A friend found this and is concerned....what do you make of it?

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Permalink Reply by Jef on June 10, 2009 at 7:36pm

What do you make of it? Are you concerned? What has your experience been?

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Permalink Reply by yoda on June 11, 2009 at 1:12am

Considering this message board is listed as one of the websites of concern on the Help page The above sites are run by Raw Food cult leaders who would like nothing more than to encourage you to fast, to buy more supplements, to get a colonic, and to keep you stuck in the isolationist lifestyle that is the raw lifestyle. I think you've come to the wrong place for advice :) We're all cult members according to that site, so you're not going to get an unbiased opinion here.

I'd say thank you to your friend. If you want to explain more, go along the lines of everything in moderation, there are some things generally not accepted in the normal eater world that are more accepted in the raw world (like most of the things in the Dangers section, there are cooked foodists that have colonics), but they are not everyone that eats raw. I don't know what your raw style is, but just highlight all the dangers they list that you have no interest in (you're unlikely to be dabbling in all of them?) it's like anything, there are the extremists and the moderates, and any extremist fundamentalists about anything are a concern, that website is highlighting one of the extremist fundamentalist styles of the raw food movement, you're not like that, and you can still think for yourself, you don't agree with everything they say a raw food cult person needs to do, you're still safe. If you are doing fasts and colonics and supplements, not sure what you can say other than "thanks, but it doesn't apply, I am ok".

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Permalink Reply by Abhi - ThisVeryMoment on June 11, 2009 at 2:45am

Subjective from person to person

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Permalink Reply by laura Coxeter on June 11, 2009 at 1:07pm

Just found out my ex boyfriend sent the link to my mum as he was worried...Now she is MEGA WORRIED. I dont feel equipped enough to argue the point. I know im being carefull with my diet, making sure i take supplements and eat enough, tho i have lost wight so that makes my mum worry. Its so annoying, she is almost having a breakdown about it, thinks i have joined a cult! I want her to meet a 'normal, no -nonsense' raw fooder to see they arent all cranky hippies!
xx

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Sinclair on June 11, 2009 at 2:20pm

There are several things to consider here.... "One" definitnion of the word cult is : An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. Christianity was even considered a cult in its beginning. Oprah was called a cult leader recently just because people don't understand the new path of spirtuality being explained.

This sight list: "Cult is an appropriate and descriptive word for the majority of Raw Foodists, a community of individuals following rules outside of societal norms, giving money and buying unnecessary products at inflated prices, and idolizing self professed experts on how to achieve enlightenment."

My God, buying unnecessary products at inflated prices... you could call main stream marketing a cult if your going that route... talk about gouging prices! Are you sending money to a guru? Are you doing any thing that is unhealthy for you in the raw world? Very unlikely.... are you going to extreme with colonics? I would hope not.

Rereading your post I'm seeing some Key words such as EX boyfriend sending something to your MOM... HELLO....LOL He is causing strife in your life even as an EX.....LOL get the bigger picture... good thing you kicked him to the curb when you did! It might help your arguement if you point THAT out to your mother.... :-) Perhaps you could share with your mom the wonderful things that come with eating a raw food diet :-) ENLIGHTEN YOUR MOTHER... she needs it ;-)

Best of luck to you on your journey!

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Permalink Reply by telefunken on June 11, 2009 at 2:45pm

Tell your friend you are planning to be only 92.3% raw. They will back off and you can explore and test what works for you.

Move forward with an open mind and don't just listen and read.....try things! Start slow and see how it goes. Change direction if and when new information or results conflict with the plan. If your health and energy only improve, following a certain protocol,....stay with it and continue to remain aware of how you are feeling.

Bono: "...and don't let the bastards grind you down" (not saying your friend is a bastard either....just the lyric popped into my head is all.... : )

Be good to yourself too......... ----tele

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Permalink Reply by telefunken on June 11, 2009 at 2:56pm

rulers are good. tape measures...not so much.

