Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 82
an article from the ICC movement‘s magazine Upside Down entitled ―Who‘s
Brainwashing Who,‖ and a response, with documentation, that I had written to the
article.
It was clear from the very beginning of the prep that all family members had done their
homework. Even the role-playing with ex-members went extremely well. Needless to say,
the intervention was successful, and it really demonstrated how smoothly interventions can
go with a family that puts so much time and effort into being prepared.
In my work with ex-members of the International Churches of Christ group at workshops,
extensively by phone, and often in visits to my home from a few hours to a few days, I have
found so much anguish. They are going through the usual things we see former members
who have just left their group address in their recovery:
An intense identity crisis: Who am I?
Grief: losses of loved ones left in the group, loss of innocence, loss of belonging to
something special, loss of their purpose or cause in life, sometimes loss of money or
career goals, and sometimes loss of a marriage.
Varying symptoms of post traumatic stress: panic attacks, inability to make decisions,
inability to concentrate, floating back and forth between the ―cult self‖ and the current
self.
A need to re-establish their healthy boundaries, and to gain trust in themselves and
others.
But former members of this particular group also face some other issues:
Intense feelings of betrayal, sometimes even betrayal by God.
For walkaways, often a feeling that they can‘t measure up and are insufficient.
A feeling of having been spiritually raped.
Fear that they will go back to their old, ―sinful‖ nature.
Fear that they need to find another ―right‖ church that is ―on fire for the Lord.‖ Yet, when
they attend other churches, they often are triggered and become scared they‘ll never be
right with God.
Thankfully, with patience, time, family support and love, and education, they do heal!
This material was originally prepared for a presentation at AFF‘s annual conference, June
14-15, 2002, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Orlando (FL) Airport.
an article from the ICC movement‘s magazine Upside Down entitled ―Who‘s
Brainwashing Who,‖ and a response, with documentation, that I had written to the
article.
It was clear from the very beginning of the prep that all family members had done their
homework. Even the role-playing with ex-members went extremely well. Needless to say,
the intervention was successful, and it really demonstrated how smoothly interventions can
go with a family that puts so much time and effort into being prepared.
In my work with ex-members of the International Churches of Christ group at workshops,
extensively by phone, and often in visits to my home from a few hours to a few days, I have
found so much anguish. They are going through the usual things we see former members
who have just left their group address in their recovery:
An intense identity crisis: Who am I?
Grief: losses of loved ones left in the group, loss of innocence, loss of belonging to
something special, loss of their purpose or cause in life, sometimes loss of money or
career goals, and sometimes loss of a marriage.
Varying symptoms of post traumatic stress: panic attacks, inability to make decisions,
inability to concentrate, floating back and forth between the ―cult self‖ and the current
self.
A need to re-establish their healthy boundaries, and to gain trust in themselves and
others.
But former members of this particular group also face some other issues:
Intense feelings of betrayal, sometimes even betrayal by God.
For walkaways, often a feeling that they can‘t measure up and are insufficient.
A feeling of having been spiritually raped.
Fear that they will go back to their old, ―sinful‖ nature.
Fear that they need to find another ―right‖ church that is ―on fire for the Lord.‖ Yet, when
they attend other churches, they often are triggered and become scared they‘ll never be
right with God.
Thankfully, with patience, time, family support and love, and education, they do heal!
This material was originally prepared for a presentation at AFF‘s annual conference, June
14-15, 2002, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Orlando (FL) Airport.
