Joe,

It's been about six years since I went to any local introductory or pwk programs, but I've gotta say that even in 1999 there wasn't any feeling in those rooms.  It was dead, dead, dead.  Just awkwardness and stumbling around to get the "lines" right, not to mention getting the the light dimmer in the room synchronized -- that was a REAL challenge. 

I think in order to exert more control over his public image and over the premies, Rawat took all the lovebombing out of the cult.  Premies are gagged now and have been for a long time.  When I look back to the 70s, it was the premies that attracted me (and so many others) to Knowledge, not Rawat himself -- even when premies were singing M's praises.  Rawat was just a photo on the wall, a voice on a cassette tape and the occasional feature movie. 

So, what is a cult without lovebombing?  Going nowhere fast.

Lovebombing is a key ingredient in cult recruitment.