Re: HELP - I'M STUCK IN A CULT

[Arthur Dent]

I attended "class" this past weekend and we were asked why pride is bad and why we have to submit to god and obey god. It was a rather loaded set of questions considering the real question should have been IS pride bad and DO you have to submit to god. as described by the scriptures.

I was asked directly to answer these questions and I couldn't even speak. I was in such stanch disagreement that I just froze. These people assume the scriptures are true and from the erroneous start, the flood gates of cultist principles have been expounded upon. This is seriously becoming dangerous and harmful.

Certain phrases came out such as "we're nothing compared to god, we are slaves for him, even if we don't agree with it or want to do it" and "the moment you don't fear god is the moment you are proud and not submissive" It's a frightening prospect considering these people are the ones describing who god is and what he is like (a war god mostly).

It's like those kids who enforce elementary school rules, on behalf of the teachers, because it makes them feel good and feel a sense of power.

I need to start speaking up, projecting the worth of being an independent thinker, to show the likely hood and the motives behind why they may have been lied to. It's terrifying though because the leader built in protections against that.
"They will call you silly religious people, but you serve god, not man. Only he matters" He literally bred stubbornness and fundamentalism into their heads.

It really sucks to find out that everyone you grew up loving would turn their back on you in a heart beat in the name of emotional, manipulative, and illogical bullshit. I have so many close friends I wish I could openly talk to about this, but none are willing.

[Kyuuketsuki]

I need to start speaking up, projecting the worth of being an independent thinker, to show the likely hood and the motives behind why they may have been lied to. It's terrifying though because the leader built in protections against that.
"They will call you silly religious people, but you serve god, not man. Only he matters" He literally bred stubbornness and fundamentalism into their heads.

I think you need to think very carefully before you do so ... obviously your current mindset and your community's do not mesh and if you speak out you are going to find yourself increasingly isolated so you have to decide what it is you value most and go with that because there are going to be consequences either way.

Kyu

[Arthur Dent]

I need to start speaking up, projecting the worth of being an independent thinker, to show the likely hood and the motives behind why they may have been lied to. It's terrifying though because the leader built in protections against that.
"They will call you silly religious people, but you serve god, not man. Only he matters" He literally bred stubbornness and fundamentalism into their heads.

I think you need to think very carefully before you do so ... obviously your current mindset and your community's do not mesh and if you speak out you are going to find yourself increasingly isolated so you have to decide what it is you value most and go with that because there are going to be consequences either way.

Kyu

I could always play the innocent role; there are plenty of things to poke a stick at with shear curiosity.

It's ridiculous though because even just asking "but why?" can be met with "because we are commanded. It doesn't always have to make sense to us at this time." and people general look at you like you should be fully accepting of what they say, after all you're here aren't you?

When your raised and told, "you have to be celibate, you can't eat meat, you're not part of the world, you were chosen for a special purpose, you must give a portion of your income, you must be against homosexuality, drinking, sex, certain music, etc, etc, etc," I don't know how the hell they expect you to just accept it and expect it to even fit everyone's personality. It's like pain and guilt are inherent and I know one member who was recently suicidal having broken a particular rule.

[Kyuuketsuki]

When your raised and told, "you have to be celibate, you can't eat meat, you're not part of the world, you were chosen for a special purpose, you must give a portion of your income, you must be against homosexuality, drinking, sex, certain music, etc, etc, etc," I don't know how the hell they expect you to just accept it and expect it to even fit everyone's personality. It's like pain and guilt are inherent and I know one member who was recently suicidal having broken a particular rule.

Damn! I don't have enough money as is ... I have nothing against gays (apart from their lamentable hijacking of the word), I love drink (I'm big into real ale), sex and your community would sure hate my music  

Kyu