by Sue Kira, Gold Coast, Australia
On Friday 12th October 2012 I sat down expecting another exceptional night of education from Serge Benhayon at a Universal Medicine presentation at Lennox Head. Prior to his presentation, Serge introduced David Millikan to us as a Uniting Church Minister. At first I was pleased to hear this, as I knew that the Uniting Church had an open mind to different religions, and views on a God who loves us all equally.
Serge told us how he and David had previously spoken for hours, discussing their viewpoints and how the media had been saying we were a ‘cult’. David Millikan had suggested to Serge that his view was that Universal Medicine was not a cult, and he wanted to speak to us briefly at the beginning of the presentation about how we felt. David said he wanted to include Universal Medicine in a chapter in his book.
I thought to myself, great, here’s a man with an open mind about what Universal Medicine and those who attend the workshops are all about. But instead, Mr. Millikan stood on stage with his arms folded at first, then pointed at us saying we were all in a cult and we were being led by Serge Benhayon. As he started to speak, a group of people with video cameras suddenly stood up in the hall and started filming the audience of adults and children at close range. I could also see there were film crew cameras just outside the front doors filming us through the glass. No permission had been given to film, and when asked to stop they refused.
What was this, an inquisition? It all felt really weird. I went into shock and disbelief that such a thing could be happening in a so-called free country – where I was under the impression we could choose whatever way of life we wanted to be involved with so long as we didn’t hurt anyone or break any laws. How are we a cult when we come and go as we please, we are responsible for ourselves, we love all of humanity equally and know a God who loves all equally? There are heaps of different religions and other ways of living in the world, so why is Universal Medicine labeled a cult?
This is not just about challenging the false accusations being hurled at Universal Medicine. It is about the behaviour of a man who professes to be a ‘Man of God’, treating us like a bunch of naughty children who needed to be punished, for what, we are unsure. It is clear that this man and the others that came with him, had an agenda to sensationalise a story that was paid for by a well known Television Network; and to have fodder for their own personal gain.
This kind of behaviour needs to be addressed and stopped.
The Truth about Universal Medicine 
We as a civilisation are still far from living the potential of who we are in essence; the supreme love, intelligence, harmony and multidimensionality of our Soul. Even through we inaccurately champion ourselves as advancing, we clearly are far from being free from living run by the consciousness’ that incite abusive behaviours on ourselves and each other. The only way for us to be free from this is to live it for ourselves, in the face of all that is not of love, to hold steady in our connection to love, to who we are, so it is these imprints that are left and felt for all to know that this too, is who they are.
We fall for the other being open minded. But it is not about this. It is about feeling the truth of what is there. When you accept that this is the discussion, it is about being open hearted.
Great question, Sue – there are many religions out there and why is Universal Medicine being picked on? Could it be that it shows that there is actually only one Way that no other religion has ever been able to show? That must be quite unnerving for a ‘man of God’ whose behaviour does not even correspond to what he claims he represents.
Why the need for all the clandestine drama? Surely if David Millikan really believes Universal Medicine is a cult he can say so without ‘going undercover’ and using deceit to gain entry to an open meeting. Perhaps it is because his experience is that when he ‘infiltrates’ real cults they are not so open, honest and willing to listen.
The way in which this ambush was carried out was not acceptable. How lost are we to live in a world where we have but no choice to stand up and speak truth to defend what is thrown at us but if this is the case then so be it.
Thank you Sue for sharing I found it interesting how David Millikan a Uniting Church Minister, wasn’t able to be up front and truthful right at the beginning, the ability to be truthful or not says a lot about a person.
So true, I agree Sally as it certainly reveals the quality of his relationship with religion and the principles that he stands for and deems are acceptable, highlighting just how far we are from living true brotherhood. From this I take great inspiration as to how important it is for us to see and feel falsities, the lies, the corruption and the abuse that is still rife today as the antidote to all this is to live the steadiness of love we are and the power of truth we know within our bodies, in every aspect of our lives and relationships.
