Hi to everyone. This is my first post on this site other than my presentation, I'm not even sure that I'm writing in the right section. I'm italian, so I apologize for my mistakes. I noticed similiarities between some aspects of Herbalife and Scientology (and there's a bit of "The Secret" style too, I think). A totalizing way of life that convinces you that only inside the group you will find happyness, richness (which is pretty the same in their indoctrination - and this is an ideology that The Secret has too), you will solve your problems that they say you have, etc. You are induced to get other people into the group, you will waste a lot of money just to enrich the ones who are higher than you in the piramid, you start to value a person based to their position in Herbalife / Scientology, you begin to distance yourself from your friends, etc etc. Shortly, a sect. But a peculiar one, with richness, healthy way of life (nutritional or psychological) and "self made man" ideas as core values. A distorted "self made man" idea, like "willpower is everything, life is simple if you know these things, you are one of us and you commit yourself to this cause". Online criticism of these groups is often followed by pro-herbalife or scientologists which comment "I will press charge against you for defamation", "you are misinformed and envy because our life is better than your". There are a lot of other similiarities but I hope that this is sufficient to understand what I'm trying to say. As an italian I think to recognize a clearly american style in this sects. I'm not saying this is the american way to think etc., but that this is the "evil" that can come from the seeds of the american culture (every culture has its own deteriorated forms I think). My question is: who first invented this "marketing oriented" sects? Which group is it? Is it still active? Thank you for your attention. Alex
