Category: Cults
-
I’m Thankful for…
Yesterday, I joined a group of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses for a Thanksgiving dinner. This dinner group included two attorneys, two former Bethelites, and three ex-elders. The conversation was nothing short of extraordinary. En route, I considered how the dinner might unfold. I had mentally committed to a two-hour stay, sufficient to be courteous, enjoy a meal,…
-
The Blue Screen of Death
The blue screen of death, the universal sign of a system failure, strikes a particular chord with me. It takes me back to my own internal system crashes, those of belief, expectations, and self-identity. There were times when I felt like a computer crashing, overwhelmed by demands and tasks that I simply couldn’t process or…
-
Silent Profiles: Mom
Each evening, as the world quiets down, my thoughts inevitably drift to one person: my mom. It’s been almost three years, three years filled with this silence between us. This isn’t because we argued or fell out, but because I chose a different path from the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith that she holds dear. That choice…
-
My Bethel Love Story : Part 4 : Judgment at Bethel
My existence and life were unraveling as the plane touched down in New York, my mind a battleground of contradicting desires, fears, and heartbreak. The knowledge that the next moments and months of my life would be untidy was as certain as anything I had ever known. Jonathan‘s confession to the elders had positioned me…
-
JW Culture : Fear, Faith, and Self-Discovery
Growing up in a fundamentalist, conservative Jehovah’s Witness household feels like revisiting a chapter of my life filled with memories that are both surreal and thought-provoking. As I look back now, it’s incredible to think about the intensity of those beliefs and the impact they had on my upbringing. “The concept of Armageddon was not…
-
That Apostate Series : 10 Essential Steps for Leaving High-Control Groups and Cults
Leaving a high-control group or cult can be a challenging and life-altering decision. The process of breaking free from such groups can be emotionally, psychologically, and sometimes physically demanding. To help you navigate this journey, we’ve compiled a list of ten essential steps to prepare for and cope with life after leaving such groups. 1.Self-Education:…
-
That Apostate Series : My Journey through Sociological and Psychological Dimensions
Hey Everyone! I’m wondering if people would like to hear more of my story of leaving a high-control religious group or what many consider a cult. It’s a journey that looks at the sociological and psychological aspects of growing up within such an organization, which continued into my adulthood. This experience has deeply affected different…