One thing is for sure, people don’t have the right to invade a gathering and start hurling cunning accusations.
How often in life or in situations do you find yourself jumping to conclusions or having a view based on something you have just heard. It would seem as people we do this a lot and yet most of the time we find ourselves getting another view that shows our ‘jump’ was in the wrong direction. I am seeing more and more that listening to what is going on is an art, listening truly to what people are saying or what people are sharing. Not jumping with a judgement but truly listening and then if needed gathering more information or asking more questions about whatever the topic is about. I see that this way isn’t supported generally in the world, we are moving that fast that the details are not as important and we base our view on only part of a story, in other words we have become use to ‘jumping to conclusions’. It’s time to turn this back and for us to slow down and truly listen as there is always more to things then a headline conveys.
‘How are we a cult when we come and go as we please, we are responsible for ourselves, we love all of humanity equally and know a God who loves all equally?’ Great point Sue, the use of the word ‘cult’ is a deliberate attempt to reduce and destroy the enormous truth, love and wisdom that this true Religion brings to humanity.
That night turned out to be more educational than usual (considering the level of education every presentation gets to is very high). David Millikan helped the students of Universal Medicine to open their eyes to the real fact that evil can come from every angle, even from a ‘religious minister’. So, thank you D. Millikan. You have done a great service. There is a before and an after that night.
I second that Eduardo, as a Student Body we have come such a long way since the D. Millikan attack on Universal Medicine; such a low level of decency, integrity and respect has definitely inspired me and many more to develop a true relationship with truth.
I like that you call it an inquisition.
We pride ourselves that we as a humanity have evolved from being primitive to being highly advanced and so much better off than our ancestors. But are we not fooling ourselves? When we look around we still have practices that were custom in the darkest of the Middle Ages. We might have advanced our technology and sophisticated everything you can build and create but the way we are with each other is absolutely loveless, and it does not start with the many wars and terrorist attacks etc., the loveless way of being with another is very prevalent in our own homes and communities.
I wonder how a man who appears to have used lies and deceit to attend this Universal Medicine event to get a fabricated story, can be called a man of God?.
Nothing very uniting in the actions of this member of the Uniting Church.
The sheer volume of people effected by this incident is one thing but what is most shocking is that everyone attending a peaceful gathering was ambushed by strangers with cameras being told that they are in a “cult”?? Even though they are free to come and go as they please, there is no sign up fee or obligation to attend any events, no rule book or prerequisite for attending, apparently these “cult” members deserved to be publicly shamed, even though they are hard working tax paying involved active community members. A “man of god” has spoken…? AKA David, man of god? Doesn’t seem like an act of integrity or decency to me.
It’s shocking to think that this can occur in a country that espouses freedom of religion and belief. Whilst it may be recored somewhere it’s not how we live as a society. It’s very much do as I say but not as I do, and it’s not about walking your talk. I have been re-listening to some of the presentations recorded by Serge Benhayon and what has been raised is that in our western countries where we live we are not under the rule of a dictatorship (which on one level one can say thank goodness), however how we treat each other as individual people of even groups within society feels no different that what it would do living in a dictatorship. Even though those in power may not be controlling society we do it to ourselves through how we are with each other. Sue this example that you have shared is a prime example of this. What was David Millikan think he was trying to do? Yes there was the shock value and TV camera’s, but why was he even interested in this, other than to demean a group of people who may have different beliefs than him, different religious practices. But really so what. If one was so content with their religion why would they even bother, bothering others? Why not leave them alone? The sad thing with this and many other similar instances where a person or group of people are vilified for their choices and beliefs (and that seems to be happening more and more) what we are not seeing is that we have far more in common that we do differences. Our so called differences are actually skin deep and when we look at this surface level we miss out on the Gold each one of us lives with every single day.
Another dubious act apparently done ‘in the name of God’. Not the God I know, the one who beholds all his ‘children’ in unconditional love and would never ever judge them.
I love what you say Amanda – do Millikans’ actions pass the test of true love… I don’t feel there was a skerrick of love, of truth, of acceptance, of understanding, or of equalness and unifiying, in his actions of that night.
