The WTS is just one of the cults that exploits and damages people, besides it there are many others that operate and damage their adherants in a similar or worse way.
Did you happen to come across such individuals that were similarly traumatised by these other cults or read about them on the internet or books?
People traumatised by cults other that the WTS
by greendawn 15 Replies latest jw friends
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greendawn
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blondie
Steven Hassan has a list of cults on his website.
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Lady Lee
Before I left Montreal 6 years ago I was frequently asked to be a guest lecturer about cults. One of the last lectures I did had asked a woman to tell her story. I have forgotten the name of the group she was with but part of her "preaching" work included using sex to get people involved with her group. She had been separated from her children by the group leader and had been in the group for many years before she managed to exit. I also have a few books written by the ex-members of several groups.
NON JW books- Heaven's Harlots: My fifteen years in a Sex Cult Williams, M.-- God’s Family
- Lambs of the Lie Johnson, L.H -- The Flock
- Moonwebs Josh Freed Moonies
- Secret Ceremonies Laake, D. -- Mormon
- Why we left a cult Latayne Scott -- JWs, Christian Science, New Age, witchcraft
- 30 Years a Watchtower Slave Schnell, W.J. -- JW
- A Jehovah’s Witness finds the truth J Eason -- J W – female
- Awakening of a JW D Wilson JW - female
- Crisis of Conscience R Franz --JW – GB member
- In search of Christian Freedom JW – GB member
- Have you seen my mother? B. McGlothin – JW and child custody
- Jim: A Life with AIDS Callwood, J. -- JW – gay and AIDS
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joelbear
all organized religions are cults.
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Lady Lee
joelbear
I don't think that is true.
Most religions don't
- force you to believe every word they say.
- penalize you for leaving.
- throw you out for setting foot inside another church
- throw you out for talking to someone they threw out before
- inforce a dress code.
- treat you as "weak" for not attending all services and not participating in their recruitment of new members
- require an oath of obedience to whatever they say/teach
- have rules about every aspect of your life
- have elders/leaders who show up at the hospital for the sole purpose of making sure you follow their rules about medical treatment.
I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the drift.
Many religions do have those kinds of control. But I would never say most or all do.
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tall penguin
Funny but I met two people this past weekend who were raised in a United Pentecostal Church. They were very physically sheltered their whole life, having no television, outside music, etc. Their education and association was strictly monitored. There was rampant physical and sexual abuse within the church. And the church members practiced shunning when these two people left.
One of them said that when her father, a church elder, sees her on the street, he says an audible prayer for the devil that's possessing her to leave her.
It was very interesting comparing notes with another religion. Yes, there's many cults out there. And many victims. So sad.
tall penguin -
JAVA
Several years ago I was doing a literature review on cult-like religions for a college research project. I was amazed to find the similarities between various cults and the experiences I had as a JW. High-control religious groups use different terms and ways to entrap members, but when it’s all said and done—they’re nearly all alike!
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greendawn
Indeed these cults do have a certain common denominator, that's why I am sure that an ex dub can easily identify with and help the victims of any other cult and not just ex JWs.
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james_woods
Greendawn, I dont know if you remember but a while back I put up a little thread on a friend at my work who broke out of Scientology on his own. We compared the experience and it is a lot like Watchtower on many issues. That thread has slipped way back, but maybe you can look at it by checking my post history.
This guy and I still talk and we often discuss what is happening in my associations with this site. He says he would like to do something like this for exScientology people, but is (reasonably so, I think) a little afraid of revenge tactics from these weirdos.
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DannyBloem
Most religions don't
- force you to believe every word they say.
- penalize you for leaving.
- throw you out for setting foot inside another church
- throw you out for talking to someone they threw out before
- inforce a dress code.
- treat you as "weak" for not attending all services and not participating in their recruitment of new members
- require an oath of obedience to whatever they say/teach
- have rules about every aspect of your life
- have elders/leaders who show up at the hospital for the sole purpose of making sure you follow their rules about medical treatment.
I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the drift.
Are you sure?
Do not most of the things count for muslims? For a lot of protestant groups too. Here there are groups which are quite large and have some influence which do not allow even television. Whole vilages which do not allow people to do anything on sunday. Do not allow their children to have vaccins etc.
How about the hindoes with all religion forced caste system?
Shall I continue....