Is this a cult? Featuring Clemente Suriano aka Golden Elk (Dr. Phil videos)
On February 15, 2011, Dr. Phil announced through his official website that Wednesday’s show will air the topic, “Is this a cult?” The episode will feature two mothers who have not seen their children in over a year and fear that they are cult members. The young adults have left their homes and families to follow Clemente Suriano, who is also known as Golden Elk.
According to a press release by Dr. Phil, Iris and Leisa’s children, Elon, 26, and Ashley 27, left home after following Clemente Suriano “Golden Elk” and have not established contact with their families. Dr. Phil will bring viewers along as they witness Iris and Leisa’s attempts to reestablish contact with their children.
Also included in the show will be characteristics of a cult and an inside look at Clemente Suriano and an attempt to determine whether or not “Golden Elk” is running a cult.
The show airs Wednesday, February 15, 2011 at 7:00 pm ET on CBS in the Tampa area, check local listings for showings in your region. You may watch past episodes of the Dr. Phil show where he profiled cults such as Tony Alamo and the House of Yahweh Cult in the video player to the left.
Comments
All you need to have a cult is followers.
All you need for that is a better argument than what they have.
x
How about being close to the family?
Update: I added the video clip from the Dr. Phil show in the player to the left.
Are you going to watch the show tomorrow?
Cult Avoidance Society has a good website where people can find out more about Cults at:
http://www.cultavoidancesociety.org/
Thanks for sharing the link- it is a good site.
No. I tend to avoid TV.
I'm certainly not going to make an exception for Dr. Phil.
x
I usually don't watch Dr. Phil (though I must confess I watch a lot of television); but will watch today's episode. I'm a media junkie...if it isn't television I'll have programs running on my computer...:-)
I just hate it when people say the above or worse, "I don't even own a tv."
There's a song written just for people like this: " Sensitive artist" by King Missile. So for all the TV Snobs, here are the lyrics. Read them and stop taking yourself so seriously. Nobody is impressed that you are a snob.
I am a sensitive artist...
I am a sensitive artist.
Nobody understands me because I am so deep.
In my work I make allusions
to books that nobody else
has read,
Music that nobody else has heard,
And art that nobody else has seen.
I can't help it
Because I am so much more intelligent
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/2p5w ]
And well-rounded
Than everyone who surrounds me.
I stopped watching tv when I
was six months old
Because it was so boring and stupid
And started reading books
And going to recitals
And art galleries.
I don't go to recitals anymore
Because my hearing is too sensitive
And I don't go to art galleries anymore
Because there are people there
And I can't deal with people
Because they don't understand me.
I stay home
Reading books that are beneath me,
And working on my work,
Which no one understands
I am sensitive...
I am a sensitive artist...
Lyrics: Sensitive Artist, King Missile]
Golden elk is a piece of S!%T
Hi,
Do you have first hand experience with Clement Suriano 'Golden Elk?'
If so, are you willing to share?
Thanks,
Charisse
Greetings
I saw This on the Dr.Phil show today and quite frankly , I dont see it as a cult at all. If they dont want to be around their family, maybe there is a really good reason?
They didnt really go much into exactly the things that are done there. The neighbour said something about big fires and chanting...ohhhhhhh I guess I am a cult too. I think these people arent hurting anyone...let em be. quite frankly there are people in my family that I am doing without...mostly because I dont agree with how they live and they dont agree how I live... am I cult?
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your opinion. I haven't seen the episode yet so am not ready to respond. I'm in Florida and it won't come on until 7:30!
I'll keep your opinion in mind as I watch the show....
Thanks again,
Charisse
I saw the show. I don't know the true meaning of a cult, so I couldn't give you my opinion. I do think this man is controlling, and has completely 'brainwashed' these people. I think that the mother and daughter did pretty good as they attempted tp speak to family member. On the other hand Elon's mother did the
complete opposite. She never had a shot. First, for you to get through to a person in this 'condition' I think they must be isolated from their other group members. She then acted childishly by yelling and kicking. This alone gave power to Clemente, (I refuse to call him golden elk) her attitude reassured her son Elon that "he did the right thing" by leaving his biological family to be around this so called group of people. The fact that they had a conversation over the phone did not help, I dont think these connections doors, if you wil, can be truly opened through the phone. I think perhaps her other son Song would have had a much better chance with Elon. I also think that Elon never intended to meet with her. I'm pretty sure he set up that meeting with the intentions of cancelling it, in order to teach her a lesson - maybe this was Clemente's idea, or maybe Elon himself thought of it. All in all, I think it is very unfortunate that this is happening, I really wish there was a way to follow up to see how these cases in particular will end up.
OKAY CLEARLY THESE PEOPLE ARE BRAINWASHED!!! THEIR REACTIONS TO THEIR OWN FAMILYS WAS ROBOTIC AND REHEARSED. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT CONTROL FREAKS TRY TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID THAT YOUR FAMILY WILL HELP YOU SEE THAT THEY ARE CONTROLLERS. THIS STORY WAS VERY SAD FOR THE FAMILIES BECAUSE ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD TELL THIS WAS DEFFINANTLY A CULT. A WEIRD CONTROLLING INDIAN BOSS WANNABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AGREE WITH YOU BINGA!! YOU'VE SAID EVERYTHING I WAS THINKING!
