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Disaffected
(5,474 posts)Last edited Sun Mar 30, 2025, 12:26 PM - Edit history (1)
A bunch of twaddle, siprits or not.
"Energy doesn't lie" - who knew??
ETA: Perhaps this is a good opportunity to plug (again) Carl Sagan's seminal work "The Demon Haunted World - Science as a Candle in the Dark".
IMO if everyone could read and understand that book, humanity would be in a much more rational and enlightened place.
Be The Light
(85 posts)Response to Be The Light (Reply #14)
sky_masterson This message was self-deleted by its author.
Celerity
(48,938 posts)
Disaffected
(5,474 posts)and it isn't even summer. That name is a good play on words. 
Richard D
(9,648 posts). . . is found in the Algonquin idea of Wetiko.
Amaryllis
(10,188 posts)Richard D
(9,648 posts). . . that there is a contagious mental virus (not in actual sense of a virus) that can easily pass through cultures. It thrives on selfishness, hatred, greed, fear, power, and guilt. The idea entered society through Paul Levy, who wrote a book called "Wetiko--Healing the Mind Virus that Plagues Our World".
Here's a nutshell article from him that goes into it: https://www.innertraditions.com/blog/wetiko-in-a-nutshell
Amaryllis
(10,188 posts)are useful paradigms to make sense of what is happening.
Sequoia
(12,631 posts)I see my local library has a copy of this book. On my To Do list.
Bernardo de La Paz
(53,707 posts)https://themindsjournal.com/wetiko-the-virus-of-egoism-and-selfishness-according-to-native-americans/
It brings to mind the concept of the inner good wolf and bad wolf. Tip: Feed the good wolf. (dunno bout dis site: ) https://goodwolf.org/web/2024/10/10/feeding-the-good-wolf/
DenaliDemocrat
(1,608 posts)It is by FAR the worst of the cluster B personality disorders and is generally untreatable.
I HATE the way the term has been colloquially adopted to just mean a person who is generally an asshole.
Narcissism is far worse than just being a jerk. Dissociation and splitting and actual psychosis are involved. Their lack of empathy and self-awareness makes it especially difficult to treat. They are literally delusional people living in an alternate reality and cannot take accountability even when they want to. The pathology is extreme.
That being said, MOST religions do attribute demonic and occult influences to narcissism.
For me, I have no idea if such things exist. I am Agnostic. I will say this though, if demons are real, people with NPD are likely their play things.
This was probably off topic a bit; however, I HATE how the word narcissist is used today and as a person living with someone afflicted by NPD who basically remains so that I may serve as a human shield for the kids, I try to educate when given an opportunity.
BeerBarrelPolka
(1,483 posts)My ex wife is a diagnosed narcissist. She denies it of course. She's also a member of the born again christian cult. She's a die hard trump supporter to the very end. There is no saving someone like her, nor no reasoning. You are correct in stating they live in an alternate reality. Everything is always about them. They will only "help" you if it helps them. And they 100% of the time keep score and throw up even the slightest of things. There is no fictional evil as bad as a true narcissist. You have my sympathy.
Mossfern
(3,650 posts)My husband of almost 50 years is diagnosed with Cluster B symptoms and is also being treated with meds for diagnosed Bi-polar disorder. For so long I thought that he was just a jerk. I agree that the popular abuse of the word "Narcissist" riles me to no end.
In a way it is contagious because of the effect they have on the psyche of those around them. Not one of my four children hasn't been traumatized and have deep seated psychological problems because of that and my resultant diagnosis of CPTSD. We're all muddling through though with therapy and my husband refuses to get help because according to him, he doesn't need fixing.
DenaliDemocrat
(1,608 posts)Look at Dr Peter Salerno’s work. NPD is mostly genetic
kerry-is-my-prez
(9,734 posts)Unless there is some new study that I don’t know about. It’s been a while since I’ve been in school. Historically, it was considered to be more of an environmental thing and maybe a little bit of genetics involved.
OneGrassRoot
(23,683 posts)Were you aware of her disorder before marrying, or did the diagnosis occur later? I feel for you. Truly. I hope the kids are coming of age fairly soon but, even then, you'll probably always have to protect them to some degree, unless she alienates them completely.
