I was sent another story from a former student at the Center for Purposeful Living, aka University for Human Goodness. This is a group in North Carolina that spends a lot of time insisting that it is not a cult:
Is CPL a cult? The reader can make his or her own decision. For those who are convinced that CPL is a cult, nothing written here will matter. For others, let them consider that, yes, it is unusual for a group of people to come together, with long-term commitments, be focused on a specific work, create a community based on common values, and then try to transfer to students a “teaching”—all without looking like a cult at first glance. These things do exist at CPL. Yet, there are significant differences from cults.
I have a friend who was involved in it for a little while - I bragged that she was so wonderful that she went to the University for Human Goodness. You have to admit it is a good line.
But she felt that there was something not quite right with it and left. I got the feeling that she thought that the only people who were getting the benefit of her labor were the people in charge...And she is a very, very generous and hard-working lass...But she didn't speak of it much.
That's the general feeling I'm hearing from most who've had contact with this group. I've not personally had any contact, but I don't know of anyone who can say they've had a GOOD feeling of involvement with this group.