“In any case, even the truth, when believed, is a lie.”
Warner Erhard, founder of Erhard Seminars Training (EST) and Landmark Forum
Some like to say that there is no absolute truth. It’s a fun mental exercise, but nobody – absolutely nobody – lives that way. We all act as though what we believe is true. You do, and so do I… all day, every day.
Try a little experiment: when someone tells you that there is no absolute truth, ask them, “Is that absolutely true?”
A good definition of “truth” is “that which corresponds to reality.” That is, something that is true is something that really IS. If I tell you that I ate a unicorn sandwich for lunch today, that statement is either true or false. The reality is that I either did, or did not. For the record, I did not… but you probably knew that.
Many statements about truth can be invalidated by simply looking closely at them. Erhard’s quote can be invalidated by asking “is that true?” Erhard is asking you to believe that what he says is true, even while saying that it is actually a lie. It’s nonsense. Anyone who suggests that truth doesn’t exist is asking you to not believe them when they say it.
The Bible talks a lot about truth. In fact, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Now, let’s be clear: either Jesus was right, or he was wrong. If He was wrong, then we probably shouldn’t believe anything He said. If He was right, then we should believe everything He said.
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Hola! I’ve been reading your site for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston, TX! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic work!
Thanks, KR. I appreciate it!
I am a graduate of the entire basic coursework of Landmark Forum called “The Curriculum for Living” year 2000. I returned in May a decade for a redo of the course. My faith in Jesus had changed and I had made a few “distinctions” since then. At the end of the course they say “I am that I say that I am. I am the possibility of being X,Y, and Z”. I realized that “I Am” is in the Bible: the name of God to Moses burning bush. Also Jesus almost got stoned to death for saying “Before Abraham, I Am.” So basically they are saying that they are self-creating self-Gods! So when I went up to the microphone and said: “The word ‘I am’ is a spiritual word. I’m a created being. I don’t create myself. So I say UNDER GOD, I am the possibility of being…”. Well, that was too much for them to take. I got sequestered by two LF leaders into a little room. “What are you doing here?” “I’m here to do LF.” “What you’re doing is not LF, you’re doing something else.” “But I really want to do this course.” “Every Landmark course is different for different people. For you, your course ends NOW. You’ll have to leave.” So me and Jesus got kicked out. And what a slick and efficient way of doing it. Jesus not welcome in LF!
I got some incredible things out of doing it: I got past the “story” that my mom loved me conditionally based on my school grades, and that my dad didn’t love me because he never gave me physical affection of said that he loved me. I let go of five years of mourning a girlfriend relationship, visited her in Hawaii, and promptly asked out a fellow Landmarker and had a 3.5 year relationship. I also left a dead end job and became a chiropractor, which I never would have done. Those are the “good” results I had.
What you’re getting into is a Godless, existentialist, regression therapy, boot camp, high pressure sales pitch slick marketing campaign, brainwashing event. Following LF I came down with bipolar disorder and my life has been scathed by failures and the after effects of psych drugs. I saw other people getting giddy with bipolar mania in the audience. It triggers something or we received evil spirts or demons during the seminar. My sister went to a psych ward later after she took the course also. Might be something there.
I see it as a tool or a drug, which could be as helpful as it can be dangerous and even addictive. You do get a “Landmark High” coming off of it. I believe the a working relationship with Jesus which is daily, long-standing, and intimate will get you more stable and profound results. Sharing the lives of others for several days straight who all shovel their guts out in complete honesty and make incredible breakthroughs…it’s utterly amazing. You’ll probably be a better person for it. Probably. Homosexuality, satanism, transsexuals eagerly welcome. But JC, not welcome!
Dr. John:
Thanks for sharing your story. It seems important to note that Landmark and Christianity are incompatible, and I appreciate your input. Have a great day!