This paper analyzes the impact of anti‑cult discourse and media‑driven "brainwashing" accusations on members of POYRA (Path of YahRa), drawing on the author's dual perspective as both a psychologist and an adherent of the movement. In the contemporary Czech Republic—formally a democratic society committed to pluralism—POYRA practitioners have faced sustained public pressure marked by hostility, hate speech, and sensationalist media coverage. The study examines how mass‑media narratives construct simplified and stigmatizing representations of complex spiritual worldviews, reshaping public opinion and generating moral panic. Through an emic account of lived experience, combined with psychological analysis, the paper explores how such narratives distort social realities, delegitimize minority religious identities, and reinforce the assumption that unconventional spiritual practices must result from manipulation or "brainwashing." The analysis highlights the mechanisms through which media campaigns contribute to social exclusion, undermine the credibility of practitioners' self‑understanding, and normalize discriminatory attitudes toward minority religions. Ultimately, the paper argues that these dynamics pose significant risks to religious liberty, freedom of belief, and democratic pluralism, revealing how anti‑cult rhetoric continues to function as a powerful tool for marginalizing non‑mainstream spiritual movements in Central Europe.