Like many on this forum I can testify to the damage and manipulation I experienced during my time at SMC. However I find myself more often than not agreeing with many of Clive's posts. I have never supported him publicly before as I hate conflict and didn't want to risk putting myself in the firing line. However, in my opinion he has correctly asked for caution on occasion and sometime
Forum: Destructive Churches

Sounds to me that some of the SMC people in key positions suffer from narcissistic personality traits. Can't get the link to work but Google in narcissistic personality disorder and go to the mentalhealth,com site. One of the first statements on the site is "Most Cult Leaders Have Severe Narcissistic Personality Disorder". Recognise anyone?
Forum: Destructive Churches

Wistongirl, your pms have arrived and I have replied. I think you need to tick a box if you want to save messages to the sent folder.
Forum: Destructive Churches

I need to figure out how to quote people! Wistongirl wrote, "Do you think that the brain has a mechanical trigger which, in order to protect/defend us makes us for a while forget certain (traumatic) experiences in our lives? Anyone a psychologist/doctor? Sometimes I've read that eg. someone who had been abused as a child "forgot" and it was later in life that a trigger brou
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Hi Wistongirl I have so enjoyed reading your posts - you have brought back many memories - some good, some bad. I don't know if I am the person you were referring to but here's my confession. Confession number one. I wore earrings to church and yes I did have a pair of hooped earrings. I had completely forgotten about them until reading your post. Pierced ears were a big no no s
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So, if The Petitor correctly recalls a private conversation with Mr Black, the latter believed that any"bad" would be offset by "good" ie having led a soul to repentance. I wonder what "things " he had in mind? Sounds a bit arrogant and deluded to me and invites a shopping list approach to sin and misconduct which is paid for with souls as currency. The mercy and gra
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CoveLass wrote "In fact it was the leaders who were supposed to be there to protect the flock, that were doing the harming". I feel this is very succinctly put. As a teenager who was hungry for more of God I made the fatal mistake of placing trust in leaders who purported to know how to help me in my spiritual quest. I was encouraged to lie and deceive my parents in order to kee
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I was heartened to read that Mrs Gault told the person Squareone knew that she didn't have demons but that she needed counselling. I know others have viewed this with scepticism but I am choosing to take it at face value.That advice would never have been given in my day. In fact the church were very anti psychology and psychiatry which meant there was nowhere to turn when treatable problems
Forum: Destructive Churches

Quoteseekingsusan GOD LET MR BLACK BANKRUPT HIS CHURCH BECAUSR HE WAS SENDING A SIGN. And the sign is GET OUT OF THIS ROTTEN CHURCH AS FAST AS YOU CAN. I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CHURCH. Seeking Susan, I can see why you draw this conclusion but I don't agree. In my opinion, there was simply a disconnect between secular things and spiritual. As Mr B had an interest
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My understanding of the shares scandal was that a professional with a financial background outwith the tight leadership group heard about the scheme to have members apply for shares on the church's behalf. He was appalled and indicated an intent to involve the authorities over the questionable legality of what had happened. From what I heard Mr Black was distraught about the whole thing, no
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Just come across a very interesting website www.journeyfree.org. It is for those who are trying to recover from harmful religion. Never realised that in the past I had suffered from RTS - religious trauma syndrome! Dr Marlene Winell (other interesting sites will come up if you google her name) has also written a book called "Leaving The Fold" which I wish I had read years ago. It is
Forum: Destructive Churches

In response to Clive's question about how "repetition" could apply to SMC I'd suggest that hearing the same old message again and again would tick this box i.e. that you're not good enough, that hidden sins are lurking, that they must be sought out and confessed, etc etc. As sermon after sermon touched (or hammered) away on these and related topics even if one initally
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Hi Grace-girl. It must have taken a lot of courage to leave SMC after investing in it for 20years. Giving up the known for the unkown can be scary and often stops people from changing their circumstances. I am glad this wasn't the case for you despite realising some of the costs which would be involved. I can idenify with having to rebuild life after leaving - I found it tough but I can
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Hi As an escapee of Stuthers, from time to time I would check out their website and marvel that in the years since I left, the sermons ( I could only bear to listen to a few minutes) had not really changed. Still the same call to introspect and uncover hidden idols and unworthiness etc. It came as a bit of a surprise to find this site and although I haven't read all of the posts, I can
Forum: Destructive Churches