Same old same old, Should not be surprised

[ex-shep]

Warning: may trigger

I looked at the website of a group I lost a friend 20 years ago. The website had links that gave one an observer that they had cleaned up their act. When I listened to a sermon and read some transcripts, it was the same old same old. Layered in the preaching was the concept of slander, not to talk critically of the group and the old "the devil will try to use people, [namely me], to draw them away from the church" It was even more subtle than more controversial period in the late Seventies to late Eighties.

I detected the old we will protect you from the outside world. We have the truth. We will enslave you with commitments and we will do your thinking for you.

Is there a Maalox distributor in the house?!!
:mad:

[Willow]

I am generally suspicious about instances of cult reformations. It would be extremely difficult not to revert to old patterns without a clean start and new people and new leadership... etc.

[Elle]

I'm with you Shep. Even though I grew up in an environment of performance driven ''grace'', I'm founding now that the church I have chosen as an adult, has me a little unnerved with red flags - don't publically disagree with the leadership, You must belong to a small group - all of which are connected to the leadership. Lately, I've found myself medicating so when I go to church, I'm not really there. It seems to be working well with my sister's death as well. A little disociation goes a long why. But I digress... I agree that ''ministries'' of today are much more subtle than they were 20 years ago. Stay safe, my friend. Hugs, ELLE

[Hope 98]

agree that ''ministries'' of today are much more subtle than they were 20 years ago. Stay safe, my friend. Hugs, ELLE

I agree too. The more people understand the tactics that have been used against them, the more well hidden they need to become. Remember that the name of the book that brought many of us to this forum is "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" ;)

It gets harder and harder. It takes longer - more investment - before you realize what's happening. If you try to point it out to others - it's so hard to see!

The really bad part is that the very things that make it subtle or the fact that it is subtle makes it all the more dangerous and damaging.

Anyone who has suffered abuse short of severe physical abuse, may recognize that awful sense that if I only had SCARS I could get help - someone would believe me because the damage would be VISIBLE.

Evil rarely announces itself as evil - it hides behind the pretense of good.

Hope

[ex-shep]

I'm with you Shep. Even though I grew up in an environment of performance driven ''grace'', I'm founding now that the church I have chosen as an adult, has me a little unnerved with red flags - don't publically disagree with the leadership, You must belong to a small group - all of which are connected to the leadership. Lately, I've found myself medicating so when I go to church, I'm not really there. It seems to be working well with my sister's death as well. A little disociation goes a long why. But I digress... I agree that ''ministries'' of today are much more subtle than they were 20 years ago. Stay safe, my friend. Hugs, ELLE

The only thing is if one see red flags, why stay? I got that indoctrination at a new members class, my wife and I blasted out that church and never looked back.

The only problem with medicating is it will only amplify the pain. Of course I should throw stone in my own glass house because I am in that very same funk.

[Jerry]

I detected the old we will protect you from the outside world. We have the truth. We will enslave you with commitments and we will do your thinking for you.

Is there a Maalox distributor in the house?!!
:mad:

Dear ExShep,,,
A few years ago I went back to visit the old neighborhood. There it was!,just as I had left it. The only difference????,,,the trees were a little bigger ;)
Love Jerry
Oops,,,,,,one more thing just thought of it,,,,,,What does Christ think about going back????,,,,,,,,,Matt 12 verses 43-45 :D

[Ontheroad]

The former church/cult I was in was rooted in a movement that has changed its name numerous times. That was the *only* thing that has changed, though. Same garbage wrapped up in new, shiny wrapping.

I agree with what someone wrote about a movement/church not changing. I truly think when a church has foundational errors that lead to false doctrine and abuse, the whole thing should be levelled. You can't rebuild a house and expect it to stand on a crumbling foundation.