Humanist Cult Indoctrination

I am reviewing this from the perspective of someone with only an introductory experience with Buddhism. I do not recommend beginners listen to this book.

Gilbert is a very articulate and well versed author. The beginning of the book presents a rational argument that is both captivating and intriguing to a newcomer.

Gilbert presents SGI Buddhism in a contrived image as a secular and scientifically endowed organization. As the book progresses, one is immersed into more troubling accounts of a cult-like mentality. Gilbert goes to great lengths to contrast and compare SGI Buddhism with its rival sect organizations. He employs a form of persecution complex both real and imagined. While he presents SGI as an open and tolerant secular progressive organization, it becomes apparent that this organization is particularly insular in thinking and association. He dismisses mindfulness meditation of other Buddhists with anecdotal experiences of psychological harm, while omitting that modern neuroscience is very interesting in the benefits of the same. The overemphasized defence of their mentor/leader is a symptom of a cult. Gilbert promotes the idea that the followers of SGI have a student/teacher mentorship relationship with their leader in Japan. Such veneration is alarming given the one-sided nature of that sort of relationship. Gilbert claims that SGI is not authoritarian/hierarchical but it is clear that certain individuals are elevated in esteem and authoritative in their words and writing. He claims universalism but promotes a personality cult of a few key individuals.

Gilbert contrasts the secular humanist nature of SGI with traditional supernatural religion in an attempt to claim a form of scientific superiority in methodology. The chanting of SGI members seems to be a form of self-induced hypnosis. He goes to great lengths to legitimize this chanting using claims of science and reason. Gilbert places an inordinate amount of energy towards sacred scrolls of their religion. While claiming that they are somewhat less important than prior years, he perplexingly engages in arguments from other sects in scroll legitimacy.

The book reads as both a partial biography of the author mixed with a history of SGI Buddhism from an apologetic perspective.

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