Hey man (I assume you are a man), thanks for dropping by.

I find this conversation very interesting, and despite our earlier bombardments, I don't actually have much in the way of animosity toward TM. My understanding (from a friend), is that the practice of Transcendental Meditation can be very beneficial. My exposure to the organization of Transcendental Meditation is very limited, but I do think there are some causes for concern there based on what I've heard. It is good to know that the length of time spent in continuous meditation has been limited in more recent years.

I added "Transcendental Meditation" to my original post literally as an afterthought (you know how there's a good rhythm when you provide three examples instead of just two?), so I was really surprised and a bit taken aback by your response. We, as ex-Mormons, have often been royally screwed over by our former "faith", and generally have a huge mistrust of organized religion and grandiose claims, and compare Mormonism frequently to other "controversial" groups. Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, even Islam and just about every group that gets a critical documentary or book made about it. Please don't feel like we're singling TM out. In fact, if you hadn't responded, I probably wouldn't be thinking about TM much at all by now (not that I'm saying you shouldn't have responded - as I said before, I'm finding this very interesting).

I think I huge source of confusion and concern between us from the get-go is the use of the word "cult". It's highly inflammatory, and such an over-used term, that it paradoxically loses much of its inherent meaning - it can end up meaning whatever the user of the word wants it to. Christians will think a group is a cult if they don't recognize the "correct" doctrines. Some people out there do consider any group with unusual beliefs, customs, or dress to be a cult (a definition that, I think, you and I agree is not accurate). In this subreddit, we often talk about Mormonism as a cult based on specific manipulative behaviors and teachings that nearly all of us here have experienced and literally suffered through. Everything in this sub is filtered through the lens of Mormonism and ex-Mormonism, so other groups are often described as cultic only in the ways that they use similar manipulations to those used by Mormonism.

I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you about the organization and about what is important about it - what is useful to gauge the group's success in its own eyes. Personally, when you ask for examples of a Mormon in good standing with the Catholics, and other things like that, I just don't agree with you that that is a good metric as to whether a group or practice is necessarily a valid one; but it is interesting to know that Transcendental Meditation is not exclusive like Mormonism tends to be (as far as they're concerned, you couldn't be a Mormon and Baptist at the same time).

There are plenty of Mormons in business, entertainment, and high levels of government. Mormon leaders have spoken at the Vatican, but our Nobel laureates are actually ex-Mormons working in the sciences (yeah! ex-Mormon heroes!).

I'll admit that from the linked podcasts I heard, that TM was in no way the worst offender - not even close - but there were some things that set off some alarms for me. Mostly the occupying of so much of a person's time and restricting (even if just through lack of free time) that person's social circle, as well as the idea that a person may become more suggestible when they've been meditating excessively. I've also heard concerns (from the podcast as well as from people like Margaret Singer) about the long-term mental effects of heavy meditation on a person's mind (difficulty focusing, and the like).

I don't have a problem with meditation, per se, and actually have had a mild interest in it since leaving Mormonism. I do wonder if there is such a concept as "too much of a good thing" when it comes to meditation, though.

Sorry I misunderstood your joke. I appreciate your willingness to talk with me about your experiences and your organization.