5 Jun 2024
Welcome to a new episode of the Apostate Sisters Interview Series, where we hold space for the life stories of those who were once entangled in the web of the Worldwide Church of God. Today, we're joined by David, who was introduced to the church in his early childhood in the mid-1960s and left as a teenager in the late 1970s.
Raised in a family deeply committed to the church after his father discovered "The Plain Truth" magazine, David's upbringing was steeped in the doctrines and practices of the church, from observing the Sabbath to attending the impressive Ambassador Auditorium for holy days. Despite the church's deep influence, David recounts his journey with a reflective and critical eye, especially discussing his transition away from these beliefs during his pursuit of higher education.
Today, while his mother and some siblings still observe the church's teachings, David identifies as an atheist, maintaining a nuanced view of his time within the church. This episode explores the complex dynamics of growing up in a cult, the allure of questioning, and the path to personal freedom. Join us as
David shares insights into the everyday life aspects of cult membership, including youth camps, relationships, and the impact of church doctrines on personal decisions like dating and education. David's story is a testament to the power of questioning and the search for personal truth. As we unpack his experiences, we invite our listeners to reflect on their own journeys and the impact of religious teachings on personal growth and freedom.
10 comments:
Based on my personal experiences, I don't respect David and other church members who became atheists. When I started attending services, I had many doubts. If billions reject Christianity, how can it be the truth? But I acted on what made sense to me, and didn't give myself the perk to morally compromise. And low and behold, it became obvious that God was answering my prayers. Most people in China, India etc, have had no meaningful exposure to Christianity, yet fortunate people like David have, yet they squandered the opportunity. Christ message of woe to the unrepentant cuties applies to these people.
David claimed that the 1975 booklet taught that women will be topless in the millennium. I don't recall reading that.
June 7, 2024 at 4:54:00 there is the consideration however that the actions and behaviour of these self appointed teachers did cause many to stumble
7.33 am. So true. Christ would not have warned about offending newbies unless it's a possibility.
I typically don't listen to subjective trips down memory lane, but since David's childhood timeline paralleled my own, I checked it out.
It wasn't exactly the "seek and destroy" example the girls were after. Even the mild insinuation that his atheism resulted from the church backfired. On the contrary, to their chagrin, he seemed to be content with his church experience.
He didn't bad mouth the sabbath, holydays, his diet, or his parents for being involved. He enjoyed going to the Feast. He was given a choice in a medical crisis. He admitted he wasn't scarred by the experience, although he felt strange for being out of step with his childhood contemporaries who observed different customs than his own, which is normal.
I would never belittled anyone's negative church experience or deny there were genuine hardships. My wife, siblings and her parents suffered extreme poverty because of poor choices made that went far beyond what the church required. Her dad thought he was doing the right thing by quitting a good steady job (not because of the sabbath) to go to work for a brother in the church in the very unstable construction business. Throw in 3 tithes and you have a recipe for disaster.
But for those feeling deprived for not getting to keep Christmas or Easter, or had to sit once a week for 2 hours enduring a sabbath service, I can neither relate or pretend to be sympathetic. My subjective story growing up as a child consists of a fanatical religious mother dragging me to the People's Temple, where Brother Jones conducted services and performing his miracles 10-12 hours a day on weekends and several hours a night through the week. Mom didn't miss a service!
This experience was absolute hell. By comparison, the WCG to follow was a walk in the park! I know, it's all subjective!
Well, anyone with any brains can tell that there is a big difference between WCG atheists and science atheists. Those who arrived at the atheist position through science have followed a physical evidentiary trail, and for the most part were not motivated by anger. The extreme authoritarianism of Armstrongism, and blatant injustice which resulted were the cause of the anger, but conclusions drawn while in any extreme emotional state are always suspect.
I didn't watch the presentation, but if David is not angry, at least he escaped one of the chief ways in which Armstrongism warped the members. Anger is a very bad, and potentially very damaging emotion. Once infected with it, it generally remains throughout a person's life.
Well, anyone with any brains can tell that there is a big difference between WCG atheists and science atheists. Those who arrived at the atheist position through science have followed a physical evidentiary trail, and for the most part were not motivated by anger. The extreme authoritarianism of Armstrongism, and blatant injustice which resulted were the cause of the anger, but conclusions drawn while in any extreme emotional state are always suspect.
I didn't watch the presentation, but if David is not angry, at least he escaped one of the chief ways in which Armstrongism warped the members. Anger is a very bad, and potentially very damaging emotion. Once infected with it, it generally remains throughout a person's life.
What a lost cause you people are.
Apostates interviewing an atheist who has no credibility.
Why don't you read "The God Hypothesis" if you don't know where you came from or where you are going?
Your last state is worse than the first. (Mt 12:45)
You should get someone to stick you back into the package with the rest of the Herbert W. Armstrong signature commemorative #2 Eberhard-Faber yellow pencils, 10:47.
You would actually "cancel" us?????
@4:54, I remember the sick game of telephone going around in the late 70's was that everyone was going to be resurrected naked, but I never saw it written. Don't know who started it, but there were plenty of pervs sanctioned in those days, Spanky comes to mind.....
"And how are the dead raised, and what clothes do they come up with?"
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