Comments on: Mankind Project goes transparent http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/ A College Psychology Professor's Observations About Public Policy, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, and Religious Issues Thu, 24 May 2012 04:09:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eyes wide open http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-457336 Eyes wide open Tue, 01 May 2012 22:20:46 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-457336 This forum is useless. It is like talking about living in a city with people who have only visited one part of that huge city then returned, some thought it amazing and beneficial while others hated it, thought it terrible-evil-dangerous and are sure that nobody should ever go to live or even visit the place. Worse, some who know nothing of fact, never been there, only heard this or that (gossip) about it...challenge and degrade (call them liars) those who have seen the positive aspects of the city and the results in the lives of those who go and return then apply what they have learned where they live to make their home, village, town, city, or community a better place. So, consider, that YOUR perspective is only seen through YOUR experiences and YOUR personal bigotry...and that BIGOTRY leads you to do all the things that make the world a worse place rather than a better place. Having faced death on many occasions and having accepted that I was not going to make it on several, I learned an important concept: IN THE END, NOTHING MATTERS IN THIS LIFE EXCEPT HOW YOU TOUCH THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU. So, please consider that you are making assumptions and holding ideas that are only true for you. Our opinions are not the end all and our opinion is sooooooo BIASED that it really is useless to pour it out on others, especially if it is centered in low grade emotions of hatred, fear, anger, etc. Because as the old saying goes: THEY PROBABLY WON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, AND THEY PROBABLY WON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID...BUT, THEY WILL NEVER FORGET THE WAY YOU MADE THEM FEEL. So, next time you want to say or do something... consider how you touched the lives of those around you as death brings it all down to that and NONE ESCAPE DEATH. This forum is useless. It is like talking about living in a city with people who have only visited one part of that huge city then returned, some thought it amazing and beneficial while others hated it, thought it terrible-evil-dangerous and are sure that nobody should ever go to live or even visit the place. Worse, some who know nothing of fact, never been there, only heard this or that (gossip) about it…challenge and degrade (call them liars) those who have seen the positive aspects of the city and the results in the lives of those who go and return then apply what they have learned where they live to make their home, village, town, city, or community a better place.

So, consider, that YOUR perspective is only seen through YOUR experiences and YOUR personal bigotry…and that BIGOTRY leads you to do all the things that make the world a worse place rather than a better place.

Having faced death on many occasions and having accepted that I was not going to make it on several, I learned an important concept: IN THE END, NOTHING MATTERS IN THIS LIFE EXCEPT HOW YOU TOUCH THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU.

So, please consider that you are making assumptions and holding ideas that are only true for you. Our opinions are not the end all and our opinion is sooooooo BIASED that it really is useless to pour it out on others, especially if it is centered in low grade emotions of hatred, fear, anger, etc. Because as the old saying goes: THEY PROBABLY WON’T REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, AND THEY PROBABLY WON’T REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID…BUT, THEY WILL NEVER FORGET THE WAY YOU MADE THEM FEEL. So, next time you want to say or do something… consider how you touched the lives of those around you as death brings it all down to that and NONE ESCAPE DEATH.

]]> By: StraightGrandmother http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-453900 StraightGrandmother Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:14:28 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-453900 @Proud Wife, hmmmm, hmmmmm, well... your comment seems fake. IMHO, It appears to be written by someone who is out recruiting for the organization. At first I was going to copy and paste the exact sections that set off red flags, but I decided against that, as I would not want to show you what to change to come across as a more authentic, "Proud Wife." @Proud Wife, hmmmm, hmmmmm, well… your comment seems fake. IMHO, It appears to be written by someone who is out recruiting for the organization. At first I was going to copy and paste the exact sections that set off red flags, but I decided against that, as I would not want to show you what to change to come across as a more authentic, “Proud Wife.”

