How many of you have exited from a cult?
This place is starting to sound like CA....Christianity Anonymous. ...LOL
I'm an ex Mormon. They have sort of left the "cult" category in some ways, but its damn close. It takes a bit of thinking to get out when you are bred into it. I still have brothers and sisters and friends who are devout.Their solution of life after death, an exclusive hold on the "truth", and social inclusiveness are big incentives to stay "converted".
If you don't dig too deep, the teachings have a lot of appeal, and the no-drink, no-smoke, no promiscuity can be really helpful to a community.
I don't try to talk them out of it, because for the most part, they seem well ,happy and secure, and if it works for them, why not. I certainly don't think Atheism is the solution for blind happiness. Reality is a lot more challenging.
I almost became a wiccan. I attended all the classes and missed the day I was to form an allegiance with the 2 gods. I just couldn't do it. The people were nice and hungry for new people to join their group.... I told myself that I'm running from one to join another. That's crazy.... I never went back.
Not a cult, but I am an ex commune dweller, the guy who ran the place was a real authoritarian - oops, that was me. And I was, teh place was bankrupt and going into liquidation when I took over, I made it all legal, and everybody loved me for about 5 years, but then they wanted to go back to their old way, so 6 years later I left. The place was worth millions when I left, and 10 times that now.
I was indoctrinated into the Christian church. I've been out of it for about 15 years.
Do the United States Navy counts?
I was in that cult not so bad now looking back as it was doing it.
@azzow2 Thank You for your service and sacrifice.
@GipsyOfNewSpain And the same to you.