Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, 14 May 2010

Excerpt:

Curiously, many of its rituals and symbolism draw its roots from the Kabbalah. In the Kabbalah, the interest in a knowledge of sounds, written letters, and words was intensified. Each sign was given a magical value that had a religious meaning and a numerical relationship. For example, the Hebrew letter alef became the symbol of mankind and the abstract principle of material objects.

Most importantly, Freemasonry taught that they are building a spiritual temple in heaven. Each member regardless of his religion must fashion himself into a perfect living stone to fit into the spiritual temple of God. Indeed, this idea bears considerable similarity to the Tikkun Olam “Repairing the world” which the Kabbalists stress, is every human being’s duty. This concept is referred to as the “Common Gavel.” The common gavel serves as a metaphor for the breaking off the rough and superfluous parts of the stone, so as to be fit for the Supreme Architect’s use. Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of divesting their hearts and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of life: thereby fitting the Mason’s minds as living stones for that spiritual building. The Mason thus, makes himself fit for heaven by bettering himself through eliminating unwanted qualities. This spiritual lesson holds true for any Mason, regardless of his god or religious persuasion. The Kabbalists also refer to this same process as “etcafiyah” – bending the material impulses to the service of the Divine.

Cults, especially those in Hollywood, such as Kabbalah and Scientology, regularly operate to bilk the public out of money, via a so-called leader that employs manipulation, flattery and eventually subtle brainwashing.

They breakdown the victim’s thought process via psychobabble, sleep depravation (including bombarding them with calls that keep them up at night), chanting exercises and sometimes drugs, to make their minds more malleable.

They solicit large donations, stocks, bonds, physical property and intangible assets from cult members, who often don’t realize they are in a cult.

They also fleece the public out of their money via extremely expensive classes that claim to bring out an inner being from you that is better than who you are.

They often push the esoteric, meaning it has to be taught to you, and is not something you can pick up and learn on your own like the Bible.

Beware of any so-called religious or spiritual organization with esoteric teachings; as if it is so clandestine it must only be relayed to you by them, especially in their meeting places, what you will be taught may not be healthy or orthodox.

Along the way in manipulating and subtly brainwashing people, cults have members that develop mental illnesses. Sometimes it is so severe it leads to death, as they are not given the mental care they need in time.

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Today’s Zaman, Turkey - Aug 15, 2008

Sabbateanism, a movement that began 400 years ago in the Ottoman Empire, is the subject of some of the most popular conspiracy theories in Turkey.

Although interest in these theories has considerably increased in recent years, there has been a lack of any academic study of the issue. All the existing theories have been superficially constructed from loose links to certain figures known to have Sabbatean backgrounds. Now, however, those looking for an academic perspective on the Sabbatean phenomenon can turn to the work of historian Cengiz Şişman, who studied the subject for his doctoral thesis at Harvard University and recently published a book on the subject in Turkish titled “Sabatay Sevi ve Sabataycılar: Mitler ve Gerçekler” (Sabbatai Sevi and Sabbateans: Myths and Realities).

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