"Are Rawat and his patheitic self indulgent, self satisfied suck up followers not worthy of contempt - and on the basis of that contempt not deserving of ridicule ?"

Quite honestly Nick, as a group I don't think they are worthy of "contempt".Some of them and probably some of us are worthy of contempt sometimes. Thats just human weakness being what it is.

I went to my last programme in 2002 and I know I wasn't worthy of contempt.....neither were the two premies who accompanied me.

I suppose if I were to ask you if you were worthy of contempt when you were in the cult you would say " Yes"....why not give yourself a break .Don't forget you have the benefit of hindsight now.

If I were a premie ( or new-ex )  wanting to  post here for the first time ,such an uncompromising statement would make me feel unwelcome before I even started.