Warning: Beware Potential Cults

As this article is proofread, an apology is appropriate for its length. But it is desirable and necessary to be thorough in matters of spirituality.

From the purely mystical perspective, a number of challenges present themselves in the examination of the words of this "teacher." (His egoname is James Twyman.) The whole thing has a certain cultlike feel about it. But I do not know enough to state this dogmatically, so remain open to future input. It is cultlike only because the man tends to talk far too much about himself and his experiences. A truly enlightened man would never draw so much attention to himself-- much less, make the whole message about himself and his "special revelation."

Perhaps it is possible to be a bit too careful regarding these matters, but it is very much preferable to err on the side of caution rather than carelessness. Also, as is true of so many in our culture, but never true of the enlightened, he seems to think that geography has something to do with truth or revelation. God is, of course, no more present or active in Israel than in your own home or front yard. He even goes so far as to speak of the "energy radiating from that sacred ground," which is really not true. Divine energy arises from the heart, and never comes from "ground." As far as the sites where the events of Jesus' life occurred, they cannot be pinpointed with accuracy, although there are a few confllicting claims. The Spirit of Christ was totally set against any attention being paid to the man Jesus, which was missing the entire point that the same Spirit of Love lives within you and me.

He mentions Jewish and Muslim "sacred sites," and again repeats the statement that there was something special about the "sites." There is no advantage to any kind of "sacred site," but especially not if they originate with these archaic and warbased cultures. These religions have, on the whole, proved to be unspiritual, and land has always meant much more to these cultures than God. Although most are impressed by them, as the whole culture seems enamoured of their mystique, they are more cultural and human paths, legalistic ones, than spiritual. Again, he referred to the "holiness that runs through this holy land." Holiness does not run through "land," but through heartminds. And it is this error that has caused this area to be so blood-soaked throughout history.

He then speaks of his many "psychic children" coming to him. I am usually a bit suspicious of "visionary experiences," especially when a self-proclaimed teacher points so much attention to himself. What are these "psychic children"? (This might be another clue, for a cult always has a lingo unknown to outsiders.) This sounds much like his unhealthy inner "parent" speaking. A cult always wants to give you a "daddy," or wants to be yours!

Another thing: A couple of decades ago, I came into touch, and even studied with, a guy who said that he belonged to a group called "the Emissaries of Light." This might not be the same group; and it might just be coincidence, but this group, back then, was explored and discovered to be a cult.

Some of the language of the letter implies that the guy sees people as divided between the "beloveds" and others. If this is not a cult, it could well be the beginning of one. And what is with this name, "spoonbenders"? To most, this implies an unhealthy emphasis on psychism in place of mysticism. Why did he choose this odd name? It reminds me of the Course in Miracles, which is seriously overnamed; it's as if the book is going to teach you how to engage in the miraculous, which the book definitely does NOT do. They both strike one as mere "p.r." names. He even refers to the "flow of miracles," which certainly plucks the heartstrings of the desperate, the poor, and the sick. But this, too, strikes one as mere public relations, since real miracles are, by definition, extremely rare, and it is seriously doubted that this man is a source of them. He can no more allow miracles than can the book. Both make false promises, the very stock-in-trade of cults.

Of course, it can be argued that life itself is a miracle, etc., but the word is not understood in that way in a religious context.

He then describes an imaginary visualization which has a couple of earmarks of near-halllucination,for he describes "Jeshua" as a "real" man. I don't think that the "man" was 'real,"for he has already admitted that the entire event occurred in his imagination. That fits the dictionary-definition of a "hallucination." Again, if "Jeshua" were real, this man is making an implicit claim to be a true and chosen prophet, for "Jeshua" does not reveal himself, he implies, to just anybody.

He confuses his imaginary experience, probably voluntarily, with reality.

And why the use of the name "Jeshua," if not to imply special, or superior, or at least different, knowledge? (It's a painfully-obvious variation of "Jesus.")

There is some real good in what the man says: For example, his presentation of Jesus as a human person rather than an unreachably high icon is great, as is the recognition that Jesus was not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. That can really be respected, and it is a little-recognized fact!

Inner alarm-bells and red alerts are triggered whenever anyone claims to know "secrets" about reality. "Jeshua" tells this guy that he is about to reveal "the secrets of heaven and earth" to him. But he never quite says what these great secrets are. This is a common ploy of occultists to keep their readers coming back for more. The truth is, there are never any real "secrets" revealed in such books. Most are not worth the timenergy to read. A mishmash and recycling of platitudes about visualization, positive thinking, and even "love" are recycled. These have been discussed a thousand times before, and do not constitute "secrets." Like many cults, the promises made are glowing, and point to spiritual heights well beyond the actual presentations. What is NOT there, what is merely implied, is richer by far than what is actually there.

It is also suspicious when any person claims to have had divine revelation. This is the claim made by this guy. If you question anything that he says, you are not just questioning a man; you are doubting, even denying, God or Jesus. For the whole "revelation" is claimed to be, not of human origin, but straight from the mouth of God or Jesus! This is the technique of mind-control or mind-influence used by every other cult since the beginning. It marks most of the over one thousand cults now active in the United States. It is a rather pathetic last resort. It is a desperate argument, probably hiding imperfections, to say, "I didn't say [write] that; Jesus [or God] did." Who could validly question that?

To sum up: This article contains only opinion. These statements are not designed to be statements of unquestionable truth. Setting up dogma is not the intent. It is not necessary fully to reject this guy, or his sincerity. This is only a sharing of honest opinion, based on decades (even centuries) of spiritual specialization. We must always be very careful to educate, and to warn, friends, clients, and students about anything that even vaguely smells like cult-psychology, for that can do untold, unutterable destruction to the Soul and mind. The intent is never to tell you what to do or think. But the best path is simply to leave this guy behind and return to the writings of the great mystics and luminaries of history, for reliable, solid spiritual guidance. This one is too full of himself to be of real use in aiding others to overcome ego. Just an opinion, but an educated one that arises from most painful cult-experience!