]]> By: Proud Wife http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-453771 Proud Wife Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:22:54 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-453771 Hmmm. Well, my husband attended MKP weekend about 5 years ago. Yes, the carpet work may have been destructive, only because the "need" that was identified at the time was to "challenge" his father's memory rather than to "forgive" his father for his violent deeds. He had this insight about 3 years later. However, he wasn't really in a forgiving mood at that time in his life, and I'm not sure they could have made that unfold in any authentic way at that time in his recovery. His immediate reaction, after ending the weekend on Cloud 9, was to come completely unglued, but prior to that weekend, he was all screwed up anyway. If he had attended a church retreat, which he had tried, it would not have touched the raw part inside that needed to be confronted. MKP New Warrior Weekend peeled him open like a can of sardines, no putting that lid back on. Was I thrilled? Well, all I could come up with to say at the Graduation was "I'm looking forward to more progress, because that first stuff was great - (even if the 10 days between the weekend and graduation were not supported well. To their credit, they embraced my feedback and implemented a follow up program, sharing contact #'s of alumni wives, for wives of the graduates.) Part of me was definitely overwhelmed by his coming home so shaken up. But in the long run, the MKP weekend, and then the followup Igroup training, which was very well facilitated, led to him attending his I-group every week for 3 years without missing. This guy never went out of the house after work, let alone went to sit in circle with men. The payback is that my husband is no longer automatically suspicious of, or resistant to men he meets, unlike before MKP. This improvement alone really helps in all aspects of life. Perhaps it reflects self love as much as it does acceptance (love) of his fellow man. He found out how much he had in common - the vulnerabilities, shame, fear, doubt, anger, jealousy, resentment...etc.... with all other men. This realization, fostered by these weeks and weeks of I-group attendance, healed something inside him that was probably broken in his own father and now, has been converted into something positive rather than negative to be passed down. In addition, he has confronted his alcohol dependency, he has altered evasive behaviors that have hampered communication in our marriage, he has become more capable of expressing his own needs, become more committed to meeting my needs, addressed rage behavior, realized his tendancy and reasons for reacting with emotional withdrawal and learned new alternatives, branched into other self-help reading and group training, attended Couples Weekend with me (another MKP program) and the list goes on and on. Basically, attending MKP allowed him to start the work of a lifetime, repairing a lifetime. If we had continued on the road we were on prior to MKP, we'd probably have really screwed up our kids and/or gotten divorced, which would have been a tragedy. Instead we are on 20+ years with an intact family, he is able to correct his own path when he gets thrown off, or hear feedback from me or our kids without becoming aggressive or dangerous to us or to himself. Oh! I forgot to mention, he has weaned off of all antidepressant meds as well, which he relied on for years despite their failure to be effective. I'm grateful and a fan of the sincere individuals who are the heart and soul of MKP. As for transparency - he would not have attended if he knew what he would be asked to do - but he was totally won over by the process. If others wish to know and ask questions, telling them is not a big deal. Men who have not attended a weekend cannot usually join an I-Group, for the safety of the men in the group. And it's not a replacement for therapy. My own brother is not a candidate for this work due to his mental health, and I can see how it could be dangerous to men in certain states of depression. And my final comment is that the man who attends and chooses how seriously to pursue his self-repair work, is the one who ultimately determines the success or failure of his MKP experience. I am sure there are men who never let their guard down to deal with their inner trauma, and who twist the MKP identity into something warped. All I can say is that's not my husband's experience and as his wife I'm proud of how he used MKP as a springboard to greatness as a man and husband and brother and DAD. Hmmm. Well, my husband attended MKP weekend about 5 years ago. Yes, the carpet work may have been destructive, only because the “need” that was identified at the time was to “challenge” his father’s memory rather than to “forgive” his father for his violent deeds. He had this insight about 3 years later. However, he wasn’t really in a forgiving mood at that time in his life, and I’m not sure they could have made that unfold in any authentic way at that time in his recovery. His immediate reaction, after ending the weekend on Cloud 9, was to come completely unglued, but prior to that weekend, he was all screwed up anyway. If he had attended a church retreat, which he had tried, it would not have touched the raw part inside that needed to be confronted. MKP New Warrior Weekend peeled him open like a can of sardines, no putting that lid back on. Was I thrilled? Well, all I could come up with to say at the Graduation was “I’m looking forward to more progress, because that first stuff was great – (even if the 10 days between the weekend and graduation were not supported well. To their credit, they embraced my feedback and implemented a follow up program, sharing contact #’s of alumni wives, for wives of the graduates.) Part of me was definitely overwhelmed by his coming home so shaken up. But in the long run, the MKP weekend, and then the followup Igroup training, which was very well facilitated, led to him attending his I-group every week for 3 years without missing. This guy never went out of the house after work, let alone went to sit in circle with men. The payback is that my husband is no longer automatically suspicious of, or resistant to men he meets, unlike before MKP. This improvement alone really helps in all aspects of life. Perhaps it reflects self love as much as it does acceptance (love) of his fellow man. He found out how much he had in common – the vulnerabilities, shame, fear, doubt, anger, jealousy, resentment…etc…. with all other men. This realization, fostered by these weeks and weeks of I-group attendance, healed something inside him that was probably broken in his own father and now, has been converted into something positive rather than negative to be passed down. In addition, he has confronted his alcohol dependency, he has altered evasive behaviors that have hampered communication in our marriage, he has become more capable of expressing his own needs, become more committed to meeting my needs, addressed rage behavior, realized his tendancy and reasons for reacting with emotional withdrawal and learned new alternatives, branched into other self-help reading and group training, attended Couples Weekend with me (another MKP program) and the list goes on and on. Basically, attending MKP allowed him to start the work of a lifetime, repairing a lifetime. If we had continued on the road we were on prior to MKP, we’d probably have really screwed up our kids and/or gotten divorced, which would have been a tragedy. Instead we are on 20+ years with an intact family, he is able to correct his own path when he gets thrown off, or hear feedback from me or our kids without becoming aggressive or dangerous to us or to himself. Oh! I forgot to mention, he has weaned off of all antidepressant meds as well, which he relied on for years despite their failure to be effective. I’m grateful and a fan of the sincere individuals who are the heart and soul of MKP. As for transparency – he would not have attended if he knew what he would be asked to do – but he was totally won over by the process. If others wish to know and ask questions, telling them is not a big deal. Men who have not attended a weekend cannot usually join an I-Group, for the safety of the men in the group. And it’s not a replacement for therapy. My own brother is not a candidate for this work due to his mental health, and I can see how it could be dangerous to men in certain states of depression. And my final comment is that the man who attends and chooses how seriously to pursue his self-repair work, is the one who ultimately determines the success or failure of his MKP experience. I am sure there are men who never let their guard down to deal with their inner trauma, and who twist the MKP identity into something warped. All I can say is that’s not my husband’s experience and as his wife I’m proud of how he used MKP as a springboard to greatness as a man and husband and brother and DAD.

