Recovery Cult
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jeffd
Nov 5, 2011, 6:43:37 PM11/5/11
to Cults
I have come into contact with a group which I have great reservations
about. It uses the names Building on a Solid Foundation and Power of
Prayer Foundation and its based in Oakland, CA. Seems that each are
registered charities. One is some transitional living program, the
other residential. They have a men's shelter, a women's shelter, and
a shelter for women and children.
They seem to connect to this:
http://teenchallengeusa.com/
though their people claim not to know it.
This claims to have 250 addresses in the US and 1000 worldwide.
Its oriented to homeless substance addicts. They offer a religious
and 12-step Recovery Program.
Residential stays vary from 6 months to 12 months to 18 months. I
have talked now to both men and women from this nexus of groups, a
total of 5 persons. Some on the Internet think the whole thing is a
scam. I have ethical questions about them.
What it sounds like is the program consists of living there for one
month to detox and assimilate. After that its loading into a van each
morning and going out to shopping centers to try and solicit
donations. Everyone in the program who has been there over a month
does this. Their signage makes it sounds like these programs are
doing a great great work and that everyone should support it.
With the last one I explained that I am opposed to Evangelical
Christianity, 12-step groups, and to the concept of Recovery. I
explained that they create the impression that addicts are somehow
morally deficient and they amount to substituting one addiction for
another. People who have been treated with dignity and respect and
given the chance to develop and apply their abilities are not likely
to become substance addicts.
So each day they load into vans. They bring small folding tables.
They have machine gun bullit boxes which are locked shut and have
donations slots cut into them. They have pre-printed recipts for $2
and $5. Since much of the money is change, I wonder how much is
accounted for. I wonder how many people actually do report their
donations to the IRS.
Besides soliciting donations, what the program seems to consist of is
12 step and Bible Study.
"Are you a Chirstian? Do you have a relationship with God? Those
other programs you mention are going to have problems because they are
run by man. Our's is run by God." He had this incredible gleem in
his eyes.
Is this ethical? Is it legal? Where are the actual lines? I think
the presumption of sinfulness and deficiency upon which the Recovery
Movement and the Evangelical Christian Movement rest make it a
situation ripe for abuse. I think there may be an effective fraud
here in how they are raising money too.
Their signage is made with a Xerox machine. It lists a broad
geographical area that they serve. This service is that their
donations solicitors can also be recruiters. One can be accepted into
the program and get a ride back with them in the van. Isn't it sad
that this is what our country has come to.
What do you think?
Jeff
about. It uses the names Building on a Solid Foundation and Power of
Prayer Foundation and its based in Oakland, CA. Seems that each are
registered charities. One is some transitional living program, the
other residential. They have a men's shelter, a women's shelter, and
a shelter for women and children.
They seem to connect to this:
http://teenchallengeusa.com/
though their people claim not to know it.
This claims to have 250 addresses in the US and 1000 worldwide.
Its oriented to homeless substance addicts. They offer a religious
and 12-step Recovery Program.
Residential stays vary from 6 months to 12 months to 18 months. I
have talked now to both men and women from this nexus of groups, a
total of 5 persons. Some on the Internet think the whole thing is a
scam. I have ethical questions about them.
What it sounds like is the program consists of living there for one
month to detox and assimilate. After that its loading into a van each
morning and going out to shopping centers to try and solicit
donations. Everyone in the program who has been there over a month
does this. Their signage makes it sounds like these programs are
doing a great great work and that everyone should support it.
With the last one I explained that I am opposed to Evangelical
Christianity, 12-step groups, and to the concept of Recovery. I
explained that they create the impression that addicts are somehow
morally deficient and they amount to substituting one addiction for
another. People who have been treated with dignity and respect and
given the chance to develop and apply their abilities are not likely
to become substance addicts.
So each day they load into vans. They bring small folding tables.
They have machine gun bullit boxes which are locked shut and have
donations slots cut into them. They have pre-printed recipts for $2
and $5. Since much of the money is change, I wonder how much is
accounted for. I wonder how many people actually do report their
donations to the IRS.
Besides soliciting donations, what the program seems to consist of is
12 step and Bible Study.
"Are you a Chirstian? Do you have a relationship with God? Those
other programs you mention are going to have problems because they are
run by man. Our's is run by God." He had this incredible gleem in
his eyes.
Is this ethical? Is it legal? Where are the actual lines? I think
the presumption of sinfulness and deficiency upon which the Recovery
Movement and the Evangelical Christian Movement rest make it a
situation ripe for abuse. I think there may be an effective fraud
here in how they are raising money too.
Their signage is made with a Xerox machine. It lists a broad
geographical area that they serve. This service is that their
donations solicitors can also be recruiters. One can be accepted into
the program and get a ride back with them in the van. Isn't it sad
that this is what our country has come to.
What do you think?
Jeff
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