Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 89
just because I could. I went out with men I shouldn‘t have, I drank too much, I stayed out
all night. I went from one extreme to another, until I found my comfort zone. Finally my
life began to take shape again. I got in touch with old friends, to find out who I used to be,
to find that people still liked me. I took a job in a fitness center and wrote my own job
description for what would grow into my new career as an exercise physiologist and
personal trainer. I made new, healthy friendships I began to trust people again. I began to
trust myself. I began to trust God.
I learned more and more about the ICC, I went to ex-member workshops and I began to
work as part of an intervention team. It still makes me angry to see the way the ICC
divides families, abuses love for God, and makes a person doubt everything around them.
The more I can help others see the truth, the better I feel about why God let me go through
that time. I have a much more critical eye for organized religion these days. I truly believe
that everything happens for a reason. Maybe some of those reasons are that I learned to
have a relationship with God, I learned to think more critically, and I learned that anybody
can fall prey to the cults of the world.
Postscript
I have recently moved back to Chapel Hill. I drive past the Triangle Church every day on
my way to and from work. I have not yet contacted Debbie, my old mentor from college. I
plan to soon. However, I ran into Shawn and his wife in a restaurant. He moved up here
about three years ago to lead the singles in the triangle. I told him that I was a director at
a new hospital based wellness center. Funny, no one has come by to say hello yet.
just because I could. I went out with men I shouldn‘t have, I drank too much, I stayed out
all night. I went from one extreme to another, until I found my comfort zone. Finally my
life began to take shape again. I got in touch with old friends, to find out who I used to be,
to find that people still liked me. I took a job in a fitness center and wrote my own job
description for what would grow into my new career as an exercise physiologist and
personal trainer. I made new, healthy friendships I began to trust people again. I began to
trust myself. I began to trust God.
I learned more and more about the ICC, I went to ex-member workshops and I began to
work as part of an intervention team. It still makes me angry to see the way the ICC
divides families, abuses love for God, and makes a person doubt everything around them.
The more I can help others see the truth, the better I feel about why God let me go through
that time. I have a much more critical eye for organized religion these days. I truly believe
that everything happens for a reason. Maybe some of those reasons are that I learned to
have a relationship with God, I learned to think more critically, and I learned that anybody
can fall prey to the cults of the world.
Postscript
I have recently moved back to Chapel Hill. I drive past the Triangle Church every day on
my way to and from work. I have not yet contacted Debbie, my old mentor from college. I
plan to soon. However, I ran into Shawn and his wife in a restaurant. He moved up here
about three years ago to lead the singles in the triangle. I told him that I was a director at
a new hospital based wellness center. Funny, no one has come by to say hello yet.