]]> By: Slapshotgoon http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-306131 Slapshotgoon Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:37:36 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-306131 As a mental health clinician I have serious concerns about the MKP. I have had friends become involved and thus began to research this organization. There are numerous problems with the way MKP conducts itself as an organization, and I strongly encourage people to stay away from any involvement with them. Their interpretation and implementation of Jungian and other Gestalt therapies are quite misguided. While not the most overtly harmful of groups/cults, they are nonetheless an organization that uses (somewhat) subtle mind control techniques to indoctrinate it's membership. They also claim to not conduct therapy to avoid liability, but nonetheless try to align their tactics with references to Jung and Gestalt therapy in an effort to legitimize their "work". This is confusing to the lay person, and potentially harmful to anyone, especially to people who are emotionally vulnerable, as most of us are on some level. I liken this group to a type of pyramid scheme cloaked in a type of "self-help" new-agey type movement. They have promised transparency when faced with criticism and legal action, but have yet to follow through with making changes. What is also particularly disturbing to me is that there are numerous licensed clinicians who are members of this cult, and who see no harm in recommending the MKP to their clients. Even with the best of intentions, this is highly suspect and unethical--and probably illegal in most states. Yes, there are people out there who claim that it changed their lives and made them better people. But you don't need to join a mind control organization to improve your life and make yourself a better person. As a mental health clinician I have serious concerns about the MKP. I have had friends become involved and thus began to research this organization. There are numerous problems with the way MKP conducts itself as an organization, and I strongly encourage people to stay away from any involvement with them. Their interpretation and implementation of Jungian and other Gestalt therapies are quite misguided. While not the most overtly harmful of groups/cults, they are nonetheless an organization that uses (somewhat) subtle mind control techniques to indoctrinate it’s membership. They also claim to not conduct therapy to avoid liability, but nonetheless try to align their tactics with references to Jung and Gestalt therapy in an effort to legitimize their “work”. This is confusing to the lay person, and potentially harmful to anyone, especially to people who are emotionally vulnerable, as most of us are on some level. I liken this group to a type of pyramid scheme cloaked in a type of “self-help” new-agey type movement. They have promised transparency when faced with criticism and legal action, but have yet to follow through with making changes.

