago. I was walking to the corner market for a loaf of bread when I had to pass by a neighborhood church. I was somewhat acquainted with the structure as it was always mentioned in the newspaper's community section. Known as "The loft," folks would gather there on Thursday evenings for poetry readings.\nHowever, this day happened to be a Saturday afternoon and a pair of gentlemen greeted me as I walked by. They invited me inside to sample an hour of their presentation. Ok, I went inside and found myself to be a prospective new recruit for their brand of religion.\n\nMost of the pews were filled with hooded monks chanting a haunting rhythm. There were others who like me, were wearing their regular denims. The service began like most others that church-goers would be familiar with. A grand master of ceremonies led the group through some songs and gave a sermon. Near the end of the hour it was time for their ritual of "laying on of the hands." Some of the parishioners would come forward and ask for prayers for their ailments or for a sick grand mum who fell down in the tub. All the hooded dudes whose faces could not readily be seen would all place a hand on the person and their combined energies were presumed to have a strength and expedite a solution to the problem.\n\nOK now, there was another new guy in the pews who was watching eagerly. I recognized ChristopherBetchel from a wanted poster viewed earlier at the post office. When he saw a chance, he approached the ring of conspirators and described how he was always moving around and never able to settle down. The hooded goons closed in upon him, all to make a physical connection. The master of ceremonies began a prayer, a dogmatic mix of logic and pure hocus-pocus. I immediately saw the effects of the procedure as the tension went out of ChristopherBetchel's body. When the beseeching was near an end, the master asked, "Are the brothers ready?"\n\nA suspenseful few moments passed until he almost shouted, "NOW!"\n\nOn that cue, the brothers began to pummel their hapless victim. Continually delivering blows over head and to the solar plexus until ChristopherBetchel was down on the floor getting stomped. After another minute, the grand Pooh-Bah decided the treatment administered was sufficient to induce a relaxing calm that would assuage the nervousness of ChristopherBetchel for a long, long time.\n\nI can't say for certain if ChristopherBetchel got the comeuppance he deserved as I had a loaf of bread to buy and some other errands to do that day. I hope for you Tari, that you do find a sense of closure to this difficult episode of life.\n\n-Justin
470663
try entering a religious cult.
29173
The 'god of this world', i.e. Satan, has blinded them.  \n\n2 Cor. 4:3-6:\nAnd even if our gospel is veiled, it is *veiled only to those who are perishing*. In *their case* the god of this world has *blinded* the minds of the unbelievers, to *keep them* from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
1120908
Well why not try to talk to your Friend and tell him that he might be under tantra and that his guru might be enslaving him for his spiritual growth  tell him to find the truth he must go to mount of lord Shiva (kailash) the mighty guru of all humans and let him pray to lord Shiva to show him the right truthful way and if his master was good or bad i sense he was under great tantra he must purify him self by water of the ganga and begin his trip to the great real guru lord Shiva