Non-Believer Former Members of the Worldwide Church of God

OK, USA

Hi. My folks moved us to California in 1963, that’s when we joined the cult church. We weren’t allowed to have xmas, or most any other holidays. Having been in a Baptist church and being 13 at this time, I was not gungho about having my life turned upside down.

We stayed in California for 3 years, then moved to Oklahoma where my dad found the church that was here. Every Friday when most kids were going to football games and having dates and fun, we weren’t allowed to go anywhere after sundown. I could never belong to any school function that required Friday night attendence, although I did manage to sneak out and go to a few football games.

I hated this cult. It’s hard to explain you are in a "religion," (hahaha) where you cannot celebrate much of anything— no xmas plays, or parties, no halloween, nothing.

My sister is 6 years younger so she was in it for a little longer than I was.

I finally got fed up with dad trying to pair me up with someone from the church. Nope, that wasn’t going to happen, because at the age of 16 I had already decided I was getting out of this, so I married a boy from school. I shocked my dad— I told him either you let me marry him, or I run away and marry him. I had never back talked my dad, and I think it caught him off guard. Mom signed for me to marry, but cried all the way to the court house and all the way home, and they didn’t attend the wedding, little as it was. I had NO ONE from my family there— they wouldn’t let my sis or brother come. And for a year, I only saw my siblings at school.

I did finish high school, had 2 kids, and divorced and married the man I have now. He’s the greatest, and believes like I do: that the Bible is a book, nothing more.

I still have resentment towards my dad, and now I hate to have him drop in– all he can do is preach. I told him, I don’t want to hear that stuff; I left home at 16 because of that.

My mom, at this time, doesn’t have any idea what’s going on, she’s had Alzheimers for the last 7 years. To her it’s a long day and not fun to go to church, but my dad is easily swayed by the church. He’s paid most all of any money he had to all the tithes they require— he’d do without to pay.

I have my sister who left as soon as she could, but our brother is still hanging on the edges and doesn’t want to do anything that might make dad think he’s a sinner. I do what I want, I wear what i want, and I believe in no church and I never will. If there be a burning hellfire, then I’m sure there’s a hot rock there for me— right next to the big money takers of the cult.

My mom gave up her family, friends and everything to follow my dad into this crazy cult. It is really sad, when I know she didn’t want to, and her family was important to her. When she began to show signs of Alzheimers, my sis and I forced dad to let us take her to make sure it was that. After we found out it was, we forced him to retire. He was 82, and mom needed him there with her. He’s not happy and tells everyone his daughters and his wife ruined his life. Sometimes I just hate him, for what he’s done to our family. He told me that he finally had his life going good, and your mother had to ruin it by having this happen. I was so mad I told him, "Do you think for one damn minute that mom wanted to spend her golden years as a shell of a woman, and not know who she is or what is going on?" He had no answer. My sister and I have discussed this cult many times, and we both pretty much believe in no church— if there is a higher being, maybe it’s ET! Hahaha…

Anyway, there are lots of things that happened that I’ll never get over; never forgive, and I will always hold resentment towards my dad. Now he wants to be nice and come visit, but that’s only because he wants me to watch mom during the Feast, but I’m not doing it this year. I’ve endured enough of his bull to last me a life time. He can stay at home, or get my brother to care for her since he takes that time off of work, but doesn’t attend any church functions, the hanger-on.

I love my mom, but my health is no longer good, and I can’t follow her around all day until he decides to come back. It sounds cruel, but maybe it’ll make him at least think about having her put in a home. She’d be better off, where she could get care, and not be dragged all over the country for church stuff. And I’d like to know where are the church people when my dad is in need of help– I don’t see them coming around helping out. My dad is now in the Philadelphia Church of God, in Edmond Oklahoma.

I know this is a rambling, senseless letter. But there’s not many you can talk to that really understand the real inside part of that church… cult….

Thanks,

P.S.
Oklahoma

This entry was posted on Monday, August 15th, 2005 at 1:36 pm and is filed under Personal Story. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Your comments must be approved by the moderator before they will appear.