I remember chilling in the computer lab at university when I came across someone’s Jehova’s Witness deconversion story online. It was so eerily similar to my experience that I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Because it wasn’t my religion, I was able to see it the way an outsider might see my own.
It broke something inside me irreparably. Faith became a dirty word. All conservative values instantly vanished. I guess this conflict had been beneath the surface for some time but finding that story lit a match.
I mean what kind of religion needs to brainwash its members not to seek out material critical of itself? What kind of religion puts you in a room, alone, as a teenager, with a 50-year-old man who is asking you about your sexual habits? What kind of religion has billions of dollars in real estate investments? What kind of religion requires you to ring people’s doorbells and pester them about your religion? What kind of religion asks you to (despite how they phrase it) hate gay people?
I stopped having anything to do with the church after that. When it comes to integrity, I can’t pretend. I was able to hold my ground against all the creepy shit that happens when you leave a cult. And now, 20+ years later, I rarely even think about it.
Former Mormon here too. For me it was the news about the SEC fines. The church breaking the law to hide from the government and it’s members just how much money they actually have. For decades too. The reason they didn’t want people to know? Because they’d have ideas on how it should be spent. Yes, I think the hundreds of billions of dollars should be spent feeding and clothing the poor and homeless. Ya know, like that Jesus guy said, like a lot. But no, they say they need it for the 2nd coming. Cuz, Jesus is gonna need a large diversivied stock portfolio.
Since then everything else fell apart. I saw the insane number of lawsuits suing the church for covering up sexual abuse, and the church defending the abusers, not the victims. Now all I can see is a bunch of terrified, greedy old men clutching to power and lying to try to stop their members leaving in droves.
It’s such a shame too because there are genuine positives, especially as a kid. The frequent scout trips were amazing for learning practical skills and having fun. I never lacked for good role models or friends and adults would gladly mentor you if you expressed an interest in something. It really felt like a community. I haven’t found anything like that since.
What kind of religion puts you in a room, alone, as a teenager, with a 50-year-old man who is asking you about your sexual habits? What kind of religion has billions of dollars in real estate investments?
Turns out that’s pretty much all of them.
What kind of religion requires you to ring people’s doorbells and pester them about your religion?
Honestly, I weirdly respect this. The JWs/Mormons at least take their obligations from 1 peter 3:15 seriously. The vast majority of Christian denominations just kind of ignore that one.
Turns out you kinda have to ignore most of what God tells you to do, just so you don’t end up in jail. But I do respect that they’re actually more of the Bible seriously. The outcomes are worse, but they DO stand for what they believe.
I just wish they put all that dedication into something like doctors without borders or something.
The evangelical / nondenominational churches are honestly the ones I like best in that regard, with owning land/businesses. They are almost never some weird real estate owning corporation behind the scenes, just a collection of locals who pooled money and built a church. I don’t agree with their religion or beliefs, but that’s different.
I was raised Mormon.
I remember chilling in the computer lab at university when I came across someone’s Jehova’s Witness deconversion story online. It was so eerily similar to my experience that I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Because it wasn’t my religion, I was able to see it the way an outsider might see my own.
It broke something inside me irreparably. Faith became a dirty word. All conservative values instantly vanished. I guess this conflict had been beneath the surface for some time but finding that story lit a match.
I mean what kind of religion needs to brainwash its members not to seek out material critical of itself? What kind of religion puts you in a room, alone, as a teenager, with a 50-year-old man who is asking you about your sexual habits? What kind of religion has billions of dollars in real estate investments? What kind of religion requires you to ring people’s doorbells and pester them about your religion? What kind of religion asks you to (despite how they phrase it) hate gay people?
I stopped having anything to do with the church after that. When it comes to integrity, I can’t pretend. I was able to hold my ground against all the creepy shit that happens when you leave a cult. And now, 20+ years later, I rarely even think about it.
Former Mormon here too. For me it was the news about the SEC fines. The church breaking the law to hide from the government and it’s members just how much money they actually have. For decades too. The reason they didn’t want people to know? Because they’d have ideas on how it should be spent. Yes, I think the hundreds of billions of dollars should be spent feeding and clothing the poor and homeless. Ya know, like that Jesus guy said, like a lot. But no, they say they need it for the 2nd coming. Cuz, Jesus is gonna need a large diversivied stock portfolio.
Since then everything else fell apart. I saw the insane number of lawsuits suing the church for covering up sexual abuse, and the church defending the abusers, not the victims. Now all I can see is a bunch of terrified, greedy old men clutching to power and lying to try to stop their members leaving in droves.
It’s such a shame too because there are genuine positives, especially as a kid. The frequent scout trips were amazing for learning practical skills and having fun. I never lacked for good role models or friends and adults would gladly mentor you if you expressed an interest in something. It really felt like a community. I haven’t found anything like that since.
Turns out that’s pretty much all of them.
Honestly, I weirdly respect this. The JWs/Mormons at least take their obligations from 1 peter 3:15 seriously. The vast majority of Christian denominations just kind of ignore that one.
Turns out you kinda have to ignore most of what God tells you to do, just so you don’t end up in jail. But I do respect that they’re actually more of the Bible seriously. The outcomes are worse, but they DO stand for what they believe.
I just wish they put all that dedication into something like doctors without borders or something.
The evangelical / nondenominational churches are honestly the ones I like best in that regard, with owning land/businesses. They are almost never some weird real estate owning corporation behind the scenes, just a collection of locals who pooled money and built a church. I don’t agree with their religion or beliefs, but that’s different.
And thank god for that.
Oh yeah, fewer people ringing my doorbell is always better.
Indeed!
Though my doorbell is unplugged anyway lol
Good for you. Sincerely.