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In Reply to: Family friends posted by porceleindoll on August 20, 2002 at 16:46:27:
Jane and I had a long, very detailed conversation the night before last with our friends who were staying with us (they left yesterday morning).
It was regarding this topic on the board, and how our friendship was being preceived.
I flat out told them that I don't care if they ever leave the Family. It is none of my business. If they did leave the Family, I would continue to be a friend, and help them in any way I could. But, it has never been a condition of our friendship.
I restated that I do not believe in Family Doctrine. But, that I also don't believe in Catholic Doctrine, but that has not stopped me from having a Priest as a friend.
I also called attention to the fact that they had never attempted to encourage me or any member of my Family to join the Family. That we have never been asked for, or required to make donations, or purchase Family products as a condition of friendship.
I have never actively gone to their children and suggested that they should leave the Family. However, when their children have left the Family, I have done what I could to be a friend. When their daughter quit the FCF and left The Family, I had an entry level job open at my company, and offered it to her. She declined, and moved out of state where she appears to be progressing having just finished at a trade school, while working in Day Care.
These two members told us that about half of their time in the Family, they were only living with their own personal family. The other half has been in small to large homes. They are probably unusual in that they have remained married to each other, and somehow managed to keep all their kids together (until they grew up).
We met because Jane had been out of contact with The Family for many years, and received some literature via her sister that ran into someone giving it out in a public place. She called the 800 number, and the person who answered came out to see us at our home.
He saw all of my computers for running the BBS in the den, and we just kind of hit it off talking about computers and online communications, and the coming popularity of the Internet.
Sometimes we talk about The Family, but most of the time it is just normal stuff that you might talk about with any friend.
From what you all tell me, this is not usual or normal. I understand why people would be skeptical.
