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In Reply to: Resources to help ex-members posted by Donny on October 21, 2002 at 13:41:15:
I may be misreading you Donny, but my post just described my views on what happened to the majority of people FGA that joined the family And it was describing my interest in seeing ALL exers get help. This would mean FGA, SGA, SG or whatever label anyone feels is to their advantage to use. I personally think the type of abuse that family members was subjected to was akin to survivors of war and of domestic abuse; therefore, there are many psychologists if they are willing to read about and analyze some of the family literature, survivors stories, etc. will have a pretty good idea of ways to be helpful with their knowledge in general. I see a PhD who is very interested and so far I have shown her a lot of the information. Did you know that in many states, if not all, if a juvenile has engaged in sexual abuse it is a crime and it will stay on their records (sexual offender status) indefinitely? I wonder how many SGAs participated? That is why I advocate for healing for ALL that realize in hindsight what they were involved in. Do you believe that SGAs that were older than other SG/As should be criminally liable for every act they did in the family, coerced or not, would be the route to take? Do you believe that it is really helping SGAs or FGAs that their cases are so unusual that there really isn't hardly anyone in the psychology community who could help them? I do agree that it is helpful for SGs/SGAs to have their own arenas to discuss, post etc. And I do believe that there are differences between the experiences of being born and raised in the group, being a man or a woman in the group, being a leader or a fundraiser ad infinitum, and joining it as an adult or teen. I believe every case is individual, and each and every person that has a conscience will have to come to terms with what they did do or didn't do. But I also believe that coercion was a factor in cases across the board. When a person gets a good therapist, they know their subject, and what they don't know they are eager to learn and then apply their knowledge to. So because I am for the healing of all exers, does that mean I am anti "SGA"? Personally, I didn't know the division existed until I got on the boards about 5 months ago. And they seem to be organizing quite well themselves. I just think that categorically or even generally stating that FGAs were to blame for what occurred to SGAs is not helpful. And where SGs/As want to prosecute someone that personally injured them is certainly their perogative, but I also have to respect that some may not want to go that route. Do I believe that someone that becomes a counselor who has been in a cult situation can be very helpful? Certainly. But not exclusively.
