In October, 1986, I was deceptively recruited by CARP, student branch of the UC. As most former members, who were finally able to free themselves from the manipulative influence of the group, I now am convinced that it is a dangerous, destructive cult.

I was a dedicated core member of CARP from 1986 to 93. I initially was invited to a cup of tea at an "international student club" by two Japanese "students" in San Francisco. A cup of tea that was to cost me 6 1/2 years of my youth, and my family a mountain of emotional and financial resources. -
Through a well designed array of deceptive recruiting and manipulative indoctrination techniques I was systematically stripped of my critical thinking abilities and transformed from a liberal acknostic to an extremist right wing religious fanatic ...within a matter of weeks. I was made to stay illegally in the US, to illegally sell pictures and flowers to raise money - even at subzero temperatures, living with 11 people in a Ford van - without pay, social or medical insurance. I worked 18 to 20 hours on average, 7 days a week, 360 days a year, not allowed to see my family and friends. Imagine spending seven Christmas evenings alone on a cold, lonely street corner selling flowers or pictures. My leader even forbid me to attend a church service with the argument "you're not a Christian!" - I remember sitting in the basement at night crying as my heart was breaking over the pain of loneliness and missing my parents and friends. Another member came down ...and couldn't even relate. Of course you were supposed to relate those sort of feelings to the loneliness of "Father" and "Mother" Moon... -

Through lucky circumstances I was able to snap out of the mindset and leave ...after 6 1/2 years, and after having illegally raised over $600,000 for the group.