|
In Reply to: Re: Cults Documentary posted by Nichole on April 20, 2009 at 21:00:17:
Dear Nichole...thank you for your kind words...first off I like to emphasize how it'd "pay" to diferentiate by and large between the FGAs, adults having joined out of own consent and children being born into the cult by just these adult members...it's true, that even FGAs went through quite a few ordeals...more on the psychological (soul)-side...I don't want to dismiss, how some had it extra hard.Frankly I didn't belong to them...Thank God... and also many people just left, when they didn't want to take it anymore and by verdict of the cults own writings, you were supposed to let someone go, if he didn't want to stay...there are several longer writings/letters about that.
Much, much tougher it was for the second generation adults...or first teens...if they developed difficulties to relate to the cult...experiencing doubts etc. The cult had a strange way to deal with doubts.All from the top was expected to be viewed as "oracles" of God...doubts should then be the voice of the enemy....the "tales", woes of teens, who got dealt with because of harbouring legitimate doubts, is figuratively "endless"...it dawned on leadership very, very late, if at all, that you cannot keep people, which don't "want your message", even if it were your own children...or giving them a "break"
As far as I am concerned...I didn't have it super tough...I was prepared (mentally....because I was into world-denying religions of the east before joining TF) for hardships & in that regard, TF was "milder" than what you could experience in some other outfits...I assume.
Nevertheless for me it's of utmost importance, that people get the right perspective of what they really are and not what they pretend to be for gainsake...it infuriates me, that they polluted/corrupt the Christian message with subjects, which never should belong together.In many ways you could call their frame of mind as experimental...experimenting with some theory & then with the lives of the followers & when the whole thing blows up...you say you're (a little bit) sorry for the discomfort...great attitude....if the structual engineer makes a mistake & the house or bridge collapses...sorry is also not going to fix it....so all those leaders (bad builders) are not worth all the money they get & that's where you also have some influence...scores of groups are collecting funds...the good ones have open books, proofs what is done with it, the bad ones use pretenses and don't allow to monitor them...would be good, if the public learns the difference here and would check more thoroughly before they donate.TF's stance is, they are good, because they say so...great
Here are some links to personal stories/accounts of SGAs, which are very touching & at that website you find plenty more information...all the best to you:
(Marc):_My_Jumbo_Story
