What can you tell us? Did you have to be "de-programmed"?
2007-03-30 01:40:43 · 5 answers · asked by JGidd 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was in a cult; quite awhile ago. It didn't start out as a cult; but after a few years, the leadership declared some man made rules; not God's rules, by a long shot. They instilled fear in most of the churches members, which were hundreds of thousands, worldwide. People became afraid of losing their salvation with Christ, and blindly obeyed the leaders, thinking that God was directing the church to this "new" knowledge! It was frightening for me, and my family; and I studied with some members who questioned the new doctrines, as I did. I was then "disfellowshipped" for not going along with the program...Quite a few members were also disfellowshipped or left voluntarily. I actually left before they put me out; and a group of us, formerly members who questioned these teachings which were false, formed a support and worship group with each other. We started to grow in numbers, and we helped each other out, in discerning the true facts..I also helped deprogram a few others who were questioning doctrines, and I was invited to speak on a radio program, about this cult situation. This probably helped others leave, and hopefully prevented some from going into this group.
It's been many years since, and this churche's membership is only a fraction of what it once was; and they still do not teach the truth. I have been blessed to have had God allow me to get out of there, and to have a true and wonderful relationship with Christ. As for having to be deprogrammed, I believe that God had shown me what true worship is, and that studying His word, had let me escape without the trauma that comes with having to be deprogrammed. It is very traumatic to change when one is brainwashed; especially because when one is brainwashed, they do not know they are brainwashed! Only knowing Christ and allowing our minds to be open to the truth, is the way to exit any cult or church situation that wants to control us, and to make us check our brains at the door.
Worshipping God, and having a relationship with Christ, is freedom and is beautiful; it is NOT worshipping some control freak who wants to play God!!! The real truth is pure and simple...and I would suggest to anyone contemplating religion, to check it out thoroughly, read God's word, pray about it before committing to it, and once in it; if anything seems to be something the church wouldn't want you to question; immediately seek the answers in the Bible, talk to others about it, and seriously consider getting out before you're trapped!
I hope this helps anyone who feels that things are not right in their church; or that they may possibly be in a cult!
2007-03-30 02:12:30 · answer #1 · answered by JoJoCieCie 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
JoJoCie may god continue to bless you on your journey. I have not been part of such a cult, but know some who I think have been in the same one you describe.
It can take time and the support of god and friends to see the truth and to trust it after being misled in a cult.
2007-03-30 13:18:04 · answer #2 · answered by Mekonen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it was called the cult of Catholicism..I pretty much grew out of it once my sense of judgment and logic kicked in, so about the age of eight.
2007-03-30 08:49:46 · answer #3 · answered by Diana 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I was a christian for 20 years and I had to be depreogrammed, though I had do it myself, over many years and use reason as it was my only door left to the real world. I followed reason and rational thought and now I am an atheist
2007-03-30 08:57:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
19 years in the Baptist church... de-programming took 5 years.
2007-03-30 08:47:42 · answer #5 · answered by Invisible_Flags 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