Comments on: Mankind Project provides journalist with a “very weird weekend”

By: Sonia

Sonia — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:00:19 +0000

Diana I had a similar experience with them closing ranks when I questioned their integrity as a group after my partner became violent with me and I questioned their processes. They are ungodly practices and I thank God that my partner, now fiancé has left the group. My heart truly goes out to you and your traumatic experience. Perhaps a woman’s support group should be formed for the survivors of The Mankind Project.

By: LTE

LTE — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:57:00 +0000

I initiated in a MKP weekend a year ago. My initial experience was extremely positive. My subsequent experience in iGroups has been extremely mixed for some of the reasons mentioned above. Not sure about my commitment going forward. My purpose is not to share personal information, but to keep this thread alive. This is a constructive discussion.

By: jr

jr — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:18:06 +0000

I went through the MKP new warrior weekend about 7 yrs ago. I ended up being re-traumatized (had been abused as a child). Some old post traumatic stress was activated. Took me several weeks to get grounded and feel solid again. Most of the men going through it with me seemed to have had a good experience. Parts of my experience were positive, but the internal backlash from the weekend was brutal. The methods used were highly directive, confrontive, manipulative and a bit cult-like.

By: Diana

Diana — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:08:21 +0000

Jay, Your comment is clear evidence of gross stupidity and a spiritually unconscious mind; and the remarks promote only more separation and judgement between men and women. Makes me wonder if you are young or simply juvenile.

By: Diana

Diana — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:51:00 +0000

I’m writing this reply through a flood of grateful tears, Art. Thank you, thank you, from my heart to yours for sharing your wisdom and compassion. I feel heard and cared about for the first time since this nightmare began. I also feel deep appreciation for your confidence in an intrinsic purpose and sincerity of the mission of MKP. Your faith validates my original faith in this group. I did believe they were sincerely committed to helping men heal and restoring beauty in a mans wounded soul. I was betrayed by my brothers in my darkest hour, but my husband was betrayed even more cruelly, because he has lost yet another piece of his soul. I know judgements are harmful, and have worked on this one for a long time. I understand now the “brothers” who failed and abandoned me have first been failed by their own leadership. Maybe I am still a bit cynical but I believe money and personal control agendas drive this thing. Someone is responsible, but only God can know the truth about this. Today I live by Grace. I have moved on with the help of many Earth Angels who help me heal my deep emotional wounds, and find the strength to face cancer without the support of my husband. Maybe I’m a better person for the long suffering of my family. Bless you Art. Thank you. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God. May you always know the Love you share so generously with others.

By: Jay Rosso

Jay Rosso — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:10:00 +0000

I think women Posting on here is typical jealousy that they want to know about what Men are doing? They can’t believe that Men can actually survive without them and for Micheal’s Comment about this being like the White Party In Palm Springs Its Not at all like that

By: David Roberts

David Roberts — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 02:12:21 +0000

The idea of opening such wounds and healing them while putting a man in touch with the innate power and depth of his manhood is a noble ideal that would seve all in society.

Oh, brother. What drives people to believe this garbage?

By: art gallow

art gallow — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:34:20 +0000

To Diana French — I am so sorry for your grief. I went through the Training Weekend about ten years ago and have a few thoughts to share, mostly to help you understand and heal some of your own sense of betrayal.

The philosophies of Mankind Project are sound and their take on what is “wrong” with men today, I think, is mostly accurate too. Their procedures and policies are, however, naive and ignorant at best, self-serving, harmful and isolating at worst.

Opening decades-old wounds in a man who has built an ego-shell around them is not child’s play nor the proper domain of a 48-hour intensive, even amongst trained therapists let alone those without such skills. The I group is hardly proper follow-up for anyone whose wounds are really brought up. But this is one of the things the New Warrior weekend aims at doing.

The philosophy of exposing and healing such wounds so that a man can be more whole and more healthy and powerful is commendable. Most men are limited greatly — for example in the inability to be emotionally aware, present and sensitive — because of such woundings and poor modeling by father figures early on. The idea of opening such wounds and healing them while putting a man in touch with the innate power and depth of his manhood is a noble ideal that would seve all in society. BUT, what I think happened to your husband, and to so many others who “get in touch” with the fear and pain but are not properly guided through a “balanced” healing is that a man bleeds out the pus of the wound (anger, rage, judgment, etc.) and those men around him applaud. All else in his life be damned. This is not healing, nor loving, nor conscious. In theory, the support system is supposed to maintain the loving balance with reality. Diana, I think his support group, in ignoring you and his family responsibilities, betrayed the ideal more than he, as he was bleeding, they theoretically were not.

Just a few thoughts. I wish you well with your healing. Do not judge either him or the ideal. The failing, I believe, is in howe much men need this healing but how few men, within the Project or not, are capable of providing it beyond an intense weekend of looking into our wounded hearts.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 08:12:07 +0000

It has been over ten years since I attended. And although there were certain positive aspects of MKP, I would not reccomend it. It may not technically be a “cult” or even an “LGAT” there is room for arguement there. But it did have many cult like tendencies. “Group thinking” were men repeat cliches and platitudes men do not truly individuate in such an environment, because most do not do their own cognitive work. The work is rushed, it can be traumatizing, and can cause prolongued regression which can be fairly destructive to an individual, family and community. Real criticism is actually discouraged, yes everyone their offers their two cents about this or that, but criticism their claims to universality is seen as “deconstructionist bullshit”, criticizing the work meant “you weren’t man enough” or “were afraid of facing your shadow” etc. Shadow work? Well let’s just say this is not really shadow work. Marie Louis Von Franz a Jungian said shadow work can not be done in groups because people will naturally conjur a confessional persona “I am greedy” “I am a liar” etc. Real shadow work is facing a much harder truth and once faced requires much more arduous and diligent work to assimalate in ones life. Is MKP all bad, well I would say their failure is very unconcious, they think they are doing “deep work” I question it. What I found was very often very arrogant, grandiose and narcissitic men strutting around professing in one way or the other how enlightened they were and how all men need to do this work to be “enlightened”. Neophyte Mysticism and megolomania is rampent there. Are there exceptions to the rule? I am not so sure. Most of the men I knew that sensed this or concur with what I am saying now left and found other ways to do soul work. Real soul work, real individuation is akin to what Freud called sublimation and Jung the transcendent function it occurs privately and not by group concensus.

By: Diana French

Diana French — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:30:50 +0000

I would appreciate being notified as this is posted or if any replies are made