What is also particularly disturbing to me is that there are numerous licensed clinicians who are members of this cult, and who see no harm in recommending the MKP to their clients. Even with the best of intentions, this is highly suspect and unethical–and probably illegal in most states. Yes, there are people out there who claim that it changed their lives and made them better people. But you don’t need to join a mind control organization to improve your life and make yourself a better person.

]]> By: Anonymous39 http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-274961 Anonymous39 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:25:11 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-274961 Not posting my name so my husband doesn't get called out. WRT the original point of the article: my husband went on the weekend about a month ago. I'm very unhappy with the commitment he made to them / they extracted from him about keeping everything secret without discussing how I felt about having secrets in our marriage. It's actually quite fuzzy, they said, "You can share your personal experience," (which most people take to mean the GUTS work) "...but no details." Unclear on what exactly that means, he's shared only maybe 1 hour of his 2-1/2 day weekend. I've been EXTREMELY upset since then and have spoken to several of the men involved locally. Quite a few are surprised that all the details aren't posted on their web site, so word of this must have gotten around. Of course if you look you'll find a worthless 1-page FAQ and that's it. So it has never been implemented, and men are both told to keep it a secret "especially [from] women, they wouldn't understand mens rituals", and required to sign what is essentially a non-disclosure agreement before they can attend the weekend. Not a Christian, but sure as hell not happy either... Not posting my name so my husband doesn’t get called out.

WRT the original point of the article: my husband went on the weekend about a month ago. I’m very unhappy with the commitment he made to them / they extracted from him about keeping everything secret without discussing how I felt about having secrets in our marriage.

It’s actually quite fuzzy, they said, “You can share your personal experience,” (which most people take to mean the GUTS work) “…but no details.” Unclear on what exactly that means, he’s shared only maybe 1 hour of his 2-1/2 day weekend.

I’ve been EXTREMELY upset since then and have spoken to several of the men involved locally. Quite a few are surprised that all the details aren’t posted on their web site, so word of this must have gotten around. Of course if you look you’ll find a worthless 1-page FAQ and that’s it. So it has never been implemented, and men are both told to keep it a secret “especially [from] women, they wouldn’t understand mens rituals”, and required to sign what is essentially a non-disclosure agreement before they can attend the weekend.

Not a Christian, but sure as hell not happy either…

]]> By: Warren http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-259065 Warren Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:27:46 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-259065 Greg: Thanks for the advice, clearly offered with the intent to share your perspective. Greg: Thanks for the advice, clearly offered with the intent to share your perspective.

]]> By: Greg http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-258892 Greg Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:23:10 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-258892 I joined this cult a few years ago. Thankfully, I got out of it, but not before much damage was done. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and biblical principles you should stay far away from this New Age group. If you want to practice rituals that are forbidden in scripture, the Mankind Project is the place for you. If you want to invoke and summon the energies of earth & sky spirits, you'll have plenty of opportunity in the Mankind Project. If you want the judgment of Almighty God to fall upon you and your descendants, by all means, join this New Age cult. I want to strongly discourage, in a most serious manner, everyone reading this from participating or joining in the Mankind Project. At the graduation ceremony, I ignorantly told people, "Don't walk, but run to MKP." Now I'm begging you, "Stay away from this group." If you're currently a "Christian" member of MKP, I pray that you'll reconsider your affiliation with them. MKP rituals, ceremonies, and spell-casting does NOT harmonize with Christianity in anyway. Please be advised. Truly, Greg I joined this cult a few years ago. Thankfully, I got out of it, but not before much damage was done. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and biblical principles you should stay far away from this New Age group. If you want to practice rituals that are forbidden in scripture, the Mankind Project is the place for you. If you want to invoke and summon the energies of earth & sky spirits, you’ll have plenty of opportunity in the Mankind Project. If you want the judgment of Almighty God to fall upon you and your descendants, by all means, join this New Age cult.