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Permalink Reply by Joshua del Mar on June 11, 2009 at 3:01pm

I like that they wrote that a cult is:

Quote:"......According to Merriam Webster:
4: A system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator...."

That sounds just like the current medical/pharmceutical system to me.... :o)

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Permalink Reply by telefunken on June 11, 2009 at 4:05pm

lol.....ironic and accurate. nice find.

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Permalink Reply by Yafa Sakkejha on June 11, 2009 at 4:27pm

We should embrace websites like these and address all of their concerns up-front.

Sites like this just make our case stronger, because all of his points are refutable.

The person raises good points, but all of us have already raised them as we were going raw, and already overcome them, so I don't think it's a big threat.

Anyone who sees that site should just take a look at the thousands of people that Hippocrates, Cousens, etc have helped ... have them speak to those people who have gotten rid of their stage 4 cancers, because they are real, and do exist!

There is little money to be made off the raw movement...so these health professionals, if all they wanted was cash, would probably go and get a job paying much more.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hoover on June 12, 2009 at 1:11am

This is absolute BS! No doubt raw food has created some enemies in the processed food world and this is probaly a front group. This kind of attack is business as usual when it comes to propaganda campaigns.
The first step is attack the leaders by discrediting them, "experts" who are against it are brought in to disprove things then comes the ex-members that were harmed etc etc. bla bla bla.
The more raw food becomes popular the more you will see of this kind of attack.
It's been done before with Jews , blacks new religions etc.
What they are really trying to do is to shake your confidence by this method.
People become disturbed and concerned but what is overlooked is that there is nothing positive mentioned it is all slanted towards the negative and creating doubt so how can it possibly be the truth? What is true for you is waht matters.
Your best weapon is to develop your own certianty and as you are new to this you are at your weakest point so you better gain more knowledge on the subject until then avoid this kind of thing until you can make up your own mind.
If you want to learn about the Jewish religion you don't go to a Neo - Nazi website - just start reading up on Raw food!

The basis of raw food is simply eating pure natural food.

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Permalink Reply by Sara on June 12, 2009 at 12:09pm

Yeah, this site definitely makes me laugh. Read through the raw myths section, and you will see how obvious it is that they don't know what they are talking about. It contains such gems as:

"The raw diet contains virtually no carbohydrates" <<----- really? fruits and veggies contain virtually no carbs? wonder what kind of things all of you other crazy raw foodists are eating.

"many relationships become sexless after one or both partners begin eating raw." <<---- umm yeah, NOT in my experience.

"Existing friends and family will no longer be able to share meals with you, you will no longer be able to eat at non-raw restaurants, rarely will you coerce meat eaters to come to your house for dinner, and nobody wants to make a special meal just for that “one girl” who has an extreme diet. The result, 100% guaranteed is that you will have fewer close relationships as a result of being raw. This is one of the biggest reasons that raw foodists need support groups as though they are sick, because they have chosen an extreme, isolating, and lonely existence!"

I have pot luck dinner parties at my house every Tuesday. When I decided to go raw, I didn't ask anyone to change what they made to suit me. We already had to be aware of certain people's allergies and dietary preferences. I didn't want to make them learn a completely new way of making foods. But you know what? Not only did everyone continue to come to my house, but they also started bringing raw dishes! We still enjoyed meals together, and the circle of people who come over every tuesday continues to expand.
Yes, going to restaraunts is difficult. But I also have a wheat allergy, and it actually makes it easier for me to just custom order a salad, or eat before we go out - or just make other plans. It's about the company, not about the food.

Seriously. This is just someone ranting because they have a personal agenda against raw foodists. Everyone is entitled to their opinions - but they aren't spreading facts, they are just uneducated rants.


Not to mention the fact that they are acting as if you are required by the raw foods movement to fast, cleanse, alter your spiritual practice, and idolize raw foods gurus.
No one is required to do anything.
You are not denied access to raw foods knowledge if you do not conform to our cult.
We are just people with common goals, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other.

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