David Millikin’s methods certainly seem underhanded. Why go to such elaborate lengths to get some kind of dramatic story? There is no drama here, which is the point really. What I have found while studying with Universal Medicine is that I no longer seek drama and emotion to fuel my life. I find that love is enough. For all my movements and moments I consider – am I coming from love? Is this truly love? Am I holding another in love and honouring the love that they are?
Even if David Millikin thought that he was doing the right thing, could his methods pass the test of true love? Does the end justify the means? I don’t feel that it does. I feel His methods were there to create shock and mistrust.
There are several accounts of the events of this night that can be read on this site and others, but one thing that is common throughout, is the unnecessary harm that a self proclaimed man of God caused many unsuspecting and undeserving people, coupled with the shock that this kind of behaviour is somehow legal or acceptable in our society.
“How are we (Universal Medicine Students) a cult when we come and go as we please, we are responsible for ourselves, we love all humanity equally, and know a God who loves all equally?” It was very clear that David Millikan and the TV crew that popped up amongst us, was a worked out planned set-up and never was going to be a true account of Universal Medicine and what it represents, for how could it be when it was based on lies and deception. I agree Sue “this type of behaviour needs to be addressed and stopped”.
Thank you for speaking out Sue.
Well said Sue and I agree this behaviour of the media needs to be addressed and stopped. If we say nothing we allow this abuse to continue and harm other innocent people by standing up and calling out this abuse we start to empower others to equally make this stand.
“This is not just about challenging the false accusations being hurled at Universal Medicine. It is about the behaviour of a man who professes to be a ‘Man of God’, treating us like a bunch of naughty children who needed to be punished, for what, we are unsure. It is clear that this man and the others that came with him, had an agenda to sensationalise a story that was paid for by a well known Television Network; and to have fodder for their own personal gain. This kind of behaviour needs to be addressed and stopped.” I agree Sue yet still the lies continue in some of the media and blogs. Serge Benhayon has my respect for being the man with the most integrity of anyone I have ever met. And I have met a few charlatans in my life. Surely freedom of speech never meant freedom to abuse?
Thank you Sue and Dragana, I agree, absolutely no integrity and had very little if any responsibility, so therefore the deception was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Here here Sue, it is time the media and figures such as David Millikan be accountable for their actions, stop treating the public as fools and begin to share stories in a truthful way. Enough is enough!
Well said Sue… thank you for standing up to call Millikan on his sly and manipulative tactics as they were truly appalling.
Quite a sad state of affairs that an apparent “Man if God” could treat other fellow human beings in such a way. From your account there was no care or respect given to anyone in the room who was attending the presentation – David Milikan it seems could learn a lot from Universal Medicine!
This is very true Sue – this kind of intimidating, disrespectful behaviour does need to be stopped, and it’s important we begin standing up to it (and writing blogs like this) rather than being bystanders or ‘willing victims’, so to speak.
I completely agree Sue, this sort of behaviour needs to be stopped; it was a direct intimidating attack and assault, on members of the public.
I found it very disturbing when the uninvited film crew abused the event.
Agreed Sue. It does have to be stopped.. Super deceitful. Universal medicine is so open that it welcomed David Millikan to speak on stage.. How is that a cult ?
Well said Sue, reading this account of that shameful intrusion I can feel the shock of those attending a meeting to hear a presentation of way of living that fosters harmony to being abusively attacked by a man who claimed to be from the Uniting Church. Harmony and unity was evidently not the intention.
What a despicable act of deceit ,and manipulation for personal gain and sensationalised drama. Another disgraceful act of from the media , not to mention a so called Minister of the Uniting Church who lied about his intensions of being invited to be there in the first place.
