Comments on: Dave

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:27:28 +0000

It is so unfortunate these things happen. I know having faith and spiritual beliefs are a positive thing. Any time a person or organization claims to be speaking for God but does not show the fruits it is disturbing. WWCOG was a cult and I know for a fact what it did to the founder of that organizations family/children. None of HWA’s kids/grandkids were at his bedside when he died or allowed to be around him during his later years in life. What a powerful message that sends to anybody. I remember a lot of people tithing and giving money to AC so you could go out there and see “imported clover” for grass (you could not walk on it or it would be destroyed). Harvard, Yale, Oxford….. the most expensive and prestigious campuses in the world could not hold a candle to AC in Pasadena and it was all built and run on the backs of poor, clueless people who just wanted to be a part of something special and a “higher calling”

By: cathy

cathy — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:11:18 +0000

I am sorry to hear that you lost your father. My brother finally succeeded in killing himself 7 years ago, after a failed attempt not long after your father’s. He was such a strong believer in the church and a bling follower–along with most of my family. How sad that he will also be the kindest person I may ever know as well.
I feel for you because my family will not allow any blame to fall on the church either. This is because this would bring that blame to my parents and my siblings do not want to hurt them like that. Always so many unspoken things and secrets–it’s sickening.
I wish you well.

By: David

David — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 05:15:07 +0000

Hi Dave,
Your story is earily similar to mine (names, French-canadian, feasts in Penticton, born mid-70’s etc)and really struck a chord with me. I am sorry about your father and also know many ex-members who have succeeded or tried to kill themselves as a result of the changes that were introduced. My father feels feels duped and ashamed that he subjected us to this indoctrination. I wish you well…

By: Jolene

Jolene — Tue, 16 May 2006 03:00:29 +0000

Dave:
I am sorry to about the loss of your father. I grew up very very similar to you. I also was locked in the closet (kindergarten actually) during Christmas time. I grew up very very poor. My parents are still in the church, but I broke free the day I turned 18.

By: Alyson

Alyson — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 19:53:14 +0000

Dave:

I’m very sorry about the loss of your father. I, too, grew up in the WCG and am still coming to terms with all the damage it caused. I’m 25 years old and am just now realizing some of the far reaching effects. I grew up poor as well because of the church (my parents even lost their house), and my younger sister was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder - a direct result of our upbringing. It helps to see that others have had similar, if not more difficult, experiences.

By: tommy

tommy — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:45:51 +0000

Dave:
I’m sorry about the lost of your father. My back ground is very, very similar to yours.

take care

By: Windwalker

Windwalker — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 18:55:07 +0000

Hello, Dave:

I connected with your post in many ways. I remember the teachings on spankings supposedly being in love, but my parents didn’t say they loved us after I or my siblings were spanked. But I do remember other parents doing that.

I also attended Penticton for several years as an adult, and was in the choir until 1999. The contrast the feast days provided was one thing that kept me in WCG longer.

I was very sorry to read about your father’s suicide. I knew several friends who committed suicide because of WCG as well. I have a friend, still in WCG, who claims that I have been wrong for reading about the mind control and other damaging tactics used by WCG. I see the same denial in her as you expressed about family members who don’t want to attach the sad loss of your father’s life to WCG. I am glad I and so many others have broken free of it. My friend’s attitude showed me that I wasn’t accomplishing what I thought by trying to warn and educate her about the damaging nature of mind control. When I realized that I stopped trying. We each must live our own lives and see what we will see.

Thank you for posting.