Replies to '08/24 The Family Cult'

 I was in the Family from the ages of 2 to 14. I'm now in my early thirties with two children of my own. The bad expiriences far outweighed the good. I still have nightmares from some of the awful things I saw and went thru myself. The Family has always been very secretive and can move a "home" in a matter of hours with no trace of their whereabouts. They have a friendly, helpful, religious facade that masks the fact that they are an extremely harmful cult. They rely on guilt and twisted interpertations of the Bible to keep their members in line. The children are the worst to suffer. The children are used to generate income (thru singing, dancing, begging, passing out literature and selling tapes, CD's,DVD's ect.) and have no choice in the matter. School is not encouraged and Homeschooling is the perfered choice. Birth control is against the rules and having children early and frequently is just the norm. The abuses that have happened are inexcusable and it is wrong that the Family covers it up and pretends that nothing happened. When you leave the Family,it's hard to adjust to "regular" life. They keep you ignorant of many basic life skills and the stuff you went thru is hard to talk about. I am thankful for the times I was in regular school and lived in the U.S.A. I saw life didn't have to be that way. I always wanted out. My mother had 7 children ( I am the oldest ) and still supports the Family. They kicked her out a long time ago because after her 5th child, she had a nervous break-down. All the traveling, another baby every 2 years, and the "sharing" finally took it's toll on her. She ended up in a mental hospital. She rejoined and because they don't believe in medication (If you are sick, you are being punished by God for your sins ) it was only a matter of time. Two more children and another break-down and the Family was finished with her. They did want her to send regular donations and in turn, she recieves some publications. My mother loves the Family and will not hear a word against them. She has strained or no relationships with all of her children. She blames them for nothing. We are not close. Having children of my own and being married to a truely good man who loves me dearly has literaly given me a life. I am thankful everyday that my present is so much better than my past. My life is by no means perfect but I can make my own choices and am pretty happy! I tried to forget about all of it but it has shaped me in some ways. I am just recently trying to make sense of it and dealing with some of the things that happened. I have anxiety-attacks, nightmares, and conflicting emotions. But I'm glad to be free of the Family. To those who suffered as well, have hope. Things will get better. There are good people in the world and you are survivors.