Other Looking For Ex Cult Members / Cult Survivors

[Chiqui]

Many times thats the case. I'd say most times thats the case. But part of my therapy was to...

part of my therapy was to research cults Same than mine. I have done a huge research on cults, too

 

[Deleted member 487]

Many times thats the case. I'd say most times thats the case. But part of my therapy was to...

Precisely. Look at Jim Jones. I forget the name of the church he started. IIRC his daddy was a reverend, wasn't it methodist or something? I forget. Talk about mental illness rearing it's ugly head. I had a girl/friend (female friend, not dating) in elementary school and her family got sucked into that. What people don't know is that Jim Jones had stuff in the southeast like Florida and Georgia, but he also did missionary work in California and Arizona, and when they were out visiting family in San Diego, and he met Jim Jones. End result is that poor girl ended up going down to Guyana with her family. I still don't remember her last name, but I have a pic of her. Man, that hurt. And it hurt a lot when I told my mom about it the first time, about why they moved, and then years later there was a movie done on Jonestown, and I told her again about that and she said i was full of crap.

With that aside, I know who Jesus is, and I beleive in Him, but many times I start drifting away. I'm now in a church, a Spanish Pentacotal church, and that's a tough one to manage. They speak mostly Spanish and I no habla espaniol. But of all the churches I have been to in the past few years they have been the most accepting. So many "christian" churches have this idea they need to know of my finances. Who cares WHAT I went through, just jut want to know about the money. And this one may go that direction as well later on. I dunno.

As for FLDS, they are present here and very secretive. A real Christian church is not.They are concerned about their beliefs that are considered illegal. Really? Such as....? Polygamy? Actually, that is not AS illegal as many people think. I did a paper on that 18 years ago when I was in college. Yep, it's here, and the FLDS is a minor player in the game, believe it or not. In the US Judaism, Islam, and the United Methodist churches held 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively. FLDS didn't even touch 10th. LDS is there, and I forget what number they had. Irrelevant. I will say they are not very friendly to new people though. And in comparison per capita polygamous relationships are known for having a higher mental retardation rate than non-polygamous relationships because of intracommunal relationships. Enough said.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Jim Jones.

My step dad's hero per him.

Jim Jones

Polygamy? Actually, that is not AS illegal as many people think

Polygamy is illegal but I am less concerned of multiple wives as I am about 13 yr old brides.

And why Warren Jeffs is allowed to continue his "preaching" behind bars is beyond me. Last I heard anyway.

 

[Deleted member 487]

Are we talking about polygamy or pedo/hebephaelia? Pedophaelia is child molestation with pre-pubescent children and hebephaelia is child molestation with pubescent children. Polygamy can happen and does happen without any sex crimes committed.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Polygamy can happen and does happen without any sex crimes committed.

Sure it does, that's why I said I was less worried about muiltiple wives (adults) then I was about 13 yr old brides which is also part of FLDS multiple wives belief. They say it isn't any longer but there are many sources that says it is and an entire cult changing their beliefs due to a prophet's arrest? Don't think so (my opinion).

And yep, I consider FLDS (not LDS) a cult. Compounds. Not allowed outside the compounds. All "outsiders" are evil. Own bible and beliefs. A "Prophet" and other leaders & followets. Fits the bill as a cult and, at least in my experience, nothing can make a cult change their beliefs. Which is why I believe The Family (formally Children Of God) still practices pedophila. They say they don't since this new generation appeared with stories and the famous Ricky Rodriguez's (AKA" "Davidito") murder suicide but what they say and what actually happens can be very different.

 

[Deleted member 487]

And in that, you are relatively correct.

One argument I have about a lot of this, is in response to women claiming they join these groups because of how they feel. They appreciate not being used for sex. They appreciate being respected for their decisions and their choice in style and clothing is respected. And everytime I say, then change it yourself, because you don't need them to make yourself feel better. Wanna wear a hijab? Wear on. You don't have to be a Muslim to wear it. You want to wear clothing that covers all visible skin in order to prevent men from looking you up like a piece of meat? Kudos! Do it! But you don't have to be Muslim, Amish, Mennonite or Fundie to do it. Just do it. If people don't like it, then that's just too bad for them.

 

[Changing4Best]

I joined one when I was 19. I believed it all, because I was not raised with any religion and had no truth to measure the lies they taught me against. I had not taken many science classes either, because I had said it was against my religion to dissect animals when I was with the High School Guidance and Program Planner, and no one challenged that or even questioned my parents about it. So I never took Biology or Chemistry or Physics or anything like that.

I stayed in the cult until my husband had a massive stroke many decades later and they refused to come and visit him while he was homebound. I knew of another church that would come and visit the homebound, so we switched to that church and they came to visit and comfort him every week, which was priceless.

I am not against churches. I am against cults. There is a difference. Cults will usually have some kind of secret beliefs that only the long standing members who have achieved a certain level in the cult are allowed to know. They may have rituals or rules that harm someone or something. They may use the tactic of shunning to control their ex-members, not allowing current members to associate with them for fear of being shunned too. The shunning even goes so far as controlling business transactions. For instance, if you lived in a small town and the baker has been shunned by the cult, you would have to travel to another town to buy baked goods!

CULTS ARE EVIL. PERIOD....

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I have stopped the rituals.

I can't say this anymore. :bag:

CULTS ARE EVIL. PERIOD....

Yes they are!

 

[asadafagahajakal]

They're pure evil. My wife and I found ourselves in a cult once. We got dragged in in a matter of weeks. This woman was relentless and we couldn't do anything about it or I'd lose the only job available in town. It's a miracle I managed to unlearn most of the twisted bullshit

 

[Changing4Best]

I'm still working on UNLEARNING a lot of the "twisted BS," as you call it. Good expressive way of putting it! @Charleh

 

[asadafagahajakal]

I'm still working on UNLEARNING a lot of the "twisted BS," as you call it. Good expressive way of p...

It'll take awhile. The learning process is Long and the unlearning process is longer. Pm me any time if you ever wanna talk. You're not alone

 

[Deleted member 487]

What is good for one may not be good for another. I spent decades in the LDS, and now I am finally "satisfied" with returning. I actually feel comfortable doing it. And that is fine. If you have the feeling the LDS or FLDS is a cult, walk away. But truly, while I may see that in FLDS, I really do not see it in the LDS. Again, it also depends on the local leadership. They can influence an awful lot.