Sue, I agree – I was there that night that David Millikan accused us all aggressively of being a cult and I was witness to the hidden cameras in the crowd and the large TV cameras outside all ready to film us – young children and teenagers and adults, some of who burst into tears when this happened. It was a coup – it was an under the belt approach and an attempt to rattle us, to treat us with disrespect and to blatantly lie to us. David came on stage with the premise to have an open forum and discussion – something we were open to and keen to participate in. But instead he abused us and abused his position. Such behaviour is totally vile and unacceptable. And to know that it was a Minister of the Uniting Church that acted like this – this just blows me away! What has the world come to when those who are placed in a position of power abuse that power over harmless and loving individuals – this is not the world we deserve to live in and raise our children in – this needs to be addressed and we need to let the world know that such behaviour is not OK. As a humanity we all deserve a life that is far more respectful and loving and caring of each other.
Looking back at history it has always been like that. Those people who stood up for truth were always haunted. People who got scared by truth have always tried to make these people shut down silent. And as we know – it has always been the truth that “survived” in the end. Even a hundred years later. That happening is a clear proof for Serge and all the others standing for and living truth.
I was not present that night, but attended a different presentation the following day. I was shocked by how shaken people were, and there was a lot of debriefing of the event. Our relaxed events now changed with the heightened awareness of the extent the media would go to drum up a story.
I am surprised that people could be party to such a malicious set up.
Yes Sue, everything you write here is as I remember it on the night, and I was also open and ready to listen to David Millikan. What I find quite amazing is that a man who purports to be a man of God could stoop so low as to garner the trust of Serge Benhayon – a trust that was given freely and willingly to then be turned into such a vile attack which was a carefully orchestrated ambush with no right of reply, and no regard or respect for anyone in that room, beggars belief. It absolutely was a confusing and confounding situation and completely unnecessary unless there was an agenda all along, and that can only be the media looking for a beat up to fabricate something out of nothing, and for nothing more than ratings. Despicable.
Thank you Sue for sharing how it was to be subjected to David Millikan’s outrageous behaviour. That a supposed ‘Man of God’ treated you ‘like a bunch of naughty children who needed to be punished, for what, we are unsure’ is inexplicable when Universal Medicine is such a force for good and does no harm to anyone – unless of course people are looking to line their pockets through fabricated stories and irresponsible sensationalist journalism. As you say this needs to be addressed and stopped because it has absolutely no place in a free society.
Indeed ‘there are heaps of different religions and other ways of living in the world, so why is Universal Medicine labeled a cult?’ Very well said Sue.
To set about in sneaky fashion to impose an agenda serving only but ones own opinion, is not only a display of dishonour, but further exposes as in the case of David Millikan himself, to be two-faced and prepared to lie directly in the face of whom ever he chooses to achieve his own hidden agenda – is a complete disgrace!
I was there that night and was absolutely horrified to witness what went on.
Thank you Sue, this definitely needed to be written and recorded.
I know for sure I will not be joining his congregation or watching his television show.
I agree, Sue: that a supposed ‘Man of God’ who chooses to abuse his so-called position by abuse, assumption and manipulation of a group of people who by choice, not coercion, chose to congregate together. When someone stands up to try to control a situation by bullying behaviour, whatever his agenda may be, it says a lot about him and how he lives his life.
Thanks Sue for this sharing. I am not sure what is worse the deception David Millikan employed to shock and violate to get the footage he needed or the team of people around him to shoot the incited footage or the television companies and all those that work there that justify to themselves this is the way to get stories or that this happens every day because this is how most of the media operate. I was not there on the night, I was not warmly introduced to David Millikan – I had no pretense when I heard of what had happened that David Millikan was a decent man and yet I felt devastated by the injustice and corruption of power – in my body I felt what David Millikan did as violence. If a television camera was to shoot the look on my face in this moment- it would have showed despair (how did the world get to this – to get things THIS backwards?) and shock (the extent of corruption) – no, not my best look. So I can only imagine what the look on my face might have been if I was really there that night- sure newsworthy – but not the story the media would dare tell.
I have always felt the utter falseness of sensationalist television and the harm that it does, hence why I haven’t watched it for years. What a shock for everyone there that night to suddenly be the target of it. People love a scandal but don’t stop to see whether there is any factual basis to what they are watching.
