Jonx,

Understanding Rawat is more a matter of familiarity than theory.  It's one's experience in the cult and with the cult leader that matters, not one's education in the abstract.  That's why I discount the so-called "scholarship" of the NRM academics as anemic, trite and superfluous when compared to our own direct experiences.  If you disagree, please point out some abstract or theoretical bit of knowledge about Rawat that any of these guys contributes to the discussion.  The only exception I'd make is for the kind of historical education one might get about the Rhadasoami tradition that your cult's descended from and which Rawat obviously avoided sharing with us.  I say you can't but, please, by all means, go ahead and prove me wrong.  For instance, go to the work of Ron Geaves', your in-house "scholar", and find me one valid bit of knowledge that he offers that goes beyond what you or I would have naturally understood just by being there.  Once you get past his terrible writing and jungle of jargon, there's nothing.  Nothing true, at least.

So that's why I dismiss the academics.  It's just not that kind of field.

As for why exes are better observers of the cult than current members, well, the answer is too obvious for words.  You guys are pressured to not scrutinize, let alone criticize, anything about Rawat.  So how could anyone take your own assessments of him and the organization seriously?  That only leaves one group -- former members.  If we lie or exaggerate, either to ourselves or others, hopefully, there'll be someone else around to set things straight.  But it's got to be with facts and honest, frank accounts.  Are you prepared to lay your cards on the table and have those discussions?  No, you can't because you're a current follower.  You can't openly criticize Rawat.  The best you can do is join him in scapegoating others for the failures and shortcomings of his movement over time.

As for your saying that I have no way of knowing why others stay or leave, I can only speak for myself, that's just plain dumb.  When people were as immersed in a culture such as we all were, we learn so much about each other, in particular what was keeping us and what was propelling us out.  I, like so many other exes, have had countless discussions on this issue with premies and ex-premies of all different stripes.  You just don't like to admit that we exes have a genuinely rich perspective by which to judge Rawat.  That's right, judge.  Great word, isn't it?

Oh yeah, speaking of words, you meant "imply", not "infer".  Don't feel bad. A lot of people get that wrong.