I want to strongly discourage, in a most serious manner, everyone reading this from participating or joining in the Mankind Project.

At the graduation ceremony, I ignorantly told people, “Don’t walk, but run to MKP.” Now I’m begging you, “Stay away from this group.”

If you’re currently a “Christian” member of MKP, I pray that you’ll reconsider your affiliation with them. MKP rituals, ceremonies, and spell-casting does NOT harmonize with Christianity in anyway. Please be advised.

Truly,
Greg

]]> By: Devildog78 http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-250142 Devildog78 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:14:19 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-250142 There's no need for that sir. Keep in mind that I do not believe in a Higher Power or Higher States of Consciousness. I don't believe in any Hierarchical system outside of the organization of people and the greater society. I view all religions and forms of spirituality as a falsehood and I don't feel that I need a group of SEARCHERS to help me find my way towards an enlightened life. I ride alone, on my own path and control my own destiny. There's nothing for me to learn from MKP, no anger I need to get in touch with, no wounds I am not already working on to heal myself and no reason for me to compartmentalize my battles into rituals. For me, every day is a ritual, a celebration and a test. I live for the moment and express my feelings and desires when I have them. Mankind Project doesn't serve me because I am an individual. If I error and my own actions fail me and those I love, I learn from them and try my hardest not to repeat them. MKP unfortunately would be redundant for me and if anything a clear example of going about the wrong way to find the right answers. My own goals may share a great deal of commonality with the core of MKP's mission but I do not agree with the path they are taking. Therefore, I shall not follow that path and will carve my own. No matter how hard it may be, at least I know it's mine. There’s no need for that sir.

Keep in mind that I do not believe in a Higher Power or Higher States of Consciousness. I don’t believe in any Hierarchical system outside of the organization of people and the greater society. I view all religions and forms of spirituality as a falsehood and I don’t feel that I need a group of SEARCHERS to help me find my way towards an enlightened life. I ride alone, on my own path and control my own destiny.

There’s nothing for me to learn from MKP, no anger I need to get in touch with, no wounds I am not already working on to heal myself and no reason for me to compartmentalize my battles into rituals. For me, every day is a ritual, a celebration and a test. I live for the moment and express my feelings and desires when I have them. Mankind Project doesn’t serve me because I am an individual. If I error and my own actions fail me and those I love, I learn from them and try my hardest not to repeat them.

MKP unfortunately would be redundant for me and if anything a clear example of going about the wrong way to find the right answers.

My own goals may share a great deal of commonality with the core of MKP’s mission but I do not agree with the path they are taking.

Therefore, I shall not follow that path and will carve my own. No matter how hard it may be, at least I know it’s mine.

]]> By: Bradjmx4 http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-249072 Bradjmx4 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:57:32 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-249072 The secrecy of the weekend has been exposed for years. The only impact that it has is the open opportunity for people that know nothing about it to jump to conclusions and generate assumptions. I am by far upper middle class anything. I'll pay for your weekend. Let me know what center and training. I'll have the deposit there the day you sign up. I will even fly out there and staff the weekend. It's the upper class members that support the finances and help others attend. I went 10 years ago and was sponsored in by other members I didn't know. I will return the favor. The only stipulation is that you go with an open mind. Bring all the judgments you want. The secrecy of the weekend has been exposed for years. The only impact that it has is the open opportunity for people that know nothing about it to jump to conclusions and generate assumptions.

I am by far upper middle class anything. I’ll pay for your weekend. Let me know what center and training. I’ll have the deposit there the day you sign up. I will even fly out there and staff the weekend.

It’s the upper class members that support the finances and help others attend. I went 10 years ago and was sponsored in by other members I didn’t know. I will return the favor.

The only stipulation is that you go with an open mind. Bring all the judgments you want.