DenaliDemocrat
(1,608 posts)In therapy I was the one called out for my behavior. Narcissists are VERY good at manipulating therapists. It wasn’t until a different therapist saw through the bullshit and started pointing out that MY REACTION to being abused isn’t the problem.
Anyway, diagnostics followed and she was formally diagnosed.
Response to DenaliDemocrat (Reply #3)
littlemissmartypants This message was self-deleted by its author.
Be The Light
(85 posts)He has all the features of the Anti Christ.
alittlelark
(18,969 posts)I Do Not believe in a ‘sky daddy’ - but I Know there is something else in there when narcissists hit the ‘narcissistic rage’ point….. 🥶😱
JanMichael
(25,553 posts)alittlelark
(18,969 posts)It is terrifying when it happens - it can only last a few seconds, but they will be the most terrifying few seconds of your life.
Reminds me of an old Outer Limits episode of people who would look at you and if you looked into their completely white eyes you would die instantly.
DenaliDemocrat
(1,608 posts)Likely caused by their dissociation causing the eyes to dilate. They are “gone” in some moments. They usually will have no memory of what the did or said in this psychotic state. Ask anyone who has lived with a diagnosed pathological narcissist and I promise you they will have stories of the black eyes, vacuous expression, and inability to remember it afterwards.
alittlelark
(18,969 posts)….pretty sure the ‘memory loss’ is often an excuse - sometimes they do remember.
DenaliDemocrat
(1,608 posts)And happens when their behavior cannot be reconciled with the false self. So… they erase it
alittlelark
(18,969 posts)He had been in and out of treatment over the years. The other remembered the incident and seemed to revel in the reaction he received.
Ping Tung
(1,955 posts)
Oneironaut
(5,942 posts)We are in “The Bad Place” for sure.
MineralMan
(148,762 posts)We are the demons, actually. Human nature is the demon.
I can't believe anyone is taking this nonsense seriously.
muriel_volestrangler
(103,344 posts)or have you been persuaded by his spiel? If the latter, what can we do to rescue you?
Maria Shriver, Russell Brand, Maria Menounos, and Ana de Armas are among his devotees. But is he perverting science for popularity?
This is the core of Dispenza’s sales pitch: He used his mind to heal his body, and he can help you do it, too. His website contains no fewer than 40 taped testimonials of people claiming he cured their cancer or their multiple sclerosis or their infertility. Under a tab called “coherence healing,” the site boasts Dispenza and his disciples have “produced profound biological changes in multitudes of individuals around the world” and “observed hundreds of healings from a wide variety of health conditions.” According to a video posted on his website, a higher than average number of his followers suffer from conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases.
In a 2020 interview with podcaster Aubrey Marcus, Dispenza bragged about bringing children onstage at his retreats to cure them of “really serious health conditions.” He claimed to have cured a 76-year-old woman of Parkinson’s. He said his treatments cured illness faster than chemotherapy and that “profound and prestigious universities” in the United States wanted to study his methods.
...
Instead, for much of the early 2000s, Dispenza served as an “appointed teacher” at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment, a New Age spiritual sect in Yelm, Washington, that the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a cult. The sect is led by J.Z. Knight, a former cable TV entrepreneur who claims a 35,000-year-old warrior called Ramtha the Enlightened One came to her in her kitchen in 1977 and has been speaking through her ever since. When she is not (allegedly) making racist or homophobic statements, Knight preaches that people can choose their own realities using only their minds.
Dispenza appears to have become a teacher for the sect as early as 2001, according to an SF Gate article that mentions him teaching a brain chemistry class for the school’s adherents. He was central enough by 2004 to feature in the group’s bizarre documentary What the Bleep Do We Know!?, which has been described as a “mushy self-help manual for gullible people” and a “glitzy recruitment tool.” At some point, however, Dispenza and Knight had a disagreement that led to a lawsuit, and the chiropractor and the cult leader went their separate ways. Dispenza published his first book, Evolve Your Brain, in 2007.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-joseph-dispenza-seduced-america-with-pseudoscience/
If he sounds like a quack, and acts like a quack, then he is a quack.
Disaffected
(5,474 posts)RFK the lesser doesn't hook up with him.
BTW, not surprised to hear this guy is a chiropractor.
littlemissmartypants
(27,036 posts)When sprinkleeninow posted it in Religion on last Sunday and I highly recommend watching it.
