Hi all -
I am posting here with something that may be unusual for these forums.
I have been continuously participating in programs at Landmark for about the last four years (since spring of 2019). However, I did the Forum in 2015. The reason I did the Forum is because I had begun dating someone in 2014 who, I learned, was participating in programs at Landmark. Prior to meeting him, I had never heard of Landmark.
I did some research on the internet and, as everyone on here surely knows, much of what I found concerned me. I became convinced it was a cult. (I should note that I wrote off and was completely uninterested in any evidence to the contrary, in any accounts or testimonials that were positive or even neutral about Landmark, no matter how credible the source. I only gave credence to negative/critical coverage.)
After many conversations - and, honestly, arguments - about it with my then-boyfriend (now husband), I decided I needed to do it for myself. That was the only way I could prove to him Landmark was a cult. In the summer of 2015, I did the Forum. I told him I was open to the experience and to having my mind changed about it. While I was open to the experience - if I’m going to spend three days doing something, I may as well try to get something out of it - but, being honest, I wasn’t willing to change my mind about it being a cult. I knew this thing was a cult and there was no way I would be convinced otherwise.
Honestly, it blew my mind. It’s not that I wasn’t skeptical the whole time - I was. However, by the time the weekend was over, not only had I gotten to the root of some intractable relationship issues with friends and family, but I experienced a profound sense of general freedom. I also realized the descriptor “cult” just did not fit this organization.
Despite all of that, I ultimately opted to not continue participating in their programs. Although I didn’t think Landmark counted as a cult, I didn’t care for what I felt were aggressive “sales” tactics. It really put me off. I also asked my boyfriend to not participate for a year. I felt strongly about not having that kind of a presence in my life. Although he was not thrilled, he agreed.
Fast forward four years, my now-husband and I are on the other side of some big reparative work in our marriage (unrelated to Landmark). At the beginning of 2019, he expressed to me an intention to participate in a program with them again. I had no problem with this. In fact, I was actually quite supportive of him doing so. The program he registered into meets for one weekend about every eight weeks. To something of my own surprise, after he completed the first weekend, I decided I want to join him. (If you’re wondering, he did not ask me to do so.) I ended up registering into the same program and we took it together.
My experience in that course was great. It was the summer of that year that I finally resolved an incredibly upsetting thing that happened with my parents (primarily my mom) when I was a senior in high school.
As I mentioned in the beginning, I have been participating in programs at Landmark since then. Which brings me to this post.
I consider myself somewhat interested in cults. I wouldn’t say I’m fascinated by them - I haven’t watched every cult documentary available on streaming services - but I enjoy reading and listening to things about them when they cross my radar. I occasionally pop onto this board and click through some posts.
I’m posting here because I thought people on this forum - perhaps people who have friends or family who participate in Landmark’s programs, or maybe are just interested in it and have some questions - might be interested in getting the perspective of someone who participates in their programs and who has held a range of viewpoints about the organization. Of course, that may not be of interest to anyone, and that’s fine.
It is not my intention or interest to convince anyone of anything about Landmark or to take any of their programs. I just thought I would say hello and offer to provide my take on any things regarding Landmark about which people are curious.
I am posting here with something that may be unusual for these forums.
I have been continuously participating in programs at Landmark for about the last four years (since spring of 2019). However, I did the Forum in 2015. The reason I did the Forum is because I had begun dating someone in 2014 who, I learned, was participating in programs at Landmark. Prior to meeting him, I had never heard of Landmark.
I did some research on the internet and, as everyone on here surely knows, much of what I found concerned me. I became convinced it was a cult. (I should note that I wrote off and was completely uninterested in any evidence to the contrary, in any accounts or testimonials that were positive or even neutral about Landmark, no matter how credible the source. I only gave credence to negative/critical coverage.)
After many conversations - and, honestly, arguments - about it with my then-boyfriend (now husband), I decided I needed to do it for myself. That was the only way I could prove to him Landmark was a cult. In the summer of 2015, I did the Forum. I told him I was open to the experience and to having my mind changed about it. While I was open to the experience - if I’m going to spend three days doing something, I may as well try to get something out of it - but, being honest, I wasn’t willing to change my mind about it being a cult. I knew this thing was a cult and there was no way I would be convinced otherwise.
Honestly, it blew my mind. It’s not that I wasn’t skeptical the whole time - I was. However, by the time the weekend was over, not only had I gotten to the root of some intractable relationship issues with friends and family, but I experienced a profound sense of general freedom. I also realized the descriptor “cult” just did not fit this organization.
Despite all of that, I ultimately opted to not continue participating in their programs. Although I didn’t think Landmark counted as a cult, I didn’t care for what I felt were aggressive “sales” tactics. It really put me off. I also asked my boyfriend to not participate for a year. I felt strongly about not having that kind of a presence in my life. Although he was not thrilled, he agreed.
Fast forward four years, my now-husband and I are on the other side of some big reparative work in our marriage (unrelated to Landmark). At the beginning of 2019, he expressed to me an intention to participate in a program with them again. I had no problem with this. In fact, I was actually quite supportive of him doing so. The program he registered into meets for one weekend about every eight weeks. To something of my own surprise, after he completed the first weekend, I decided I want to join him. (If you’re wondering, he did not ask me to do so.) I ended up registering into the same program and we took it together.
My experience in that course was great. It was the summer of that year that I finally resolved an incredibly upsetting thing that happened with my parents (primarily my mom) when I was a senior in high school.
As I mentioned in the beginning, I have been participating in programs at Landmark since then. Which brings me to this post.
I consider myself somewhat interested in cults. I wouldn’t say I’m fascinated by them - I haven’t watched every cult documentary available on streaming services - but I enjoy reading and listening to things about them when they cross my radar. I occasionally pop onto this board and click through some posts.
I’m posting here because I thought people on this forum - perhaps people who have friends or family who participate in Landmark’s programs, or maybe are just interested in it and have some questions - might be interested in getting the perspective of someone who participates in their programs and who has held a range of viewpoints about the organization. Of course, that may not be of interest to anyone, and that’s fine.
It is not my intention or interest to convince anyone of anything about Landmark or to take any of their programs. I just thought I would say hello and offer to provide my take on any things regarding Landmark about which people are curious.