International so-called Church of Christ
Since someone else already pointed out the ICOC, I'll keep it short- 11 years in a pseudo Christian group that for years used to spout that only they were going to Heaven as only they followed the Bible exactly. (Of course, we tended to keep this to ourselves as it used to alientate prospective cult-members). Only after we "love-bombed" them good and hard did we go through the "studies" to convince them they had to join in order to get to God- about 50 well chosen scriptures (out of how many? 20,000?)
This church had (and to this day, still has) many "sold-out" believers who basically follow a basic American fundimentalist program, all the while tithing their pants off and getting new recrutes- the only way you're going to heaven , you know, so shut up, obey your leaders, and keep it growing.
Things got a bit bogged down a few years ago after the leader - Kip McKean- and his wife were "retired" after their marriage started to show considerable strain. Their kids didn't want to join the cult- a big no-no for any leader. And they stupidly had bragged about how the financial books were "always open", since we're so f***ing righteous.
Well, people finally got up the stones to say, "let's have a look at those books, please". *********Clampdown Time.*******

Sinse then the whole things been in free fall, with various factions- most cults go out with a whimper, not a bang
For me, it meant giving up drugs, some kinky sex, and pony up about $20 k per year. Ouch!! Only 11 years, though. Double Ouch!!!! I finally got kicked out when they preached that anybody who want's to continue with the financial investigations are not welcome. Thank You God!!
I'm currently glueing my life back together, but the process is a little like grieving- you don't realize what will happen when your entire social system gets pulled out from under you. Mucho anger and wierdness ensued for some time. Now it's just a bit (extra) red wine at dinner, begging the wife for a bit of the ordinary, and putting the extra 20K per annum into real estate.

Oh yeah, and not have to jump whenever those assholes said so, and now far fewer, but more real friends.
Thank you, Jesus. Amen
(water00boy, Fri 27 Jan 2006, 11:44, Reply)