As I said then...
Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light and truth is the greatest weapon against manipulation.
Truth, faith and spiritual strength.
Spiritual protection is a necessity.
Awaken, stand firm and choose to walk in the power of truth.
Were my main takeaways.
❤️
wcmagumba
(3,741 posts)I'm not a psychiatrist or anything just see this as common sense belief in my tiny world view....
DET
(1,911 posts)…he is a very compelling speaker. Almost hypnotizing. I can see why he has a following.
littlemissmartypants
(27,036 posts)But it is the communication techniques he's using in his presentation. In particular, for example, the flashing of the dialog with the narration has a hypnotic effect. Nothing new as communication science goes and very effective.
sky_masterson
(584 posts)I found out my BFF of over 40 years has full blown NPD two months ago when My Ladies Mother passed and she was devastated.
My best friend, brother, pal of over 40 years started making moves on her, and when refused. He had a full Narcissistic Collapse and I was the only witness. He screamed at me, begged, attempted to manipulate me. During this collapse I looked dead at him and for the count of 1 Mississippi 2 his face morphed into what looked like a angry sad crying demon Baby and back. I swear I saw what I saw.
They aren't Demons. They are Emotional Parasitic 3 year olds with lives built on lies and manipulation.
kerry-is-my-prez
(9,734 posts)Narcissists (NPD) are severely messed up people but they do not deep down have evil motives. It’s hard to tell the difference but a narcissist cares about what people think of them and sociopaths (ASPD) don’t’. People with ASPD often have a history of animal abuse - which tells you they truly have “no soul” and just operate solely out of a sense of cruelty.
“NPD is characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance and a need for admiration, while ASPD is marked by a disregard for social norms and a lack of empathy or remorse.”
Narcissists are more “bothered” by their disorder because somewhere along the line they will feel some remorse. They have a need for other people. Some people may have more than one personality disorder so people can have both NPD and ASPD.
DSM5
Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
A. Persistent pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, present in multiple contexts and across a wide range of interpersonal situations, as indicated by at least five of the following:
1. Grandiosity:
Has an exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., believes they are superior, has unlimited potential, or is unique)
Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
Believes they are special and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special people or institutions
2. Need for Admiration:
Requires excessive admiration
Entitled to special treatment
Takes advantage of others to achieve their own goals
3. Lack of Empathy:
Is unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
Is envious of others or believes that others are envious of them
Shows arrogant, haughty attitudes or behaviors
B. Impairments in interpersonal functioning:
Significant difficulties in empathy and interpersonal relationships
Inability to maintain stable, satisfying relationships
Lack of insight or willingness to change their behavior
Note:
The disorder is typically diagnosed in adulthood, but may present in adolescence.
Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder may also exhibit traits of other personality disorders, such as histrionic or antisocial personality disorder.
The diagnosis should be made after a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified mental health professional.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)
To receive an ASPD diagnosis, a person must show a continuous pattern of ignoring and violating others' rights, starting from age 15, and must meet at least three of the following criteria:
Failure to conform to social norms and laws
Deceitfulness
Impulsivity or failure to plan
Irritability and aggressiveness
Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others
Consistent irresponsibility
Lack of remorse
When they are a child, they will usually have Conduct Disorder (sort of what could be described as “serious” juvenile delinquency).
Karadeniz
(24,037 posts)made here. Lab experiments have shown that we are creators of good and bad. See book Your Eternal Self. This is why ALL Jesus's parables deal with the soul, Jesus's light in the basket. The hidden messages in the parables don't deal with Jesus going to save your soul, which is why people can't interpret them. People can't see beyond false dogma to find provable truths.
My own spirit world experience was unlike any NDE you read about or see on YouTube. It took me forever to understand that all those reports weren't fake since they weren't like mine and I knew mine was real! It's hard to see beyond one's experience.
If I hadn't discovered The Dead Files on TV, I would have never believed that there actually are dark, negative spirits, usually deceased people's spirits, who can wreck your life, your home, your health. That is way beyond my personal experience.
People want to think their souls are home free thanks to faith in Jesus. Nope. That's far from all Jesus had to say on the subject. Jesus's purpose wasn't to save you, but to show you how to save yourself. One is passive and doesn't help the soul to fill itself with love energy. The other is active, helps the soul develop light energy and help others.