There is NO doubt in my mind that THIS IS A CULT! Those poor kids are completely brainwahed...they have no idea who they even are, their identities are no longer theirs. Sooo sad...hard to believe how this can even happen, and so tragic for the families.
I went through something similar with a daughter. Unless you have been there with this kind of situation, you can't say, "maybe they just don't want to be around their family." My daugnter was dumped by one guy and along comes a "Christian" who had her give up everything for Christ. Food, clothes, (one change), they went dumpster diving for food, he took her money so they could go to Israel. These people are controlling mongers who prey on vulnerable people. Sad indeed because it can happen to everyone, unless you know the red flags. I hope the people who are with this self-proclaimed sundancer see the light, soon. Peace be with the families and the ones who are under this man's thumb.
Hi Michelle,
I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. Have you two reunited? Would you mind sharing more details about your relationship today?
I must agree with those who believe Clemente Suriano 'Golden Elk' is a cult leader. The most telling and sorrowful moments were the attempted reunion with Ashley and how quickly her robotic demeanor changed and you could see rage coming through. She has lost all sense of real "attachment" to her family and the bond with a twin sister is not easily broken.
Elon's repsonse was quite typical of a cult member and it seemed a part of him wanted to meet with his mother- it truly appeared he was coaxed into canceling the reunion.
There are many people across the world who cut ties with their families and this doesn't indicate they are in a cult, but both Ashley and Elon couldn't recount a defining incident that caused them to cut ties.
Ashely gave no explanation for why she didn't want to see her family again...just stated there was no attachment...how sad...
It was apparent the only reason they have cut ties is because their new "life" doesn't allow for familiar relationships.
My heart goes out to their loved ones...I hope the attempted reunions will be enough to spark an awakening in the followers so they can break free...
Yes, we hae reunited. She was vulnerable when she met this man, as someone she loved had told her he loved her, but his music was more important. In comes John who was also bipolar come to find out. I knew within a few minutes of meeting him that there was something different about him, and not in a good way. Now, my daughter finds it hard to believe she gave her heart and soul to someone as controlling as John. And actually, to say he was simply controlling is an understatement. I was afraid to say anything to her as I didn't want him to tell her not to talk to me. I only said one thing when they returned from Israel. I told her there wasn't one bone in my body that believed she was suppoed to be with him. I told her I loved her and the door would always be open. I was glad to see her walk back through it. Now, she is married with two beautiful children. (smile)
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your reply. I'm happy to hear that your daughter was able to rely on your relationship for strength and get out of that situation.
You hit the nail on the head when you said she was "Vulnerable." That is the one common denominator seen with all victims of cults, spiritually, physically and emotionally abusive groups and personal relationships.
I'm glad your daughter got out of it when she did.
Who ever these people are they are not from the area or wish to know who there neighbors are. They are bringing in the wrong behavior to this area.The people of this region are of faith and believe in family. If you were of the area this would be a whole different show. They must go to where they came from and not try in invade this area with this type of activity we have enough problems let alone transients trying to come in and take over this land.
i think this guy is taking advantage of good people trying to find some thing to belive in. people should be able to do what they want when they cant do what they want or see what they want then u know somthing is just not right. i hope the people wake up or snap out of it
I never saw the episode, but heard about it at work. Mainly beacause we are enrolled lakota family. it makes me sick how natives always are slurred and mis understood and the most uneducated want to be " wanna be indians" and then it just makes it worse for us. Obvoiusly this guy is hispanic "mayan" if you will--they to were colonized---their world turned upside down and shattered to pieces to fragments----- My disgust is why latch on to the Lakota way--- The mayan had their own ways! So to me he is just pulling us down more like a criminal obviously he is not walking the traditional way. True traditional way family is everything----it is the circle of life. This guy is so off. I recent all thewannabe's. The indian princess illness You know my grat grandmother was native...Blah.... Blah. Also how our youth no longer wnat to be Native but different cultures and absord all the garbage in from those cultures.... Wake up golden Elk you are Hispanic not Lakota!!!! And Natives you're Native and not rappers or preps.......and so on . Everybody would be a lot happier if they knew who they areand accepted it. We no longer have boundries or common sense any more. Sad
Sorry about those typing mistakes. I don't type much. I am talking about my entry above
I do have somethng to say. The people involved were adults. If they didn't join a nonreligous group they wouldn't be calling it a cult. Maybe they were unhappy with their family so they left. Clemente is not holding them at gunpoint. They can leave at anytime.
If Clemente is misrepresenting himself then shame on him! It a big teaching for people to NOT follow anyone. Develop your own personal conection with God...besides te biggest cult leader in the world is the Pope!
Making a big deal about the of the ceremony, drumming, singing, cloth menstrual pads, and slaughtering of animals was in poor taste on the part of the producers, those things in themselves are not a problem, pick your battles, dabble in sidetracking and you loose the whole battle. Sacred ceremony with respect to tradition is a good thing, this here is cultural appropriation and co-oping traditions for personal benefit. These kids probably do not have much previous experience with Lakota ways and would not know what was true and what was not.
This sort of behaviour is so disgraceful and hurtful to true traditions and people practicing them, there are enough prejudices without people acting like this and creating more hate.
By misrepresenting the traditions he's turning people against these ways who could actually be helped by them.
He's certainly holding them, don't underestimate the power of mental manipulation, if the individual has the power to leave, coerce them to give up their power.
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