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cultmalleusQuote
I think it is important to note that all I did in the phone call, was calmly and patiently ask for Dave to be present at a meeting about this website and other concerns
wrote Ashwyn
How many ex members have memories of Dave interfering with family relationships? How many ex members have memories of being "shepherded" and not allowed to visit family and friends except with a "brother"? How many ex members have memories of having to lie and decieve in order to "cover" the fact of being forced to bring along someone when visiting a relative? The quote from Ash has Dave's manipulations written all over it in big greasy marks.
This is how "confident" Dave is of the "truths" of his group. They are a straw house, blown away at the merest puff.
Some info for Jarred and Shiela's defence attorney:
I recall occasions of David lying to me about my parents, especially with regard to money, and this is after they donated thousands of dollars to the community simply because I was there.
I recall the annoyance I felt that I had to take a community member with me to visit my parents and that I knew it was unneccessarily offensive to them. But I justified it all away under some biblical doctrine of Jesus' disciples travelling in pairs as we were taught by Dave.
A classic example of the control Dave exerts is seen in his own writing:
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When parents start demanding that grown children give in to all of their demands before they will be allowed to come into the house, then it's a good time to call their bluff and hand back the key... or, in Ash's case, to mail it back.
SOURCE: [
welikejesus.com] (6 Jan. 2007)
Ash, chooses not to see the hypocrisy in this direction from his leader. The cult leader is demanding that the actual parents of the child give in to all his demands before they can see their own child. It is emotional blackmail to the inth degree. Is it any wonder some parents may react protectively of their child in such circumstances? The events surrounding Joseph's recruitment into the Jesus Christians is definately understandable, not justfiable, but understandable; and worthy of consideration by a judge as Dave is repeating the same manipulative callous control with Ash's parents.
I have heard that in some states of America a burglar can be shot by a house owner under property protection laws, I think some thought regarding a deceptive manipulative cult coming to your door to steal away your children can be seen in a similar light... so in some ways it could be considered justifiable self defence.
Ash does not realise how strange his behavior has become seeing that he now thinks he needs protection to visit his own parents... people that raised him from birth. Ash thinks he is following God by dishonoring his parents in such a way to follow a cult leader. In time he will come to see that his behaviour is disrespectful and unloving towards those who truly do care for him. Ash does not realise yet, but he will in time, that Dave does not care for him... but in fact views him as quite hopeless and suffering from mental problems. He has said as much publicly in his latest rants.
Children born to members within the group soon become communal property with parents relinquishing parental authority to David. Children are viewed as liabilities until they can start getting out on the street distributing tracts. It is an action which comparable to child labour. I have personally had conversations with group members who viewed their child as a liability.
I recall Christine taking a two year old boy to task because he said "I am a big boy", as little kids are wont to do. For this he was given time out until he could acknowledge he was a little boy. To her it was a sign of pride, in need of smashing through discipline. If a parent objected they were seen as bad parents who did not really love their kids enough to discipline them according to Jesus Christian "spare not the rod" standards of child raising.
Christine does not know any different; it was how she was raised as she is Dave's youngest daughter. She used to get in such a burnt out mental state that she would lock herself away from others, self medicating in order to calm her nerves. A sad and pitiful sight as she seeks to please a cult leader for a dad.