]]> By: Devildog78 http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/08/24/mankind-project-goes-transparent/comment-page-1/#comment-249045 Devildog78 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:22:44 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=4752#comment-249045 Bradjmx4, Hey this sort of thing may float your boat and be beneficial to you and others like you but considering that MKP's secrecy policy is now defunct, there's a lot of info about the retreat, it's methods and it's effectiveness. There are a great deal of men who found this retreat to be ineffective and if anything, fraught with Pseudo-Psychology and New Age Spiritualism. You know, at first I thought this retreat was a good thing and very much what Men in this hyper-feminized society need. But, after doing extensive research and talking to a few MKPers about it and knowing their current lifestyles, I now see what it is all about. Mind you, I never once called MKP a Cult. Those are your words, not mine. It's not a Cult. Far from it! It's the kind of Postmodern group therapy that runs rampant in the New Age Spiritualist Community. To be specific, I personally know 5 men who attended MKP and all of them are still living basically the same life they lived before attending and participating in MKP. The only difference I have seen is that they now have a few buzz terms to justify their lifestyles. Wow, big whoop! Next time one hires a prostitute, cheats on his wife, cheats on his boyfriend or lies to his family, friends and lovers about his lifestyle I'll be sure to know that MKP has helped him lead a life of integrity and honesty because now he has an honest acceptance that those dishonest actions are a part of his nature. Sorry, that just doesn't fly with me! You can bang on drums, meditate all you want and participate in as many rituals as you like, but if you don't take accountability and change certain ways you are living which are destructive to he relationships of those closest to you, you really aren't making any progress towards being a better man. FYI - I grew up surrounded by all of these New Age ideas and know first hand the major gap in what these practitioners think and how they act. I also don't think that MKP is some seriously dangerous thing. I've been through Basic Training and MKP doesn't even come close to that. It's just a series of symbolic and ritualistic events crammed into a weekend retreat. Yeah, and it costs on average $650.00 to attend! Already, with that kind of price tag it excludes the majority of the male population. So convince me that MKP isn't a luxury for the upper middle class who have time and money to spend on this kind of "self help" and I will begin to take it seriously. Bradjmx4,

Hey this sort of thing may float your boat and be beneficial to you and others like you but considering that MKP’s secrecy policy is now defunct, there’s a lot of info about the retreat, it’s methods and it’s effectiveness. There are a great deal of men who found this retreat to be ineffective and if anything, fraught with Pseudo-Psychology and New Age Spiritualism.

You know, at first I thought this retreat was a good thing and very much what Men in this hyper-feminized society need. But, after doing extensive research and talking to a few MKPers about it and knowing their current lifestyles, I now see what it is all about.

Mind you, I never once called MKP a Cult. Those are your words, not mine.
It’s not a Cult. Far from it! It’s the kind of Postmodern group therapy that runs rampant in the New Age Spiritualist Community.

To be specific, I personally know 5 men who attended MKP and all of them are still living basically the same life they lived before attending and participating in MKP. The only difference I have seen is that they now have a few buzz terms to justify their lifestyles. Wow, big whoop!

Next time one hires a prostitute, cheats on his wife, cheats on his boyfriend or lies to his family, friends and lovers about his lifestyle I’ll be sure to know that MKP has helped him lead a life of integrity and honesty because now he has an honest acceptance that those dishonest actions are a part of his nature.

Sorry, that just doesn’t fly with me!
You can bang on drums, meditate all you want and participate in as many rituals as you like, but if you don’t take accountability and change certain ways you are living which are destructive to he relationships of those closest to you, you really aren’t making any progress towards being a better man.

FYI – I grew up surrounded by all of these New Age ideas and know first hand the major gap in what these practitioners think and how they act.

I also don’t think that MKP is some seriously dangerous thing. I’ve been through Basic Training and MKP doesn’t even come close to that. It’s just a series of symbolic and ritualistic events crammed into a weekend retreat.

Yeah, and it costs on average $650.00 to attend! Already, with that kind of price tag it excludes the majority of the male population. So convince me that MKP isn’t a luxury for the upper middle class who have time and money to spend on this kind of “self help” and I will begin to take it seriously.

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