Perhaps you have seen the footage recently on the news of 400+ women and young girls dressed in 19th century clothes being evacuated from a 'religious compound' in Texas. Apparently a teenager in the cult informed the authorities that underage girls were being molested and forced into marriage, prompting the US government to get involved. The cult in question (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day) is a polygamous splinter of Mormonism, which broke off 100 years ago. The cult leader, Warren Jeffs, was previously charged with rape and forcing a 14 year old girl to marry him, so I feel that the allegations about this cult are probably founded.
I think it is also important to note that this 'church' is listed as a hate group, for its teachings against interracial marriage. Does this mean that the Worldwide Church of God and its splinters are/were listed as hate groups for teaching the same belief?
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3 comments:
Hi!
This news item has also been referenced on the Shadows of WCG forum. A lot of us had the same reaction. Do you really think we were like the LDS? I mean yeah, the "god as god is god family" thing, Armstrong lifted that from the Mormons, no question.
But the thing is, these women and girls were held in a compound. Completely isolated from the world, physically. Our isolation (in my opinion) was purely mental. "Be not conformed to the world" and "Be in the world but not of the world." I'm sure you've heard (maybe even said) those phrases before. I certainly did!
I think the thing about the LDS story (other than the brainwashing) is a little twinge of gratitude that yes, it could have been so much worse than it was, for us, combined with a little voice inside going "But it really was bad you know!" at the same time.
Love your site! I have added you to my blogroll.
HI Weinland Watch...
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. You are right in saying that things could have been much worse. I have found both solace and pain in learning about other bible-based cults; pain, when I realize how similar 'the church' was to the Branch Davidian cult that died at Waco and solace in the fact that it could have been so much worse.
I want to comment to,"About the author". I really relate. Influence wise, Armstrong was in my life from 1963 to 1995. I grew up alone, friendless and a nervous wreck, and have never healed. I take prescription drugs to function semi normally, and live on a mental disability. Can only deal with being in public for short durations before my nerves start rattling me apart, and have days of complete exhaustion for no operant reason. The mind is corroded by it's own stress hormones, and the damage is concretely real, and can be a virtual incurable disease. Anyone who thinks cults cause no damage to a society haven't considered the cost of the dis-functional people left unable to hold down a job, or the who reach the end of their rope, and act out violently to vent years of frustration because of the destruction of all their hopes and dreams.
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