What happened that night was an abuse of position and trust in an anything for a story goes attack on people going about their own business. Branding Universal Medicine and all of us associated with them as a cult is a manipulation to take away our voices and credibility. Millikan was pushing his own agenda and thought he was going to have another 15mins of fame with a revelatory cult expose. Well the revelation here was that when faced with lies and abuse these so called brainwashed cult followers stood up and said no and exposed Millikan for a liar and a charlatan. No wonder that the desperately sought after footage and ‘news’ story never went to air. Millikan was humiliated by his own rantings.
However, the sordid details of what happened that night left many traumatised and shocked and Millikan has still not answered for or been held accountable for his behaviour.
The energy of the inquisition is aeons old, persecuting people for their beliefs, labelling them to make them a target or discredit them and their opinions is so Dark Ages- shame on you David Millikan a so called man of God.
This is very bad behaviour by the media, basically trying to create drama and a story by provoking reaction. Absolutely despicable. Thank you for sharing your experience Sue. It is completely unacceptable and the media should be a lot more responsible.
Thanks Sue, what happened that night was certainly a ‘Time Tunnel’ experience altogether. This brings us to truly see how relative is the passing of time when we are talking about energies.
Thank you Sue, I heard about this event, but wasn’t there myself. It’s interesting that David Millikan already knew that he wouldn’t get the footage he wanted by being truthful and upfront. He presented as one thing, when in fact his real agenda was something completely different. Those are the actions of a desperate person who has no interest in the truth, only the story they wish to tell.
Well said Sue. This is the kind of infantile Television that networks pay to be produced. And yes it has to stop.
Hi Sue, I was there also that night and I agree that David Miliikan seemed to be “treating us like a bunch of naughty children who needed to be punished…” His words and his actions had not an ounce of love or care in them and this made me realise that perhaps this is where this style of ‘religion’ fails so many. Instead of starting from a point of love and confirming what we are and then looking at everything that may get in the way of this, it seems to instead start from a point of everything but love and then scolds and punishes us for not being the love that it is not even speaking from. Very strange indeed.
The deceptive behaviour of David Millikan to have gained the trust of the group with the hidden agenda of abusing that trust is appalling, and shocking, and with out cause or justification.
It’s such a shame they don’t report on how stupendously amazing Universal Medicine is. A story we should all be craving to read and see, not a bunch of sensationalist lies.
Agree Tracey, I wonder how long it will take before the Media will report the truth about how Universal Medicine and how it has supported thousands of people worldwide to completely turn their lives around in many ways – now that is a story worth reading about.
Has it really been 3 years since that intrusive and unfortunate incident. Is it possible that on some occasion since that day David Millikan has stood in his pulpit and spoken about broken trust or imposition – anything is possible if and when true Love is recognized as we as the student body of Universal Medicine have felt at the presentations by Serge Benhayon.
Well said Tim. The Uniting Church, when notified, took no serious measures in regards to Millikan, as far as I am aware.
These were in no way the actions of a so-professed ‘man of God’, but rather someone so deeply lost that he could treat fellow human beings with such utter callousness, and what amounted to an abusive, full-scale media onslaught – seeded in absolute deceit, manipulation and what in my opinion amounted to thuggery in the abusive and aggressive tone he took when the stage was set for ‘lights on, action’. Self-aggrandisement, off the scale.
I will never forget that night – it changed the way I see everything.
I totally agree Victoria. That night was one to remember. I had to see what I did not want to see. I had to see the level of deceit, manipulation and utter disrespect that the media could go to. The whole thing was a set up to paint a picture of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine that was completely untrue. Never again will I be able to read something in the media without questioning the motive and agenda behind it all.
That’s exactly it Vicky. Once you have personally experienced something like this, you can no longer pretend it doesn’t happen (when we know it does). It was a major wake-up call, and one that also called me to speak up since – far more than I ever had previously. It’s revealing that it takes ‘this’ for so many of us to actually say ‘no’ to such behaviour, but nonetheless, say ‘no’ we most definitely do.