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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEx-scientology kids: "I was born. I grew up. I escaped."
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yardwork
(61,748 posts)This sounds interesting. I've seen similar websites for people who have escaped from Amish communities, Apostles of God, and others.
pnwmom
(109,021 posts)MadHound
(34,179 posts)I grew up in a fundamentalist Baptist household. I was born, I grew up, and escaped, same as these kids.
What is the difference?
pnwmom
(109,021 posts)of imprisonment, beatings, forced work for $50 dollars a week, etc.
And some of these ex-scientologists have come from the very top of the organization.
The one ex-Scientologist I know had a different story. After thirty years working long hours for the SeaOrg for practically nothing, she was kicked out in her late 70's because she was too old to work for them anymore. No pension, no Social Security, no money! Fortunately for her, the family she'd abandoned decades earlier took her back.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Yet one religion is now mainstream, accepted, even celebrated, and the other is derided.
I don't give a damn about Scientology, but I abhor the hypocrisy that people have concerning it.
pnwmom
(109,021 posts)roguevalley
(40,656 posts)and I don't consider the polygamists of Jeffers community anything but a pedo ring.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)Warpy
(111,417 posts)Remember, even if you call Mom on Xmas Day, that's a hell of a lot more than the $cientologists would let you do if you left them.
It's pure, cultish behavior that rips families apart.
K8-EEE
(15,667 posts)We are all inundated with "born again" stories but the huge amount of people who find peace ESCAPING religion, their voices are silent. I applaud them all and am interested in their stories.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)DCKit
(18,541 posts)Like I should talk, I'm going to meet the Mennonites on Friday night.
Anyone want to give me a head's-up?
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)DCKit
(18,541 posts)I'm still learning about the Mennonites, but I'll let y'all know after Friday night.
But yeah, what you said, nobody will ever convince me they're more scary than the Scientologists.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)They are a peace church like the Amish and Quakers.
DCKit
(18,541 posts)Now that I think about it, half the kids I grew up with were probably free Amish or Mennonite. The rest, we knew who they were. We didn't always agree, but we respected them and I had an issue when they had to leave school.. I grew up in the most liberal/conservatiive area that could ever be - a college town surrounded by the Amish. It's why I can blend in at the weeekend place, and why my Republican friends are sane. I don't agree with organized religion, but I respect it.
No different than the Amish kids I grew up with. Not stupid or brainwashed. LIke my Catholic S.O. they know their bible, and I respect that. I've got arabs here in the neighborhood now, need to learn how to deal with that. If it continues to get any more multicultural, I'm going to have to study hard.
longship
(40,416 posts)Seriously, good for what they are trying to do. Unfortunately, Scientology lawyers are probably busy trying to shut this down.
I wish these kids the best.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)that many would describe as cults - I'm looking at you, Opus Dei!
pnwmom
(109,021 posts)rox63
(9,464 posts)But this one did: http://exscientologykids.com/