Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
Absolutely. In the thought-world of the LSM-affiliated lc, they get only one perspective. They are afraid to be exposed to any other as it might shatter the veils. What kind of sick-bed faith is that? Where is the fresh air? Where is the light? The transparency?
|
This is hitting home. I was talking to someone today (former family in LC) about this. They really are afraid to be exposed to any other idea. I believe they 100% believe they're right, but the FEAR of being "poisoned" is real.
In Scientology, they call it being a "suppressive" person when you speak out against scientology. Of course, they call all criminals suppressive people too- so when you're speaking out against scientology in general and trying to warn family members against the harmful practices of the group- you're then labeled as "suppressive" and lumped in the same group as criminals.
Obviously, I don't think the LC is that extreme but the mindset is there on a smaller scale. Just the fact that this family member KNOWS I have a lot to say, other family too, and this family member in the LC AVOIDS discussing it with me says a lot. I've reached out before and was shut down.
If you really think about it, in a normal situation where thought reform isn't involved....if you knew a family member was concerned about a decision you were making, wouldn't it be ok approach them and reassure them, and wouldn't it be the RIGHT thing to do when concerned about a family member/friend to approach them about a decision they were making that you thought could be harmful to them? Does that act have to mean that you're attacking them/their character/and that you're "poison" that they shouldn't listen to?
No, that's what happens with communication in the US VS. THEM mindset. Even though we're both Christians, they've been taught to believe the VISION OF THE AGE. Therefore, they believe that they are in the light- others who don't agree are in the dark. Therefore, they will love you- but don't question their VISION because that's their whole identity because they're so wrapped up in this way of thinking. To question it, is POISON, not light. To doubt it would be too much of a programmed response of guilt/shame that they would go through even doubting it- so they don't hear you. Everything you say just sounds crazy to them. You slowly do become the enemy bc in their eyes, you're opposing the VISION of the AGE. The ENTIRE reason for EXISTING and the WAY to BRING THE LORD BACK. Of course, you're now poison.
Even if you're a Christian.
How is this the body of Christ??
In REALITY, when you care and love someone- you're not "suppressive" or "poison" to tell them about something that concerns you that they're doing. As long as its done with love, its NORMAL to do that.
I get that we all avoid things, but this family member is totally avoiding the issue with me and it just is this huge "elephant in the room" situation and it's sad. Our connection isn't there anymore. It hurts bc I know she sees me as "poisonous" now. That's why the communication isn't there. I feel this because in the past, I thought the same thing about people who spoke out against the church. I've also heard it described to me that way my whole life. It's US VS. the WORLD. You're in the dark or you're in the LIGHT. The people in the LC are convinced that they are the Christians who are IN THE LIGHT and other's are blind. I thought this my entire childhood. Even if I didn't like the LC practices as a young person, that idea was ingrained in me. I knew though that I wasn't going to be able to fit in to that lifestyle and keep up with those standards, I'm too much of an individualistic person- so the guilt and shame set in.
"Fit in eventually or get out" - that should be the LC's motto.
Fear is a good control tactic. I've said it before but it wasn't until years after I stopped meeting with the church that I looked anything up online.
What was I so afraid of? I was afraid subconsciously of being confronted with information that would "ruin" my outlook and make me uncomfortable. It's so much easier to just go with the flow.
I really feel like people in the LC think the boogeyman is going to jump out of the computer and poison their minds if they dared to look anything up for themselves. I wouldn't admit it to myself then, but I was too scared I would read something that would "change" me. What happened to being able to defend your beliefs?? I mean, what was I thinking?? It's so interesting to think back on my mindset then. This is why I truly believe thought reform is strongly in play. I would like to say that my whole life, I could defend my beliefs and faith to some extent to someone either outside the LC or an unbeliever. But I can't say that bc I never read or knew anything about the group I met with, other than what was told to me by the elders.
Much easier to just ask an elder and get their version of events. That's satisfying enough apparently.
I asked this family member to read some things and I don't think she did. She just told me she was actually already aware of the situation and told me that her prayer for me was to spend as much time reading the Bible as I did looking up this stuff.
Wow. Nevermind the fact that the only reason I did spend so much time was because it was all too unbelievable and I was HOPING to prove it all wrong. I had to spend that much time to prove to myself that I wasn't totally nuts for seeing this info and starting to accept the reality of the situation. It totally messes with your head- I needed to KNOW what I was reading wasn't just "lies." I sent her some links and I don't know but I doubt she read them. Her response was basically that she already "knew" about some of the situations I wanted her to read, but I would bet she got one side of the story. I've truly tried to read both, I've read from the "afaithfulword" site and it only CONFIRMED my suspicions that all these things really happened and that really bad practices were in play! The second link on their page is "QUARANTINE" for goodness sakes! But, she just said though that "bad things" have happened with former elders and that as a whole, everything wasn't like that. I heard the same thing when I was in. She truly does not see that this isn't healthy and her response only confirmed that thought reform is going on. Her response was very PC LC lingo-ish and included the words "amidst" and basically, followed the exact pattern I've read about happening when confronting people who've been in thought reform. When confronted they dismiss, admonish, then shame. That is exactly what happened when I tried to confront her with these issues - I got "shamed" that I was spending too much time looking into these things instead of being in the Word. As if, the events I was talking about were so crazy that they didn't even warrant being looked into. According to her, I should just blindly follow the LC/LSM, read my Bible, and never question that maybe these people are aren't following Godly practices and maybe they're not on the right track. That was the response I got though and I don't think she sees anything wrong with it. I don't think she's capable of seeing it or with the fact that our relationship has suffered due to this issue and that by itself is a red flag. I guess, to her, it's better that our relationship is severed than to be "poisoned."
It's all hurtful. All these things are things I wish I could say to her. But I can't- so posting them anonymously and hopefully someone else can hear them.
I know our family isn't the only one who has/is/will go through this.